Flyers night @ the Phillies

I thought this was pretty cool of the Phillies to have a Flyers night. I saw alot of people wearing Flyers shirts and gear (jerseys etc)

I got to the game and right as I walked in the Flyers were on the field.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2548096666/in/set-72157605406936564/

Biron threw out the first pitch
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2547275043/in/set-72157605406936564/

The Flyers players got pics with Phanatic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2548099426/in/set-72157605406936564/

Later in the game there was an appearance by the Ice Girls
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2547285557/in/set-72157605406936564/

Then Dancing Shawny got up with Phanatic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbaIma8We3E

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2548124152/in/set-72157605406936564/

It was a good time.  It was nice to see the Flyers get recognized by the Phillies org.

You can view the whole set of pics here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/sets/72157605406936564/detail/

 

5/21/08 Flyers locker clean out day

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/sets/72157605182417844/detail/

Today was sorta sad.  I hate seeing the team leaving for the summer.  I know that they had a great season and deserve vacations too but the end of the season is always the hardest day.

We had a group of what I will call the regulars out there today waiting for the team as they came out.  Many stopped one last time to see us.  I had thank you cards for most of the players who stopped.  I wrote notes to thank them for a great season.

We were prepared to be camped out all day.  We had chairs and coolers.  It was almost wake like, a party celebrating the end.

Many of the players who very rarely stop graced us with their presence today

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2511856679/in/set-72157605182417844/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2512686178/in/set-72157605182417844/

Plus our regular favorites also came to see us.  Braydon I was very impressed when you saw how many were out there that you turned around and came back to us.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2512685518/in/set-72157605182417844/

Danny I was impressed how orderly the line was for you
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2511856153/in/set-72157605182417844/

It was a good day shared with some of the nicest Flyers fans I know.

 

4/30/08 Habs @ Flyers

Important FLYERS WON!!!!!!!

pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/sets/72157604818620488/detail/

Shout out to all the Flyers players who stopped!

THANK YOU ERICA!!!!! That was fun!

Shout outs to Theresa, Lou, HF, Rad, Erik, Nads, Roseann, Joyce, Bill, Brenda, Sharon’s Dad, My drunk seat neighbors in 210A.

Video…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihadpPC7Wjs
THIS WAS A GREAT CHANGE!  no booing in comparison to the scene on Monday…
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhHKYrUeG8I)

The game was good.  The refs were the refs.  I won’t complain here about them my complaints will not change anything that happned.

My section decorated for the game
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2456242018/in/set-72157604818620488/

I was very nervous while the Flyers only had a 1 goal lead.  I was so happy when it became 2 goals.  Then when the Canadiens tied it with two quick goals I will say I was concerned.
I was so proud of the crowd for not being silent.  They cheered louder and were rewarded by the Flyers scoring a third goal.  Then Umberger topped it with that empty net.   AWESOME!

The scene walking out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cjqqNHKwTs

Outside Erica and I eagerly awaited players hoping for some luck with People stopping.
Players that were ever so gracious last night
Jason Smith
RJ Umberger
Marty Biron
Mike Knuble
Lasse Kukkonen
Riley Cote
Danny Briere
John Stevens

Here are some of the pics

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2456249672/in/set-72157604818620488/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2455420527/in/set-72157604818620488/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2455420483/in/set-72157604818620488/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2455420411/in/set-72157604818620488/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2455420361/in/set-72157604818620488/

Ok that is all I have

I am so tired.  Off to work….

 

4/26/08 Phantoms and Flyers playoff extravaganza

First THANK YOU ERICA!  awesome day!

2nd Thank you Brooke and Karen!  Come on that was fun wasn’t it?

Shout outs to Brenda, Jessica, KB, Rad, HF, Lou, Alan and Drew!

I knew this would be a long day.  Phantoms playoff game 6 starting @ 1pm their last game having gone into 5 OT’s .  The Flyers playing @ 7pm away in Montreal but a viewing party hosted by the Flyers in Chickie and Pete’s in NE Philly.

I ran 2 errands and packed all the stuff I was taking with me.  I had a sign for a joke going with Jonathan Matsumoto. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2446036448/ )

I picked up Erica and away we went to the Phantoms game

We made either really good time from Erica’s or I was speedy.

Parked in our favorite spots on the 11th street side and went in.

Since our seats for the Phantoms are next to the bench we went to Kristin’s favorite spot behind the net.  Put up the sign and got ready for the guys to come out for warmup pics

My favorite shots from warmups

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2445195095/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2446022558/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2445944202/in/set-72157604754464350/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2445123331/in/set-72157604754464350/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2445944574/in/set-72157604754464350/

Then we moved to our seats the crowd again was sparse.  Which to me is sad.  These guys are in Game 6 for the first round of their playoffs.  IT wasn’t competing with anything Flyers related it would be nice if people came out and supported these guys gave them the crowd energy that the Flyers have been getting.

The game started Erica and I divided up who we were focusing on for game shots cause most of our favorites were all out at the same time.

Phantoms were then scoreless after 1.

We went up to the concourse and met up with Brooke and Karen for intermission.

Back to our seats for the 2nd period.  2nd period is good cause it is the only offensive zone period for us to take pics all game usually.  Again scoreless through this period.  Phantoms were very physical.

Again we all went up to the concourse this time with purpose we were hoping to give Matt Clackson a card for his Birthday.  Which we succeeded.

Third period seemed like Coach Berube shortened his bench.  I can tell by my choices for whom I am to be taking pictures of during the game.  As the minutes go by in the period it was more and more nerve racking since we all knew that they had such a long OT game barely a day and a half earlier.

Another intermission the regulation ends still no score and still tied.

We go back to our seats and we are excited at the opportunity to again take offensive zone pictures.  Not long into OT the Albany River rats solved Scottie Munroe.    the river rats celebrating on the ice was the loudest thing in the building.

One of the River rats got hurt some how we didn’t see how due to it being in our blind spot just inside the blueline by the Albany bench.

Then we went out to wait for the team to depart.  We were honored by most of the team stopping for us.

on the way out I took pics of the car that the sixers fans destroyed to beat detroit

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2445156755/in/set-72157604754464350/

off the viewing party for the Flyers playoff game.  I had never been to this Chickie an Pete’s beofre it was nice.  I got my Pic with Former Flyers Kerry Huffman

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2445983162/in/set-72157604754464350/

I asked him if anyone had called him Fill lately he laughed and said not in a long time (Huffman’s nickname when he would be up with the Flyers was “Fill In” which was shortened to “Fill”)

The party was good.  They put the game on with sound so we could not only hear but see the action.

Everyone celebrated when th Flyers would score it was high fives all around.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2445157367/in/set-72157604754464350/

The Flyers won it was a good day.

Ok until Monday night.

 

an Open Letter to the Flyers and 4/21/08 Game pics

Dear Flyers,

Yes, I know typically my rule of thumb is to not post the same night as the game.  Things definitely seem different if you put 8 hours of sleep into something.  I would agree to that almost everytime.  I just don’t have 8 hours of sleep and time to write this up.

Hey, I will be happy to take some blame on tonight’s poor luck.  I actually made pre game warmups.  (Thank you Jeff Carter for going along with shoot the puck at the girls taunting you to hit where we pointed).  First time all playoffs I did that.

Tonight’s game was a playoff game.   At least it was supposed to be a playoff game.  A game 6 with the Flyers up 3-2.
I am extremely disheartened with the team I saw on the ice.  The team that came out in the first period and played the first period through, that team left the building.  I say that as I didn’t see them again for the rest of the game.
The lack of winning battles the lack of hitting and most of all the lack of heart I saw in tonight’s game made me want to go cry.  This was not the team that I have been screaming my lungs out to support.  This was some foreign team I thought I left in the 06/07 season.
I know that I don’t have to be hard on you.  You can be hard enough on yourselves.  You are the ones that have to face each other in the locker room and most importantly in the mirror. When you wake up Wednesday morning After tomorrow’s game and look in the mirror, What do you want to see?  Do you want to see the person that gave until they bled or the person that stopped caring and trying like tonight?  You decide.  You have one more shot to prove the whole world wrong about you being Bullies, thugs and ruffians.  You have one last shot to show the world the fabulous team you are and the heights you can achieve.
Don’t waste it.  Enact your vengence.  Show us clean, simple, physical hockey.

Full set.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/sets/72157604666525862/detail/
My personal selections

Jeff Carter obliging us girls
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2432547873/

Mike Richards tongue out
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2432548093/

Riley Cote
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2433363506/

Lasse Kukkonen
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2432546383/

Danny Briere
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2432543599/

Steve Downie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2433357054/

 

4/18/08 River Rats @ Phantoms

Phantoms won 3-0

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/sets/72157604623962991/detail/

I know there are just a ton of pics cause I sat in the first row.  these are my favorite selections

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2424816965/in/set-72157604623962991/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2425613622/in/set-72157604623962991/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2425629718/in/set-72157604623962991/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2424810837/in/set-72157604623962991/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2424833313/in/set-72157604623962991/

 

4/17/08 Caps@ Flyers

Ok Post game concourse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHGMkHG0SlE

God Bless America Playoff Style
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4WCZD0hGBA

Link to my pics…. I am too tired to write anything….

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/sets/72157604605331533/detail/

Phantoms Playoff Game tonight!

 

Calling all Rowdies

Hello all.

I am tired of going into other arenas and seeing things like Alex’s Crazy 8’s and beagle’s dog pound.  I am starting my own fan support section.  I think you the Flyers faithful you can all be behind what I propose

Welcome to Rockin’ Riles Rowdies.

I know the Wachovia center is going to rock those Caps coming in to the core.  Let’s show how Rowdy us Cote fans can be.

I will be wearing my shirt will you be wearing yours?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2315370415/in/set-72157604063921785/

 

4/4/08 Devils @ Flyers

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/sets/72157604393421367/detail/

First THANK YOU ERICA!!!!!!!
I am very glad I got to go to the game.

Shout outs to “hell if I know” Sorry gang I didn’t come visit.
Sandy and the kids.
Theresa and Caroline
Brooke and Karen,
HF
Rosanne, Joyce and Steve
Joe and Maureen

I got to the game as the Flyers came out for warmups.  That did not allow me to get down to where Erica was behind the bench.   I headed for Kristin’s normal spot behind the net for my warmup pictures.

My first pic from warmups
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389261298/in/set-72157604393421367/

The thing that I noticed was a lack of smiles during warmups.  If you have ever looked at any of my pics you know I am always trying to catch the brief smile or laugh that may occur.  These pics are generally labeled as Happy Camper pics (thanks Richie).  I had none of these tonight.  This team was all business from the moment they stepped out onto the ice.

My favorite warmup pics of the night

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389263966/in/set-72157604393421367/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389263918/in/set-72157604393421367/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2388432619/in/set-72157604393421367/

There was alot of signs tonight.  Slightly biased I like Erica’s Knuble we are here sign.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2388430549/in/set-72157604393421367/

The other signs

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389261832/in/set-72157604393421367/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389261856/in/set-72157604393421367/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389261882/in/set-72157604393421367/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2388430677/in/set-72157604393421367/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389261922/in/set-72157604393421367/

Erica went and took our seats.  Ironically the seats are in my normal section.  Which yes my section I think one of the rowdiest ones in the whole Wachovia center.  Again were having issues with Devils fans being in our section.  I honestly felt bad for the lone devils fan having stuff tossed at him etc.  I realize my section will never change the rowdiness is part of the charm.

Erica didn’t bring her camera out at all for game time.  I took some limited pics.
I liked the fan centric opening.  Pics in the set for it start here.  I didn’t take video cause I knew I wouldn’t ever have time to get it posted for it to be relevant.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389264268/in/set-72157604393421367/

The crowd was really into this game and ready for it to start.  The banger things they handed out seemed to be a huge hit for noise.  The crowd while not as loud as I had ever heard it was still very loud and trying their best to show why Philly fans are so intimidating.

The Flyers first goal which was announced as Hartnell then changed to Umberger was just huge.  The building rocked hard from that the fans felt they had made a good impact on this team.

The team on the ice they looked as solid as I think they have all season.  A very good and aggressive forecheck with lots of physicality.

2nd Intermission Erica and I went down o the Flyers charity basket auction.  We walked all through and took pics.  We both bidded on Baskets.  I originally bid on Downie and Gator.  I won Gator.  Erica Bid on Thoresen but did not win.  Theresa bid on Upshall and won his basket.  The baskets were extremely impressive.  Biron’s was very cool.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389266468/in/set-72157604393421367/

I enjoy seeing these types of things gives you a slight glimpse at the personalities of the Players.  Here are some of the contents of the baskets.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389266572/in/set-72157604393421367/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389266586/in/set-72157604393421367/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2388435639/in/set-72157604393421367/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389266716/in/set-72157604393421367/

Due to our bidding and really wanting what we bid on.  Erica and I strolled the first level concourse and watched the 2nd period in the Pavilion.  That of course caused us to take this pic

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2388436995/in/set-72157604393421367/

After getting confirmation that Theresa and I had won our respective baskets it was back up to the seats to watch the third period.

What a period it was!  Goals by Upshall and Lupul mere seconds apart was just absolutely phenomenal.  To see Brodeur get the hook was priceless.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2389265624/in/set-72157604393421367/

The crowd was revived and rowdy as ever with this score.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2388434423/in/set-72157604393421367/

The Flyers hung in there and Biron got a shut out.

What a great game and experience.

Then it was off to pick up my new basket which btw looks like this

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2388436385/in/set-72157604393421367/

Then to outside to wait for the players to stop.

There was just a ton of people out there waiting.  I don’t think in all the nights I have waited outside that I have seen that many people.

The one nice lady had this sign which she nicely held up for the Devils bus as it passed

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2388437051/in/set-72157604393421367/

Thank you To Riley Cote, Randy Jones, Steve Downie (sorry Steve we wanted to give you that),  Denis Tolpeko for all stopping and visiting with us post game.

Next game boys and girls for me is Game one of the Playoffs.  (well at least for the Flyers anyway)

 

3/31/08 Flyers practice

Pics of course
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/sets/72157604329647984/

Alright I talked quite a bit @ practice.  So I wasn’t wholley paying attention.

Participants
Coburn           Umberger
Cote               Knuble
Carter             Jones
Richards          Timonen
Tolpeko           Kapanen
Parent             Briere
Prospal            Lupul
Upshall            Biron
Niittymaki        Smith
Modry              Downie
Thoresen         Kukkonen
Dowd

Special Guest appearance by Simon Gagne
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/2378315310/in/set-72157604329647984/

Practice was very up tempo.  Stevens skated them really hard today.
Despite the up tempo practice everyone seemed to have fun here and there especially in Biron’s end.
Niitty and Biron also had their own Fun when not called into the huddle going back and forth with pucks the whole length of the ice.

Line Combos seemed to change
Lupul, Richards, Downie/Thoresen
Prospal, Briere, Hartnell/Upshall

I didn’t take good notes so outside of that I apologize for being less observant.

Niitty had one set of saves that got a roar of applause and noise on The Briere line.
Practice was a good hour and 15.

All I have for now