As you can see, Dawn went behind my back and for 3 months worked with our wedding cake designer on this masterpiece. To say I was shocked would be an understatement - it was so cool to see my passion and my love of Hockey portrayed in a yummy frosting covered lump of cakey goodness!!! Dawn spent quite some time with our cake decorator, going back and forth trying to get the right look and she really wanted it to be “perfect!” I’ll tell ya, there is NOTHING more perfect than being surprised with a San Jose Sharks Puck cake! I cant believe she was able to keep this a secret for so long - in my eyes, it was absolutely pure perfection.

If you have a story like this, or if you have ever had a cake of Hockey … Lemme know, shoot me an email and tell me your story - Send some pictures and I’ll post them up here on this new thread!

Sandi Lincoln was born and raised in North Iowa and now lives in Mason City, Iowa with her husband and four sons.  Sandi and her family are extremely active in area sports, especially Hockey!  If you were to try to describe Sandi in one sentence you would have trouble (unless you could use one sentence at a time).  Some people who know Sandi have said this: “Really funny,” “Heart of pure gold,” “Energetic, enigmatic, magnanimous, kind lady.”  The first time I talked to Sandi on the phone it was very easy to see just how truly great she is.  Even if you don’t know Sandi well, all of these characteristics come out almost immediately from the moment you say “hi” to her.

Sandi also volunteers her time with the Red Cross as their Information Public Officer and other non-profit organizations around Iowa.  One of her greatest contributions was during the Iowa flood, she coordinated food for all the police officers and firemen and other volunteers who were helping out.  Sandi is always on the forefront of giving, if she cant do something for someone in need, I am pretty sure she will know who can and she has no problem calling them in for support.  Sandi is also involved in Relay for Life. It was her idea to have “Little Black Dress Night” at a local bar where she helped raise money for cancer research while throwing a classy party!  There were celebrity bartenders from around town, women in little black dresses and men in suits and ties.  They had raffles and a DJ, and champagne for everyone.  Leave it to Sandi to turn something that is already a great cause and a great reason to raise money and make it even better by evolving it into an amazing party!

Sandi’s day job is as a real estate agent working for Century 21 Preferred.  You can visit Sandi’s website and learn more about her at www.sandilincoln.com

“Not only do you get ME when I am your realtor, but you also get the entire Century 21 Preferred Team who are some of the top sales people in Iowa. I am not shy to ask my talented colleagues for their help and they don’t hesitate to assist me! It’s a Win/Win!!!  I have many goals for the years to come, but the one goal I work on constantly is to keep learning. I want to give my clients the edge. I like to think of myself as the Jerry Maguire of REAL ESTATE! As your agent, I’ll “Show You The Money!!”"

SANDI’S CORE VALUES:
Live by the “Get By Giving” philosophy
Make my client’s #1 goal, my #1 goal
Live up to my standards, despite temptations to lower them
Be willing to work toward a common good - Do what I say I will do, sometimes more, just never less.

I was able to get Sandi to sit still for 3 minutes and answer 3 quick questions for me … here is what she had to say!

How long have you been involved with hockey?
I’ve loved hockey since 1990 basically getting exposed to it through the USHL. There was not a lot of hockey on TV in Iowa! It wasn’t until 1999 that my boys started hockey and its been the center of our lives since then.

Who are your favorite 3 teams?
St Louis Blues; Philadelphia Flyers; and Minnesota Wild

How does it feel to be an “Official Hockey Mom” now?
Its a wonderful honor to be an “Official Hockey Mom”.  I’ve always been proud to be a hockey mom!  Its thrilling to watch your babies learn to skate and to develop skills.  Then to watch them score and check!  I am blessed with very talented players that work really hard!  I am most proud that they share the glory, as proud of an assist as with a goal and also they will not smack their stick around like poor sports! (Hubby and I don’t approve and they know it!!).  “Hockey Moms” gained some notoriety this year with the election and Gov Palin, but thank god she is not VP and we can try to redeem ourselves!  She certainly did not represent our views!  In one day we raised thousands of dollars for “Hockey Moms for Obama”!  Soooo relieved about that!  We were offended to be called pitbulls with lipstick.  Hockey Moms are very dedicated; driving our players to tournaments through blizzards (happens nearly weekly) and sitting in arena’s where its warmer outdoors!  There is a special place in heaven for us just for traveling with their gear!  Ha!  We are loving and gracious and are too classy to drop our “gloves”.  Let that happen on the ice - so to speak!  Sarah Palin can only speak for herself.  I am hoping to change the image she has given “hockey moms”.  If Anna Kournikova married Sergei Fedorov and had a baby, that’s the kind of hockey mom we wouldn’t mind being associated with!!!  As this hockey season is now underway, I am thankful that I have many many more years of this as my youngest hockey player graduates from high school in 2020 and he has every intention of playing in the NHL! (Seriously google Hunter Lincoln!! Ha) Wow sounded totally like a hockey mom!! Oh yeah!

So there you have it … Sandi Lincoln is NOW The Daily Deke and The Weekly Deke’s OFFICIAL Hockey Mom!  Follow her on Twitter - @SandiLincoln  and you can also find her on FaceBook!

• Tampa trades Brad Richards to the Dallas Stars. Richards struggled in 07-08 and finished with 62 points, well below is 91 mark from 05-06, and a painful +/- of -25. However, Richards is still 28 years old and he’s still the guy that led them to a Stanley cup a few years ago. Richards’ off year, though the entire team was pretty bad so let’s not forget that, the emergence of Vincent Lecavalier combined with Richards salary to make him expendable. However, in hockey you build down the middle (ask the Ducks how important a second line center really is) and giving up Richards was cushioned by the fact that they won the draft lottery and got Stamkos. Had they not, they would have no one to center their second line. However, the important piece of the puzzle to that trade was Mike Smith, a young goalie with tons of promise. Overall, this trade worked out for Tampa, which is more than I can say for anything else on this list.

• Tampa signs Boyle to a six year extension including a no-trade clause shortly after trading Richards. Boyle was a huge part of the team and they struggled mightily in their transition game when he was hurt last season in a freak accident. It appeared that trading Richards opened up the money to lock-up Boyle long-term.

• Tampa signs Barry Melrose despite other, more experienced and proven coaches on the market. They sign Melrose for publicity, plain and simple. Melrose coached 1.5 seasons if I remember correctly, and led the Kings to the Stanley cup finals in his first year. However, it’s important to note that his team was stacked and included The Great One. The Kings struggled the very next season and Melrose was promptly fired. Melrose was a move to gain more notoriety, not a move to win more games. This is a common thread here.

• After weeks of outright denial in the media Tampa trades away Dan Boyle, after the team struggled to move the puck up the ice without him, by forcing him to waive his no-trade clause by threatening to demote him, which would have punched his ticket to Atlanta. Boyle was sent, along with Lukowhich to the Sharks for Matt Carle, a young d-man who had struggled the previous season but was dynamite his rookie year, Ty Wishart, a top rated defensive prospect still a season or two away from the NHL, and 1^st and fourth round pick. Trading Boyle opened up cap space, but left the team very inexperienced on the back-end and poised for troubles in the transition game.

• Tampa, who’s goaltending and defense destroyed them over the last few seasons, goes out and signs every forward they can find, including the over-rated (and now overpaid) Ryan Malone. To elaborate on my opinion of Malone I thought he was more valuable to the Penguins and their style than any other team. He had chemistry with Malkin. Now he’s reverted back to what he was in Pittsburgh before the breakout year. They do add a veteran goaltending backup in Olaf Kolzig, who has been better than expected this year after a number of mediocre years in Washington. On defense, they get no one.

• They trade Filip Kuba, a solid but unremarkable experienced d-man (who is over performing right now), Alex Picard, a 22 year old highly rated prospect and a first round pick to the Senators for Andre Meszaros. Meszaros is a young d-man who had a great rookie year and struggled mightily throughout his sophomore campaign. So now the Lightning trade away more experience for yet another young player who may end up being good but is still developing. They also might have gotten robbed on this deal since the Sens needed to unload Meszaros after failing to sign him to a long-term deal. Rumors are that Tampa accomplished this trade, however, by threatening the Senators with offer sheets which has left a bad taste in many people’s mouths.

• Steven Stamkos, who was supposed to be the second line center, plays around 9-10 minutes a game and struggles mightily right along with the team. However, since the ownership in Tampa marketed so heavily around Stamkos, they can’t afford to send him to the minors where he’d get more playing time and develop properly. Instead, Stamkos will stay in the NHL, continue to play third line minutes and ultimately be set back by possibly a full season.

• After 16 games, Tampa is at the bottom of the NHL . They have the worst goals per game average in the league by a large margin. Their powerplay ranks 21^st in the NHL. Their penalty kill is 24^th. They allow more shots per game than any team in the NHL. Strangely enough, they are in the middle of the league when it comes to goals allowed. However, that stat can be deceiving. Mike Smith is 4-4-3 in 11 games but with a  sparkling 2.47 GAA and a .929 save percentage. Kolzig’s save percentage is also solid. Those are amazing numbers for such a bad team and without those two goalies, Tampa would easily be even lower in all of those categories (where possible).

• Tampa then trades Matt Carle, acquired in the aforementioned Boyle deal, along with a fourth round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for Steve Downie, a sure to be career third liner, and Steve Eminger, a career underachiever. Matt Carle had been one of their top guys in terms of minutes played and was actually at an even +/- which is impressive considering the horrid nature of their offense. He was also signed to a relatively cheap contract for a few more seasons. Apparently, this was a “salary cutting” move, which seems strange to cut salary on defense. The Flyers absolutely punked the Lightning in this trade.

So what’s the summary? What can we take from all of this? You build a team, you don’t just sign players. You need experience on the back-end not just youth. The NHL is all about the transition game, which is a difficult thing to find. Goaltending saves the day. Barry Melrose is not a coach, he was barely an announcer, and all the theatrics and stabs at garnering attention have brought the Tampa Bay lightning no closer to competing than they were last season. In fact, they may be further from it. The good news for Tampa is that at least they’re guaranteed a few entries into the John Tavares sweepstakes. Of course, they’d be smarter to take defenseman Victor Hedman, but who needs defense anyways.

Tonight I went with all underdogs.  Each team I have in this parlay is not favored to win. Here are the reasons why I chose these three teams:

Tampa Bay plays Detroit … I’ll be at this game to witness that massacre tonight IF Detroit wins.  This will also mark the 17th straight win over the Bolts should Tampa Bay lose!  If Detroit does not play Osgood tonight, Tampa might have a chance.  Osgood is 16-0-0 against Detroit … however, Osgood had a complete meltdown in front of the net during the 3rd period against Pittsburgh on Tuesday night!  We’ll see who Babcock plays, I would love to see Conklin as the net minder tonight.  Small things play in Tampa’s favor, their recent loss to the Panthers (YEA, I KNOW!!!) - Vinny, St Louis and Stamkos all somehow have a lack of goals, assists, points, ANYTHING!  Lecavalier leads the team with only six this season. St. Louis has only three goals, and Stamkos has none in his last six and only two overall.  It’s going to be up to them to pull this one off toinght - plus the fact that either Smith or Kolzig both have SUCKY records against Detroit does not help!  I feel a turn around point for Tampa Bay tonight.  Call it a “gut feeling” - or maybe that’s the pizza from last night … we’ll find out soon enough.

Yotes play the Wild … we’ll see how that plays out Bryzgalov has a 0-5-0 record against the Wild and he was in net last night for their 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets … Gretzky might rest Bryz and put Tellqvist in net tonight.  If Tellqvist is in net … this is a perfect chance for him to show the “Great One” (Gretzky, as if you didn’t know) how really truly awesome he is - Or Not!  The Wild have not lost to the Coyotes since Nov 2006 … Backstrom is sitting with a 7-0-0 record against Phoenix, however, the Wild are staring straight down the barrel of a 2-4-0 record in their last 6.  Another long shot … my faith is in the Coyotes captain Shane Doan!

Leafs play the Oilers in Edmonton … the Oilers are home after an NHL record long 12 games on the road.  Coming in off of a high that beat the Rangers, I am not sure if the Leafs will have what it takes … however in their favor the Leafs have defeated Edmonton 4 out of the last 5 meetings!  One thing standing in the way of Ron Wilson and his Leafs is the rookie in net for Edmonton - Garon has been struggling and Drouin-Deslauriershas taken his place … The 24-year-old rookie was outstanding in both recent contests, making 37 saves in a 2-1 win over the Devils on Sunday and 40 stops to defeat the Rangers 3-2 in a shootout the next day.  Drouin-Deslauriers faced 20 shots in the second period of each game and rose to the challenge, turning aside 39 of those 40 total shots.  Out of these three teams … this wager is the one that worries me … Toronto is looking to turn around their 1-3-1 record and as anyone knows, Ron Wilson likes to send messages to the league.  Tonight would be a good time to send a message … someone wanna let Ron know?  Tell ‘em Brister said so!

So there ya go … don’t go bettin the farm on these lines!

Brian is going to stay with the Ducks for now, he will work as special consultant to CEO Michael Schulman.  Bob Murray, the former Senior VP of Hockey Operations for Anaheim, will have the final word on any hockey decisions in Anaheim. Murray has assumed all responsibilities of the GM as of today.  Murray, the former Chicago Blackhawks’ GM, has been working as Brian’s right hand man this year, he has been involved in all the decision making and according to Schulman and Burke - he is the “man for the job!”

Burke made it clear last week that he was not going to sign a contract extension in Anaheim due to “family considerations.”  I don’t blame the guy … his family is out on the East Coast, he works in Anaheim and travels home 2 weekends a month - No Fun!  According to the article at www.tsn.ca/nhl -

“Sources say Burke will, in this advisory capacity, have the ability to freely negotiate future employment opportunities as a GM in the NHL.  That would pave the way for Burke to be hired as president and GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the days, weeks or months ahead, if the Leafs and Burke so desire. And there is strong reason to believe that is precisely what will happen.”

Although Brian is out of Anaheim he did have some nice things to say about the Ducks organization and his departure -

“This was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make,” Burke said. “I’m comforted that the team is in great hands with Bob Murray and David McNab (assistant GM) in charge.”

Burke’s contract with Anaheim runs through to the end of the season, until then, he is effectively an unrestricted free agent and can begin negotiations as he sees fit.  Anyone else think this was a long time coming?

Larry Brooks article from the New York Post says:

With all the recent focus on hits to the head following last Saturday’s violent collision at the Coliseum in which Doug Weight concussed Brandon Sutter with what is classified as a legal hit in the NHL, it is beyond mind-boggling that notorious repeat offender Chris Pronger was allowed to escape a suspension, let alone a penalty, for the shoulder blow he delivered to Pavel Datsyuk’s head on Wednesday night. 

“Repeat Offender” … Thats right!  Larry goes on to freshen our memory about the two times in the 2007 playoffs when Pronger was suspended for hits to the head.  I, like most of you, probably needed that reminder because the penalty back then was only a one game suspension - Both Times!  We’ll see what the outcry is this time, but I believe Colin Campbell needs to reinvent the NHL disciplinary mindset.

In his article Larry Brooks calls the NHL’s disciplinary system “archaic” and I could not agree more.  Currently, we have one person responsible for handing down the consequences.  Colin Campbell is the NHL’s “Judge, Jury and Excecutioner.”  My suggestion for Colin - create a disciplinary board and oversee it.  Get Gary Bettman and Bill Daly … take a month or so to hold some interviews and put together a 5 person (or 7 person) board.  Plays in question go before the board, the board discusses and the board delivers.  Heck, interveiw ME … I’ll throw my hat in the ring!

Will the NHL ever outlaw any type of hit to the head?  Should all hits to the head fall under one category?  I think before we can answer those questions, we might want to brush up on the rules that are allready in place. 

Here is Chris Prongers hit on Pavel Datsyuk … you be the judge!

This has to be one of the best fights this year … I think this is a perfect example of the passion and commitment the players in this league have!