Everything Else

Swine Flu

By Sam Fels 1478 0

It was not a good weekend for the Rock River Bacon Bits. Two losses, one in overtime,  meaning it’s been four in a row now. Oh, and their coach is calling out some of the players in the press (or to Chris Block, but he’s more press than anything in the city these days).

It started well on Friday north of the border, the Illinois-Wisconsin border that is. 40 seconds into their tilt with the Admirals, Nick Leddy scored. But as it always is with the Hogs, the penalties they take cost them, and the ones they don’t cash in on cost them. A dumb roughing infraction from Wade Brookbank, and then a Brandon Saad high-sticking double minor saw the Admirals into the lead before the 1st was over. Both PP goals came from Gabriel Bourque and were off of scrambles in front of the net, in case you thought the Hogs were any better at clearing the crease than the Hawks. Oh and the Milwaukee power play was one of the worst in the league before this night.

Everything Else

One Out Of Three Is Only Good In Baseball

By Sam Fels 1344 0

The Hogs embarked on their first three-in-three stretch this past weekend. And it didn’t go so well. One win, two losses, and out of first place to Grand Rapids. You would have wanted more.

It started out ok. Friday night saw the return of Yippy Carter Hutton, who three second period goals on six shots from Milwaukee in the second period. That canceled out a pretty Rob Flick opener,  where he came down the right wing – his off-wing – cut to the middle and blistered one past Jeremy Smith.

And then it went nuts in the 3rd period. The Hogs exploded for four goals, two of them Ben Smith deflections on the power play. Brandon Pirri added another one, and Marty St. Pierre finished it off with an empty-netter before raising his long stick in the air and knocking out a couple light bulbs.

Then it went pear-shaped.

Everything Else

Your NHL-less Weekend Guide and Thread

By Sam Fels 1367 0

I should have been clearer with this in previous versions, but these weekend guides are for you to discuss whatever you want in them. Anyway…

Friday Night

Bulls v. Pistons – I’ll admit I totally forgot the Detroit Pistons still existed. Do they really, though?

Michigan State v. Notre Dame (Hockey) – This one’s on NBCSN, and you can use the time to take a look at Stephen Johns if you’re so inclined.

Minnesota v. Colorado College – If you have a Dish you can get this one, and these are two top ten teams at the moment.

Everything Else

Pigs In Zen

By Sam Fels 1466 0

Well, we thought — or maybe we just hoped — that at this point we’d be paying attention to a first place team. If you squint real hard, we are. This weekend, with two wins in Charlotte over what was supposed to be a pretty fierce AHL squad, the Rockford Icehogs are in 1st place in the Midwest Division. Yes, they’ve played at least two more games than their immediate chasers, and their point total would only land them sixth or seventh in the conference if they weren’t leading the division. But considering how bad the Hogs have been in the past few years, this is clearly a step forward. Of course, if the top club ever deigns to give us hockey again, the engine on this little revival will probably be ripped out. But hey, it’s more fun to talk about a winning team, no matter what level you’re referring to.

So, to the recaps then.

Everything Else

A Bit Like Prison: Hogs 4 – Wolves 2

By Sam Fels 1543 0

This is how we used to do it, right? Game at night, and then none of us can get it together for a wrap until the next morning? I’m just trying to get it down again in case I ever have to go back to doing this regularly.

It was a strange feeling last night out at Rose-Mizon. Other than the few dedicated Wolves fans (some of whom are just a bit weird, I’m sorry. I get it if you’ve sworn off the Hawks for past indiscretions and the greater affordability and access of the Wolves. That’s fine. But to the point where you buy and wear a Canucks jersey? I mean, come on! You don’t have to be a Hawks fan to know how inherently wrong that is. I know you’re trying to thumb your nose at the establishment, but that’s just thumbing your nose at common sense and decency), there was a sense that everyone else would rather be somewhere else.

The players want to be in the Big Time, most of the fans want to be at the UC, the press would have rather been covering the NHL, and we’re all just kind of here because we can’t be anywhere else.

Everything Else

What’s This? An Actual Game Preview? You’re Serious?: Hogs at Wolves

By Sam Fels 1065 0

@

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM
TV: CN100

You’re fuckin’ eh right it is. I miss doing these, and game posts are what I do best. So I’m going to fucking do one today, and then there’ll be an actual wrap either tonight or in the morning. Hopefully, it’ll remind us why we’re all here in the first place. But then that just might make us angrier that we aren’t doing this regularly. But fuck it. I’m tired of coming up with shit that you don’t even want to really read anyway. And I’m going to swear even more!

What could I possibly be writing about? Why, it’s the Rock River Swine visiting the O’Hare Annex Lupus (I have a fear of Wolves). That’s right, it’s the battle of….Northern Illinois? I guess Peoria is south enough to not be in that category, right? Let’s go with it.

Everything Else

What's This? An Actual Game Preview? You're Serious?: Hogs at Wolves

By 1030 0

@

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM
TV: CN100

You’re fuckin’ eh right it is. I miss doing these, and game posts are what I do best. So I’m going to fucking do one today, and then there’ll be an actual wrap either tonight or in the morning. Hopefully, it’ll remind us why we’re all here in the first place. But then that just might make us angrier that we aren’t doing this regularly. But fuck it. I’m tired of coming up with shit that you don’t even want to really read anyway. And I’m going to swear even more!

What could I possibly be writing about? Why, it’s the Rock River Swine visiting the O’Hare Annex Lupus (I have a fear of Wolves). That’s right, it’s the battle of….Northern Illinois? I guess Peoria is south enough to not be in that category, right? Let’s go with it.

Everything Else

Rock River Swine Weekly

By Sam Fels 1529 0

I feel like talking about some actual hockey. How about you? Yeah, let’s do that.

While you weren’t paying attention, or just bemoaning the current situation, the Winnebago County Bacon Bits have reeled off three wins in a row. They’re even over .500 if you can believe that. More to the point, despite what Tim Sassone hasn’t bothered to learn, they’re getting contributions from the forwards you want to see make those contributions.

This little mini-streak started last Wednesday on the Rock River against Peoria.