Sunday, April 13, 2008

Nathan Gerbe is Good at Hockey

Now that every playoff series is under way, I have a better feel for where I stand on all the different teams. But first! Mark and I watched long stretches of the NCCAA Championship game which featured Sabres prospects Andrew Orpik and Nathan Gerbe. I've been hearing Gerbe's name for a while but, you guys! He's really, really good! He's a teeny tiny 5'5" but while he looked small standing next to other players, I never really thought about him being small when he was actually playing. He seems kind of fiery and he skates really well and he actually scores! A lot! In the last two games of the tournament - big games - he had five goals and three assists. He was the best player on the ice! He was voted Most Outstanding Player in the Frozen Four!

I admit these guys are usually not on my radar until they're in Rochester - and even then I don't really know anything about them until they've shown their face in Buffalo at least once - but yeah, this one might be good. I mean... I've heard people say he was good and I knew he was up for the Hobey Baker. But seeing him play was kind of a revelation.

How many inches do you think he'll grow between here and Buffalo though? I mean, they can't list him at 5'5." It would totally give away that Derek Roy is not really 5'9" :P

As a side note, I was so excited to discover that Ray Ferraro was calling the game. He was my favorite person involved in NBC's coverage last year and I've really been missing him. Who decided Pierre McGuire and Mike Milbury would make for a good intermission show?

One more side note. Notre Dame got totally jobbed on their waived off goal. Apparently the NCAA has about the same grasp as the NHL on the kicking motion rule. (None.)

I hope we're seeing a lot of this in the next few years.

(Note to playoff pool participants. Any line-up changes must be made before 1 p.m. on Monday. If you forget, your first week's line-up will just play for another week. A couple of people have asked if it's possible to look at everyone's scores on one page. It is! At the top under "Stats/Standings," click on "Group Standings." And when you do, please note that Vanek's Hair is NOT in first place despite his dancing and gesturing.)

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Frozen Four...ha! What a bunch of wannabes

Mike said...

Just wait. It's a marathon, not a sprint. I'll be there. It's like the Masters, you can't win in the first round, but you certainly can lose. I have everyone right where I want them!!!!

Mark B said...

I too was greatly impressed by Nathan. For all the criticisms of his size, he doesn't shy away from physical confrontation in any way. I also like his competitive spirit. I've read that he's been called a showboater at times but I love that he has spirit out there.

For those who have been in mourning for Daniel Briere, I think we've found a much younger, hopefully more talented version of him. I know he's probably a couple of years away from breaking the lineup, but I can't wait to see him in Rochester this year...or Portland, whatever.

Heather B. said...

Vanek's Hair, you actually did jump quite a bit from where you were while I was writing this. Still... I don't know if you should be celebrating third place like that :P

Mike said...

Third place, fifth place, last place. It's all paperwork. I am dancing and celebrating as I type. I am admiring my home run, Barry Bonds style. Standing in the batter's box, watching, then the SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWW trot around the bases!!!

:)

Anne said...

Derek Roy is most definitely not 5'9" I stood next to him in heels once, which makes me roughly 5'8" and he was as tall as I am or shorter.

I don't know how I feel that I'm 1/4 of an inch taller than a Sabre.

Anonymous said...

Oh sure, you tell people how to check the standings now that I'm not in first for the first time.

Vanek might seem like he's all cool but clearly he's worried if he's making comparisons to GOLF.

S.A.M. said...

short hockey players make me happy! I will never be taller than them at my measley 5'3 but it's nice to look them in the eye without getting a crick in my neck.

:) *not that I'm ever having opportunities to look NHLers in the eye, but back when I worked for minor league teams, I felt so dwarfed by all these 6'+ gentlemen all the time.

Heather B. said...

Anne, for some reason, I'm completely convinced that Derek Roy is shorter than me. I'm 5'7", 5'8"ish and I just feel very strongly that I'm taller. If I ever see him out in public I'll be too shy to say hello but I will sneak up behind him to compare our heights.

Vanek might seem like he's all cool but clearly he's worried if he's making comparisons to GOLF.

Golf and Barry Bonds. How's Bonds' season going so far? Oh, right. No one wants him on their team :P