Strep Throat and Car Accidents

Strep throat and car accidents make it difficult to play hockey. Grrrrrrr........

East vs. South Valley Independent

JJ is home! Yay! East High is in the summer hockey league playoff hunt and had a game vs. South Valley Independent on Wednesday night. A quick note about independent teams - If you want to play hockey and you attend a high schoool doesn't have a hockey team then you have to play for the independent team in your region.

East High handled South Valley Independent with ease. Final score 9-1 East. JJ had a couple of goals which always makes me happy. Definitely the highlight of the game and quite possibly of the summer was Hayden scoring his FIRST goal! What makes this special is Hayden is a former football player. He played football his entire life until an injury forced him out. As a sophomore, Hayden decided to give hockey a try. Never played hockey, never skated before. Hayden is a riot. He is always in the right place and has had many chances but this time the puck went right in. Congrats Hayden!

Drop-In Hockey.. in Connecticut

JJ is visiting his dad in Connecticut right now. We paid Delta Airlines an extra $105 in excess baggage fees so JJ could take his hockey gear with him. Absoultely worth it! Today JJ played some drop-in hockey with Nick Bonino - Boston Univeristy student and San Jose Sharks 2007 draftee. Gotta love a good mentor!

A few links with information about Nick:

http://goterriers.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/bonino_nick00.html


http://sharks.nhl.com/team/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8474009&service=page&tab=vid

College

Here's a copy of an email JJ recently got from Boston College, Boston Freakin College! Okay so its not a full ride scholarship and and an offer to play 1st line center but its a start.

June 25, 2008

Dear Mr. Ziegler Jr:

Greetings from the Boston College Undergraduate AdmissionOffice! Thank you for your interest in Boston College. I hope you andyour family find time to enjoy the pleasures of summer. If you are beginning to think about the college search process,we would like to welcome you to our campus in the months ahead. The collegeapplication process can be complicated, but an early start will allow you tomake an informed decision about this important next stage in your life. Please go to www.bc.edu/ugadmis to view our complete summer andacademic year campus visit schedule for Eagle Eye Information Sessions andcampus tours. Members of the Undergraduate Admission staff and currentBoston College students are always available to speak informally with youabout the University and the admission process. You will soon receive inthe mail a copy of our new Undergraduate Admission Bulletin. I hope this information is helpful. If my office can assist youin any way, please feel welcome to contact us. Have a wonderful summer.

Sincerely,

John L. Mahoney

Director

Go Fly A Kite

Even hockey players need a vacation. Here's JJ flying a kite on a beach in Maine.

Jagr History Lesson

For many reasons, Jaromir Jagr holds a special place in the hockey hearts of the Stewart/Ziegler family. First of all, he is Ruby's (JJ's grandmother) favorite player. If Ruby loves him, who is to argue? Hockey hair and all she has loved him from the start. Second, his incessant whining in his early years in the NHL helped coin the phrase "Jagr-ing". Most parents tell there kids to "Stop whining" or "Stop being a baby" or "Behave". In our house, it was "Stop Jagr-ing". Finally, I discovered Jagr and I actually had something in common. We both like to gamble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

During the annual Girls Trip to Vegas in the Spring of 2003, Becky and I were watching the Ducks beat the Stars in the sportsbook at the MGM Grand. Brigitte and Shay were gambling away on there favorite slot machines. Not feeling lucky at her current machine, Brigitte decided to take a walk and find a new one. Much to her surprise she ended up walking right behind Jaromir Jagr. Being the sly girl she is, she let him pass her. Then, of course, she followed him. He ended up in the high rollers lounge. Being the kick ass friend she is, she RAN (yes Brigitte RAN) to the sportsbook to tell me the jackpot she had scored. The mission was simple. We had to get an autograph for Ruby. Hello this was Ruby's FAVORITE player! So armed with a pen I headed into the high rollers lounge where I found good 'ol #68 munching at the buffet. Five minutes later I had not one but TWO autographs - "Ruby - Best wishes, Jaromir Jagr #68" and "To JJ - Best wishes, Jaromir Jagr #68". MGM Grand cocktail napkins are good for more than just cocktails. Jagr was funny when I asked for the second autograph for my JJ. He asked me "What is his name?" I replied, "JJ". He said "J J just like me!" I responded, "Yes, just like you. Or course!" With the goods in hand, I ran out of the high rollers lounge and immediately called Ruby. It was welll past midnight in Salt Lake City but this couldn't wait until morning. I told her about the autograph as I tears rolled down my face. I know I am a total dork. But hey, if you know Ruby, you know she deserves the world.

Check out JJ's autograph!!

Jagr no longer a Ranger. Now he's a Russian? Huh?

How does a guy from the Czech Republic become a Russian? Okay he's not actually becoming a Russian citizen. Jaromir Jagr announced on July 3rd that he is leaving the NHL to play in Russia. It was known that the Rangers had decided not to renew his contract. However, JJ and I had both hoped he would end up with the Penquins. How awesome would that be? It would appear that Jagr's ego was too big to stay in the NHL. Or maybe living in New York for 3 years, he ended up with a big wallet he needed to fill? Truth is although, he was offered more money in US dollars to play in the NHL, the money he will earn in Russia will be tax free. There is no way the NHL could pay him what the Russian team can. All right, all right I'll stop Jagr-ing. I'll miss him.

Dog Days of Summer

July is the worst month for hockey fans. The NHL draft was last month, pre-season camps aren't until LATE August or September. Not much going on. So what keeps you going? Well three things - tryouts, trades and summer hockey leagues.

Tryouts - Early this year! This is good thing actually. Gives me two more months to raise money to pay for all of this hockey-ness.

Trades - So far this summer Hossa going to the Red Wings is the one that has really caught my attention. I would just love to see the Penquins continue to build on their successes from last season. The salary cap makes it tough to do. So good for Hossa. Oh and Sean Avery a Dallas Star? Booooooo! Avery helped the Rangers make headlines. I wonder if Brett Hull and the state of Texas can break him. I hope not.

Summer League - Nothing feels better than going into a freezing cold rink on a 100 degree July day. Don't forget a blanket though. JJ is playing on THREE teams this summer. Yup, three. East High Hockey, Tavernacle Men's League and a Men's League team with Sly (one of JJ's former coaches - now coaches the U of U team). Playing for three teams keeps him on the ice but not necessiarily out of trouble.

"I made the team."

Recently, JJ tried out for and made the U18 AAA Chadders Hockey team for the 2008-09 season. Way to go, JJ!