Timing is everything. A few days ago, Colin Fraser agreed to do a series of blog diary entries for NHL.com, with his first offering scheduled to run today. Fraser had plenty of material after Game 1 last night. He scored a goal and was a part of a big effort on the Kings’ fourth line, between wingers Brad Richardson and Jordan Nolan. Click below for Fraser’s first item, in which he talks about Game 1 and his goal…
Fraser: Game 1 win is only the first step
Also, a previous item mentioned the reaction in Slovenia to Anze Kopitar’s overtime goal. So, what does a watch party in Slovenia look like? Apparently, pints of beer and accordions in the predawn hours. Good stuff… Click below for a link to a video of one Slovenian gathering…
Finally, some (potential) good news for fans. The L.A. Times reported today that, in the event that the Kings are in position to win the Stanley Cup, a recording will be made of Bob Miller and Jim Fox for future, to-be-determined use. Of course, the situation has to exist first…
The accordion!
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:10 pm
@cjms, Right? Unbelievable. That is the party I want to be at on Saturday.
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Kevin Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:33 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
I was traveling in Europe this past year and my #1 destination was Slovenia so, I tried to make the most out the time that I spent there.
I’ve been a Kings fan since my memory started recording and thought Kopitar would be there training in the off season. I sent a few emails and was invited to watch him practice with his father and a few other National players in Bled. He gave me some time after and I got him to sign a postcard for my Dad… “Happy Birthday Sam!”
Anyways, I was interviewed on a Slovenian Television show back in September. Here is a segment from the interview where I talk about Kopitar and the Kings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw663svHlFY
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rogiesbackup Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 8:54 pm
@Kevin, That’s way cool!! Congrats!
rontheking Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:45 pm
@Kevin,
Pretty awesome!
stephan Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:48 pm
@Kevin, that is beyond cool! i was born in Austria and lived there until i was 18 i actually played hockey as a kid and went to play a game in jesenice! you are giving me ideas! maybe i should cruise down there!!
great stuff man!!!
LA_1968 Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 11:11 pm
@Kevin, Awesome story man. Now that’s a vacation!
TiredOfIt Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 11:25 pm
@Kevin, That is awesome…what an experience…GKG…GSG
Kevin Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 1:49 am
Thanks guys. It was a truly amazing experience and it didn’t end there! Short n sweet version…
I ended up staying in Europe much longer than I had originally planned so, I had to see the Kings play while I was “down the street”. A once in a lifetime opportunity.
I made my way up to Hamburg for the pre-season game against the Freezers. I was lucky enough to meet Robitaille and Nicholls at a Kings practice and then enjoy the great atmosphere at the game the next day. Nothing like football style chants at a hockey game. Really cool!
Then, I headed up to Stockholm to see them open up the season against the Rangers. It was awesome. There was nothing like being able to see my favorite team play an NHL game live and in person when I am 6,000+ miles away from home.
Well, fast forward 7 months, I am still in Europe, and the Kings are going to the CUP FINALS. There was no way I was going to be away from my Dad for this. He has been a fan since the beginning, 1967,myself since 1984(or whenever my memory started kicking in), and I was not going to be away during this.
I booked my ticket home and surprised my parents at the doorstep. The first words out of my Dad’s mouth were “The Stanley Cup!!!”
It’s good to be back in So. Cal right now!
Let’s go boys.
Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 2:17 am
@Kevin,
Really enjoyable late night / wee hour reading.
When I can get YouTube to work on my iPhone again I look forward to watching your jaunts on the continent.
Were the games sold out and how easy was it to get tickets to them?
Well, welcome back to unreality and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the LA SCF experience.
Your dad, even moreso!
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:50 am
@Kevin,
Really cool Kevin. If you ever feel like writing a story about your time, I’d be happy to publish it! I guess my only question is, what are (were) you doing in Europe?
alexmacat11 Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 12:10 pm
@Kevin, That was incredible to watch
Kevin Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Thanks again, guys!
I was only planning to be away from home for 3 months…I decided I was having too much fun over there so, I cancelled my original flight home and just kept going.(They gave me an open ticket that was expiring at the end of May..I just went for it). I was gone a year..May 2011-May 2012.
I really had no plans, just visiting a bunch of friends I have all around Europe so, roaming around and trying to make the most of the time that I was there.
Everything happened the way it happened. I didn’t really have these intentions in my mind before leaving, aside from just thinking about how cool it would be to meet Kopitar in Slovenia. So, when these opportunities arose I had to take full advantage of them.
Things really fell into place and only time will dictate the ending of this insane journey. When I stop and think about it…..I really can’t believe it myself.
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com): I would love to do something more in depth. It seems like there is a lot of interest from people. Shoot me an email: xchaffeyx@hotmail.com .. I literally just got home on Sunday so, I am running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off. Not even a working cell phone yet! haha
Kevin Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 1:01 pm
At the 2:04 mark…..My Dad… “The Stanley Cup!”
Also, my hair is pretty outrageous after a year with no trim!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mb5PzbMHy4
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Duncanz Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:21 pm
@cjms,
Was that Gogol Bordello?
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Stuart Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:26 pm
@Duncanz, not sure, but there were some sweet pics along the top banner…
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Kenny44 Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 8:58 pm
@Stuart, I just remembered I forgot a few college credits – my degree is fraudulent and I must go study abroad!
Stuart Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:02 pm
@Kenny44, you’d better study long and hard!!!
Kenny44 Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:26 pm
@Stuart, Zdat’s wjat zheej saijd! In the villages the copies are not sleepless, after all.
Hey Rich, I like your tweet about Colin’s blog than this one.
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that looks like one awesome watch party.
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Bob & Jim, yes please!!
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ot – but have any devils already become “hated?” For me, it’s Zubrius so far…
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Duncanz Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:11 pm
@Stevensart,
Errr, are Scottie Stevens or Claude Lemieux still playing?
DZ#8; If I were a NJD fan (always admired their teams back when) I would absolutely love what that guy does for the team, despite the fact that he doesn’t tally a lot.
He’s kind of like how JS#28 would be … if he were 4″ and 10 lbs larger!
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rumpa#19 Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:19 pm
@Duncanz, Loved watching them frustrate the pre cap era teams that tried to buy the cup. NY, Detroit…….
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rumpa#19 Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:15 pm
@Stuart, You might hate Ballschincough before the series ends, he hits hard & blocks alot of shots. Hes #28 now, was 24 with ottawa, but Savidor already had 24.
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Stuart Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:21 pm
@rumpa#19, when he was a FA I had hoped that we take a run at him just because of his shot blocking… Zubrius has already showed himself to be a cheap-shot artist and a diver all in one game.
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Kenny44 Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:00 pm
@Stuart, Right there with you. Three obvious elbows (one called), a charge, a few jabs / near spears, and two big dives. That one dive you could see everyone on the ice kind of hesitate for a split second like, OMG, what is he doing?
Duncanz Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:23 pm
@rumpa#19,
Brad Sopidor?
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Hilarious tweet from Alex Bolduc (who dat?) of Phoenix Coyotes:
“I almost beat Nicklas Lidstrom 1 on 1 one time … and by almost I mean chipped it past him and went for a change. # claim to fame
I reckon they’ll be saying that about Willie Mitchell one day in the hopefully distant future ….
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that would be cool . . . and for the record, I am so sick and tired (already) listening to media types all talking about the devils and how they “let it get away”, or “played so poorly” and what they need to do to win game 2 . . . what i have not heard much about is how the kings did not play very good either and yet . . . . they won! yeah devils need to figure out how to be better but lets not forget the kings will be better too . . . much better
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SpencerMaze Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:30 pm
@rt16, IMO, the Devils will need to play close to flawless hockey to beat this Kings team on any given night.
GKG
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Go back just 8-9 months ago and no body wanted him, not even the Kings He was a throw in from Edmonton who tried to pull a fast one on us. I am so happy for the guy, and now we can proudly say all 12 Forwards have scored.Way to go Colin, you are an inspiration. Never giving up, nor doubting yourself, or your abilities. Soon you’ll be hoisting the prize, and well deserved.
BTW- i’ve said sweep, and I’m sticking to it. if ever there was destiny, you’re seeing it now.
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SpencerMaze Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:32 pm
@wideleft, Could not agree more. I mean this guy works so damn hard and to see him have success is incredible. Way to go Colin!
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Kenny44 Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:01 pm
@SpencerMaze, I’ll pass that along.
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…The Watchparty Rocked!!!…the accordian added that special something …
Nx
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Stuart Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:22 pm
@Nathan Anderson, that party was way cool… awseome how it started in darkness and ended with the sun coming up!!! i swear that dude in the mustard sweater is Quickie’s Slovenian doppleganger!
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I want to party in Slovenia, way cool video.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 8:55 pm
@rumpa#19, Was cool vid….so cool to see kings jersey so far away east!!
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Thanks for posting the vids Rich, especially the Slovenia one. Doesn’t look like they need the services of Munter’s there!
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What dedication for Slovanians to have a watch party in middle of the night! Very cool.
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Here’s a translated link but for some reason it’s not showing the video. You can read the comments though… http://bit.ly/Jxnvpx
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Stuart Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:30 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), the best is the second comment essentially saying that when Americans go to the site to see the video they’ll be talking about all the drunken local hillbillies!! LOL
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Hey guys,
Wanted to share these stories with you all fellow die-hard LA Kings fan! The first story ran on CTV in British Columbia during the game last night! Second story was during the Vancouver series and the last one was after the boys swept the Blues!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IX0T4rA9SAQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9VskcVnzuw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbdUUSXrEzk
After all the suffering we have gone through for decades, sure is nice to have media really focusing on our LA KINGS!!!
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SLIM Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 8:58 pm
@KINGCANADA88,
You’re a great fan….
Post more of you’re adventure on here…
I guess you’re now in Joizey…
GKG
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rontheking Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:55 pm
@KINGCANADA88,
Awesome playoff beard hundle! Seems like you’re a huge news story up there…which is pretty hilarious in and of itself (no offense)….
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We had a 1dollar pool last night picking the first player to score. During the same shift my freind todd took Fraz ,and said Fraz is going to score i feel it. Maybe Duck wagon has worn off for him.
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For the Bob and Jim version put me down for 4 (1 for me and 3tech for Xmas presents).
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The watch party looked fun. But if you’re going to cheer for the Kings, maybe you shouldn’t were Devil colors.
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kingarella Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:23 pm
@Jack the Lad, heh, jesenice and devil colours are the same…red
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Duncanz Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:38 pm
@kingarella,
Way to go, @kingarella.
Looks like our Lad, @Jack was thinking “inside the box” !
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Evening reading …?
Does this mean Rich is taking a well deserved night off?
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Stuart Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:33 pm
@Diego, it is 9:30pm where he’s at.
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Diego Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:40 pm
@Stuart,
Yeah… but we will need those TPS reports in the morning… got a meeting with the Bobs.
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SpencerMaze Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:36 pm
@Diego, Probably not. Hardest working man in the biz I tell ya
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Diego Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:45 pm
@Diego,
Whoa, just messing around, Rich does Yeoman’s work for us and I appreciate it.
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@PhillyKing, just saw the terrible Scuderi TO! yeah, that was a dousie!
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SpencerMaze Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 6:38 pm
@Stuart, Can’t be perfect all the time. And 98% of the time he’s perfect.
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Hey Tambellini, you must feel like the pickpocket who lifts a fat wallet and finds it stuffed with coupens for hemorroid medicine. Beautiful story of Fraser’s success with the Kings and his huge heart.
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Oh wow and oh Yea Bob and Jim Finally
I buy that so let us Kings Fans know as soon as it comes out running to buy one for sure, with my Kings check book I have and, thanks so much Rich you have now made my night.
Kings in six no worries at all!
Go Kings Go!
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It might be cheaper to fly to Slovenia and go to a watch party there than to purchase a single ticket to game 4.
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Robert R Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 7:01 pm
@Robert R, including fees $663 for game 4, 1 ticket
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LAKingsGal Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 8:34 pm
@Robert R, no joke on that! I guess I should have been saving for the last 19 years! Slovenian’s sure know how to party! GO KINGS GO!
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Looks like the best party in Slovenia since the Hapsburg’s ran the place.
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Very, Very Cool Watch Party In Slovenia, To bad wasn’t In English, lol, KOPITAR Is The Man… Go Kings…
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/eric-duhatschek/kings-rise-on-doughtys-shoulders/article2448996/
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While watching the replay I noticed the following:
Two terrific backchecks by Penner in the 3rd and OT
The poor little 9-year old girl wearing the NJ jersey and cheering after Kopi’s goal
JW in his post game interview – “It only gets harder from here.”
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Kenny44 Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:05 pm
@DesertKing, She clearly appreciates a fine goal scorer’s move. But some blogger will probably post her picture pasted into shots of every disaster of the last century, cheering on the mayhem.
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Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 12:30 am
@Kenny44,
@Dessert doesn’t do hard images or links.
He shares with @jesst an impressive Kilauea-sized imagination that fountains up at unspecified intervals (unless there’s a specific DHA, or ‘Dead Horse Alert’!) and sprays the hapless natives with psychedelicized molten ideas, encasing them in a state of petrified thrall for the remainder of the era, therefore negating the need for any orthodox means of imagery.
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That Kopija is way better than Kopidor.
Loved that 2am-sunrise hockey party. Thats dedication.
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That video brought tears to my eyes…I’m so damn proud of what our whole team has done so far
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So his real name Anžeta Kopitarja? Or is that before it’s translated?
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Kenny44 Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:05 pm
@Lilcarp, He is, simply, Center of the First Attack!
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kingarella Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:26 pm
@Lilcarp, Anže Kopitar – the added letters are because of some grammar rules, when you’re talking in a third person in some tense…
can’t wait till the cup comes to Slovenia for a day
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Patrice Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:37 pm
@Lilcarp, his real name is of course Anže Kopitar. However, in Slovenian, you have much stronger declension than in English (according to Wikipedia, it was much stronger in Old English).
So, declension for Anže Kopitar goes as follows (for singular only):
Nominative: Anže Kopitar
Genitive: Anžeta Kopitarja
Dative: Anžetu Kopitarju
Acusative: Anžeta Kopitarja
Locative: Anžetu Kopitarju
Instrumental: Anžetom Kopitarjem
See more at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovene_nouns
Hope this helped you a little bit.
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QueenInVan Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:57 pm
@Patrice,
Let’s go back to Centre of First Attack (CFA).
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LA_1968 Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 11:40 pm
@Lilcarp,
I remember a while back figuring his first name translates to John.
But his surname will soon be Conn Smyth.
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so many times have i watched kings games until the wee hours of European vacation mornings! this time i decided to stay home!!! LOL
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In my mind I keep on seeing that move that he put on Brodeur for the winner.
If we pull off a game 2 win, Staples will be bedlam on Monday. Actually, it will be crazy regardless.
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Lots of green bottles there in Slovenia…my favorite. Nice story by Frazie…good job…..
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I think I saw the 3 amigos at the watch party in Slovenia….I could be wrong
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Duncanz Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 11:56 pm
@TiredOfIt,
Those sombreroed soggybottoms really get around, so they say..
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Rich, thanks for posting the link to the video about the watch party in Slovenia. You can truly tell how dedicated those Slovenian fans cheering for Kopitar are from the video. Go Kings Go!
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I can’t believe you guys haven’t commented on the possibility of Bob Miller & Jim Fox making an alternate audio recording of any SC clinching games! To me it’s terrible that we can’t hear Bob & Jim call these games live. They’ve put in decades with this team and if NBC were smart they would have gotten the broadcast crews from both the Kings & Devils to air “alternate” broadcasts. And really in the case of the Devils they have that since Doc Emmerick was their play by play guy for so many years. So I really hope if the Kings win the cup they can pull off this alternate recording so we can hear Bob call the game as he should be doing!
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If NBC knows hockey in Los Angeles then they should have the smarts to invite Bob Miller to join the broadcast for at least one session in between commercial breaks as a treat and tribute to the hometown fans. Knowing his importance and tenure and how this would be received, it would nothing but bring goodwill to NBC and make many fans very happy.
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Love it. Hockey fans are the best. Well except for ____________ fans.
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Kingstane9 Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 8:38 am
@Daves A Mess, ducks fans?
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Classic hair of the dog party! That guy getting interviewed in the start of the video with the grey hat was so lit up!!
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at 2:56 there’s a guy with a red hat that could very well be Kopitar’s brother
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A few pictures from watch party in Hrušica, Slovenia
fb.me/1H01AjFwO
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Neat! I’m going on vacation to Ljubljana this summer
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