Monthly Archives: June 2010
Now that Cablevision-MSG-Knicks/Rangers-run Newsday has published a story with a source declaring my Islanders-Mets-Queens story “ficticious” – LOL – time to get back to the draft! Here’s my interview with Taylor Hall. Draft comments.
The owners of the Mets have brought on real estate giant Jones Lang La Salle to begin work on a new arena for the Islanders in Queens. Please read all about it and comment at FanHouse.
1:30 pm - Islanders prospects Calvin de Haan and Casey Cizikas are two of 41 players invited to Team Canada’s development camp in preparation for the 2011 WJC. Good news for Cizikas, the NYI’s high-value fourth round pick of a year ago. According to Team Canada, de Haan (shoulder injury) will attend the camp in early August in Newfoundland, but will be unable to participate in on-ice activities.
With Brandon Gormley getting his tour of Long Island today – more on him next week - here’s the latest on Brett Connolly, who will be visiting the Islanders next week and could be available when/if the Islanders pick at 5.
Please read the story at FanHouse. You’ve encouraged to talk about Connolly and the draft here. Thanks.
Comments.
PHILADELPHIA – Talk about opportunity. Four years ago, I got a call during the offseason from John Wiedeman (far right), saying he’d really appreciate it if I could give him a few minutes in person at the Coliseum. I knew right away we were going to need a new radio play-by-play man for the Islanders.
In the summer of 2001, I hired John as the team’s radio play-by-play man after listening to hundreds – and I mean hundreds – of tapes mailed by announcers from all over the hockey map. John had been the radio broadcaster for the Philadelphia Flyers (ahem) for one year, calling their games when they went to the Stanley Cup Final in 1997. But something went wrong in Philadelphia, and John walked away from a rare NHL job and returned to the minors, calling games for Cincinnati of the now-defunct International Hockey League.
I did my due diligence, met with John in person twice, and was very comfortable that whatever happened in Philadelphia had nothing to do with the character of this man. Besides that, he was a brilliant narrator of hockey games.
It was a beautiful summer afternoon the day John called for the meeting, so I walked upside and met him outside the Coliseum – over by the rusty picnic tables (are they still there?) by the Press Gate. When John got out of his car, he was surprised when I immediately shook his hand and gave him a hug. I asked, “Is it a TV gig or your ultimate radio job”? I knew if Wiedeman was leaving, it would be for a well-deserved opportunity doing a team’s television broadcasts, or for radio with one team.
“It’s Chicago,” Wiedeman said. I was so happy for him. He wasn’t 100% sure. “Long Island and the Islanders fans have been incredible to me,” he said. “I can’t say for sure where I’m going, but I know what I would be leaving.” I told him that not only would I not stand in the way of him joining the Blackhawks – he was under contract for one more year – but that he should go. And no, I did not envision the Islanders not having radio broadcasts three years later.
Believe me, despite his reluctance, John was going to Chicago. Wiedeman, who is now 50 years old, grew up in Kansas City (ahem). Back home, his radio received the transmission of the closest NHL team: the Chicago Blackhawks. He grew up idolizing Pat Foley. Now he works alongside him in the United Center broadcast booth.
Wiedeman took the Blackhawks job and has been there for the incredible renaissance of an Original Six franchise. When I was on the ice last night conducting post-Cup interviews and saw everyone in the Blackhawks family with their own families, my thoughts were with two people. There was Kevin Cheveldayoff, the former Islanders draft pick who’s now their assistant general manager, and the man we used to call J-Dub in the Coliseum press box.
In the Country of Islanders, J-Dub is known for two things: never letting the charter flight attendant pass without grabbing more food, and during the Islanders’ mini-revival in 2002 some of the best hockey play-by-play any of us have ever heard. Too bad Patrick Kane’s goal wasn’t clean for everyone to see. I heard the call late, late, last night on ESPN. Not surprisingly, JDub made it work.
Congratulations to John, his wife Kelly and their young children Reilly and Sean. Opportunity, indeed. Has a nice ring to it.
Comments.
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Blackhawks one win from Immortality
Kevin Weekes on the goaltending and Game 6
After injury scare, life is wonderful for Laperriere
Chicago Tribune hits low with “Chrissy Pronger”
Notebook: Flyers Twitter with goaltending decision
Kirill Kabanov dropped by agent
Analysis: Why Flyers will force a Game 7
FanHouse: Can Flyers force a Game 7?
Here’s my interview with Erik Gudbranson of the Kingston Frontenacs, specifically for Point Blank readers on his thoughts about visiting with the Islanders. When you view the video, it may come as no surprise to learn that Erik’s mother used to teach public speaking. Will Gudbranson be there when (if?) the Islanders pick at 5? Will the Islanders take him? Gudbranson visits Islanders Country on June 10.
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