blueline said:
I could have sworn I saw Mrs. Staal on tv at the Canada - USA semifinal game on Wednesday. If so, she is a real jetsetter. They interviewed her (if I am not mistaken) along with Mrs Parent (Ryan's mom). These two kids have played together for several years in Thunder Bay and as juniors (Marc and Ryan). Anyone else see them? I was in the other room when the interview came on but I was pretty sure it was her. Maybe not.
I didn't see Mrs. in Pittsburgh, but I did chat with Mr. Staal in the guest lists lounge area after the game. And yeah, I saw her on tsn, too. At first I thought some lady that was talkin to Mr. Staal was his wife... guess I was wrong. the two looked nothing alike.
BTW- got a story I can share...
Anyways, I got on the guest list because I am friends with Chris Thorburn's family... (my bro was Thorbz best buddy since they were squirts and played hockey together all the way up...) So, anyways, I was chattin' with his older brother Mike about the Pens and his bro and stuff. he brought up a few weeks ago when Chris fought Chris Simon of the NYI's... I said WTF?? is your bro nuts?? and that was right when Chris Thorburn joined us, and the conversation...
So, I heard it from him 1st. Anyways, he said about halfway into the 1st period right after the Penguins went up 2-1 on the Islanders Thorburn found himself lined up with Simon at the face-off. Simon tells Thorbz, 'when the puck drops, we're gonna square off.' Thorbz slightly taken aback by this and says, 'what?'... Simon: 'you heard me. when the play starts, FIGHT ME'... before Thorbz had a chance to think about it, the play is in action and Simon's already got his gloves on the ice and is moving in on Thorbz.
For some that don't know, Simon is perhaps the #1 most intimidating player in the NHL. He doesn't fight often as he doesn't need to. He's gettin' later in his career, but still gets his respect. Thorburn is no pushover either, but he's aliken to more of a Ondrus, Bell, Brown (for leaffans) type of tough guy.
Anyways, Thorburn new he couldn't back down so he jumped right into what he knew to do...they exchanged a few blows back and forth before Simon made good and finished Thorburn off with a couple good shots to his forehead and his nose, which Thorbz admits, is hard to miss... lol.
So after they serve their major PIMs and in the 1st Intermission dressing room Mark Recchi calls Thorburn out into the hallway for a 1on1 speech... Thorburn was scared, he didn't know what he did wrong. To his surprise, Recchi said that he wanted to let him know that the team really appreciates everything he does for them and what he did by fighting Simon was beyond the call of duty. He had Recchi's approval... for that he said he felt like he was on cloud 9... Anyways, he goes back into the dressing room and gets razzed by a few of his teamates about fighting a 'guy that doesn't like to lose fights- and doesn't lose fights...'... and asking him how he walked away from that, let alone unscarred... Anyways, Michel Therrien peeks his head in the dressing room and says 'Thorburn! come out here and see me.' Thorbz goes out and gets more praize from MT and later gets rewarded by playing the 2nd period on a line with Crosby and Malkin.
So anyways, in the 2nd period Thorburn and Simon face off against eachother again, and what did Thorbz do?
he went to Simon and said 'Thank-you. Thank-you for fighting me. I just realized that it was the biggest thing that has happened to me in my career!' Simon replies, 'I know... your welcome.. and welcome to the NHL kid!'
for people that don't know who Thorburn is, he was a marginal AHLer in the Buffalo Rochester system that didn't give up on his dream of playing in the NHL. he worked his way into the position he is in now, after being released by the Rochester Americans...
