ROOMIES: Tambellini and Hillen (1st in a series)
Plus: Calling Nielsen’s cell to stop him from snoring
[First in a series over the next week on road roommates].
Jeff Tambellini has enjoyed the last few weeks having Jack Hillen as his roommate on Islanders road trips. In his first full season as a pro, Hillen says, ”I just follow the crowd and try to be easy about everything.” As a result, Tambellini calls Hillen, “The lowest-maintenance roommate I’ve ever had in my hockey life.”
Okay Jeff, so tell us about some of your more challenging roommates.
“Yash (Alexei Yashin) is one of the nicest guys around. Everyone knows that,” Tambellini said today before boarding the Islanders 2:30 pm charter out of Farmingdale for Washington. “But…well, put it this way: we were on completely different schedules.
“On the night before a game, Yash would go to sleep at 10:15. I’m his roommate, and I’m a rookie at the time, so what am I gonna do or say”? Tambellini laughs. “The lights in our room would be out at 10:15, the TV is off, and I’m just sitting there like, what am I going to do for the next two hours?”
Any current teammates, Jeff?
“Frans Nielsen. Great friend. As a roommate? Good luck.
“One night, Fransy is snoring his brains out. I yell over to him. No movement. I throw a pillow at him. He doesn’t wake up. We’re in one of those great hotels we stay in where they over-do it with the pillows so I throw another one and another one. The snoring never stops.
“I nail him with a book. I throw a clock. I’m totally serious: his bed looks like a convenience store. Finally, I realize the only way I’m going to wake him up. I’m going to call his cell phone. He’s got a loud song and all the bells and whistles for his ringtone. He’s conditioned to not miss a call because he thinks it’s going to be his girlfriend. So I get out of bed, grab my phone, and actually call my own roommate!
“Fransy’s phone goes off and he jumps right out of bed in a panic to answer it. It’s me, the guy on the bed next to him. I ask him to please stop snoring.”
ETC: Sean Bergenheim still has not been cleared to play, meaning the Islanders will most likely have to call up a forward from Bridgeport for tomorrow’s game in Washington. Greg Logan reports that Joel Rechlicz will play against the Capitals and Joey MacDonald gets the start. Greg and I were at the same practice, but I didn’t get that info! Once again, the veteran journalist teaches the rookie blogger a lesson. That’s what I get for doing a story on road roommates…
Comments.
45 Responses to ROOMIES: Tambellini and Hillen (1st in a series)
Plus: Calling Nielsen’s cell to stop him from snoring
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cusi says:
thanks for sharing CB.
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Ryan says:
HAHA this story is awesome…great stuff CB
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JP39 says:
Haha funny stuff, CB! This is the kinda stuff that we would never be able to get anywhere but here! NYIPOINTBLANK for life!
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Matt says:
haha great story Chris!
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UNH Steve says:
haha thats pretty funny, this is great stuff thanks for this CB. Any chance you could do some articles on the roomate situation when the guys are home too? I’d love to know about what goes on in the homes of the guys that live together like Okposo, Bailey, Tamby, Comeau, etc.
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UNH Steve – I’m totally with ya. That would be pretty interesting (and I’m sure pretty funny too). Back during the ’02 playoffs, FSNY did a piece (a “Day in the Life” sort of thing) on the living situation of Cairns, Webb, Bates, and Parrish who all lived together in a house on Long Island at the time. To this day, still one of my favorite “behind the scenes” pieces I’ve seen on the Isles (or any team, for that matter). If CB could do something similar on here, that would be sweet!
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Great, as always, CB. Yashin definitely didn’t play like he went to bed at 10:15 the night before and got a good night of sleep. Just kidding! Last thing we need is a Yashin comment board, especially because I thought he was a good player. I do hope Tamby gets another opportunity next year, he looks like he may finally be getting it.
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Bryan says:
I think Yashin went to bed too early. It always required him taking a nap once the game started.
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Joe says:
Maybe Tambellini should hit the sack earlier, wouldn’t exactly call 13pts in 58 games a breakout year.
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Strummer's Army says:
Logie reports Gordon says Reciclez us confirmed to play tomorrow.
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admin says:
Updated. Thanks for the heads-up, Strummer…CB
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Steve says:
Who give a s&%$! I want a winning team and I really do not give a damn about their personalites. Give me 20 Billy Smiths over a bunch of last place nice guys.
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Ha! Tambs is hysterical! Wish he was as successful at hockey as he he is at storytelling.
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Michael Olivo says:
hilarious…more in this series please…lol…i heard a good tambellini story a few weeks ago. An extremely cute waitress at a rockville centre restaurant commented on what an extraordinarily nice guy tamby was. She was working at a restaurant in garden city and tambs was there with his mom for dinner. I love hearing stories about the nice guys in pro sports instead of the constant battering we get of T.O., bonds, and a-rod.
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Jim Clark says: Another guy who is a world-beater at Bridgeport and a stiff with the Islanders.
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Priest says:
Hey CB, I’d much rather have this kind of story than the call-up stuff. This is a blog, I come here for something a bit different. I can find out who got called up elsewhere if need be (thats not to say don’t tell us). Keep up the good work!
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Steve says:
Nice change of pace here compared to the hardcore, almost crazy debates of Tavares-Hedman.
It should be fun, some people take it too far. I know this upcoming draft is important, but c’mon.
Besides, none of us have the final say. Not much you can do. Just take whatever happens, and then let’s talk about it after.
Besides, Isles dont even have the No. 1 pick yet! Who knows what happens between now and April 14. -
hale says:
will some of you please have a sense of humor…is tamby tearing it up no…but its a funny story…who really cares…just shows a side that these guys are actually people as well…some of you guys need to lightnen up!!!
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Tambellini is funny on the ice and off!!
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I think I’ve tried to write about everything on this site the last 6 months. Not every day can be about how this prospect sucks, this guy can’t score or Kate is skipping another meeting.
To the readers with the guts to take this little anecdote and use it as an opportunity to take a pot shot at Tambellini: stay classy…CB
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d-man says:
i’d rather hear funny stories of snoring roomies than who’s gonna start… (at least this late in this season).
and anyone read the newsday story on wang and the LH guys giving 1 million to the veterans to change the name of the coliseum when it’s rebuilt? in exchange for the name change, they get 1 million over 20 years, a road leading to the new place named for veterans and a meeting hall to have meetings… i’m sure some of you will go bat-sheet for whatever reason but it sounds to me that wang is not thinking it’s not gonna go through (as some have suggested) if he’s going to go to all this trouble.
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Coach B says:
Very funny stuff, maybe not Felix and Oscar but funny.
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Tambs will be alright hes got some money he’ll play somewhere next year in NHL or AHL…then he can do something in hockey after playing career wraps up….I am not worried for him….he’s in a better position than I can say for myself. His dad should help at sompe point too, when hes done playing.
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Isles19 says:
Toronto makes their first move and signs Christian Hanson… Garth go get Gilroy!!!
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John says:
There is nothing wrong with Tambs… he is developing and making strides… he’ll be back with the big club next year as part of the 2nd year of his one way deal… and if he continues to develop he’ll be resigned. Do we want the kid to score 30 goals? Yes. It just doesn’t happen over night for the majority of players. This is a group of kids playing in a men’s league. Time and patience will reward the team and us the fans. I think for the majority of players the light switch turns on in their third year… hate to see the team give up on a kid with the shot that he has without giving him the proper room to grow.
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bcarey says:
the rookie blogger? didn’t you have a blog last year?
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kevin fitz says:
I’d love a story on how the Heals and Flats show got started.
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Brother Rat says:
Great look at the guys…those sorts of stories make the players more endearing, and easier to root for. Tamby’s not my favorite on the team, but sometimes fans forget that these guys are people, too (except for Sean Avery and Dale Hunter, who can rot any day of the week).
CB, no update that Kate Murray’s been feverishly purchasing some Nigerian goats to trim some park grass in Merrick? How can anyone possibly chide her for ignoring the Lighthouse project when she’s deep in negotiation for grass-cutting goats? She’s only got 2 hands and 24 hours in a day, guys.
…I’d like to see a sneaky bunch of pro-Lighthouse folks hop the little goat-fence and put Isles sweaters on the goats…but something tells me that would not go over well with ol’ Kate…
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Marc from Troy says:
Could whoever out there is, er, “relieving themselves” in Jim Clark’s corn flakes each morning maybe take a day off once in a while?
Thanks.
Off to go see Bridgeport @ Albany tonight.
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Omg I really didn’t mean to put Tambs down. I love the guy, really. I re read my post and it was a bit negative sounding but I really want him to do well and he IS a heck of a storyteller! Sorry, Tambs!
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pablo says:
If Logan gets the info and you dont, does this mean your still in a Time Out!
After all you have done for this Lighthouse Movement they should HIRE you back!
CB, your a piece of the puzzle that this organization is missing! -
JKP in Halifax says:
Great story,CB. Personally, I love the personality stories. And, honestly, it’s a nice break from the (getting oversaturated) Tavares / Hedman saga.
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stevedepot says:
Great story, very humorous (obviously exaggerated a bit by Tambellini) but none the less a good read. Would be easier to stomach if Tambellini had used this year to prove his worth to the team in the FIRST third of the season like we all talked about last year. I just cannot get too excited about this guy right now. Justify your NHL contract during next training camp by working as hard as you’re working lately “Tamby” and maybe you and Nielsen can be next years version of the ole “Heals and Flats” duo, calling yourselves “Fransy and Tamby”. Some great comedic potential there for between periods fodder.
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Why diss a kid for being a nice kid? I got news for you, a team of 20 Billy Smith-types would NOT have been nearly as successful as the actual mix of players the Isles had then. They would have killed each other. I’ve played on very talented teams full of nasty finger-pointers and it gets OLD, FAST. And if Smitty couldn’t stop pucks then his demeanor wouldn’t have meant two cents to his teams.
The way some people talk around here you’d think that being nice was causing Tambi to play poorly… It could just be that he’s taking longer to develop. It could just be he isn’t all that great – in which case, being a jackass to his teammates won’t suddenly make him a better player.
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Scott B says:
Chris love these types of stories.
I think I speak for everyone to keep these coming. And, at least I think it doesn’t have to be about the current Islander team…
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Bobby says:
Steve #13…..Billy Smith was on a team filled with personalities. That is part of what made that team so dynamic.
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stumpy32 says:
Tambo has improved alot in my book. He takes the body now. Two months ago he wouldnt hit anyone. Now he finsihes his checks. Whatever clicked,Keep it up Tambo.
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Ed J says:
great piece CB!!!!
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Marcus says:
About Yashin – I think he was depressed, probably walking around undiagnosed. Interesting to see how much he actually slept.
Don’t get me wrong, I am totally against medicating people. Before going into Accouting I was in higher ed administration and there were a lot of so called campus pshyc’s drugging up college kids. So I am not a fan drugs.
But Yashin’s lack of motivation/quite demeanor and (at least in this story penchant for sleep) indicative of inherited depression? Wonder if anyone in the Isles looked into that?
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pete says:
lmao that is great!
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The PolishPrince says:
Great story. I really do like Tambs and am still holding out hope that he’ll develop into a consistent scorer. Great wheels and a laser of a shot. I know someone who played with him and Gebeshkov in Manchester. He always felt Tambs would be an impact player in the NHL. I’m still prayin’ he will be too. BTW Grebeshkov’s nickname by the fans was Grebesh-cough-up the Puck yet now I think he’s doing pretty well in Edmonton. Whoda thunk it.
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Travelchic59 says:
Tamby was a guest at one of the Booster Club’s meetings earlier this year. He was hysterical. Can really tell a story. Had us all in stitches. I told him he should try stand-up if hockey doesn’t work out. I am still rooting for him to fulfill his potential. I hope when he does, he’s still with us.
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the bomber says:
i went to bed at 10 pm last night, an i depressed??
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Not that I’m impressed a lot, but this is a lot more than I expected when I found a link on Furl telling that the info is awesome. Thanks.
lol! absolutely fantastic story. These are the kind of stories I can’t get enough of. Thanks CB!