Practice Does Indeed Hate Me

We established this year that Thrashers Practice hates me. I know live on the opposite side of town from practice, it's a haul. Twice I drove to practice to get there and find it canceled. Another time I drove out there and the guys stayed out there for 30 minutes. I decided it wasn't worth it any more. The last time I had the chance to go to practice and chose not to, I missed the Boston Bruins.


The final Thrashers practice for the season was April 9. I decided not to go. There was a game Friday and Sunday. My dog was acting funny. My toilets were dirty. I decided to stay home. Great, the Penguins were there.


Fortunately for me and the blog, my friend Sandy and her adorable girls were there. She got some pictures and the girls made out like bandits.


Here are the girls and Flower.



The girls and Disco Dan, Coach Dan Bylsma.



Though Sidney Crosby hasn't been playing due to concussion, he WAS at the practice. Sandy got to see him do some stick handling which she said was amazing. Her daughter Abby wanted to ask Sid for a stick. Sandy told her "no baby, don't bother him. You probably won't get it anyway." Abby pleaded and Sandy said okay. Well I'll be damned...he gave it to her! He also signed it for her, but the signature got smudged.



They decided to go outside and get her stick re-signed and get some more autographs. Sandy said that grown men were begging for the stick and offering wads of cash. I might have gotten security to walk around with me!


Jordan Staal.



Flower signs for some happy fans.



And finally, Sid the Kid re-signs Abby's stick.



So now Abby has one of the most coveted pieces of hockey memorabilia going today. Her sister Sara didn't walk away empty handed, she got an Aaron Asham stick, too. He autographed it as well.


Seeing the Pens practice was one of my favorite memories last season. Hopefully practice and I will be on better terms next season and I'll have new memories like this!

Thanks to Sandy for letting me exploit her kids for this post!