Penguins – Page 3 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Murray Tucker, on Father Joe Tucker, Steelers/Penguins Broadcaster, 1936-1967

First, can you tell us what inspired you to write the book Screamer – the story of your father’s broadcasting career with the Steelers and Penguins from the 1930’s-1960’s?

I was inspired to write the book, Screamer: The Forgotten Voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers when I read a response in a web site trivial pursuit question that bothered me. It asked: What team has only had two play-by-play announcers for forty years.

Based on the limit on years, the correct answer was the Steelers, Jack Fleming and Bill Hargrove. But the question should have added another 28 years, and the answer would have been the same, but then there would have been three. My father, Joe Tucker, was the forgotten voice.

Continue reading “Murray Tucker, on Father Joe Tucker, Steelers/Penguins Broadcaster, 1936-1967”

Rick Buker, “100 Things Penguins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die”

Rick Buker:

First, can you tell us about the new book – what inspired you to write the book and how you went about researching it?

I’d be glad to! “100 Things Penguins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die” focuses on the top 100 players, personalities, and events that helped shape Penguins history. The book features bios on superstars like Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby, as well as stories about each of Cup runs and key events such as “the Save” and “the Trade.” It’s also packed with anecdotes about some of the team’s more colorful players such as Steve Durbano and Bryan Watson. And, I sprinkled in some to-do’s, like learning how to skate and calling into the Mark Madden Show.

Inspiration-wise, all the credit goes to Triumph Books, who published my first book, “Total Penguins: The Definitive Encyclopedia of the Pittsburgh Penguins” last fall. They suggested the “100 Pens” format and I eagerly agreed to do it.

Since I’d already written “Total Penguins,” I had lots of raw material for the new book. While “100 Pens” still required plenty of work, for the most part I was able to reshape what I already knew and fill in the blanks with material from online sources like “Sports Illustrated Vault” and “PittsburghHockey.Net,” which is a great web site.

What were some of the most surprising things you found in researching the book?

I think the most surprising thing I learned involved Bill LeCaine, who was one of the Pens’ first free-agent signings. A friend of mine, John Bigler, recalled that a Native American had played for the team back in the late 1960s. So I did some digging and discovered it was LeCaine. Turns out, he’s a distant relative of the famous Lakota Sioux Chief, Sitting Bull, who fought at the battle of Little Big Horn!

Where can readers purchase the book?

A: “100 Things Penguins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die” is available online at sites like Triumphbooks.com, Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, and at bookstores like Barnes and Noble. I believe Wal-Mart also carries it. My first book, “Total Penguins,” also can be purchased online, and may still be available at bookstores.

Tell us about the website as well–its origins and focus….

PenguinPoop.com started out a few years ago when two long-time Pittsburgh Penguins fans wanted to voice their dislike of how things were working out under Penguins coach Michel Therrien. Since then PenguinPoop has primarily focused on the opinions of seven or eight contributors whose backgrounds range from hockey players, referees, long-time fans and season-ticket holders. One of our writers has been a Pittsburgh Penguins Season Ticket Holder for 37 years! Coming up this January we will be going into our fourth year.

Besides the drafting of Crosby, what were some of the key elements in the Penguins’ turnaround after the Lemieux years?

There’s no doubt Sid is the cornerstone for our current Penguins. And you can’t overlook Marc-Andre Fleury and Evgeni Malkin. However, former GM Craig Patrick deserves a ton of credit for helping to turn the team around. Starting in the early 2000s, he drafted brilliantly. In addition to picking superstars like Crosby, Fleury and Malkin, he added the likes of Alex Goligoski, Tyler Kennedy, Kris Letang, Ryan Malone, Brooks Orpik, Rob Scuderi, Max Talbot, and Ryan Whitney through the draft. Ray Shero has done a great job of working off the foundation Patrick laid with some savvy trades and free-agent signings. And Mario Lemieux has done a remarkable job as owner.

Under his stewardship, the team built a new arena and is on firm financial ground for perhaps the first time in franchise history.

Before Lemieux, there were also lean years. What other catalysts inspired the turnaround for the Penguins’ first Stanley Cup winning season?

Obviously, Lemieux was the key. Former coach and GM Eddie Johnston once said there would be no hockey in Pittsburgh if it wasn’t for Mario. Johnston also had a big hand in the turnaround. Along with No. 66, he drafted good young players like Doug Bodger, Rob Brown, Craig Simpson, and Zarley Zalapski. Simpson was used as the centerpiece in a deal to acquire Paul Coffey. A superb offensive defenseman, Coffey helped Lemieux get the most out of his burgeoning talents by opening up the ice with his speed and passing. Although his contributions generally are overlooked, Tony Esposito drafted Mark Recchi and traded for Tom Barrasso, giving the team a stud between the pipes.

Craig Patrick was masterful during his first full season at the helm. In addition to hiring Cup-winning coaches Scotty Bowman and “Badger Bob” Johnson, he acquired future Hall of Famers Ron Francis, Joe Mullen, Larry Murphy, and Bryan Trottier and drafted Jaromir Jagr. But the man behind the scenes, owner Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., also deserves recognition. He absorbed enormous losses–some $25 million by his own reckoning–but stayed the course long enough to see his ugly ducklings transform into Stanley Cup champions.

What did prior management do wrong, do you think, that caused the team to struggle for so many years?

I think finances (or a lack of) played a huge role in the team’s early struggles. The Penguins were sold to Detroit banker Donald Parsons after their very first season. Less than three years later the league had to assume control of the franchise. The next ownership group–led by Tad Potter–built a darn good hockey team but were forced into receivership following a disastrous loss to the Islanders in the 1975 playoffs.

When Al Savill purchased the club from Potter, he basically eliminated the farm system to save money. GM Baz Bastien had little choice but to trade draft choices for veterans in order to keep the team marginally competitive. This led to a total collapse, which–ironically–put the team in a position to draft Mario Lemieux. So in a backhanded way, things worked out pretty well!

Who were some of the most interesting characters across the various Penguins teams, in your opinion, and what made them so?

For starters, Bryan “Bugsy” Watson was a real character. During a road trip to Los Angeles back in the early 1970s, he hijacked a Marriott courtesy bus on a dare (with teammates and hotel guests aboard) and took it for a joy ride. In the late 1970s, Brian “Spinner” Spencer built his own version of a Hummer from the frame of an old Army convoy truck. But for my money the team’s all-time character was Steve Durbano. A swashbuckling defenseman back in the 1970s, “Demolition Durby” made the Hanson Brothers of “Slap Shot” fame look like choir boys. He’d fight anyone, anytime, anywhere, for any reason.

One night while playing in the WHA he tore off Bobby Hull’s toupee. During one of his final games he famously mooned the Madison Square Garden crowd (hockey pants on, of course) after igniting a bench-clearing brawl.

Who are unsung heroes over the course of the Penguins’ history that deserve more recognition, in your opinion, and why?

The Pens have had plenty of players who didn’t get the recognition they deserved. Ken Schinkel and Ron Schock were diligent, productive skaters for the early Penguins, but were overshadowed by the likes of Syl Apps, Pierre Larouche, and Jean Pronovost. Dave Burrows was a superb stay-at-home defenseman–perhaps the finest of his era–but he didn’t get much ink because he didn’t put up big offensive numbers.

I thought Ron Stackhouse was vastly underrated (and unappreciated), mostly because he was a big guy who didn’t play an especially physical game. However, I think Ron Francis is the most underrated player in Penguins history. Francis may seem like a strange choice given that he’s a Hall of Famer. But he did so many things well. Ronnie was a marvelous playmaker, a terrific defensive player and face-off man, and he scored important goals. When Mario was hurt, he stepped up and became captain. Francis was a true stabilizing influence and great team guy.

Any last thoughts for readers?

I count myself lucky to be a Penguins fan. We’ve been blessed with not one, but four once-in-a-generation players (Lemieux, Jagr, Crosby, and Malkin) over the span of two decades! And we’ve been treated to some of the finest hockey and most memorable plays (“the Goal” and “the Save”) ever witnessed. How very fortunate we are to root for such a great team!

Georges Laraque, Penguins Forward, 2007-2008

Georges Laraque:

First, can you let readers know what inspired you to write your new book, Georges Laraque, The Story of The NHL’s Unlikeliest Tough Guy?

When I was a kid I went through a lot of racism. I thought of quitting and read the biography of Jackie Robinson – a guy who went through the same obstacles I did and that really inspired me. I knew sharing my experiences could help kids overcome their obstacles too.

How did you overcome those experiences?

Same as Jackie Robinson. I used the racial slurs as motivation – fuel for proving them wrong. There were too many people to get mad at. Instead of getting mad at everyone, I used the slurs as my determination to show that they were wrong. I would not let them shut me down.

How has the NHL dealt with racial issues and diversity – are they doing a good enough job in your opinion?

In my career I only had one incident – the one with Sean Avery. The diversity task force in the NHL does a good job in promoting diversity.

It was in the minors that I experienced racism. But the NHL does a really good job. They have programs like the one in New York to get Black people involved. There are NHL players from all over the world – teams just want the best players, they don’t care what color they are.

You also touch on the issue of steroids in hockey. What are your thoughts on drug testing?

The league has done a lot with drug testing, but the current testing isn’t good enough. You need blood testing like they do in the Olympics. You need to be able to test for all drugs – that way you can learn if guys are suffering from the drugs they take. The effects, like depression, can be helped.

Three players passed away last year from the effects of drugs. Those could have been prevented with blood tests that could have revealed the presence of those drugs. Other than a moment of silence, what have we done to prevent more casualties?

We can protect more tragedies like these – it would help the players. We need to come up with a solution. People already forgot.

You were known as an enforcer more than as a well-rounded player. Did that bother you?

I always worked hard. If you got to know me you would know me as more than a fighter. Fighting didn’t define me as a human being. Some saw a big Black man and assumed I was a fighter, sure. – but really, no one except a few I talk about in the book really like fighting.

I was really fortunate to have thirteen years in the NHL. I averaged nine minutes in the playoffs. I was never going to have Crosby’s point totals but I always took pride that I was in the top three in points for tough guys when I played. I was more than just a fighter.

You were traded to Pittsburgh from Phoenix. How did that occur – was it something you were happy with?

I wanted to be traded. Phoenix was out of the playoffs and I wanted a chance to be in the playoffs. I fell in love with the Pittsburgh community fast. Ask Frank Bohannon – the Penguins PR guy – I went into his office every day with a schedule of places to go for charity work. Pittsburgh had some tough neighborhoods with kids that needed help.

I loved Pittsburgh – the people are unbelievable. The team, the fans…it was unreal. They are blue-collar worker guys like the tough guys in hockey.

You left after a year-and-a-half – how difficult was that for you?

The year I left we lost the Stanley Cup in game six to Detroit. Sid wanted me to stay – said if I returned he guaranteed we’d win the cup within three years. I said sure, ok (laughing).

It was tough. I was talking with Ray Shero who I respect very much,. But the team had cap issues – it had to keep it’s core players like Crosby, Staal and Malkin. They could only afford $750,000 for a tough guy, which is why they went and got Godard.

Tough guys have shorter times in the NHL. If I’m making $10 million and go down to $6 million, who cares. But going from $1.5 million to $750,000 – I couldn’t take that pay cut. I almost did anyway but went to Montreal. Of course they won the cup the next season!

You’re a busy guy. Politics (Canada’s Green Party), charity, hockey, the book….what drives you?

I am fortunate to have played in the NHL and to have this life. Hockey exists because of the fans – we can play hockey for a living because of them. It’s our duty to show our appreciation. They work 9-5 and money is tight but they still come out and pay to see us.

If we can get kids to smile – there’s no medication that can do that. There are so many things we can do to touch lives. Hockey is just a sport – it doesn’t change lives. When you retire, people don’t care about your play. What you did for the community and kids – making a difference is what matters. Whatever status you are in life, you need to be involved.

How much did the fact your parents were born in Haiti and the tragedy there affect the way you live your life?

I am lucky to be alive – I could have easily still been there. God had a role for me. A bigger role than hockey. Hockey is the stage to help me impact the world.

I’ve been to Haiti four times. I also went to Tanzania for charity too – to help raise money to prevent suicides here in Montreal. Being in Haiti was shocking – seeing how the kids are living….

Any last thoughts for readers?

The book talks about motivating kids – anyone who has a dream. Any dream is possible not matter what you think the percentage is of succeeding. There’s always a chance. In the book, I talk about kids raised in violence. It’s chain, they say. Well I am a twin and I broke the chain.

I also in the book talk about my time in Pittsburgh, Montreal, animal rights, politics, gay rights, meeting with the Dalai Lama and more. It’s accessible to hockey and non-hockey fans.

I think it’s a book that will inspire anyone.

Where can readers purchase the book?

They can go to my website at //www.georgeslaraque.com/

Jack Bogut, Pittsburgh Radio

Jack Bogut:

Can you give readers a quick idea on how you decided to enter into broadcasting and what made you decide to pursue this career – and how you landed in Pittsburgh in 1968?

A friend got a job at a brand new radio station in Dillon,Montana and when I heard his voice coming out of the radio in my Mom’s car, I wanted some of that fame for my self. (The whole story is contained in track #2 of my storytelling CD, “Mental Movies” entitled – “Failing Your Way to Success.”)

While working at KCAP in Salt Lake City, I was asked to do a pro bono recorded presentation sampling all the radio stations in the market for The National Association of Broadcasters convention being held in our city. It was heard by the National Program Manager for Westinghouse Broadcasting who stayed in town to listen to my show and ultimately offered me a job at KDKA.

What have been the favorite – and least favorite – parts of the job?

Favorite: the chance to be accepted by a large audience, useful to the community, have fun, and get paid for it.

Least favorite – Negotiating contract renewals.

You’ve been in the broadcasting business for over 50 years now – how has the business changed over the years – and has it been for the better?

The number of radio stations competing for listeners is much greater today, to the extent that we all “narrowcast” to a specific age and gender niche instead of “broadcast” to a general audience of men, women and children of all ages. We were also encouraged to be personalities on the air and develop a personal relationship with the audience.

It is the nature of things to change so radio is no better or worse than it was, just different.

You’re so well-known for your on-air storytelling. How did that begin for you – and how hard is it to come up with so many new story ideas?

Listening to music always creates mental images for me. Playing that music on the air and extemporaneously verbalizing what I see or feel over it became a form of word jazz I called “Home Movies (or videos) on Radio.” Sometimes I would have an ending in mind and make up a story to fit, or have a beginning in mind and have to find a way to end it before the music ran out.

It was a little scary but great fun to do.

Is oral storytelling becoming a “lost art”?

I think people are becoming reluctant to tell stories because of the need to be politically correct. Society has become very territorial about individual space and rights and seems to look for ways to be offended. A wise person once said that adversity brings us together; prosperity pushes us apart. What happened on 9/11 is a good case in point.

What sports and teams have you enjoyed most – and why?

I have long been a fan of The Steelers, The Pirates, and The Penguins. All of these teams are metaphors for the rest of us. When they work totally together as with no thought about individual achievements, they are unbeatable. When they don’t, individual players still shine but other teams can win.

Who have been some of the most enjoyable athletes and coaches you’ve met – and what made them so?

Steve Blass, Dave Guisti, Kent Tekulve, Chuck Tanner, Dan Rooney, Chuck Noll, Andy Russell, Jack Ham, Mike Wagner, Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Mel Blount; all were great leaders and team players first, and individual stars, second. They were also outstanding members of the community with their support of local charities and organizations.

What have you experienced that you think would surprise fans most about Pittsburgh and/or any of it sports teams?

When it comes to giving, Pittsburgh is one of the most generous communities per capita in America.

Any last thoughts for fans?

All of the athletes and owners I have met and known say essentially the same thing. “Fan support can be the difference between a championship and “almost…”

Go Steelers! Come back Pirates! Thank you, Mario! And return safely, Sid!

Casey Shea, KDKA, on the Penguins

Casey Shea, KDKA

First, can you tell readers about yourself – what you do with KDKA and how you got started there?

I started with KDKA during the summer of 2009. My primary job is to produce news content in the form of stories, videos, slideshows, etc. for our website. Before coming to Pittsburgh, I was a National Producer for the CBS Digital Media Group in New York City. I am also the author of the Shea-ved Ice blog, which is dedicated to my thoughts on the Pittsburgh Penguins. I have always been a Penguins fan so to be able to write about them for the website is great. Here’s the link to the blog: //pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/tag/shea-ved-ice/

How worried should fans be about Malkin’s consistent injury issues? Are these indicative of more chronic issues or will we see the end of these issues at some point this season?

My gut feeling on Malkin is that the early season soreness is just a lingering effect from the surgery. At this point, I’m not overly worried that he will continue to deal with this all season. I think the Pens are doing the right thing by holding him out at the moment. Malkin has been pushing himself during his recovery, but you can never recreate game intensity in practice.

The unknown was how his knee would hold up when the games started. I’d rather see him be held out now so he can recover, than push it and not be available for the stretch run and playoffs.

Does this team have enough offensive “punch” still at forward? Neal is on fire right now, but there seem to be so few pure scorers on this team, and it shows in their shooting percentages, Can they win as is?

I think we saw in the playoffs last year how much the Penguins struggled to score without guys like Sidney Crosby and Malkin. Also not having Dustin Jeffrey, Mark Letestu, etc. only compounded the scoring problems. Neal took a lot of heat last year for not being able to light the lamp, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Outside factors such as getting accustomed to a new system and a new city had to have affected his game. He looks a lot more comfortable with his surroundings so far this season and the pucks are going in for him.

The question now isn’t if he can score, it’s can he sustain this pace? In the absence of Crosby and Malkin, the scoring load falls to guys like Neal, Chris Kunitz, Jordan Staal and Steve Sullivan up front. Sullivan has had numerous golden opportunities in their most recent games against Montreal and New Jersey, but hasn’t been able to bury the puck. They proved last season that they can win low-scoring regular season games.

However, in the playoffs their offensive struggles ultimately led to their demise. Well, that and the power play, but we’ll get to that later.

How does the team remedy this – or is this the makeup of a team who understands in scoring limitations and believes in just trying to get pucks on the net to hope for rebounds?

There’s nothing wrong with putting a bunch of pucks on net and crashing for rebounds. One of the first things they teach you in youth hockey is to put the puck on net because you never know what might happen. Right now, I think we need to get used to seeing goals coming from up and down the roster until the big guns return. As far as remedying the goal-scoring problem without Crosby and Malkin, the Penguins just need to get back to basics.

The fancy passing we’ve come to know and expect out of this team can’t be happening, especially when the best two players in the world aren’t on the ice. The Pens have their best success when they get into the zone and cycle the puck. It generates momentum and leads to scoring chances.

Can Jeffrey be a scoring solution?

I think he has the potential to score at least 15 goals. He had seven in just 25 games with the Penguins last year, so I don’t think 15 is too big of a stretch. Even getting 10 from him would be a help while the Penguins get healthy.

Right now, I wouldn’t expect him to be a guy the team turns to be a major factor in the goal scoring department. At the moment, it’s all about balanced scoring for the Penguins. So, anything he adds will make this team successful.

How does Coach Bylsma get so much out of a team so riddled with injuries? What about him makes players respond so well to his leadership?

Quite simply, his system is what allows this team to be successful. The fact that the same system is being used in Wilkes-Barres/Scranton allows the call-ups to step right in and feel comfortable. It’s hard enough to make an NHL roster, but being familiar with the system on the big stage goes a long way. While it seems as if we’ve been watching the current core forever, this is still a very young hockey team. Bylsma comes across as a teacher and rarely loses his cool. His approach makes players want to be better.

The system is catered to how these current players want to play the game. Under Michel Therrien, guys like Crosby and Malkin were bottled up. Now, the system allows them to use their speed to create chances. The Penguins are a very fast team and bottling them up made absolutely no sense. The players appeared to tune Therrien out after a while. Whether they did or not is pure speculation. It’s just how it looked to me. Bylsma brought a new outlook, a new system and the team responded by winning the Stanley Cup. Players follow guys who win and Bylsma finds ways to win with what he’s given. There’s no reason to not trust his decisions.

How has this team addressed the power play – and while it’s too early to evaluate with Malikn and Crosby out so much, do you see signs of real improvement yet?

The signs of improvement are there. Pucks are getting to the net on a more frequent basis and there’s been better puck movement once they get set up. However, the problem is still getting set up in the zone. At times, the zone entries are the same as they were last year. Basically, Kris Letang lugs the puck through the neutral zone with his four teammates stopped at the blue line. When Letang enters the zone, he’s met with a wall of defenders and no one to pass to. The guys without the puck need to be hitting the line with speed so Letang has an option to either pass or chip it deep.

From a personnel standpoint, I’d make two changes right now. Paul Martin has looked lost on the second unit and I’m not entirely sure why. His decisions with the puck have left a lot to be desired to this point. When healthy, I’d prefer to see Zbynek Michalek out there. He’s got a decent shot and he’s not afraid to let it fly. Also, I’d take Matt Cooke off the ice for power plays. If he’s only going to the net to set up screens, put Mark Letestu or Jeffrey out there. Cooke seems to have been able to change his game, but he’s not the first guy I would think of to use on the power play. Maybe things will change when the team gets healthy. Time will tell.

What has Bill Guerin brought to this team – how has he been working with the players?

I’ll admit it. I wasn’t a big fan of trading for Guerin at first. I’ll also admit, my judgment of that deal was completely wrong. What a fantastic deal that turned out to be and not just because he helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup. He brought a veteran presence into a young locker room, but didn’t have the “holier than thou” mentality just because he had been around longer.

Guerin took Crosby under his wing and showed him how to be a leader. He showed all the “kids” the right way to play the game. When the team faced adversity, they looked to Guerin because he’d been there before. Having him in the front office as a player development coach is only going to do wonders for the prospects in the system.

What does the team do for the new players like Sullivan, Neal and Park to get them “indoctrinated” – what do the players and coaches do to welcome them and make them feel a part of the team?

I’m not entirely certain how the team rolls out the red carpet for new players to the team. However, the free agent signings over the past couple of years have wanted to be members of the team. You run the risk in trades with players being unhappy with having been traded. Steve Sullivan for example wanted to be a Penguin because of the winning attitude here. He’s nearing the end of his career and figures this team to have the best chance to win the Stanley Cup. Could he have gotten more money elsewhere? It’s hard to say, but his eagerness to come to Pittsburgh makes welcoming him to the team much easier.

The guys in the locker room have always appeared to welcome new guys to the team with open arms. If Arron Asham can come in from Philly and fit right in, surely anyone can right?

Coach Bylsma has been questioned at times for aggressively mixing his lineups from game to game. Do you see this as an issue as it pertains to “chemistry” – do the players mention this at all?

I have no problem with the way he shuffles the lines. With all the injuries, he is forced to experiment with different line combinations to get the most out of the team. I think the players understand that as well and know if they play well, they’ll see more ice time. Coaches change lines around during games all the time based on how the game unfolds. I think it comes with the territory and the players all accept that. I also think that when the Penguins are back to 100 percent, the shuffling won’t be as drastic as we’ve seen. Hopefully the end of the injuries comes soon.

Cory Pronman of the Hockey Prospectus in a recent interview (//pittsburghsportsdailybulletin.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/corey-pronman-hockey-prospectus/) ranked the Penguins organization 25th in the NHL in terms of prospects. What are your thoughts on his analysis?

Well, he’s certainly entitled to his opinion and that’s what makes all of this fun and interesting. I certainly wouldn’t rank the Penguins that low considering how well these guys have stepped into the NHL to fill in.

Last year was a big test to see just what the Penguins have in the farm. Guys like Letestu and Jeffrey stepped in and performed well before injuries sidelined them. This season, Joe Vitale had an amazing training camp and preseason, which earned him a roster spot with the big club. Joe Morrow had an impressive showing in camp, Scott Harrington is another solid defenseman and Beau Bennett has the potential to develop into a top six forward. While they aren’t on the level of a Crosby or Malkin, they’re still NHL quality players that will eventually crack the Penguins’ roster.

The list goes on, but the fact the Penguins still enjoyed success down the stretch last season with what seemed like an AHL-dominated roster, the future of Penguins hockey still seems bright to me. The biggest question mark is if Eric Tangradi can pull it together and live up to the hype surrounding him. I think he has the ability to do so, but consistency is his biggest problem.

Any last thoughts for readers?

It’s still very early in the season, but the Penguins look like one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference right now. I think fans should be excited to see how well the team is performing without their top stars. It certainly brings a smile to my face to think how good this team will be when Crosby and Malkin are back as everyday players.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter at //twitter.com/CaseySheaPens.

Gregg Sayer – Pointstreak Sports Technologies Inc.

Greg Sayer: Pointstreak Sports Technologies Inc.

First, can you tell readers about Pointstreak – how you got started and what the applications are?

In 2000, our founder, Aaron Bishop, was frustrated that he could not get his rec league hockey stats online and when they were posted online, they were painfully out of date. He drafted some friends to help him create a solution – which was labelled an “electronic gamesheet system” – and then approached their local league to act as a test pilot. From these humble roots we have grown to a company that services over 4000 leagues and associations around the world.

Officially speaking, Pointstreak Sports Technologies Inc. is a privately-held sports software company that provides fully integrated online registration software, statistics solutions, sports websites and video solutions for the sports of hockey, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer and others. Our founding principle was to use a touch-screen computer to replace paper score sheets used by hockey leagues, but we have since expanded into multiple sports and applications beyond just statistics.

What professional sports organizations use Pointstreak (any in Pittsburgh) – and how?

Pointstreak formed its first “White Knight” partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins in November 2010 which saw the Penguins underwrite the costs of Pointstreak’s technologies for grassroots hockey leagues in the greater Pittsburgh area, particularly the Pittsburgh Amateur Hockey League (PAHL) and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL). This type of partnership is a triple-win: the Pens get a great platform to connect with their core community; grassroots hockey associations get cutting-edge services at no cost and Pointstreak gets the business. The idea is catching on with other pro teams. We recently entered into a similar arrangement with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Beyond these strategic partnerships, we have many professional sports organizations as clients that use our real-time statistics software , live video highlights software and video analysis coaching software. Here are some highlights of our pro / collegiate clients in the Pittsburgh and greater Pennsylvania region:

Video Analysis Software:

Hershey Bears (AHL)

Wheeling Nailers (ECHL )

Robert Morris University (NCAA D1 hockey & lacrosse)

Mercyhurst U (NCAA D1)

Baseball Statistics Software:

Washington Wild Things (Frontier League)

Butler BlueSox (The Prospect League)

Slippery Rock Sliders (The Prospect League)

PONY World Series

Little League World Series

Are any teams using the software to better analyze their own performance to improve – if so, any examples?

While we certainly cannot take all the credit for our clients’ successes, it is interesting to note that the Canadian men’s and women’s hockey team who won gold and the Finnish hockey teams who won bronze at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics were all clients of our video analysis coaching software (called STEVA).

Pointstreak’s STEVA product is completely centered around the idea of helping coaches and players improve on-ice success. The product slogan is “Visualize Success”, which is a perfect summary of the whole concept: tag up video, index it, and use it to find out what you are doing well and what you could be doing better. Furthermore, the same concept can be applied against your competitors to help identify weak points or to guide preparations such as match-ups, situational tactics, etc.

Can fan/fantasy leagues use the system as well – if so, how is it being used?

Yes, we do have a ‘fantasy league’ module that we can enable for our clients. For example, the Major League Lacrosse uses our fantasy league software to easily allow fans to run their own fantasy leagues. Because we have a streamlined system to capture and organize game and player statistics, the setup and maintenance of a fantasy league is completely automated for our clients.

We also have one Strat-O-Matic Hockey league using Pointstreak. Strat-O-Matic is a sports simulation board game that has somewhat of a cult following. Our baseball platform could easily be used by Strat-O-Matic baseball leagues.

Much of your focus in on baseball and hockey – is football in the future for Pointstreak? Why/why not?

Our vision is to have a robust stats solution for all the major, global sports, so yes, football is definitely our radar. We already have football clients like the Indoor Football League, Texas High School Football, and the Flag Football World Championships. We expect that the football market is going to become a much larger part of our business in the coming years.

We have also recently entered basketball with our acquisition of CREZ Basketball, a leading basketball stats application, so that is a market we are just beginning to make our presence felt in.

Some feel that there’s too much emphasis on statistics in sports today – what do you think of this and how does your software help enhance the sporting experience versus making the focus solely on statistics?

The reality is, for the youth and young adults of the world, an online experience is an integral part of anything they do. By creating a rich online experience for these athletes we strengthen their ties to their sport and make it more likely that they will continue to participate in their sport. Combine that with the fact that we offer parents the opportunity to stay connected to their child’s sporting activities in real-time even when they cannot make the game, and we feel we have a lot to offer sports organizations.

At the professional level, especially with the release of the recent movie Moneyball, there has been plenty of discussion on how much should statistics be used in the role of scouting and player evaluation. The general consensus is that the old school method of simply watching a player can be enhanced with the use of statistical analysis. The majority of MLB teams now employ a department that manipulate the statistics for their own scouting purposes. Pointstreak shares data with a few MLB teams as well as having an official partnership with NHL Central Scouting.

Are there plans to open this up to consumers so that anyone can use this to track their own individual players/sports of interest rather than this being a team/league centered offering?

We do offer a Pointstreak iPhone app / iPad app for $9.99 that allows consumers to score their own team’s games or for scorekeeping hobbyists who like to score along with MLB games (we even have built in MLB rosters that one can download). We also have something called Team Locker Room, a free online tool that helps amateur teams and coaches manage their team (schedule games, track attendance, enter basic stats). However, Pointstreak’s core business is on helping entire leagues streamline their stats collection and improve the player or fan experience.

Could this be applicable to non-sports applications. Say, helping businesses get statistical analysis on their operations, etc.?

Yes, the principles are the same: Streamlining data collection, crunchin numbers, posting to the Internet, etc. However, there are plenty of companies focused on that space, so our plan is to specialize in technology that meets the unique needs and challenges of sports organizations.

What’s next in terms of offerings/applications?

About a year ago we released a product called Pointstreak Live Publisher. This is a revolutionary idea that married our traditional hockey/baseball scoring software with our then recently acquired video indexing software (STEVA). The result is a seamless system that automatically captures a video clip from a baseball or hockey game, indexes it to the relevant statistical event (e.g. goal or home run), and then uploads it to the web in real-time.

We had good adoption of Live Publisher with leagues like the Central Hockey League (CHL), the North American Hockey League (NAHL), Central Canadian Hockey League (CCHL), but what we are extremely excited about is the R&D that is under way to bring this idea of automated video highlights down to the grassroots hockey and baseball leagues. Imagine as a parent of a young hockey player, for example, having a highlight clip of every one of your child’s goals from the start of their competitive hockey career. Imagine if we could have that sort of historical video archive for a great like Sidney Crosby?

Any other thoughts for readers?

If anyone reading this participates in a hockey/baseball league and you think or KNOW the league needs to catch up on technology, join our Facebook page and join the conversation about how Pointstreak can help.

Donnie Iris – Pittsburgh Rock Icon

Donnie Iris:

First off, can you tell readers what you’ve been up to lately and about your new album and upcoming gigs?

Starting sometime after the first of the year, we will start working on a new CD.

You’ve been a stalwart of Pittsburgh’s music scene for many years. How did you get started and what advice would you give other local musicians who want to make it as well?

I started singing at a very early age. My mother played piano, and she taught me how to sing.

You’ve been a stalwart of Pittsburgh’s music scene for many years. How did you get started and what advice would you give other local musicians who want to make it as well?

My advice to people who would like to get into the music scene would be to work hard and long, whether just singing or playing or writing. And don’t quit.

Many see the life of a musician as all bright lights and glamour, but it’s a tough business. What’s been the most difficult aspect of the music business for you and how have you been able to overcome it and stay active for so long?

The toughest part of the business has been the financial aspect. It sometimes can be very difficult to make a living in music. Many artists give up because they can’t make ends meet just doing music. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to follow my heart and make a living at music, VERY fortunate!

Who influenced you most in terms of your approach to music and how have you been able to use that influence to create your own sound as opposed to just “copying” another’s?

My influences have been varied. People I looked up to and influenced me most were Marvin Gaye, Tony Bennett, The Beatles, and many more.

The Pittsburgh music scene has been growing in prominence but hasn’t launched that huge local artist recently. Is anything missing from the local scene to foster more musical talent?

I think the Pittsburgh music scene is alive and well. Many wonderful artists occupy this area. Whiz Khalifa is a prime example.

On to sports….are you a sports fan – and if so, what teams to you follow most and just how avid a fan are you?

I am a huge Pittsburgh sports fan! Steelers, Pirates, Penguins. It don’t get no better!

Have you had any experiences playing for/around some of the area athletes or hanging out with them? If so, what were those experiences and players like?

I played at Deisel acouple of times and hung with Big Ben, Brett Keisel and Aaron Smith. Great guys.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Parting words for my Pittsburghers: We are really lucky to live here! My take is that Pittsburgh is truly a special place.

Andrew Conte – Breakaway: The inside story of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ rebirth

Andrew Conte of the Tribune Review on his new book – – Breakaway: The inside story of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ rebirth

First, what inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to find out what really happened in all of the closed-door negotiations over the team. I spent a lot of hours as a reporter for the Tribune-Review covering meetings and discussions that took place in secret. Breakaway tells about what happened in all those private discussions. Fans who followed this narrative as it happened can finally get the full story.

Where can readers purchase the book?

Breakaway is available at Barnes & Noble stores across the United States, and at Chapters and Coles book stores in Canada. Many independent book stores around Pittsburgh are carrying Breakaway, such as the Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley. It’s also available online from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and the book’s website www.breakawaypenguins.com.

What surprised you most about the team’s “rebirth” as you did your research?

The team came very close to leaving. One short-lived plan had the Penguins going to Los Angeles, and the LA Kings going to Kansas City.

Who were the key players behind the scenes that readers may not have been aware of – and how so?

Team owner Ron Burkle played a much larger role in the team’s on-ice decisions than fans realize. He was the catalyst for the Penguins to acquire Marian Hossa in 2008, and then for bringing up Coach Dan Bylsma in 2009 before the Cup run. Burkle does not tell the team leaders what to do, but he brings a business mentality to the organization and encourages them to do what they need to win.

Much is said about Sydney Crosby “saving the franchise.” How much of this is true, in your opinion?

None of this happens without Crosby. When the Penguins win the rights to draft Crosby in the post-lockout lottery, it changes everything. Until that point, the owners plan to sell the team and actually have a purchase agreement in place. Immediately after the lottery, they decide to make a play to keep the team — and to keep it in Pittsburgh. One team insider said it was like selling a house and then finding gold on the property.

How close was this team really in moving?

Very close. Even at the last meeting at a New Jersey hotel where the owners and public officials sit down with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to work out the details of an agreement, the whole thing nearly blows up. The Kansas City deal was comparable with the one in Pittsburgh, but the arena there already was built.

In your opinion – what did the prior ownership do wrong that the team was in such difficult shape?

Howard Baldwin’s group faced a difficult situation: They bought a team that had just won the Stanley Cup, and they were determined to keep the team intact. But after winning the Cup, the players could command more money than the team really could afford. To come up with money, the team ended up selling a lot of long-term revenue streams in the Civic Arena, and so the financial problems worsened.

How involved was the NHL in the discussions and what role did they play?

Commissioner Gary Bettman ultimately was the guy who brought everyone together. When the team was for sale, the league quietly let potential suitors know that it would do everything possible to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh. No one knows whether the league actually could have kept the team from leaving, but I believe that was one of the key reasons Lemieux and Burkle could not sell the franchise. Then, when the deal for Pittsburgh nearly fell apart, Bettman was the one who convened the secret meeting where the final agreement was reached.

Some were skeptical of Lemieux’s role on the discussions. Do you think he was aware of this – if so, how did it affect him?

At one point, Gov. Ed Rendell says how hard it is to negotiate with Burkle, a friend from politics, and Lemieux, a player he admired as a fan. Everyone had a role to play, and Lemieux played a key part. Ultimately, I believe Lemieux’s biggest contribution was insisting that the Penguins stay in Pittsburgh if at all possible.

What was the “turn around” moment for this team? When ownership knew it was going in the right direction?

Oddly, it might have been before the 2008 playoffs when Crosby got injured and Malkin and the other players had to step up to fill the void. The owners already had agreed on terms for an arena, and they started winning without their best player. Team insiders had to wonder how great they could be when he came back. It was at that moment that Burkle pulled together team leaders and asked whether they had a chance to win. When the answer was yes, he pushed for them to do whatever they needed to win a championship. Even though the team lost in the final that year, they knew they could win the Cup after that.

How important was the new stadium for this team? How difficult was it for them to have it torn down?

The new arena makes it possible for the team to make enough money to stay in Pittsburgh and pay players up to the salary cap. At the Civic Arena, the team had to compete for local fan dollars with two relatively new stadiums — Heinz Field and PNC Park — and the building had many flaws that did not make it ideal for any of its intended uses. At Consol Energy Center, the Penguins should make enough money to be competitive for a long time.

Any last thoughts for readers?

The fans played a bigger role in this whole story than maybe even many of them realize. When the Penguins were competing for the casino license, the fans turned the Gaming Control Board’s meetings into pep rallies for the team. And then when the team nearly left, the fans compelled reluctant public officials to realize the importance of this franchise to the region. Ultimately when the Penguins had competitive deals to stay and leave, the owners chose to stay because of the fan support here. Breakaway really tells the fans’ story.

Andrew’s book launch and signing events:

@AndrewConteTrib

Book Launch: 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, T.G.I.Friday’s at Consol Energy Center.

Signing event: 1-3 p.m. Penguin Bookshop, 420 Beaver St., Sewickley, Pa. 15143. 412-741-3838.

Signing event: 5-7 p.m. Pensgear Powered by Reebok, Consol Energy Center, near the Trib Total Media Gate, prior to the game.

Matt Bodenschatz – Faceoff Factor

Can you let readers know what’s new at the //www.faceoff-factor.com/ – there’s a new site design for starters.

First off, thanks for the opportunity to talk hockey! Faceoff Factor has a brand new design implemented and maintained by our new web and graphic designer, Doug Graham. In addition to the design, Doug has added a new feature called “Talk Amongst Yourselves,” which gives readers an opportunity to discuss a variety of topics before a story is written on FF. As always, Mike Adams will deliver Game Grades, Jesse Marshall will deliver prospect news and analysis, and the rest of the staff will deliver unique opinions on the Penguins and NHL at large.

James Neal is off to a strong start. What do you attribute this to -was he just “unlucky” last season?

I have been a big James Neal fan for a few years now, and even suggested a year earlier that an Alex Goligoski for Neal swap would benefit both teams. Last season, his lack of production, in my opinion, can be attributed to a number of things. For starters, Neal was accustomed to being the third wheel on a line with two high powered offensive players in Dallas. Coming to Pittsburgh, he was relegated to Mark Letestu and Alex Kovalev, making him the top dog. Put any secondary-type player in that position and he’ll struggle to score. Additionally, he was stuck adjusting to a new system on a team without its most talented players. There was a lot of pressure to produce, and I think it got to him a bit. Now, this year, he’s had an opportunity to go through Camp Bylsma and, more importantly, has had a chance to skate with Evgeni Malkin and Steve Sullivan, two excellent playmakers. I don’t think there’s any coincidence that after an adjustment period and an upgrade in linemates, he’s back to the Neal we saw in Dallas.

Conversely, Sullivan seems to be pressing. What are your thoughts on his expected contribution?

Steve Sullivan isn’t known much as a shooter, but rather a playmaker. I don’t necessarily see him as pressing, but rather finding his way. I’ve been impressed with his skating and vision and think he’ll be a strong contributor to the team once he settles in.

Vitale has played inspired hockey – will there be room for him on this roster though when Crosby and Jeffrey return?

Last night we saw Mark Letestu riding the pine as Malkin made his way back into the lineup. As the team gets healthier, I expect to see more of the same, with Joe Vitale getting the fourth line center job. Don’t get me wrong, I was impressed with Letestu last season and like what he brings to the table, but Vitale, in my opinion, brings a defensive element, a physical element, and a faceoff element that Letestu just doesn’t. Vitale is a better fit for a bottom line — and I think he’ll win out when it comes time to make room for Sidney Crosby and Dustin Jeffrey.

Speaking of returns, what do you expect the top two lines to look like once Crosby and Jeffrey do return?

That’s a difficult question. Ideally, I’d like to see Crosby with Kunitz and Kennedy, leaving Malkin with Neal and Sullivan, but Bylsma likes to shuffles lines, making it difficult to predict.

The power play so far is much improved. What do you attribute this to?

From what I can see, there is significantly more unpredictable movement, which can be difficult to defend. Add in the resurgence of Kris Letang as a dominant offensive (and defensive) defenseman and the addition of the creative Sullivan, and it’s a recipe for success. It’s early, but for the most part I’m liking what I’m seeing with the man advantage.

Any concerns about the minutes being logged so far by Letang and Staal?

Yes and no. Obviously, these two players have increased minutes because of injuries to Crosby, Malkin and Orpik, which means this shouldn’t be a permanent thing. That being said, we don’t know when Crosby and Orpik will return, and with a heavy schedule over the next few weeks, it’s slightly alarming and concerning that Letang and Staal are skating so much. Let’s just hope they don’t wear out, as it’s a long season.

Any early surprises so far with the team?

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the play of Matt Cooke and Richard Park. While both have proven capable in the past, it’s nice to see both having success again. For Cooke, he appears to have a new-found dedication to respecting his opponents and focusing on hockey — and the result has been tremendous. For Park, he appeared a likely AHL candidate, but his strong penalty killing (bolstered by a shorthanded goal earlier this week) has given him an opportunity to not only stick with the team, but get quality minutes. It’s always nice to see a former Penguin return and do well.

Was it at all disturbing to you how enthusiastically the fans responded to the punishment Asham doled out on Washington’s Beagle – especially in light of Crosby’s concussion issues?

Boy, that’s a loaded question. From a hockey perspective happening “at the spur of the moment,” fans at a game want big plays and hard hits. Fights are no exception. In the spur of the moment, fans always are going to be thrilled with a big TKO that results in some blood. But, I also think most fans are smart enough not to want to see the opponent be significantly injured — hence the applause and stick-taps from the fans and players.

The scoring seems to still be down for this team – even with Malkin in the lineup. What’s the issue behind the scoring problems early on?

No Sidney Crosby. Let’s face it, he is the key to this team’s offense. Last season, we saw a bare bones offense without Malkin and Crosby. This year, it has increased a bit due to Malkin’s return, but Malkin can only do so much when he faces the top defense pairings and defensive forwards each shift. When Crosby returns, it will give the Penguins that much-needed one-two punch, which should help to increase their offensive efforts and put them back into elite territory.

Any last thoughts for readers?

Watch with pride. I have a feeling what we are seeing is the making of a very special season from a very special team. The Penguins are loaded from top to bottom, and with injured players closer to a return, things will get even better. This has all the makings of being an amazing season, and I for one am enjoying the ride so far!

Phil Bourque

Phil Bourque:

How has your NHL playing experience helped and hurt you as a commentator for the team?

My NHL playing experience has given my the credible experiences and knowledge to analyze the game and players. Also having played in the OHL, AHL, IHL, NHL and the German Elite league has given me an appreciation on what it takes to get the NHL and what it takes to stay there.

What part do Ray Shero and Mario Lemieux play in the day-to-day activities of the team?

Ray Shero is very involved in the day to day operations of the Penguins. Mario, on the other hand does not get quite involved but always has the pulse of the players,coaches and managers. He is always involved in major decisions but on a day to day basis lets everybody just do their job.

What would surprise fans most about this team?

People would be most surprised on how well this team gets along and truly is like a family.

How do you feel the salary cap has impacted the team specifically and the NHL as a whole? Is it a positive or negative thing in your opinion?

The salary cap has had such a positive effect on the league as a whole. The Penguins were never a team that had unlimited resources so they always had a self imposed salary cap. The cap has helped the “Big Dogs” who couldn’t control their own spending.

What have been some of the more surprising/interesting players over the years and why?

One the most interesting players I can recall was Al Iafrate who played for Washington and Boston amongst others… He could shoot the puck about 105 mph while using a very short stick….what made him so interesting was that he smoked like a chimney and used to light his cigs while working on his sticks with a blowtorch. Thus earning the nickname Weird Al .

What blogs and websites do you turn to for hockey news and analysis?

I use about 12-15 different web sites including NHL.com, TSN.ca, and Yahoo sports, Also a variety of publications that help me with unique stats and stories.

If you could make any changes to the game – on or off the ice – what you would do and why?

I would not change many things with the game right now as I feel alot has been done since the lockout. I would consider allowing the coaches 1 challenge per game for goals that are not reviewable by replay. If the coach is wrong with his challenge he would lose his teams timeout.

Who are some of the AHL and ECHL and other prospects we should watch out for in the next year or so?

Some blue chip prospects coming down the pike are Dustin Jeffrey and Eric Tangradi down in Wilkes Barre as well as Simon Dupres that is playing in the Quebec Major Junior League and representing Canada during the 2011 World Jrs played in Buffalo.

Anything you’d like to add/further thoughts for Pittsburgh Sports Daily Bulletin Readers on the Penguins or any other subject?

Finally, after being blessed enough to play this great game of hockey professionally for 18 years and retiring in 2000 I spent 3 years trying different lines of work that did not come close to satisfying my hunger for a game that gave me the highest of highs. Thanks to Mario Lemieux I was given an opportunity to work as the radio analyst for the Pittsburgh Penguins and talk about the greatest team playing the greatest game.