Two Good Hockey Stories

If you dream of the girl for you, then call us and get two for the price of one.  We’re the answer if you feel blue.  So call us and get two for the price of one.  -Abba

Public Service Announcement:  Ok, here we go!  With all this Manny talk I needed a little something to lighten my mood.  I needed a little something to brighten my mood.  I needed a little something to set me right back into my mood.  I found something.  I found two somethings.  I found Booby Ryan and Taylor Pyatt.       

Booby Ryan:  Rookie rookie, who gets the cookie?  Bobby, that’s who.  Bobby’s the big winner.  Bobby wins.  He just might win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year to be announced in Las Vegas on June 18.  The Anaheim Ducks, Bobby Ryan, was the second pick in the 2005 draft.  The Anaheim Ducks, Bobby Ryan , recorded 31 goals and 57 points.  That’s tops of the pops among first-year players.  And he missed a good chunk of the early season too.  Yowza!  He’s come a long way baby! 

He’s a come a long way from when his name was Bobby Stevenson.  He’s come a long way from when his father, Bob Stevenson, hit his wife and then hit the road.  Bobby’s father left town, changed his name and fled to southern California when little Bobby was ten.   Like my main man Albert Halmond always sings, “Seems it never rains in southern California, but girl don’t they warn ya?  It pours, man it pours.”  It poured for Bobby Stevenson and his family.

The family reunited one year later.  That’s when a forgiving wife and son joined their husband and father.  That’s when Bobby Stevenson became Bobby Ryan.  That’s when he became a star for the LA Junior Kings.  That’s when he won a pair of national junior championships.  That’s when I reach for my revolver.  That’s when it all gets blown away.  That’s when it all came apart again.

Two years later, U.S. marshals stormed the family’s L.A. area home and arrested Bobby’s father.  Bobby’s father was originally charged with attempted murder.  Even though his wife did not want to press charges Bob Stevnson was carted off to the hoosegow and spent four years in a New Jersey prison.   Through it all, Bobby became a star.  Franklin D. Roosevelt always says, “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.”  Bobby Ryan’s made himself a gosh darned lasso.

Taylor Pyatt:  According to the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal, Jamaican police said Carly  Bragnalo was one of five passengers in a cab, including her mother Debbie.  Police say the car lost control on a corner, hit a utility pole and overturned.  What they didn’t say was Carly  Bragnalo was also the fiancee of the Vancouver Canucks Taylor Pyatt.  Carly Bragnalo died.

Taylor Pyatt was devastated.  He was depredated and desolated.  He left the team for almost three weeks to get his stuff back together.  He’s got it back together all right.  One thing I can tell you is you got to be free.  Come together, right now, over me.  He got his stuff together in Chicago in a game no one had the Canucks winning.  He got his stuff together and assisted in the first goal of the game to help Vancouver take a 2-1 series lead over the Blackhawks.  Pyatt:  “Every time I go out on the ice, that’s who I’m playing for, Carly.  Absolutely.” 

Public Spectacle:

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

Need More? Anaheim Ducks, Bobby Ryan, NHL, Taylor Pyatt, Vancouver Canucks