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[triswykes]

Did you watch the Lightning's loss to the visiting Devils last night? Oy vey.

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Hockey Odyssey, a half-hour magazine show on NHL Network, is airing an episode chronicling a day in the life of the Calder Cup, tonight (Monday, Nov. 24) at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The episode was filmed during the Calder Cup Finals in Wilkes-Barre back in June.

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More on the NY Islanders' goalie coach from Trinidad. Turns out his first NHL student was former ECHL Admiral Steve Valiquette. `Tis a small world.

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San Jose Sharks alternate jersey is pretty dope. But then, with those colors and that logo, it would be hard to mess it up.

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The AHL web site has a feature up on Admirals defenseman Daryl Boyle.

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Ah, the latest episode in ``As the Amerks Turn''...

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Odds 'n ends from a trip to the rink today...

*The souvenir stand will soon be selling a really cool set of 5 pucks honoring the Admirals' 20th anniversary. There's one with the anniversary logo and four others with pictures of standout players from the past. I just took a quick look at them and only recall Rod Taylor and Ajay Baines. I want to say Victor Gervais was on one, but don't hold me to it. You can also buy a case to display the pucks in. All in all, it's a great-looking item.

*Admirals coach Darren Rumble said he feels Steve Downie's 3-game suspension for boarding a Worcester Shark last week was made because of Downie's reputation as much as for the actual foul. Downie, whose history is filled with discipline issues, received a boarding major but nothing more after the foul and Rumble said he may try and speak to the AHL's supervisor of officials and ask him to give Downie more rope.

``We're trying to get the kid to play hard and clean,'' Rumble said. ``But the kid's scared to hit people in some situations because he knows how he's looked at.''

To which I recall the old line about it takes only a moment to earn a reputation but years to change it.

*Good to see Admirals equipment manager Peter Henderson back on duty today after missing the recent road trip because of illness. Hendu even had his faux grumpy persona working, barking at Rumble when he decided to conduct an interview in his equipment room.

*I'm told the Admirals are conducting skills competitions for local hockey players and will have the standouts perform during an intermission at Scope in the future.

* In a promotion I think is outstanding, Tara Wheeler, the current Ms. Virginia, will take shots as a goaltender during the first intermission of Saturday's home game and then (after dolling herself up) sign autographs on the concourse during the second intermission.

Tara played club ice hockey at Penn State and grew up playing in youth hockey organizations in Northern Virginia. That's her below and on the left and in goal for the Nittany Lions in the second photo. Here's a different shot of her and her personal web site is here.

I think you may be surprised at Tara's goaltending skills. Women's hockey is much better than the average sports fan realizes and goaltenders especially aren't too far off their male counterparts. I'm told the people shooting at her will be the Admirals' scratches that night. So if there's a stampede to the trainers' room after Friday's contest, we'll know what's up.

On a serious note, it's going to be great for all sorts of folks to see Tara perform as an athlete and then as a pageant winner. It's not only instructive for the little girls in the crowd, but also for those guys out there who would see Ms. Virginia as only a pretty face.

Here's a little more info on Tara, who even has a military connection, which is good for this region:

Miss Virginia 2008, Tara Wheeler, has lived life defining herself and encouraging others to do the same. She has been an ice hockey goalie since the 3rd grade, was the starting goalie for the Penn State Lady Icers and even got to try out for the women's Olympic team. While at Penn State she was also an Air Force Cadet, completing officer boot camp at the top of her flight, earning her the opportunity to fly a trainer jet. She received an honorable discharge from the Air Force Reserves in 2006.

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The Admirals' Steve Downie is serving a 3-game suspension for boarding an opponent last week. John Wright photo.