Yep, we're taking a break too. So just use this as your thread for the Skills competition and game, if you're bored enough to watch either. In fact, I'll even waive the OT rules for this one.

My way your way anything goes in this thread.

Friend of the program and site Ken Oda asked me to post this to promote the NAHL team he covers out in the burbs. We're always happy to help local hockey.

Hello SCH community, you may or may not remember me, I used to frequent the threads as TK0 and while I haven’t been in the treads much this year I still read SCH daily. The reason I don’t really post anymore is twofold. First, I’m a season ticket holder so I’m at several of the games. Second, is that for the last two seasons I have been the play-by-play voice of the Chicago Hitmen of both the NAHL and NA3HL, and after countless solo broadcasts its kind of nice to watch a game and not have to have a thought.

Anyways I, like Sam and many others, have long believed in the "one big hockey family" concept and the Hitmen need your help. After playing last season in Rolling Meadows, we’ve moved to the Fox Valley Ice Arena, in Geneva, IL. The move was based on promises by the arena that were not kept, and as a result the organization is struggling financially.

As for the level of play in the NAHL, this certainly isn’t just an overgrown youth team. The NAHL is the only Tier 2 junior league in the US. Brandon Saad (yes that one) was the ’08-’09 rookie of the year playing for the Mahoning Valley Phantoms. There are several current NHL players who are NAHL alum though many are admittedly annoying such as John Scott, Cam Jassens, and George Parros, others are talented players: Mike Knuble, Thomas Vanek, David Legwand and James Wisniewski (the last 2 of which are both talented and annoying). Goalies Ryan Miller, Tim Thomas, and Craig Anderson, also all played in the NAHL. The Hitmen this year have several players being looked at by D1 colleges and we have 2 players in the top 25 in scoring.

I could go on and on about the great kids who play for us. They’ve given up a ton to get to this level and each dreams of playing in college and eventually the NHL. A few of the guys are from the surrounding suburbs, most are from out of state, and a one has come all the way from Tokyo to chase his dream. Many of the off ice staff also hope to one day work in the NHL and are working for free or close to it to build resumes. On the ice we’ve admittedly struggled this season thanks to youth and injuries; but we’re finally almost healthy and looking to a have strong finish. We would love to have the home ice advantage that would come with having more people in the stands.

While finding sponsors would be great I’m not asking for handouts. I’m just asking that if you’re in the western suburbs you come to a game and check us out. For $9 you can sit on the glass. We create a family atmosphere on game day and every player is made available right after the game for autographs for kids. For the adults, I can promise you won’t be paying NHL prices for beer. We play 8 home games before the Blackhawks return to the UC and 5 more after that, all of them on weekends. The players deserve the support, and all it takes is coming and watching the game you love.

For more info go to chicagohitmenhockey.com or email me at koda@chicagohitmenhockey.com

Thank you and Go Blackhawks.

Ken Oda, Media Director, Chicago Hitmen Hockey Club

Your What Jason Spezza Probably Thinks Was 'A Tribute to Jason Spezza' Night roundup and other league-wide notables.

• Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, and good old Brian Campbell are on the same ASG team. [Tribune] [CSN]
• Joey the Junior Reporter takes his investigative chops to Ottawa. [PuckDaddy]
• So what does $211,828,708 of All-Star look like exactly? [Hockey Broad]
• Opinion: Put the All-Star Game out of its misery. Your thoughts? [Globe]
• The Central Division's going to be bloody to the very last. [Cheer the Anthem]
• In that vein, here's how the East and the West look going into the break. [Sporting News]
• Proteau has an in-depth and fairly revealing interview with NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr. [The Hockey News]
• Jonathan Toews was named to Business Week's Power 100 Athletes. [BusinessWeek]
• American Junior level teams consider ban on fighting. [Globe]
• Marty Turco signs to remain with EC Red Bull Salzburg. [EC Red Bull Salzburg] [PD]

Rumor has it Toews will be rehabbing his hand/wrist/whatever injury in warmer climes. Good for you, Cap. Get some rest: With a nine-game road trip on the docket immediately after the break, and a remaining schedule heavy with division foes and contenders, you're going to need it (and we're going to need you). Now where did I put that salt shaker...

Bowman sat down with NHL LIVE yesterday, appointed to advise USA Hockey (CSN Chicago)

Hossa is getting noticed on the ice and off it (Sun-Times)

Smith, Pirri do the Rockford shuffle during the break (Trib)

Blackhawks.nhl.com takes a look at Blackhawk All-Stars through the years

The Trib's Chris Kuc and Steve Rosenbloom throw out their mock All-Star drafts (it's slim pickings out there,folks)

Smokey's All-Star Edition of Players of the Week (Madhouse Enforcer)

A little nothing 'bout everything in this edition of Third Man In radio

Rock River Times' Tales from the Trough

The Commish gives his "state of the league" to NHL.com

Lidstrom's streak broken by flu, may be human after all (NHL.com)

Nittymaki placed on waivers; Subban trade rumors

Leafs ink John-Michael Liles to four-year extension

m I just wanted to pass along a quick note. I got an email from St. Louis Gametime last night conveying just how blown away they've been by the response from you all here and your contributions to The Clarence Fund. So from them and me, a hearty thank you. If you haven't gone there and donated yet, please do. They're not asking for much, and anything you can chip in will be greatly welcomed.

There are times when I need reminding just how cool it is to be part of the Hawks and hockey community. You all have reminded me with such fervor that I doubt I'll forget for a very long time. So I thank you for that.

Blackhawks news and other hockey notables.

• Recaps. [nhl.com] [Tribune] [CSN] [ESPN] [Third Man In] [Cheer the Anthem] [Hockeenight] [MyFoxChicago]
• A goal and 17 out of 20 face-offs is pretty shiny. [Tribune]
• It's the All-Star break, thank goodness. Time to reload. [CSN]
• Friedman's 30 Thoughts. [CBC]
• At 80, McMurtry's still fighting violence in the NHL. [Globe]
• Here' a fascinating look at O-Zone starts among top scorers. [CBSSports]
• End coach interviews during games. [Puck the Media]
• The All-Hurt All-Star defensemen present a myriad of ailments for your entertainment. [The Score]
• The roof caves in at a rink in Slovakia. [PD]
• DGB's Optimist's Guide to non-playoff teams. [Down Goes Brown]
• John Kerry sports two black eyes at the White House after a "friendly game of hockey." [The Score]

Ok, deeeeeeeeeeeeep breaths. Deep breaths people. Yes, the Hawks are now in 4th place in the division, and 6th in the conference. But they still have 64 points in 50 games. They're still 8 points better than they were through 50 games last year, and the Riders of Rohan have seen the beacons, as Toews and Sharp should be back soon after the All Star break, which also speaks nothing of the cap room that Stan Bowman has available to hide the multitude of problems that have plagued this team from Day 1.

In all honesty, I actually thought the Hawks looked fairly solid this evening, all things considered. However, the already slim margin for error gets even slimmer with two 20 goal scorers out of the lineup, and the Preds do what they always do, which is kick your dick in when you make a mistake. There was a diet version of a 3rd period rally, but a too many men penalty late squelched any hopes of a furious onslaught in the dying seconds. Preds 3, Hawks 1. On to the farewell bullets.

Observations

• It was nice to see that extra stitching on Marian Hossa's sweater didn't weigh him down much. Whenever he was on the ice he mattered because he had to.
• The Preds' second goal was a textbook example of everything wrong with the second pairing. Leddy got outworked and outmuscled in the corner, which allowed Patric Hornqvist to kick the puck to the slot, where Mr. Carrie Underwood was allowed once again by Niklas Hjalmarsson to shoot unimpeded at Corey Crawford. Something's got to give here, and I don't think it's going to be Leddy's ass on the line.
  
• Hey Crow, rather than throwing a tantrum after a goal, how about you worry about controlling those rebounds or keeping pucks actually in you catch glove. Ask the guy who shot the puck during the second break about glove work if you need to.
  
• The Corsi numbers show the Hawks being all over the Preds, which backs up the eye test. Granted Pekka Rinne is the hottest goalie in the league backing up/propelling the hottest team in the league, but the Hawks didn't make things entirely that difficult for Rinne, who rarely had to make a second save or stop anything with his blocker or glove, which is were those Toews and Sharp guys just might have come in handy. But watch all of the beat writers tell everyone that the Hawks were flat and lacked a spark or some other under-informed thoughtless bullshit.
  
• Keith and Seabrook each played over 27 minutes tonight. Why wouldn't they, they're getting a week off, right?
  
• Naturally, Pat Foley unleashes his inner meatball on air and spat up a stat saying that Viktor Stalberg has only 2 hits in his last 6 or 7 or whatever games. He did mention that he had 7 points in that span, but he reiterated that Vik needed to pick it up and HIT SOMEBODY, effectively calling Stalberg a panty waist.
• Boy, that Montador/Yip bout sure sparked the Hawks, didn't it?
• The PK was actually pretty solid tonight against the league's second best unit, and gave the Hawks a chance to stay in the game. I'm going to go ahead and give them a pass for empty netter that will count as a power play goal in the end.
• Even with Toews out, the Hawks dong whipped the Preds at the dot, winning 38 and losing 22.
• Any time you're ready, Kaner.
• Michael Frolik was scratched. Did anyone really notice?
• Five rookie forwards dressed and a back-breaking too-many-men penalty at the end? I'm shocked.
• So it's not ideal, but nothing is fucked. Far from it. This off time needs to be taken to rest, get healthy and tighten things up defensively. Of the remaining 32 games, 10 are against the 3 teams ahead of the Hawks in the division. There will be plenty of opportunity to take some initiative within the division and the conference.