Tag: NHL

  • TXHT Jersey Share – Going Old School

    TXHT Jersey Share – Going Old School

    Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls welcome to another edition of TXHT Jersey Series. Today we go old school with this vintage 1994 Washington Capitals jersey.

     

    Capitals Home White 1994.jpg

     

    This one is a special one in my collection as I had never truly owned any of the old school red, white, and blue jerseys as a kid, though I did have a Kevin Hatcher shirsey during the Capitals 20th Anniversary Season, so when CCM started doing the NHL Vintage series I knew picking up a Capitals retro jersey was a must.

     

    Got a hockey jersey in your collection you’d like to share? Let us know, and we can add it to our TXHT Jersey Share series.

  • TXHT Jersey Share – Playing with the Devil

    TXHT Jersey Share – Playing with the Devil

    Today for the TXHT Jersey Share series we have a jersey that has seen some damage through playing but with the name on the back of this one, you can’t blame the rough stuff.

     

    Devils Home Red Stevens 2004 Front.jpg

     

    This jersey I bought either right before the year long lockout, or during it. I can’t remember, but I do know that it was $50 at my local Modell’s in Germantown, MD, weird I know, and it was between Scott Stevens or Martin Brodeur.

     

    Devils Home Red Stevens 2004 Back

     

    I chose Stevens being how for one he is a former Washington Capital, but also because I liked Stevens as a player more than Brodeur. Also given at the time I was playing defense more than I was at forward, having the jersey of a defenseman to wear made logistical sense. So logical that I accidently cut up one of the sleeves when falling down during a practice *laughs*.

     

    Got a hockey jersey in your collection you’d like to share? Let us know, and we can add it to our TXHT Jersey Share series.

  • TXHT Jersey Share – Camp of Development

    TXHT Jersey Share – Camp of Development

    Ladies and Gentlemen, oys and girls welcome to another edition of the TXHT Jersey Share series. For today’s jersey we have one that was procured from the 2012 Washington Capitals Development Camp and is a part of Michael’s collection.

     

    Capitals Training White 2016 Front.jpg

     

    Michael: So for this edition of TXHT Jersey Share I wanted to go with my one and only Development Camp jersey which I bought at one of the Washington Capitals Fan Fests from a few years ago. This jersey belonged to Aaron Gens, and I picked up this jersey for a few reasons. For one, who wouldn’t want an official practice worn jersey by a player? I mean sure Gens never made it to the NHL, but the fact it was worn during a Capitals official Development Camp is really cool. Secondly, I really wanted a jersey that I could wear when I play ice hockey. Obviously a regular replica could always suffice, but if you’ve ever tried wearing one of those over your equipment when you buy in a size that you wouldn’t normally when playing, but for casual wear it can be a really tight fit. So getting a jersey that could fit over my equipment was obviously an important factor for me. However, the biggest I got it was because of the number on the back.

     

    Capitals Training White 2016 Back

     

    That’s right. The number 75, which is the number that I wear when I play, and have been since 2001. However, the story behind the number will be told another time, as when I talk about a specific jersey it’ll be more of the personal nature.

     

    Overall, this is a really cool jersey. The few times I’ve worn it playing ice hockey it’s breathed easily and was a comfortable fit making it a really solid addition to my collection.

     

    Got a hockey jersey in your collection you’d like to share? Let us know, and we can add it to our TXHT Jersey Share series.

  • TXHT Jersey Share – A Capital Kickoff

    TXHT Jersey Share – A Capital Kickoff

    Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls welcome to the debut of the TXHT Jersey Share series! The TXHT Jersey Share series is something that we will be doing this offseason for our entertainment, and is an opportunity for us to share our jersey collections with all of you along with some fun stories about our jerseys.

     

    Starting off the series will be one of Michael’s 50+ jerseys as he talks about his Washington Capitals Military Camouflage Jersey.

     

    Capitals Military 2016.jpg
    Size: Large – Replica

     

    Michael – So yea this cool that we are doing this, and I’d like to apologize in advance for taking over this entire series as I think I have the most jerseys out everyone, though Dickson and maybe even Nathaniel could rival me on that claim, so at least we’re going to have a lot of great stories to tell and jerseys to share.

     

    So to kick off the TXHT Jersey Share series I elected to start off with my Capitals Military Camouflage jersey, and it’s also fitting to start with this jersey as today is Fourth of July. Funny thing though. I actually bought this jersey not because it’s Military Camouflage, nor as a way to “support our troops”, but actually because I really like how it looks.

     

    Now before some people jump on me for what I just said, I want to state that this is not a political post, and politics will not be discussed. It’s a jersey article. Let’s keep it that way please. 🙂

     

    So I honestly don’t remember what seasons this specific jersey was used by the NHL, but of all of the Military Appreciation jerseys they have done this one has always been my favorite. The reason for that is because of just how it looks aesthetically. The Digital Camouflage I’ve always liked, and how it was incorporated along with the team logos being a color that didn’t take away from the jersey itself, it just really meshes well. So with that said I wanted to get it for my collection. It’s also one of the very few Capitals jerseys I will wear when I do stick n shoot sessions or when I play in pickup games.

     

    Got a hockey jersey in your collection you’d like to share? Let us know, and we can add it to our TXHT Jersey Share series.

  • TXHT Year Five is Coming!!

    TXHT Year Five is Coming!!

    “The Xperience Hockey Talk”… Serious Hockey Talk For Serious Hockey Fans. A motto created during the summer of 2015 and with a vision in mind to grow the game of hockey the right way and by talking about the game of hockey by taking the game seriously and looking at it as a way to help educate the masses on the game.

     

    Here we are now. We’ve finished off our fourth season with preparations for the 2019-20 season, our fifth year of covering hockey, underway.

     

    During these first four years we’ve had many ups and downs, but the vision has remained the same. From being on TauRadio, to WBGR and Twitch, to having TXHTHockey.com. TXHT has grown, and year five will be our biggest yet.

     

    Starting tomorrow we will begin our TXHT Jersey Share series which will be released everyday at 10a EST with a new jersey featured. Then in September our 2019-20 NHL Team previews will be released along with the return of the TXHT Podcast previewing the NHL 2019-20 season.

     

    In regards to our Women’s Hockey coverage, TXHT will be expanding it’s coverage of the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL). To go along with TXHT’s continual coverage on the podcast, Michael will now be joining Shaggy covering NWHL games and once the 2019-20 schedule is announced we will have a better idea as to how many games we’ll be covering this upcoming season.

     

    Also TXHT will be adding Scott Fairchild who will be covering Washington Capitals games with Michael. Scott will also be doing occasional New Jersey Devils coverage throughout the season. Also Shaggy will be doing occasional Carolina Hurricanes coverage throughout the season as well.

     

    There will be more things that we will be announcing, but those will be announced at a later time, including an idea that was attempted in our second year that we want to bring back.

     

    TXHT is going to be five years old this September, and we can’t wait for the ride to continue this fall. It’s going to be a great year.

  • TXHT Podcast 2018-19 Season Finale

    TXHT Podcast 2018-19 Season Finale

    The TXHT podcast is back with Serious Hockey Talk for Serious Hockey Fans!

     

    Part 1:

     

    Michael is joined by Russell Hartman and Aryan Weisenfeld as they talk about the St. Louis Blues, playing with injuries, the 2019 NHL Draft, and some rambling amongst friends.

     

    Part 2:

     

    For our final part of the 2018-19 Season Finale for the TXHT Podcast Michael is joined by Nate Oliver as they talk Women’s Hockey and the crazy offseason that it has had this Spring/Summer.

     

    The TXHT Podcast will be returning in September.

     

    This week’s episode was recorded on Tuesday June 25th, and Tuesday July 2nd, 2019.

    Opening Music: “Human Chess” by Crimson Orchid

     

    Have a question you want answered on the show? Ask us! Comment on here or on one of our Social Media outlets, and we’ll answer it.

  • Free Agent Frenzy – Capitals Sign Panik, Hathaway and Two Others.

    Free Agent Frenzy – Capitals Sign Panik, Hathaway and Two Others.

    Yesterday was July 1st where it is internationally known as Canada Day, or as us hockey fans know it, Free Agent Frenzy Day.

     

    Yesterday on the first official day of Free Agency their were many huge signings like Artemi Panarin to the New York Rangers and Sergei Bobrovsky to the Florida Panthers, but what did the Capitals do? Which is a great question given the holes they have to fill.

     

    The Capitals did not wait long as they inked forward Richard Panik to a four year deal worth $11 million.

    Panik, 28, recorded 14 goals and 33 points in 75 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season. He has also spent time with Tampa Bay, Toronto and Chicago.

     

    Panik is slated to play on the Capitals third line with Carl Hagelin and Lars Eller.

     

    Then an hour later they would sign forward Garnet Hathaway to a four year deal worth $6 million.

    Hathaway, 27, recorded 11 goals for 19 points in 76 games with the Calgary Flames last season. 2018-19 season would be career highs for him in both goals and points.

     

    Hathaway is slated to play on the Capitals fourth line with with Nic Dowd.

     

    Then the Capitals would sign minor league center Philippe Maillet to a two year, two way contract with an AAV of $700k.

     

    Then to end the day of signings for the Capitals, they would sign forward Brendan Leipsic to a one year $700k deal for the 2019-20 season.

    Leipsic, 25, recorded 7 goals and 23 points in 62 games with the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks last season, setting career highs in both goals and points. He has also spent time with Toronto and Vegas.

     

    This is the most interesting signing as one would have assumed that either Chandler Stephenson or Travis Boyd would take the last fourth line spot, but as of this writing it is Leipsic who is slated to be on the fourth line with Dowd and recently signed Hathaway.

     

    Also the Capitals re-signed goalie prospect Vitek Vanecek to a three year deal yesterday.

     

    TXHT will continue to cover NHL Free Agency and other offseason moves which you can follow with our Official Offseason Tracker.

  • Trade News: Capitals Trade Burakovsky to the Avalanche

    Trade News: Capitals Trade Burakovsky to the Avalanche

    Today in NHL news the Washington Capitals have traded forward and Restricted Free Agent (RFA) Andre Burakovsky to the Colorado Avalanche for Colorado’s second round pick in 2020, Arizona’s third round pick in 2020 (previously acquired by Colorado in the Carl Soderberg trade earlier this week), and minor league forward Scott Kosmachuk.

     

    For both the Capitals and Burakovsky this has been a long time coming and is best for both parties. While the Capitals have been patient in working with Burakovsky and his development, that patience has run out as Burakovsky has never been able to bring consistency to his game which has resulted in being healthy scracthed at times to have the message sent to him that he can be better.

     

    Also for Burakovsky a fresh start somewhere else was also needed. He will have an opportunity to grow his game in a new atmosphere with a team that is hungry to win in the Avalanche. Plus the idea of Andre Burakovsky with the likes of a Gabriel Landeskog or Nathan MacKinnon doesn’t sound bad either.

     

    Now in return for the Capitals they were able to receive two draft picks in next year’s draft, as well as minor leaguer Scott Kosmachuk who will be a free agent on July 1st. the Capitals also freed up Cap Space going into Free Agency so they can re-sign some key players and see what other additions could be possibly out there to sign.

     

    For a trade that should have done months ago, it has finally happened. Both parties benefit from this trade, and that’s why this trade is good solid one for the Capitals and Avalanche.

  • 2019 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees

    2019 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees

    Yesterday the 2019 hockey Hall of Fame class has finally been decided on and announced. This year’s class features one of the greatest Canadian women’s hockey players, a 2-time time Stanley Cup champion defenseman from Russia, a former Montreal Canadiens great, a Czech player who defected from the other side of the “Iron Curtain”, and two builders who helped build and shape their respective teams. Here at TXHT, we are proud to share with you the 2019 hockey Hall of Fame class which is:

     

    Haley Wickenheiser- the 7th Canadien woman to be inducted into the HHOF & a winner of seven world championships and four Olympic gold-medals

     

    Sergei Zubov- put up 888 career points in the NHL in 1,232 career games as a defenseman. Zubov also on the Stanley Cup twice once for the New York Rangers and on the second time for the Dallas Stars

     

    Guy Carbonneau- a three time Stanley Cup champion, once with the Dallas Stars in 1999 & twice with the MontrĂ©al Canadiens in 1986 & 1993. Carbonneau was also a three time Selke trophy winner as the league’s best defensive forward

     

    Vaclav Nedomansky- was the first European player to deflect from the other side of the “Iron Curtain” started in the World Hockey Association and went on to record 278 points in 421 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, St Louis Blues, and Rangers. Also helped Czechoslovakia win the silver medal at the 1968 Olympics & win the 1972 World Championships

     

    Jim Rutherford- known for being the longtime general manager of the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins. Rutherford went on to win the Stanley Cup Championships As a general manager in 2006, 2016, & 2017

     

    Jerry York- known for coaching college hockey programs such as Bowling Green and Boston College to five national titles and currently has the most wins of any active NCAA Division I men’s hockey coach.


     

    Congrats to the class of 2019… very well deserved class of all time greats!

  • Brooks Orpik Announces Retirement After 15 Seasons

    Brooks Orpik Announces Retirement After 15 Seasons

    Today Washington  Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik announced his retirement after playing for 15 seasons.

     

    Orpik, who was drafted 18th overall in 2000 by the Pittsburgh Penguins, would spend the first 10 seasons of his career with the Penguins before signing with the Capitals on July 1st, 2014 to a five year contract.

     

    With both the Penguins and Capitals Orpik would capture two Stanley Cups, the first coming in 2009 with Pittsburgh when they defeated the Detroit Red Wings in seven games. Then with the Capitals in 2018 when they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

     

    On the International stage, Orpik represented the United States on multiple occasions, including the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2000, the 2006 IIHF World Hockey Championship as well as the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Orpik was a key defender on the 2010 US Olympic Team as they would win silver in Vancouver that year.

     

    Statement from the Washington Capitals: 

    “On behalf of the entire Washington Capitals organization, we would like to congratulate Brooks on a terrific NHL career. Throughout his tenure in the league, Brooks epitomized leadership and hard work. He had a tremendous influence on his teammates both on and off the ice and was instrumental in helping us capture our first Stanley Cup. We thank Brooks for the impact he had across the organization and the Washington, D.C., community over the course of five seasons and wish him, his wife Erin, and daughters Harlow and Brooklyn all the best.”

     

    Orpik’s impact in Washington was felt by all, and the love and support from his teammates was evident as some of his teammates had the following to say about him.

     

    Alex Ovechkin

    “Batya was a great leader in our locker room and was so important for us to win our first Stanley Cup. We will miss his presence in the room and on the ice. Not only was he a great leader and a player, but he was a better person. I’m so happy I had a chance to play with him and for our young guys to have had the chance to learn from him. I want to wish him, Erin and his kids the best. We will miss him and the Batya protein shakes!”

     

    Nicklas Backstrom

    “Brooks was one of the best leaders I’ve had the chance to play with in my career. It is difficult to find a better teammate, and a player who worked harder and enjoyed the game as much as Brooks. We all learned from Brooks and he made his teammates better every day. It was a pleasure playing with him and I wish him and his family all the best.”

     

    John Carlson

    “I had the great opportunity to see up close how impactful Brooks was for our team. Spending time as his defensive partner and playing alongside Brooks was something that I will always cherish. He showed his teammates the importance of hard work, accountability and always being there for your team every time he stepped on the ice. We all learned from Brooks; he was our role model and he made us better. I wish him and his family all the best!”

     

    We here at TXHT would like to congratulate Brooks Orpik on a fantastic NHL career, and that we wish him the best in everything he does in the future.

     

    *Feature Graphic courtesy of the NHLPA