Author Archive for The Mayor
Unofficial Mayor of the LA Kings and Staples Center. Find me in section 119, right next to the visiting team tunnel...or come follow me at www.twitter.com/Mayor119 - updates, info and viewpoints for hockey fans. Interviews and more can also be found at www.MayorsManor.com - the thing that keeps me up at nights.
10 Tidbits on the Hockey-n-Wrestling Connection
The ties that bind us…linking NHL teams like the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and LA Kings (among others) with legends of the ring, like Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, Curt Henning and several others. Even a Stanley Cup connection!
10 Tidbits on Kings dman Willie Mitchell
Get to know the LA Kings newest defenseman, Willie Mitchell. It’s a story featuring pickles, long sticks, Don Cherry and the value of endorsements. All made possible due to injuries to Matt Greene and several blueline prospects.
NHL Summer School with Ambroz and Nieto
Last week NHL VP Brendan Shanahan invited 33 of the top prospects for the 2011 NHL Draft to Toronto so they could participate in the NHL’s Research and Development camp. Basically, players were there to test out some propsed rule changes. Hear from two players that were on the ice, get their impressions and opinions on what they liked and disliked. Plus a few notes on who looked impressive.
Interview with Bobby Ryan
Bobby Ryan checked in with The Mayor to talk about the Kings-Ducks rivalry, his friendship with several players on the Kings, the player that “flabbergasted” him at the Olympics, laying a late hit on Oscar Moller…and Drew Doughty’s retaliation. All of this…plus, his thoughts on Canadian hockey fans!
Warming Up for the World Jrs with Kyle Clifford
Kyle Clifford of the OHL’s Barrie Colts (and a top prospect of the LA Kings) checks in with The Mayor to share some stories from his expereince at last weekend’s Team Canada evaluation camp, including his thoughts on several other players in the mix.
High/Low – Interview with Rob Blake
Rob Blake chats with The Mayor about the highs and lows of his 20 year NHL career. They also play word association with a number of his teammates – including Luc Robitaille, Jeremy Roenick, Joe Thornton, Dan Boyle, Tony Granato, Tomas Sandstrom, Kelly Hrudey and more.
Interview with Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne
Marcel Dionne stops by for a chat with The Mayor. They cover the early years in Detroit, why he left, struggling for success in LA, how he ended up in New York…plus Dionne gives his thoughts on several of his teammates, advice for Anze Kopitar and what it takes to put together a great line in hockey.
10 Tidbits on the Kings’ Alex Ponikarovsky
Although the Kings newest addition, Alex Ponikarovsky, may have formerly been known as “The Poni Express”, out in Hollywood…er, Hockeywood…he’ll simply be Poni Boy. Here are 10 Tidbits you may not know about the left wing…with a special twitter twist.
Interview with Robb Stauber
For an organization that five years ago had zero credibility when it came to developing goaltenders, the LA Kings have made quite the turn around. With names like Quick, Bernier, Zatkoff, Jones and Berube the team looks to be set for the foreseeable future. Yet, back in the early 90s the Kings went to the Stanley Cup Finals with Kelly Hrudey, had a Hobey Baker winner in Robb Stauber and a first round pick in Jamie Storr. What went wrong?
Moreau responds to Quinn’s criticism
The Edmonton Oilers are a mess right now, coming off a season that found them at the bottom of the league standings. Then, earlier this week they fired their training staff. In this interview we hear from Chad Moreau – the previous Oilers strength and conditioning coach. He responds to Pat Quinn’s criticisms in the Edmonton papers…and tells some stories about MacTavish, Chris Pronger and the Oilers run to the Stanley Cup finals in 2006. Oh yeah, he also talks about Taylor vs. Tyler too!
L.A. Storm Watch – Trade Winds Picking Up
The season the Kings have been learning how to win. They’ve been learning how to lose. Yet, the team is short on offense and to make the playoffs they need more of it. A trade for a true top six forward needs to be made now, not closer to the trade deadline. Let’s take a look at some of the guys that could help…
When Mullets Were Cool – Kings/Leafs Preview
1993 seems like so long ago – the Ducks were still a movie not a hockey team, Eric Lindros was a promising rookie and Gary Bettman was just named the NHL’s first Commissioner. And the LA Kings were getting ready to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Campbell Conference finals. Five years earlier the hockey world witnessed ‘the trade’ and now they were about to be treated to ‘the series.’ Read on to relive it and see what Melrose, Gilmour, Gretzky and others have to say about the epic seven game series.
Kings Figure Out How(ard) in Detroit
After the recent meeting between the Kings and Red Wings – that resulted in a 2-1 loss for LA, despite putting up 52 shots on goal – the last person many Kings fans wanted to see again was Wings goalie Jimmy Howard. Fortunately, LA won the rematch 3-2 on Saturday in Detroit and in the process the Kings figured out a few things…
ROB BLAKE INTERVIEW: Reflections On LA
Rob Blake can still be a contoversial topic in Los Angeles. Despite being drafted by the Kings and playing in the ‘93 Stanley Cup Finals with the team mere mention of his name still divides Kings fans, some praising him for what he did for the organization – while others hate him for what he did to the organization. He resigned the captaincy after receiving what he thought to be a ‘take it or leave it’ contract offer in 2000. A trade to the Avs, a return to the Kings in 2006 and now with the Sharks…it’s been a long road back to what could be his final trip to the Staples Center tonight.
Terry Murray loves Seals, not Sharks
From the California Seals to the San Jose Sharks, hockey life in Northern California has taken many turns, including the drafting of current LA Kings coach Terry Murray. In this Kings-Sharks preview we quickly look back on how we ended up here.
Interview w/ Andy Murray
Andy Murray went from being a virtual unknown when he was first hired by the Kings to their most successful coach in history. With his team an inury riddled mess he was let go in 2006. Then, it may be a little de ja vu all over again, having just been fired by the Blues last Saturday. Murray chatted with the Mayor as part of a preview of tonight’s Kings-Blues game.
LA Kings: Related to a Rivalry
Great rivals almost always produce great games. Boston College and Boston University may have been playing playing hockey against each other for nearly 100 years, but they’ll meet tonight at Fenway Park for the first time ever. Dozens of LA Kings have been on both sides of the rivalry through the years – from current players like Rob Scuderi to former guys like Kevin Stevens and Brian Boyle. Even Rob Blake has a connection.
Is There A Hockey News Curse?
Players like Joe Thornton, Joe Sakic, Roberto Luongo, John Tavares and Zdeno Chara have been injured or gone into terrible slumps following their appearances on the cover of The Hockey News. Is Anze Kopitar just the the latest example of a new curse?
Interview w/ Ethan Moreau
Latest in a series: Conversations with a Captain – Oilers forward Ethan Moreau spends time with the Mayor, where they cover a wide range of topics…including MacTavish, Pronger, Heatley, Stoll, Greene, the LA Kings, his near nude pics for ESPN, the Olympics, Roenick, Chelios and a whole bunch more.
Kings – Canucks Recap: Is it Luongo?
The Kings have pushed things to 0-3 against the Canucks this season. As we approach the holiday break later this week, there have been plenty of demons exercised over the last two and half months. Yet, they just cant seem to slay the demon that is the Vancouver Canucks. Is it really as simple as Roberto Luongo in net?
Interview w/ Mike Modano
Mike Modano is arguably the greatest American born hockey player of all time. He certainly has the numbers to prove it – with more goals and points than anybody else. In this interview we cover everything from being drafted to winning the cup…from Team USA’s victory at the ‘96 World Cup to what he wants to do when he retires.
Keeping Up with the Joneses
GAME REPORT: Kings defeat Sharks in overtime. THE REAL STORY: For nearly a month now defenseman Randy Jones has been an offensive star for the Kings, even though his primary responsibilities are at the other end of the ice. Oddly enough, he wasn’t even on the team six weeks ago, let alone on the team’s radar at the start of training camp.
Conversely, second year defenseman Drew Doughty came into the season with high hopes…
Interview w/ Kelly Hrudey
Goaltending has historically been one of the weakest parts of the Los Angeles Kings. Current GM, Dean Lombardi, has often talked about the need to build a team from the net out. Hence, the organization’s current focus on developing goaltenders.
After Rogie Vachon left the team in ‘78 it’s been a revolving door of netminders for [...]
