...back to shootin hockey before baseball starts (AHL)

Spent 8 days down in Spring Training and returned to Western NY to shoot some AHL action. Wasn't too happy about the results, shot mostly stock type stuff and not high action kinda goin through the motions in this one. With no holes in the glass and shooting through impossible to do (the glass is nasty) I'm runnin out of ideas to mix it up!

Team in white jumped to a 4-0 lead, then blew it and let them tie 4-4 forcing overtime and shootout. Finally won it on the shootout though; wish we could say the same for our hapless parent club the Sabres.

All shot 1/500, f/2.8, ISO 1000 - which I might bump up a bit next game to screw around and try out new things. Just hate having the extra noise (even with NN).

#1 - 'Ol standard bringin it up ice shot.

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The goalie shot is fantastic.

for me, its hard getting used to the high angle, but I think you
did a nice job... I like the goalie shot.

you must be LOVIN this northeast weather after being in florida

Mike,

Nice, solid work. WIth your 300, I presume? Were you up in the stands, or on the TV platform? Can you shoot from the high angle behind the net, and get the up-ice rushes through the neutral zone?

I've got 2 more Blackhawks game remaining to cover this year, then for we fans of the Red and Black, it seems the season will end like it has too many years in the recent decade: watching the playoffs on TV. As opposed to you, I'll have a photo hole available, but I think I'm gonna switch it up during the 2nd period, and go up top with my 400 to get some different angles.

At least I'll be shooting something pro in the next week - my credential requests for the Cubs' opening day (and series) got shot down, as did those of many other shooters - due to Fukudome's arrival at Wrigley Field, and the accompanying media blitz from his home country. Plus it doesn't help that they've converted a big portion of the third base photo well into 70 luxury Bullpen Boxes which were literally auctioned off earlier this year, so there are less places for shooters.

Oh well, it's a LONG season, and long after his newness has worn off, and his media entourage has returned home, I'll be out amongst the Bricks and Ivy, workin' on my tan.

I'm still waiting to hear about the White Sox' home opener and first series - of course the media demand isn't quite as intense on my city's South Side.

This is all enough to drive a guy to cover MiLB, which is not a bad thing at all.

Thanks for sharing. How many more AHL games do you have? Will there be a post season?

Dennis

Love #7 -- those eyes leap out from behind his mask! The position of his legs and pattern on his leg padding (I don't know what those things are called) plus the way you framed it make the shot even better. Nice work!

fslshooter wrote in post #5216395
Love #7 -- those eyes leap out from behind his mask! The position of his legs and pattern on his leg padding (I don't know what those things are called) plus the way you framed it make the shot even better. Nice work!

Jerry, they're called, well, they're called pads, oddly enough. See, hockey is a lot less pretentious than most other sports, and we hockey players don't need to make up names for things that already have names. I mean, the blue line across the rink is cleverly called The Blue Line.

Of course, has anyone ever heard of hockey "Breezers" ? Maybe you would have had to have played hockey in the upper midwest to know what these are. Now that I think of it, the top of the boards is called a "Dasher" and the semi-circular area in front of the goal is called the Crease, and the jerseys are called Sweaters, and the wax you put on your stick is called Sex Wax (also used on surf boards and drum sticks - surfers and drummers, now there's a couple of real normal groups)....

OK, I take it back. Hockey is pretty weird.

Hey Mike, taking a second look at these,I really like the goalie's stare.

DW

RonnieA wrote in post #5215636
The goalie shot is fantastic.

He was the reason I went, I was told he's the top prospect as a Goalie around. #1 ranked with the Canucks system of all prospects.

DaveL wrote in post #5215904
for me, its hard getting used to the high angle, but I think you
did a nice job... I like the goalie shot.

you must be LOVIN this northeast weather after being in florida

Yea, RIGHTTTTT!!!!! ha, wish I woulda stayed down in FL. I may have to move some day soon

dmwierz wrote in post #5216257
Mike,

Nice, solid work. WIth your 300, I presume? Were you up in the stands, or on the TV platform? Can you shoot from the high angle behind the net, and get the up-ice rushes through the neutral zone?

I've got 2 more Blackhawks game remaining to cover this year, then for we fans of the Red and Black, it seems the season will end like it has too many years in the recent decade: watching the playoffs on TV. As opposed to you, I'll have a photo hole available, but I think I'm gonna switch it up during the 2nd period, and go up top with my 400 to get some different angles.

At least I'll be shooting something pro in the next week - my credential requests for the Cubs' opening day (and series) got shot down, as did those of many other shooters - due to Fukudome's arrival at Wrigley Field, and the accompanying media blitz from his home country. Plus it doesn't help that they've converted a big portion of the third base photo well into 70 luxury Bullpen Boxes which were literally auctioned off earlier this year, so there are less places for shooters.

Oh well, it's a LONG season, and long after his newness has worn off, and his media entourage has returned home, I'll be out amongst the Bricks and Ivy, workin' on my tan.

I'm still waiting to hear about the White Sox' home opener and first series - of course the media demand isn't quite as intense on my city's South Side.

This is all enough to drive a guy to cover MiLB, which is not a bad thing at all.

Thanks for sharing. How many more AHL games do you have? Will there be a post season?

Dennis

Yup, was using the 300 and up on the upper level where there's seats/tv platform/special seating. Also the stairwells on the way up to the higher levels have a spot you can shoot from without being in front of the fans.

#1 is the special seating but if it's empty you shoot from there. TV platform (on the other side) you can as well but its also in a special seating area and usually full - I only got to go there once. #2 is the stairwells, usual spot for the photogs from the paper and team if shes not shooting TG as she has a seat down there in a good piece of glass (probably the only good piece of glass).

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fslshooter wrote in post #5216395
Love #7 -- those eyes leap out from behind his mask! The position of his legs and pattern on his leg padding (I don't know what those things are called) plus the way you framed it make the shot even better. Nice work!

I saw it on the other side when I was farther away so moved closer and he didnt line up like that for almost a period, finally some pressue and he did. Seemed last night the action was everywhere I wasnt. Ah well - it happens.

BTW - Dennis all these were run through the whole enchilada - seems to be my bread and butter for cleaning up shots from this arena.

Mike - nice stuff - great white, and like the others have said - #7 the eyes have it !

Dennis - 40+ years (and still playing) since I first laced them up and I've never heard of a breezer. Please expand.........

Darcy

Darcy -

Hah! Gotcha. Breezers are what they call hockey "pants" up in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I played for years in Minnesota, and thought everybody called 'em that, so when I returned to Chicago a few years back and wanted to continue playing, I needed new "breezers". I went into Gunzo's (a local legendary hockey store here in town) and they almost didn't know what I was talking about when I asked for them. Finally, one of the emplyees came out from behind the counter and said "Yeah, you betcha we got dem Breezers over here, doancha know". Turned out he was born and raised in St. Cloud MN.

http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Hockey_pants

And from lifetimehockey.com:

Dennis

I've heard them called breezers before, lotta kids out here are hockey players and Buffalo is just a hockey town the last 10 years or so.

dmwierz wrote in post #5219186
Darcy -

Hah! Gotcha. Breezers are what they call hockey "pants" up in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I played for years in Minnesota, and thought everybody called 'em that, so when I returned to Chicago a few years back and wanted to continue playing, I needed new "breezers". I went into Gunzo's (a local legendary hockey store here in town) and they almost didn't know what I was talking about when I asked for them. Finally, one of the emplyees came out from behind the counter and said "Yeah, you betcha we got dem Breezers over here, doancha know". Turned out he was born and raised in St. Cloud MN.

Dennis

That's hilarious. Strange too, but I suppose it makes sense. However, it's only in the last few years that I've seen a few pant-legs blowing in the breeze, and that usually happens when a player leaves the inside zips undone that allow you to put your skates on before your pants. Joe Thornton usually has his undone. Your shot of him with the ref jumping doesn't show it too well, but in Mike's fifth shot above, #28 has his left leg unzipped a bit.

I'm using this term Monday night at my game. Thanks for the enlightenment!

Darcy

Darcy,

I've got quite a few other shots of Joe "Breezy" Thornton. I'll have to check 'em out to see if the answer, as they say, is blowin' in the wind.

http://pa.photoshelter​.com …46PXQrJI/P00009​gvag4SvWWg

...just no taggin for breezers - but thats the whole gallery.