A Call For Handsome Well Dressed Men

Ever since I started writing my hockey words over at Canucks Hockey Blog, I’ve been a wee bit troubled that the Humming Giraffe was now just sitting in limbo.  It had to have some kind of new purpose.  I love writing about hockey on Canucks Hockey Blog and J.J and Richard are totally lovely but sometimes a girl has to write about other things too, ya know?  This hockey off season has actually been a breeze for me because of two things

1) Baseball.  I’m having a hot fling with the Jays.  Their baby blue jerseys are stunning and would probably be in my top 5 list of things I could wear if I was forced to wear one thing forever and ever until my untimely death.  Aaron Hill is my baseball boyfren.  He wears number 2 and looks good in a hat and does charming ads for the SPCA with his dog Mr. Banks.  Oh and he’s having a career year and set a record for homeruns (for a second baseman).  Owww owww.  How can I not swoon?

2)  Somehow I’ve become absolutely delighted with men’s fashion.  I’ve been pouring over the Sartorialist and GQ.  The suits, the ties, the shirts, it’s all making me coo.  Couple of times I’ve even cursed that I’m not a boy and I can’t wear any of it.  But then I checked myself.  There are many things to being a girl that are way too fun like mini skirts and dresses and heels and makeup. 

Anyways, this brings us to the actual point of this post.  I want YOU! All you handsome men to send me pictures of yourself dressed up.  Suits, dress shirts, bow ties, it’s all good.  Especially bow ties.  It’s my summer goal to see as many men in bowties as I can.  THEN, I will post your sexy well dressed look on this here blog and it will be fabulous.  Don’t be shy I know you’re smokin hot.  Beautiful ladies will see your pictures and swoon and want your digits.  If you don’t want your full name released on the internet, that’s totally cool, no worries.  Nicknames are hot.  I’m hoping my nickname Das Vunderkind catches on.  So, show off your bad ass dressed up handsome self and send pictures to

humminggiraffe [at] gmail [dot] com

Trust me, I’ll love it.  Thanks, boys!  Oh and tell your friends.  Hugs and kisses.

Moving To Canucks Hockey Blog

I got a cool request recently to join Canucks Hockey Blog with J.J and Richard and I’m excited to jump in.  I’ve always enjoyed reading their stuff and it should be a lot of fun.  From now all on, all my posts will be over there.  Thank you to everyone who has dropped by to read or comment here in the last year and a half.  It’s been a ton of fun and I’ll miss this little corner of the internet, but Canucks Hockey Blog is totally rad and too good to pass up.  I’ll still be talking about hot Swedes over there, so I hope you’ll join me.

You can change your link to http://canuckshockeyblog.com

Sitting Here and Waiting

So, anyone getting the Canucks shakes yet?  I know I sure am.  It’s tough not seeing Matty Ohlund throw some dude into the boards or watch little Kyle Wellwood skate around with his shiner like a mini playoff goon every other day.  What’s a girl to do?  I’m just dying to know who the Canucks are going to rough up in round 2.  Wednesday can’t come soon enough.  Let’s go on a little media round up and you guys can experience how all over the place my attention is when the Canucks aren’t playing hockey. 

-  There’s been quite a bit of press for my very favourite Swede these past few days and I love it.  Even though Matty Ohlund probably hates it, he deserves it.  Tony Gallagher I usually totes disagree with, but I guess I need to give him a little break after he wrote this lovely article about my hockey boyfriend in the Vancouver Province.  I’ll just give you my most favourite parts.

But with Ohlund looking every bit in his prime since the playoffs started, it just wasn’t happening for St. Louis, the big Swede blasting pucks around the boards, blocking shots, slipping little backhand clearing passes up the middle and generally making life more bearable for Roberto Luongo, who normally would have been trying to catch bullets in his teeth in such a situation.

Damn straight.  Matty Ohlund just runs shit, and half the time you don’t even notice.  He’s like a Swedish ninja. 

“I’ve never felt we’ve done enough in playoffs here in Vancouver on the teams I’ve been on and that’s something we’d all like to change,” he said.

They appear to have set off in the right direction, and Ohlund is one of men leading the way.

Yeah, I know.  He’s badass.  I know how to pick my hockey boyfriends. 

Then there was this charming little video on Canucks.com where you get to watch the lovely playoff bearded defencemen talk about how much they love each other, and yeah, basically say that Matty Ohlund is their rad quiet leader.  See, I’m telling you.  Ninja. 

-  I really, really, want the Canucks to play the Flames in round 2.  The excitement and I hate you guys so freakin much energy would be off the charts.  Sadly, the stupid Flames looked absolutely terrible against the BabyHawks last night, and I don’t think it will happen.  Oh well.  I suppose the Canucks match up well against the Ducks, BabyHawks and the Wings as well.

-  It’s really great to see Taylor Pyatt back with the guys.  I thought his statement was so beautiful and sweet but so sad.  I can’t even imagine.  I’m sure the guys will help him out.  It will be interesting to see where he fits into the lineup again.  Big Bear, Welly, and Raymond were rockstars in the first round, so I don’t think you want to break them up.  I like Balls Johnson and Ripper together on the 4th line.  Maybe you take out Hordi.  He wasn’t bad by any means against the Blues, but Pyatt gives you a little more versatility.  He can PK and hold on to the puck a bit more.  We’ll see.  My thoughts are with Pyatt for sure.

-  Do you think the Canucks. Bruins, and Wings planned a sweep party together for being so bad ass?  They could play pin the tail on the Blues/Habs/Blue Jackets and play some cards to pass the time.  Heh.

-  Mats Daddy has been apparently just sniping it up in practice and making people ooooh and ahhh but then he’s also being coy about whether or not he’ll be ready for round 2.  Maybe he just wants to keep it on the down low, so then he can sneak in and be totally rad and surprise the hell out of everyone during the next series?  I hope so.  Keep your fingers crossed. 

-  This article about Burr in the Vancouver Province was quite lovely and reading the quotes about Luc had me tearing up a little. 

-  These guys are so totally rad and are encouraging fans to buy goats for third world countries for every Canucks win.  It’s fun and helpful and you can find out more about it on the website.  As soon as I’m employed, I’m going to buy one.  Goats are wicked and so are charitable Canucks fans. 

-  The Canucks FanZone has been entered into the super snazzy popvox awards in Vancouver.  Yeah, the FanZone is so extremely rad.  Mostly because of me.  Heh.  Kiddin.  But seriously darlings, if you have a moment can you vote here?  I’ll love ya long time.

-  Now, we’ll end with some visual pleasure. 

The trash talk of Burr and Kes still makes me giggle.  Oh and let’s just say, NSFW.

Canucks Sweep Round 1

I’m in love.  I’m in love with a team of scrappy, funny, talented, kick ass men.  This series was so fun.  Guys who didn’t have the best regular seasons stepped up huge and really surprised me.  Big Bear scored a huge goal and was a physical force.  Welly decided he would take a hit and keep on kicking.  He decided he liked having a big old shiner on his face.  His first goal tonight was gooooorgeous.  Ryan Johnson, or Balls as he has been nicknamed in the Canucks Fanzone liveblogs, was an absolute beast.  Blocking shots, winning a huge amount of faceoffs, and being so, so classy in his HNIC interview last night and giving a shoutout to Taylor Pyatt and his family.  Raymond.  Little Raymond who was all over the ice and taking shots and who pushed BJ Crombeen to the ground while the rest of the Canucks laughed from the bench.  Hansen has done a pretty damn good job stepping in when Mats Daddy got injured. 

Matty Ohlund had a hell of a game tonight.  He got more ice time with Sami Salo being out and boy did he deliver.  He was smashing guys into the boards, making delicious defensive plays, taking shots, and just being really studly.  I was cooing and doing the girlie thing. 

Bieksa was fantastic in this series.  I adored his angry, agitating game.  Bieksa’s at his most delightful when he’s angry on the ice.  He gets his GRRRRRR face on.  Edler had a hero moment tonight helping out Lui and stopping that sure goal.  A nice little birthday boy moment for little baby Edker.  Hee. The whole defence was pretty damn good.  St. Louis got frustrated a lot with the lack of offence they could get. 

Danny and Hank.  Ooooooh.  They were ammazing.  Can we finally put to rest this silly idea that they can’t produce in the playoffs?  I’ve never seen them look this good.  

Of course Burr would get the series clinching OT goal.  That’s just the kind of season he’s had.

Kes was a freakin force too.  He just runs that second line.  Even when Mats Daddy is out.  And his shot blocking on the PK?  Swooooon.

I wanted to if it were possible to marry the Canucks PK in this series.  It was BAD ASS.  The Blues weren’t even able to set anything up.  The odd time they did set something up, Lui was there being his damn stone cold pimp self.  He was outstanding.  St. Lou just loves this time of year.  He wants to go places.  I can’t wait. 

Mats Daddy now has time to rest his injury before the next series.  How adorable was that shot that CBC caught of Mats Daddy and Davison waiting for the Canucks in the tunnel in their suits and fist bumping them when they came off the ice?  Awwwww.  I think I might have swooned. 

I just…love this team.  There’s something here.  I love every last one of them.  They all are playing for each other and it’s fun to watch.  It’s going to be a long wait before the second round but now it’s time to go out and celebrate the Canucks first ever best of 7 sweep.  WOOOOOOOOOOOO!! I’m off to buy a broom.

Canucks/Blues Take Two

Before I get into the game, just wanted to mention that I was on CBC Vancouver radio this morning for a brief interview about my blog and the Canucks.  It was really fun even though I think my nervousness made me sound like a bit of a ditz.  I want to say thanks to Craig Lederhouse and the rest of the morning show for inviting me on.  I can now cross it off my list.

Oooooh. Playoff hockey.  It’s so, so, beautiful.  Lui was a stone cold pimp.  Four shutouts in three games.  First ever playoffs shutout.  Yeah.  Blues are probably waking up in a cold sweat with Lui dancing around in his pads in their minds. 

The defence was also studly and deserve props for keeping a ton of Blues shots to the outside.

I thought the Sedins were excellent.  They weren’t shying away from anything.  Cookies for them.  Burr had a great goal to put the game away.  Mats daddy finally looks like he has his legs in this series.  His goal stood up as the winner because Lui told the Blues no goals for you. 

Raymond/Welly/Big Bear were divine again.  They had a lot of chances.  And Big Bear especially was throwing his big body around and making screens and forcing Blues to feel pain. 

Ryan Johnson is such a damn rockstar on the penalty kill.  But PLEASE Balls, fix your helmet!  It falls off way too frequently!  I want your head to stay safe. 

The rough stuff in this game was fun.  Oooooh the hits and elbows were flying and everyone had their angry faces on.  Bieksa was a naughty boy tripping Crombeen at the end of game but I admit I giggled.  A lot.  Even Andy Murray had a little temper tantrum at the end of the game.  I think AV was just all “Ferme le bouche petite garcon! Your equipe es sans le buts et mon equipe es plus manifique!”

I loved the crowd tonight.  They were SO loud!  Playoff hockey is just delightful.  I can’t wait for the games in St.Louis!

The Most Beautiful Day of the Year

It’s here!  Beautiful, mesmerizing, keeps you up at night through four OTs, throw your grandma down the stairs for tickets, playoff hockey!  I have a good feeling, Vancouver is jumping, let’s just get this started.  I don’t think I need to go into much more detail.  Cheer your asses off and enjoy the day.  I’ll leave you with two quick things.

The NYT hockey blog asked me to write a Canucks/Blues series preview.   Somehow I fooled the NYT into thinking I’m a classy dame, even after mentioning hot bitches and Lui’s pimp cane.  It must have helped that I wrote it in an evening dress and monocle.

This is all I need to get me pumped for the playoffs.  The NHL killed with this.  If this doesn’t at least give you goosebumps, you’re probably a robot. 

Division Champs and Playoffs!

To quote my good bloggy friend eyebleaf, “Playoffs!!!!!1″

You know, in January I was kind of thinking these boys would be lucky to sneak into 8th and play San Jose/Detroit and look at them now.  Division champs.  It wasn’t a pretty division clinching game, but it doesn’t matter.  The boys are playing all studly defensively and Lui is riding back to back shutouts into the playoffs.  PIMP.  The Blues should be a fun first round!  I liked how the guys were happy about the division, but weren’t dwelling on it.  They know there’s more important things to worry about.  Get ready for Wednesday!  It’s going to be a fun ride.

 

Mattias Bearlund is all ready for the playoffs

The playoff beard. Coming to a rink near you. RAWR.

This is what we’re lusting after for the (hopefully) next 2 months. 

Look at it. It’s so beautiful. I feel like pulling a Lord of the Rings “Myyy preciousssss”

Oh and here’s a litte montage that the Canucks put together to get you in the playoff mood.  I understand the use of  ” The Best Is Yet To Come” for this time of year, but it did make me giggle hearing Frank Sinatra croon away while Canucks were smashing other teams into the boards.  I love hockey. 

Catching Up

I’ve been a naughty blogger, eh?   They clinch a playoff spot officially and I disappear.  The Canucks ended up making me extremely grouchy on the weekend.  I had just been bragging to some friends that actually still listen to me when I ramble on about the Canucks about how freakin lovely this team is and how they’re ready to do some damage and then they came out and played like that.  Sigh.  They had a chance to make Calgary cry like little Alberta babies and they didn’t take it.  The Canucks just don’t like things to be too easy.

Luckily, Lui was an absolute fucking monster against Calgary on Tuesday.  I mean, he was probably walking around the dressing room after the game with a damn pimp cane.  I read an article by a Calgary columnist talking about how Lui hasn’t been that great during the Canucks hot streak and how they were winning in spite of him and I actually giggled out loud.  You knew Lui was going to hear about that somehow and you knew he was going to be pissed.  Even if the Canucks hadn’t won, knowing Mike Keenan was probably pulling his very little hair out would have been satisfying enough. 

Matty Ohlund was a total stud.  He hadn’t hit the scoresheet in quite a while, and then he gets two goals in the same game.  I was cooing like nobody’s business.  If these are his last few regular season games as a Canuck he’s sending me away happy.

Also, it was really great to see Ripper get on the scoresheet.  It’s pretty cool he’s been able to make a comeback after the year he’s had. 

The Kings game wasn’t nearly as exciting as the Flames game but I shouldn’t really complain.  They won and there’s still a chance they can take the division title.  The Oilers have to help us out and beat Calgary on the weekend.  Tonight’s game was a much better defensive game.  Lui was great, but he wasn’t peppered with shots this game.  Kesler was all over the ice which was fun to watch.  Sundin was the best I’ve seen him in ages and I swear he had about 10 shots on net. 

Lui set a club record for most shutouts in a season tonight.  You kind of start to think how many he would have had if he wasn’t out for so long with his injured man part.

The Canucks awards were tonight and they are SO MUCH more enjoyable when the Canucks have already safely clinched a playoff spot.  I vaguely remember hurling my sippy cup at the TV last season and drunkenly yelling for the Canucks to enjoy their stupid meaningless awards on the damn golf course.  Have I mentioned recently that this season is so much more fun than last year’s?

Cory Schneider was named AHL goalie of the year! SQUEEE.  I want Lui to stay, but it’s nice we have a bebeh Lui waiting in the wings.

I’ve been discussing playoff beards on twitter and how ladies should have an equivalent.  I don’t really want to let body hair grow, so I think I’ve decided to paint my nails Canucks colours and possibly get hair streaks.  I know it’s not really a sacrifice, but girls just don’t look fetch with scruff like the boys do.  If you have any new suggestions, you should totes leave them in the comments.

One more game to go and then it gets REALLY fun!

Canucks/Avalanche Game Day

 

AHAHAHA. This is magical.

The Canucks have now lost 2 games in a row for the first time since January.  Boo.  I don’t really like it.  It makes me a little grouchy.  I had finally fully embraced being a fan of an unstoppable jaggernaut and I liked it.  Heh.  Oh well.  The boys did climch a playoff spot and that probably made them relax a little bit and then the news about Taylor Pyatt’s fiancee couldn’t have helped.  I’ll give them a pass.  But, if they come out badly against the Avalanche tonight, I’ll be much more concerned.

Ripper had a great fight with Stortini.  RAWR.  Major hockey crush going on there.  Ripper’s 5′11” 170.  Stortini is 6′4″ 220. 

I doubt Lui will like it but I want AV to put Lady BaBa in tonight.  Lui has been a little too slutty lately.  5 goals in 2 games.  He needs a rest and needs to remember how to be a prudish little goalie.  We want him in tip top shape for the epic showdown with Calgary on Tuesday for the division.

Wellwood really impressed me last night.  Cookies for getting his face ripped apart by an Oilers elbow.  He`s turning into a tough little guy.

Burr Is A Peach

Burr was announced as the Canucks Bill Masterton trophy nominee and this article in the Vancouver Province by Ben Kuzma about his nomination is beautiful.  This is why he is a fan favourite in Vancouver.  More than just his recent career play with the Sedin twins.  Guys like Burr are why I fell in love with hockey.  He’s a class act through and through and deserves every minute of his success.  The parts where he talked about Luc Bourdon and his girlfriend Charlene Ward made me tear up.  When he explained his season couldn’t have happened without the help from current and former teammates, I smiled, because that’s just the kind of guy Burr is.  Still humble.  It’s reassuring to know that he’ll be there for Taylor Pyatt as well.  He’s a good guy to have on your side.

Like a hot potato, Alex Burrows was quickly passing credit to others Thursday.

Informed that he’s the Bill Masterton Trophy nominee as the Vancouver Canucks player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game — based on an overwhelming vote by the local chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association — the feisty winger wondered what all the fuss is about.

“I know what the trophy means,” said a grateful Burrows.

“It’s about perseverance and passion for the game and sportsmanship, too. But I don’t know about that one. I guess that’s okay. I haven’t been suspended in over four years. I know I’ve got to play hard within the rules, but there are a lot of candidates in this room who could have got it. But I’m really happy.”

Burrows tried tossing praise to Trevor Linden, Roberto Luongo, Willie Mitchell and Ryan Kesler for being influential in his heart-warming rise from agitating checker to surprise scorer.

He tried to say how dedicating the season to his late best friend Luc Bourdon — and being of great support to Bourdon’s girlfriend Charlene Ward — has been a driving force.

He tried to say how thinking of Bourdon before every game and twice having significant two-goal games meant a higher power is at play in all this.

It’s what Burrows didn’t say that speaks of his pride as player and compassion as a human being.

It’s not just a meteoric rise from bubble boy at training camp two years ago to his current career season as the unlikely catalyst to spark Henrik and Daniel Sedin.

It’s not just 11 goals in 15 games last month or even consideration as a Olympic team training-camp invitee this summer.

It’s so much more.

Take Bourdon’s girlfriend. Burrows talks as passionately about making sure she has support as talking about the Canucks’ push to a Northwest Division title and Stanley Cup championship. Immersed in incredible grief, Ward still finished a tough first year in her quest to become a doctor.

She speaks daily with Burrows’ girlfriend, Nancy Roy, and visits several times in the summer.

“She passed first exams even through all the hard times instead of just packing it in for a year,” marvelled the 27-year-old Pinecourt, Que. native. “We try to help her out through the challenging times and make her feel better.”

A heavy heart weighed on Burrows to start the season.

Then he scored two goals on opening night following a Bourdon video tribute and did the defenceman’s signature bow-and-arrow celebration.

And when Burrows had two goals after signing a four-year, $8 million US contract extension, he knew what was going on.

“Luc was looking down on us and giving us a big 6-0 victory and I know he’s helping me achieve big things,” said Burrows.

“I really do think there’s something special around here.”

Burrows has been special. Since being promoted to the Sedin line on Feb. 10 at St. Louis, he has 25 points (15-10) in 25 games.

He has a career-high 27 goals and 49 points and has four shorthanded goals.

And he’s now getting power-play time, too.

“He never gave up and that says something about his personality and his character,” Kesler said of how the undrafted Burrows rose from ECHL afterthought to NHL mainstay.”

And, as you would expect, Burrows tosses the praise right back to Kesler.

“This is a guy who got me through all this,” said Burrows. “He always shows up. You just follow his footsteps and make sure you’re going because he’s going.”