Happy Memorial Day!

Let us remember the soldiers who have fought for our being able to do things like my bringing you the following news...

...news that is only twenty-five days old...but, unlike our man of the hour, this blog is quite leisurely in its pace...

Ron Francis delivered a speech on the state of the youth hockey union at a semi-recent Raleigh Youth Hockey Association/Canes Youth and Amateur Hockey meeting...

"Here's the latest update with our local youth hockey programs from Paul Strand. Ron Francis took time to speak to the youth hockey community and will be very involved with the program. The fact that he is also a parent in the program will make it better from both sides. One of the biggest things our program will focus on will be player development. Colin Muldoon is one of the best coaches(I'm speaking from experience) and our kids are great hands. It won't be too long before we hear Raleigh NC at the Draft. We just need the Hurricanes to help build a few more rinks around the state."

"Another and perhaps the biggest highlight of the night was seeing and hearing a finely dressed Ron Francis delivering a speech to the audience of youth hockey supporters. Mr. Francis challenged the Raleigh youth board and membership, the RYHA AAA board and membership and CYAH to stand up and do what is right by the kids of North Carolina. That means to ensure the tryout process is fair, to ensure that our coaching and player development lives up to its billing and to provide a quality place for the kids to play. It was awesome to see the future Hall of Fame player take such a keen interest in the future of these organizations and youth hockey in general."

Always, ALWAYS good to see Ronnie involved with the youth hockey community, be it in my hometown/state or elsewhere. And I am very glad to see that his involvement with CYAH is going beyond his being at the press conference for the start of that branch for the Canes and Youth Hockey. With not only his children playing various sports, but also the fact that he has always been wonderful with young ones on and off the ice (as I have witnessed at various Canes practices and events, and even a few youth hockey deals during the 2004-05 NHL Lockout), Mr. Francis is a natural for getting heavily dedicated to youth hockey AND the development of possible future minor league, college, NHL, and/or international stars.

Current Music: "They Call It Home" by Amon Duul II (Featuring Robert Calvert)

Collection Update For May 19th, and Site Update For May 26th, 2007

With my sincerest apologies to the one or two of you who follow this here place, things have been crazy with getting my new computer set up, my latest gaming addiction, amongst other things...but I was finally able to find time to update my site. More specifically, its Card, Miscellany, and Poster/Print sections.

Hope to update again with pictures ASAP...hopefully before Tuesday or Wednesday.

Due to some circumstances (*cough*saving up for a much anticipated trip to Pittsburgh for my birthday in October*cough*), I more than likely won't have any more Francis collectibles coming my way for sometime. But in the meantime, that will mean me finally getting around to finally adding much needed pictures to the site. Stay tuned...

Current Music: "Eleanor Rigby" by Stanley Jordan

New Compy's Almost Here

Will be here Thursday...and then after it arrives, I have the joy of getting to set it up AND getting the files I want to keep from my old computer uploaded onto the new one. So, that will be at least another couple of days, if not the entire weekend. ESPECIALLY if reinstalling the scanner/digital camera and printer softwares are as fun as I think they will be. *sighs*

To the one or two of you awaiting pictures of little Ronnie, don't worry, they will eventually be coming. Along with pics of some other goods I won on eBay this past weekend...

Speaking of pictures, in the meantime, check out what I happened upon in a scavenging around SooToday last night. Can't believe I did not see it when I was following all of the Ron Francis Day/Night coverage during the weekend of February 23rd-26th of last year. But it's a cute read and photo gallery well worth looking at for fans of Ronnie and/or hockey greats in general.

Purple, eh? I would have had Ron pegged for liking blue...*does her best Daphne from Frasier* I don't know why! But I know one thing...there is a reason that I am not one of those guessers at the fair/carnival/Carowinds/etcetera.

Current Music: "Remembering Robson" by Torcuato Mariano

Happy Mama's Day!

A Happy Mother's Day to all moms, moms-to-be, grandmothers, and grandmothers-to-be in the Caniac Nation and beyond!

And who better to celebrate Mother's Day with than the mother of mamas herself...Mama!








Current Music: "There's No Other Way" by Blur

P.S. My computer has died. *sighs* In the process of getting a new one...but in the meantime, I'm using my laptop PC, normally used for trips and such.

Because of that, the promised picture of the miniature Ronnie figure will be a little later in coming...either later this week or early next week, depending upon how long it takes for the new compy to be shipped.

Collection Update For May 7th and Site Update For May 10th, 2007

Alright...at long last, I finally have gotten a chance to mention that thing from eBay. As the title notes, it came this past Monday. No picture yet, but I hope to have one up at both here and my site sometime this weekend or early next week.

The new item...it's too cute...it is a little Ronnie in a white Carolina Hurricanes uniform!! Seriously, the toy's being a miniature one was a complete surprise to me. When I got the package at the UPS Store, I was surprised at how light it was, especially with my expecting the figure to be a normal sized one. And when I opened the box, I couldn't help but let out a little "Awwwww!!" upon first glance at the figure, made my Smiti Sports.

I find the tiny Ronnie figure so cute that I got my eyes peeled for another one on the Bay, so I can take it out of the package and have join my motley desk/office area posse of Full Demon Inuyasha, Captain Kirk, Spock, and Scotty in their transporter; Don Cherry and Blue, and an Egyptian hawk warrior (who's been MIA since my move from Wake Forest/Raleigh to Bluefield...but hopefully, I'll find him one day).

Also worth noting is a recent Internet find...an article at a random hockey news site talking about the still somewhat new CYAH venture with which the very, very busy Ron is involved. And it features some Ronnie quotes, to boot...

"Hurricanes Jump Into Youth Hockey

Peter Karmanos Jr, owner/governor and CEO of the Hurricanes, has 30 years of experience supporting youth hockey in his hometown of Detroit. His junior club, the Plymouth Whalers, was the first American club to play in the Ontario Hockey League. Eric Lindros, Mike Modano and Kevin Hatcher are all products of Karmanos’ Compuware hockey programs.

Now, Karmanos has decided to increase his youth hockey support in the Raleigh area, home to the Hurricanes.

In partnership with the Raleigh Youth Hockey Association (RYHA), Karmanos has formed Canes Youth and Amateur Hockey (CYAH), which will sponsor the top teams in the RYHA in some of the biggest tournaments in North America.

The affiliation with the Hurricanes, coupled with the presence of director of player development Ron Francis, a future Hockey Hall of Famer, is certain to boost hockey in North Carolina.

“That is, for me, a very exciting time,” Francis said, “because Peter Karmanos has done this many, many years in Detroit and in junior hockey. And to bring that expertise to the (Raleigh) area is only going to be great for the kids in the area.”

For Francis, the importance of youth hockey programs transcends the results on the ice. For him, the character-building experience is the greatest benefit the youngsters will receive.
“It’s great.” Francis said. “I was one of the fortunate ones to play youth hockey and make it to the NHL, but a lot of kids don’t have that opportunity. If you provide them with the right environment and give them the opportunity to experience the game, and give them valuable life lessons, it may not be the NHL, but whatever profession they so choose, they’ll have these lessons to take with them the rest of their life.”

The Hurricanes will outfit the Tier 1 teams with Carolina Hurricanes jerseys and strengthen youth programs such as the Street Stormers, in-school programs, college hockey, clinics and summer camps."

Current Music: "Some Like It Hot" by The Power Station

Site Update For May 3rd, 2007

Added a couple of things to the Stuff Want List...specifically a Hartford Whalers pennant featuring a photo of either the 1988 or 89 team, and a Carolina Hurricanes rally towel sponsored by WRAL.com and Ron Francis' blog, from last year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Got something coming soon that I won on eBay yesterday...stay tuned.

Also worth mentioning...today is the eighth anniversary of what was quite a tragedy that happened to one of Ronnie's Hurricanes teammates in Steve Chiasson. My coverage of that can be found here.

Current Music: "Makes No Sense At All/Love Is All Around" by Husker Du