![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pucklingI largely try to work my way through sadness, so after more of less settling into the "acceptance" phase of mourning Brandon Bollig's trade to Calgary :( I figured I should finally put together the post I've been meaning to do on his stint with the Lincoln Stars in the USHL.
In one of those: I was looking for something and then stumbled upon an entire *treasure trove* of completely different information, I found a whole bunch of articles in the Journal Star (are you sensing a theme about Lincoln, Nebraska, because I am) about Brandon Bollig. Some of them actually written by Brandon, bless him.
Brandon came to Lincoln from the Junior B St. Louis (Mo.) Blues team, and he already had a reputation as a tough guy.
and
Oh my sweet summer child. "good deals at restaurants". Bless you.
Brandon came fairly close only spending a season in Lincoln. He went to the London Knight's training camp in 2006.
Along with another name you might recognize, Sam Gagner. Who between me starting and finishing this, got traded, so it's been a weekend for those boys. But *also*, what you can deduce from this is that bb!Bollig and Kaner were almost on a team together (Kaner wasn't on the training camp roster because it initially looked like he was going to stay with the UTDP that year, but he ended up playing with the Knights in 2006-2007).
Bollig made the Knights out of training camp but:
Brandon and his mother have both said that they had zero expectations of him making the NHL when he was growing up, and you can kinda see that here. He's got fall back plans and he's already considering a life after hockey. Baby boy is practical.
Speaking of Brandon being a baby, I find it really weird to realize that he looked like this during his time there:
What a baby face!
It's like he's 12!
His current glorious facial hair apparently took some experimenting to get to. This was what I would call an early effort/hysterically bad.
USHL players live with a billet family, and Brandon was no exception. He lived with the Schultz family for two years, and it seems like they're still pretty close.
(I don't actually like thinking about Brandon's play during that loss, but that's still adorable)
and
and
and
They talk on the phone, text. Brian and Lynn's son Trevin, 4, wants to be Brandon when he grows up. Taylor adores him.
(It's fine, I'm fine, everything's fine, no one look at my face)
(x for pictures and text)
Even in the USHL Brandon was known more as a fighter than as a player.
Awww, bb. Teammate feels. I get the warm fuzzies (WHO IS GOING TO STAND OPPOSITE OF JONNY AND HELP FIST BUMP ALL THE HAWKS OFF THE ICE? WHO? D: D: D:)
It sounds like the good people of Lincoln, Nebraska enjoy themselves a hockey fight, also Brandon flings his jersey off at the end of this, for unknown reasons.
and
and
Seriously, if you look for "Brandon Bollig Lincoln Stars" on youtube, pretty much what you get is fight videos. Which is not surprising, but does make me wish there was film of his stupid chinstrap so I could gaze upon it with horror and then mock him. Also he's flinging something in this one too, so perhaps the flinging equipment at the end of fights is just a thing? IDK yo.
But Brandon had his moments as a hockey player too, like that time he got a hattie at home in 2008.
"with a chuckle", you charming asshole. ♥
Awwwwwww. I like it when he's pleasantly surprised when he works hard and gets rewarded. ♥
TREAT HIM WELL CALGARY, OKAY? JUST LIKE, GIVE HIM A LITTLE TIME TO SHOW YOU WHAT HE'S GOT LOOK HOW MUCH HE'S IMPROVED HIS GAME THIS PAST SEASON, LOOK WHAT HE DOES WHEN HIS COACHES BELIEVE IN HIMMMMMMMMM D: D: D: bbbbbb D: D:
(x)
There was also his goal and assist in a game against the Star's rivals.
Although let's be real, Brandon Bollig's forever going to win "Ms. Congeniality", sometimes he scores goals too.
Ms. Congeniality/Everyone's older brother, Brandon Bollig.
Also, since Brandon was 1) with the team for so long, and 2) is actually pretty decent with media, he did a lot of interviews.
Please Brandon, please. I bet you fucking *love* BSB, don't even front. "Quit Playing Games with My Heart" was a pivotal musical moment for folks our age.
Beautiful.
I can practically *see* the shit eating smirk on his face. It probably helped that he apparently scored two goals in the last three minutes of that game. He was probably so smug you could see it from space. Never change my sweet summer child, never change.
I'm just including this one because he used a polysyllabic word and I'm proud. GOOD JOB BB. YOU WORK THOSE 50 CENT WORDS. Also bus legs. I have never heard that term before, but I plan on incorporating into things now. Plus goalie love. A good quote all around really.
Here, have a warm up video to break up the text. Unclear if he was doing the whole elaborate stretching routine at that point, that fact might be lost to history.
Okay, I'm very sorry to those of you who like watching golf, but every single time I've tired I could practically feel myself flat lining, so I'm going with Bollig on this one.
USHL players eat like college students. Good to know.
ETA: Here is some extra *VERY IMPORTANT* information fromcoggs about Lincoln, Nebraska.
But, really, I feel it’s very important to note the following three things:
1) P.O. Pears, purveyor of free/reduced price food to hockey players, is no more! It is now a bar called Red9 which is, hilariously to me, owned by my cardiologist. My little brother (she’s also his cardio) ran into her there once and described the experience as “very awkward”.
That said, I am pretty sure Red9 also has table shuffleboard still and definitely still hosts a lot of terrible local bands, so. Basically unchanged!
2) Equally important to note is that P.O. Pears/Red9 is directly by one of Lincoln’s two gay bars, The Q. The Q is also an extremely popular club, especially with college students, because they are 19+ as opposed to 21+ (and, like, the #1 place to sneak into when you are in high school, I actually had a friend get in successfully by making sad eyes I am not even kidding). I mean, it’s pretty gay, but it definitely got straighter and straighter as time went on.
The Q also does a weekly underwear dance contest. The prize is $100 plus free drinks. Make of this information what you will.
3) P.O. Pears/Red9 is also very close to The Night Before Lounge, the downtown strip club that is so good and renowned it is regularly frequented by Harrison Ford (something I know to be 100% true outside of that vague reference because I know the columnist for the paper who had to tail him once when he was in town).
I feel extremely confident saying that, of all the strip clubs in town, that is the one the local hockey team would pick. Well that or the just outside of town, all nude, 18+ juice/strip bar.
NOW YOU KNOW.
...okay now I'm wondering if anyone ever broke to Brandon that he has metrosexual tendencies himself (also metrosexual, lol, how 2007) and also being very sad about Brandon in suits, repping that new Chicago menswear line on twitter, BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO CALGARY AND WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT ANYMORE. D: D: D: I LIKED THE WAY THEIR CLOTHING FIT HIM. D:
D:
He also wrote like, five little blog posts for the paper. They're 1) short and 2) give me opportunities to make fun of him a lot. But with love. So in chronological order.
"Myself" - he still does this and I roll my eyes each time. Me. The word you want there is *me*. I also enjoy how he kicks it off with a filler known and beloved by anyone who's had to fluff out a paper for school, "As everyone knows". God, you goober.
*headtilt* So I make a million and a half typos always and forever, but I also don't run most of my stuff past a copy editor. I feel like someone should have probably noticed that there's an apostrophe missing, and also the sentence has an extra word and doesn't really make sense.
If the Icehogs are to be believed, Brandon was probably amongst those losing money. He also apparently did crosswords in the back of the bus, bless (x).
Also I suspect he was probably writing and then emailing these in on his phone. There are two occurrences of our friend the missing apostrophe. Lincoln Star, did you not even *look* at these before publishing them?
YEAH YANKEES. Look at Brandon name drop (later Mark Messier comes to Lincoln to see his son and you can practically feel Brandon fangirl through the screen) and then fail to use whom correctly. Bless his goober heart. Brandon and Joba are still friends on twitter though, which is very cute.
The hockey world is so small guys. So, so, so small.
Either his autocorrect failed him or he hates capital letters on days of the week. Brandon Bollig, grammar rebel?
Great and fun, two staples of a pro hockey player's vocabulary. Look at Brandon working them. Also I tried to figure out what the milk poster was, but no dice.
This is my favorite sentence that Brandon Bollig ever has or ever will write. "The fellas".
I just want to have so many words with their copy editor. Was anyone looking at what that kid put up? Seriously, anyone?
Of course, that wasn't the Journal Star wasn't the only media Brandon was making appearances in.
(The Stars part starts at 20:14, and there's another .5 second spot at 26:45, when they're having the Stars help out with the furniture and Brandon is *so* much taller than everyone else, it's hilarious)
God bless baby hockey goalies, Brandon Bollig being half a foot taller than everyone else, and Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
Of course, Lincoln was home for a bit, but Brandon ended up moving on with his hockey career.
He actually ended up studying psychology, not architecture, but I feel like he gave another interview while he was with the Hawks that brought up architecture again so maybe that was where his ~*true passion*~ lay.
I know that I quoted this earlier, but I think it's interesting to note that he's financially conscious. Food for thought.
I also wonder if he'd want to go into coaching at some point, or if it was more of a one off for shits and giggles deal.
This is a video of Brandon Bollig at St. Lawrence that has no real relevance to the rest of this post, but his cheeks are stupid and flushed and he keeps grinning and biting his lower lip AND HIS FACE IS THE WORST AND IT IS GOING TO GO BE THE WORST SO FAAAAAAR AWAAAAAAAAY D: D: D: MAKE LOTS OF GIFS, OKAY FLAMES FANS? PUT HIS FACE ON TV LOTS FLAMES PR PEOPLE. IT IS A GOOD FACE. I'LL WATCH IT. :(
*sad noises about his stupid tongue*
Of course one of the nice things about relatively small towns is they don't forget you even after you've moved away.
The article is entitled: "One of everybody's favorite former players ..." *sad noises again*
*pets his dumb, stupid, face* Imma miss you boo. But I think you'll do okay. Go out and give em hell, alright?
In one of those: I was looking for something and then stumbled upon an entire *treasure trove* of completely different information, I found a whole bunch of articles in the Journal Star (are you sensing a theme about Lincoln, Nebraska, because I am) about Brandon Bollig. Some of them actually written by Brandon, bless him.
Brandon came to Lincoln from the Junior B St. Louis (Mo.) Blues team, and he already had a reputation as a tough guy.
To categorize Bollig as just a fighter, however, is to not give him full justice. According to Stars coach Steve Johnson, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Bollig also has the skills to provide a scoring punch.
Granted, it might take some time for those skills to be fully realized. It’s a formidable step from the Junior B St. Louis (Mo.) Blues team he played on last season to the United States Hockey League.
“He’s got a chance to be a real good power forward for us once he gets in shape and understands what it means to play with speed and energy all the time,” Johnson said.
“We know it takes time.”
Granted, it might take some time for those skills to be fully realized. It’s a formidable step from the Junior B St. Louis (Mo.) Blues team he played on last season to the United States Hockey League.
“He’s got a chance to be a real good power forward for us once he gets in shape and understands what it means to play with speed and energy all the time,” Johnson said.
“We know it takes time.”
and
As for what Bollig wants to improve on this year, he gives what seems a pretty elementary answer: His skating style.
“I need to work on my smoothness,” the St. Charles, Mo., native said.
Even if the skating is choppy, Bollig said he’s having the time of his life in Lincoln.
“It’s unreal. These are some of the best coaches I’ve ever had and everywhere we go people treat you special because you’re on the team,” he said.
“You get a lot of good deals at restaurants.” (x)
“I need to work on my smoothness,” the St. Charles, Mo., native said.
Even if the skating is choppy, Bollig said he’s having the time of his life in Lincoln.
“It’s unreal. These are some of the best coaches I’ve ever had and everywhere we go people treat you special because you’re on the team,” he said.
“You get a lot of good deals at restaurants.” (x)
Oh my sweet summer child. "good deals at restaurants". Bless you.
Brandon came fairly close only spending a season in Lincoln. He went to the London Knight's training camp in 2006.
Along with another name you might recognize, Sam Gagner. Who between me starting and finishing this, got traded, so it's been a weekend for those boys. But *also*, what you can deduce from this is that bb!Bollig and Kaner were almost on a team together (Kaner wasn't on the training camp roster because it initially looked like he was going to stay with the UTDP that year, but he ended up playing with the Knights in 2006-2007).
Bollig made the Knights out of training camp but:
Education meant enough to Bollig that he turned down offers to play major junior hockey in Canada following his first season with the Stars. The Ontario Hockey League might have suited his style of play better, the crowds would have been bigger and Bollig would have been paid.
But he also would have forfeited his NCAA eligibility.
“The London Knights had me up there for a tryout, and I made the team,” Bollig said. “But I decided to come back to Lincoln, and I’m glad I did.
“Education is important after hockey. I could have played there a few years, and then maybe signed to a lower professional league. But if something were to happen with an injury, I’d have nothing to fall back on.” (x)
But he also would have forfeited his NCAA eligibility.
“The London Knights had me up there for a tryout, and I made the team,” Bollig said. “But I decided to come back to Lincoln, and I’m glad I did.
“Education is important after hockey. I could have played there a few years, and then maybe signed to a lower professional league. But if something were to happen with an injury, I’d have nothing to fall back on.” (x)
Brandon and his mother have both said that they had zero expectations of him making the NHL when he was growing up, and you can kinda see that here. He's got fall back plans and he's already considering a life after hockey. Baby boy is practical.
Speaking of Brandon being a baby, I find it really weird to realize that he looked like this during his time there:
What a baby face!
It's like he's 12!
His current glorious facial hair apparently took some experimenting to get to. This was what I would call an early effort/hysterically bad.
USHL players live with a billet family, and Brandon was no exception. He lived with the Schultz family for two years, and it seems like they're still pretty close.
Host dad Brian made it to Chicago for Game Two and got to see Brandon's eight minutes on the ice in an overtime loss.
(I don't actually like thinking about Brandon's play during that loss, but that's still adorable)
and
“He's the fighter,” Lynn said. “So some people don't know he's the sweetest, most laid-back kid.”
and
The couple went on to host Ryan Swanson, Chris Porter, Dan Riedel, David Carlisle and their last Stars' son, Brandon Bollig.
They had decided to start their own family by then, and baby Taylor, now 7, got to spend her first two years with a bruiser of a big brother.
They had decided to start their own family by then, and baby Taylor, now 7, got to spend her first two years with a bruiser of a big brother.
and
They talk on the phone, text. Brian and Lynn's son Trevin, 4, wants to be Brandon when he grows up. Taylor adores him.
(It's fine, I'm fine, everything's fine, no one look at my face)
(x for pictures and text)
Even in the USHL Brandon was known more as a fighter than as a player.
“I like being the one that has to go take care of stuff when it gets out of hand,” the 18-year-old Lincoln Stars forward said.
“I’d rather me fight and get beat up than somebody else fight and get beat up. I know I can take it.” (x)
“I’d rather me fight and get beat up than somebody else fight and get beat up. I know I can take it.” (x)
Awww, bb. Teammate feels. I get the warm fuzzies (WHO IS GOING TO STAND OPPOSITE OF JONNY AND HELP FIST BUMP ALL THE HAWKS OFF THE ICE? WHO? D: D: D:)
Tristin Llewellyn is a defenseman and physical kid that lots of people tend to cheer against. He’s kind of like a (Lincoln’s Brandon Bollig) type guy. He doesn’t fight the way Bollig does, but he’s got a lot of enemies in other buildings, and I think that’s a compliment to Bollig. (x)
It sounds like the good people of Lincoln, Nebraska enjoy themselves a hockey fight, also Brandon flings his jersey off at the end of this, for unknown reasons.
A few expected things, and a couple of surprises came out of the camp.
The expected: Jason Gregoire played great, and Brandon Bollig got into a few fights — including one skirmish with a rare 6-foot-8 hockey player, who likely won’t make the team. (x)
The expected: Jason Gregoire played great, and Brandon Bollig got into a few fights — including one skirmish with a rare 6-foot-8 hockey player, who likely won’t make the team. (x)
and
Would you say you were the fighter on the team last year?
“Yeah … that’s a lot of fun. It makes you somewhat of a fan favorite because they like to see somebody fight, and the crowd goes nuts. It will be like that this year, too, but they’ll be a lot more scoring on my part, too.”
When practice started this fall, did you kind of size everybody up to see if you were going to have to be the fighter again?
“Actually, toward the end of last year, nobody really wanted to fight me. It will probably be like that this year, too, but there might be a few new guys who will want to fight me. We have a lot of tough kids this year that aren’t afraid to fight. They’re not necessarily big, tough guys, but they’re not afraid to fight, so that will be good for us.” (x)
“Yeah … that’s a lot of fun. It makes you somewhat of a fan favorite because they like to see somebody fight, and the crowd goes nuts. It will be like that this year, too, but they’ll be a lot more scoring on my part, too.”
When practice started this fall, did you kind of size everybody up to see if you were going to have to be the fighter again?
“Actually, toward the end of last year, nobody really wanted to fight me. It will probably be like that this year, too, but there might be a few new guys who will want to fight me. We have a lot of tough kids this year that aren’t afraid to fight. They’re not necessarily big, tough guys, but they’re not afraid to fight, so that will be good for us.” (x)
and
You lead the league with 129 penalty minutes. How’s that honor feel?
“Ah, I just play my game, and obviously the way I play I’m going to get penalty minutes. I guess it’s nice to be an enforcer, but I don’t care about the minutes. I just care about playing physical.”(x)
“Ah, I just play my game, and obviously the way I play I’m going to get penalty minutes. I guess it’s nice to be an enforcer, but I don’t care about the minutes. I just care about playing physical.”(x)
Seriously, if you look for "Brandon Bollig Lincoln Stars" on youtube, pretty much what you get is fight videos. Which is not surprising, but does make me wish there was film of his stupid chinstrap so I could gaze upon it with horror and then mock him. Also he's flinging something in this one too, so perhaps the flinging equipment at the end of fights is just a thing? IDK yo.
But Brandon had his moments as a hockey player too, like that time he got a hattie at home in 2008.
He considered the thought that he might soon be better known as a goal scorer than a fighter.
“I think I’m a little past that point,” Brandon Bollig said with a chuckle, “but it’d be nice to be known to do both.”
On this night, at least, mission accomplished.
Bollig took over a tight game when he scored three goals in the second period to lead the Lincoln Stars to a 5-2 victory against Chicago in front of 4,600 fans on Friday at the Ice Box.
“I think I’m a little past that point,” Brandon Bollig said with a chuckle, “but it’d be nice to be known to do both.”
On this night, at least, mission accomplished.
Bollig took over a tight game when he scored three goals in the second period to lead the Lincoln Stars to a 5-2 victory against Chicago in front of 4,600 fans on Friday at the Ice Box.
"with a chuckle", you charming asshole. ♥
Bollig has scored a point in 14 of the Stars’ past 21 games following a rough patch midway through the season. He has six goals and three assists in the past five games.
In his three seasons playing for Lincoln, Bollig has seen hats thrown on the ice in celebration countless times. This, however, was the first time the wild ovation was for him.
“I didn’t even know what to think,” Bollig said. “It was the most unreal feeling that I have felt in Lincoln. I almost had a hat trick in Des Moines, but that would have been a little different — they would have booed me.
In his three seasons playing for Lincoln, Bollig has seen hats thrown on the ice in celebration countless times. This, however, was the first time the wild ovation was for him.
“I didn’t even know what to think,” Bollig said. “It was the most unreal feeling that I have felt in Lincoln. I almost had a hat trick in Des Moines, but that would have been a little different — they would have booed me.
Awwwwwww. I like it when he's pleasantly surprised when he works hard and gets rewarded. ♥
Bollig says this has been the best stretch of his career.
“I think it has to do with Jimmy [the coach] having trust in me,” Bollig said, “and it’s paid off for both me and the team.”
“I think it has to do with Jimmy [the coach] having trust in me,” Bollig said, “and it’s paid off for both me and the team.”
TREAT HIM WELL CALGARY, OKAY? JUST LIKE, GIVE HIM A LITTLE TIME TO SHOW YOU WHAT HE'S GOT LOOK HOW MUCH HE'S IMPROVED HIS GAME THIS PAST SEASON, LOOK WHAT HE DOES WHEN HIS COACHES BELIEVE IN HIMMMMMMMMM D: D: D: bbbbbb D: D:
(x)
There was also his goal and assist in a game against the Star's rivals.
“They were our fourth line, but they’re better than that,” Johnson said. “They’re not really a fourth line.”
The line struck first when Bollig scored off a pass from Bruess. The bruising winger actually mishandled the puck and had to carry it behind the net before attempting to bank it off Wochele’s pads.
Much to Bollig’s glee, it actually worked.
“It looked like he was almost in shock as he watched it go in,” Bollig said.
A few minutes after that, Bollig returned the favor to his buddy, setting up Bruess on a breakaway to make it 3-1 Lincoln with 5:40 left in the second. (x)
The line struck first when Bollig scored off a pass from Bruess. The bruising winger actually mishandled the puck and had to carry it behind the net before attempting to bank it off Wochele’s pads.
Much to Bollig’s glee, it actually worked.
“It looked like he was almost in shock as he watched it go in,” Bollig said.
A few minutes after that, Bollig returned the favor to his buddy, setting up Bruess on a breakaway to make it 3-1 Lincoln with 5:40 left in the second. (x)
Although let's be real, Brandon Bollig's forever going to win "Ms. Congeniality", sometimes he scores goals too.
Exactly one minute before Olver’s score. it appeared Lincoln had won the game thanks to the unlikeliest of heroes — forward Brandon Bollig. Bollig’s known more for his personality and his fist, but proved able with his stick when he scored on a breakaway following an Omaha turnover. (x)
Ms. Congeniality/Everyone's older brother, Brandon Bollig.
Luckily, with his family so far away, he’s found some teammates who don’t mind treating the young goalie like their little brother.
Asked if teammates have stopped picking on him now that he’s the man in net, Hogan said: “Nope, nope. When I was just over there taking shots, (Brandon) Bollig tossed me around a little. So it’s the same thing.” (x)
Asked if teammates have stopped picking on him now that he’s the man in net, Hogan said: “Nope, nope. When I was just over there taking shots, (Brandon) Bollig tossed me around a little. So it’s the same thing.” (x)
Also, since Brandon was 1) with the team for so long, and 2) is actually pretty decent with media, he did a lot of interviews.
Best-dressed guy on the team?
“Danny Baco. Last year we fined him for never, ever wearing sweat pants. I think somebody bought him a pair of sweat pants for Secret Santa, and he was required to wear them once a week because he always dresses up.”
Who is one guy on the team you would let date your 17-year-old sister, Brittany?
“Probably Danny Baco. He’s the most honest and sensitive guy that we have. I wouldn’t want her to date anybody that would treat her wrong. He’d treat her the best.”
I heard a few guys changed a few things up during the five-game losing streak.
“Carter Camper, Patrick Johnson and Colby Cohen all shaved their heads. Kyle Follmer got a Mohawk — it was pretty bad. A lot of guys changed up little stuff, like how they tape their blades, just because we’re real superstitious.”
Anybody have any really weird pre-game rituals or superstitions?
“On game day, Eric Lake listens to Backstreet Boys like it’s going out of style. But I guess they are out of style.”(x)
“Danny Baco. Last year we fined him for never, ever wearing sweat pants. I think somebody bought him a pair of sweat pants for Secret Santa, and he was required to wear them once a week because he always dresses up.”
Who is one guy on the team you would let date your 17-year-old sister, Brittany?
“Probably Danny Baco. He’s the most honest and sensitive guy that we have. I wouldn’t want her to date anybody that would treat her wrong. He’d treat her the best.”
I heard a few guys changed a few things up during the five-game losing streak.
“Carter Camper, Patrick Johnson and Colby Cohen all shaved their heads. Kyle Follmer got a Mohawk — it was pretty bad. A lot of guys changed up little stuff, like how they tape their blades, just because we’re real superstitious.”
Anybody have any really weird pre-game rituals or superstitions?
“On game day, Eric Lake listens to Backstreet Boys like it’s going out of style. But I guess they are out of style.”(x)
Please Brandon, please. I bet you fucking *love* BSB, don't even front. "Quit Playing Games with My Heart" was a pivotal musical moment for folks our age.
Beautiful.
“I have no idea how it keeps working out that we win against them,” Bollig said. “But I like it.” (x)
I can practically *see* the shit eating smirk on his face. It probably helped that he apparently scored two goals in the last three minutes of that game. He was probably so smug you could see it from space. Never change my sweet summer child, never change.
“You can’t feel bad about a win, but they definitely outworked us the first two periods,” said forward Brandon Bollig, whose big play set up the Stars’ first goal. “We were opportunistic in the third period, and somehow held them to only one goal.
“It was almost like we had bus legs, but we weren’t on the bus. I couldn’t tell you what we were doing, but we weren’t doing anything right, except (goaltender Bryan Hogan). Hogan played great.”(x)
“It was almost like we had bus legs, but we weren’t on the bus. I couldn’t tell you what we were doing, but we weren’t doing anything right, except (goaltender Bryan Hogan). Hogan played great.”(x)
I'm just including this one because he used a polysyllabic word and I'm proud. GOOD JOB BB. YOU WORK THOSE 50 CENT WORDS. Also bus legs. I have never heard that term before, but I plan on incorporating into things now. Plus goalie love. A good quote all around really.
Here, have a warm up video to break up the text. Unclear if he was doing the whole elaborate stretching routine at that point, that fact might be lost to history.
Ever drive a Zamboni?
“No, I never have. Wish I could though … that’d be fun. I’d be cruising around. Some of those guys go pretty slow, but I think I’d be flooring it.”
What other sports do hockey guys like to watch and play?
“I think the main one that hockey guys get into is golf, to watch and play both. A lot of guys on our team are good at golf, and lacrosse is pretty big, too. Some of the guys can sit down and watch four hours of golf, but I can’t put myself through that. It’s too slow and boring for me.”
“No, I never have. Wish I could though … that’d be fun. I’d be cruising around. Some of those guys go pretty slow, but I think I’d be flooring it.”
What other sports do hockey guys like to watch and play?
“I think the main one that hockey guys get into is golf, to watch and play both. A lot of guys on our team are good at golf, and lacrosse is pretty big, too. Some of the guys can sit down and watch four hours of golf, but I can’t put myself through that. It’s too slow and boring for me.”
Okay, I'm very sorry to those of you who like watching golf, but every single time I've tired I could practically feel myself flat lining, so I'm going with Bollig on this one.
I read last season you said that players get good deals at restaurants because they play for the Lincoln Stars. What’s the best deal you’ve gotten?
“We get a lot of free burritos at Chipotle; we get half off at P.O. Pears and Subway. Now we’re getting really good deals at Noodles and Company. It’s starting to grow, just about everywhere you go they’ll know who you are or you have a jacket on or something.” (x)
“We get a lot of free burritos at Chipotle; we get half off at P.O. Pears and Subway. Now we’re getting really good deals at Noodles and Company. It’s starting to grow, just about everywhere you go they’ll know who you are or you have a jacket on or something.” (x)
USHL players eat like college students. Good to know.
ETA: Here is some extra *VERY IMPORTANT* information from
coggs about Lincoln, Nebraska. But, really, I feel it’s very important to note the following three things:
1) P.O. Pears, purveyor of free/reduced price food to hockey players, is no more! It is now a bar called Red9 which is, hilariously to me, owned by my cardiologist. My little brother (she’s also his cardio) ran into her there once and described the experience as “very awkward”.
That said, I am pretty sure Red9 also has table shuffleboard still and definitely still hosts a lot of terrible local bands, so. Basically unchanged!
2) Equally important to note is that P.O. Pears/Red9 is directly by one of Lincoln’s two gay bars, The Q. The Q is also an extremely popular club, especially with college students, because they are 19+ as opposed to 21+ (and, like, the #1 place to sneak into when you are in high school, I actually had a friend get in successfully by making sad eyes I am not even kidding). I mean, it’s pretty gay, but it definitely got straighter and straighter as time went on.
The Q also does a weekly underwear dance contest. The prize is $100 plus free drinks. Make of this information what you will.
3) P.O. Pears/Red9 is also very close to The Night Before Lounge, the downtown strip club that is so good and renowned it is regularly frequented by Harrison Ford (something I know to be 100% true outside of that vague reference because I know the columnist for the paper who had to tail him once when he was in town).
I feel extremely confident saying that, of all the strip clubs in town, that is the one the local hockey team would pick. Well that or the just outside of town, all nude, 18+ juice/strip bar.
NOW YOU KNOW.
1. We're not afraid to cry: “There are some guys who like the show ‘One Tree Hill.’ There is a softer, more sensitive side to hockey players that people don’t have any idea about because it’s such a tough sport. Some guys listen to the Backstreet Boys before a game; some guys are emotional and sensitive with their girlfriends. We got some metrosexual guys.”
2. Our key offseason acquisition was a pingpong table: “That was a great pickup for our team. Everybody loves it, and we’re starting to rank our teammates in how good they are — Tier I, Tier II. It’s just a fun thing, like coach said, just a different reason to come to the rink. Tier I is probably myself, Jason Gregoire, Kyle Follmer and Matt Bartkowski is pretty good. Jason Frykas isn’t very good, but he’s Canadian.”
3. Hockey players are a bit different: “Hockey players are probably the most superstitious people you’ll meet. Like putting your equipment on left to right, or right to left. If we win one night, or I play well, then I’ll do things the same way the next night. Honestly, the weirdest superstition I’ve seen is when somebody doesn’t have any superstitions.”
4. Our finest threads are worn on game days: “I love dressing up for games; I’ve never really heard anybody complain about it. It makes you feel more professional, and I like dressing up in suits. I’d say Danny Baco and myself are best dressed, and Jason Gregoire looks good. There are a few guys that do it just to joke around, and wear some really tacky suits, like Matt Bartkowski. He’s got a burnt-orange suit, an all-white suit, corduroy — he’s got some crazy stuff. That’s just who he is. He’s a funny guy.”(x)
2. Our key offseason acquisition was a pingpong table: “That was a great pickup for our team. Everybody loves it, and we’re starting to rank our teammates in how good they are — Tier I, Tier II. It’s just a fun thing, like coach said, just a different reason to come to the rink. Tier I is probably myself, Jason Gregoire, Kyle Follmer and Matt Bartkowski is pretty good. Jason Frykas isn’t very good, but he’s Canadian.”
3. Hockey players are a bit different: “Hockey players are probably the most superstitious people you’ll meet. Like putting your equipment on left to right, or right to left. If we win one night, or I play well, then I’ll do things the same way the next night. Honestly, the weirdest superstition I’ve seen is when somebody doesn’t have any superstitions.”
4. Our finest threads are worn on game days: “I love dressing up for games; I’ve never really heard anybody complain about it. It makes you feel more professional, and I like dressing up in suits. I’d say Danny Baco and myself are best dressed, and Jason Gregoire looks good. There are a few guys that do it just to joke around, and wear some really tacky suits, like Matt Bartkowski. He’s got a burnt-orange suit, an all-white suit, corduroy — he’s got some crazy stuff. That’s just who he is. He’s a funny guy.”(x)
...okay now I'm wondering if anyone ever broke to Brandon that he has metrosexual tendencies himself (also metrosexual, lol, how 2007) and also being very sad about Brandon in suits, repping that new Chicago menswear line on twitter, BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO CALGARY AND WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT ANYMORE. D: D: D: I LIKED THE WAY THEIR CLOTHING FIT HIM. D:
D:
He also wrote like, five little blog posts for the paper. They're 1) short and 2) give me opportunities to make fun of him a lot. But with love. So in chronological order.
As everyone knows this Friday is the Stars home opener on Oct. 5th. It goes without saying that myself and the rest of the team are more than excited for the game against the Bucaneers, so we expect the whole Ice Box to be the same.(x)
"Myself" - he still does this and I roll my eyes each time. Me. The word you want there is *me*. I also enjoy how he kicks it off with a filler known and beloved by anyone who's had to fluff out a paper for school, "As everyone knows". God, you goober.
Although the games didnt turn out the way we had wanted, but I think as a team we made big steps.
*headtilt* So I make a million and a half typos always and forever, but I also don't run most of my stuff past a copy editor. I feel like someone should have probably noticed that there's an apostrophe missing, and also the sentence has an extra word and doesn't really make sense.
Guys were bonding, having a lot of good laughs, and making/losing a little money in some card games.
If the Icehogs are to be believed, Brandon was probably amongst those losing money. He also apparently did crosswords in the back of the bus, bless (x).
Also in Des Moines we played a really great game we just couldnt put the puck in the net, but all of that will come around. First weekend at home: Everyone knows that this is the first time this year with two home games and I think there are many people as excited for it as us players. We cant wait to finally not have to travel all weekend and play in front of the only good fans in the league for both games in the weekend.(x)
Also I suspect he was probably writing and then emailing these in on his phone. There are two occurrences of our friend the missing apostrophe. Lincoln Star, did you not even *look* at these before publishing them?
A few weekends ago Joba Chamberlain, a pitcher for the New York Yankees whom is from Lincoln, was at the Ice Box when we played Green Bay.
YEAH YANKEES. Look at Brandon name drop (later Mark Messier comes to Lincoln to see his son and you can practically feel Brandon fangirl through the screen) and then fail to use whom correctly. Bless his goober heart. Brandon and Joba are still friends on twitter though, which is very cute.
Another new guy just got in town, Jimmy Hayes, who is going to be another big asset to our squad. He's a big forward, 6'5", who is going to add to our team size and toughness.(x)
The hockey world is so small guys. So, so, so small.
As everyone knows, our 11-game home win streak was snapped last week in the overtime loss to Omaha tuesday, and then in regulation on friday against Sioux Falls. We got back to work on saturday and beat Ohio at home to try to get back to a new streak.
Either his autocorrect failed him or he hates capital letters on days of the week. Brandon Bollig, grammar rebel?
We've had a great week of practice and we are looking to play great against two division rivals, Tri-city and Des Moines, and come out with two big wins. This year was the second year I have been on the milk poster. Doing something like that is so fun to be a part of an experience. Gregoire, Bartkowski, and I had a great time and a lot of fun getting to see what goes into all of that stuff that many people don't ever get a chance to be a part of.(x)
Great and fun, two staples of a pro hockey player's vocabulary. Look at Brandon working them. Also I tried to figure out what the milk poster was, but no dice.
Last weekend was a huge confidence booster for the fellas, especially since it was the first round of the playoffs.
This is my favorite sentence that Brandon Bollig ever has or ever will write. "The fellas".
That was probably the most people i've seen at the Ice Box in a playoff game in my three years. (x)
I just want to have so many words with their copy editor. Was anyone looking at what that kid put up? Seriously, anyone?
Of course, that wasn't the Journal Star wasn't the only media Brandon was making appearances in.
(The Stars part starts at 20:14, and there's another .5 second spot at 26:45, when they're having the Stars help out with the furniture and Brandon is *so* much taller than everyone else, it's hilarious)
The Stars were featured in “Home Edition” partly because newlyweds Teresa Fullerton and Kenneth Machacek met at a Stars game. Also, Justin Machacek — who plays on the same hockey team as Luke Johnson, the son of Stars coach Steve Johnson — loves hockey.
The show’s first clip featuring the team was a familiar scene to Stars fans — Bollig with his jersey being peeled off. The only difference this time was that Bollig, Lincoln’s well- known on-ice fighter, gladly handed over his jersey to “Home Edition” designer Paul DiMeo after DiMeo stopped enough shots as goaltender to win the jersey for Justin Machacek’s bedroom.
In the team’s second scene, the players were shown helping move furniture into the family’s new home.
As for the filming process, it produced plenty of laughs for the players. Everybody except goaltender Bryan Hogan, that is.
“Hogan is pretty protective of his helmet,” Bollig said. “The designer was wearing Hogan’s gear, and shooting this fighting scene where he had to throw Hogan’s helmet down. They taped it about five times, and every time the helmet hit the ice Hogan was cringing and getting more mad.” (x)
The show’s first clip featuring the team was a familiar scene to Stars fans — Bollig with his jersey being peeled off. The only difference this time was that Bollig, Lincoln’s well- known on-ice fighter, gladly handed over his jersey to “Home Edition” designer Paul DiMeo after DiMeo stopped enough shots as goaltender to win the jersey for Justin Machacek’s bedroom.
In the team’s second scene, the players were shown helping move furniture into the family’s new home.
As for the filming process, it produced plenty of laughs for the players. Everybody except goaltender Bryan Hogan, that is.
“Hogan is pretty protective of his helmet,” Bollig said. “The designer was wearing Hogan’s gear, and shooting this fighting scene where he had to throw Hogan’s helmet down. They taped it about five times, and every time the helmet hit the ice Hogan was cringing and getting more mad.” (x)
God bless baby hockey goalies, Brandon Bollig being half a foot taller than everyone else, and Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
Of course, Lincoln was home for a bit, but Brandon ended up moving on with his hockey career.
What few people realized, though, was how important education is to Bollig. That’s why he was excited when he recently accepted a full-ride scholarship to play NCAA Division I hockey at St. Lawrence University in New York.
“That’s what I’ve been shooting for the past couple years, so it’s a sense of accomplishment,” Bollig said.
“My family isn’t going to have to pay a dime for me to go to a really expensive school, plus the staff and players there treated me perfect.”
Bollig begin getting college offers at the beginning of his final season in Lincoln, and in the second half of the season, he had also been in contact with North Dakota. Bollig had planned to see if a roster spot opened at North Dakota, but decided St. Lawrence was a good fit regardless.
The St. Charles, Mo., native graduated from high school in 2005 with a 3.6 grade-point average. While playing for the Stars, Bollig began taking courses at Southeast Community College. Even though the season ended last month, Bollig remains in Lincoln taking classes. He plans to study architecture at St. Lawrence.
“That’s what I’ve been shooting for the past couple years, so it’s a sense of accomplishment,” Bollig said.
“My family isn’t going to have to pay a dime for me to go to a really expensive school, plus the staff and players there treated me perfect.”
Bollig begin getting college offers at the beginning of his final season in Lincoln, and in the second half of the season, he had also been in contact with North Dakota. Bollig had planned to see if a roster spot opened at North Dakota, but decided St. Lawrence was a good fit regardless.
The St. Charles, Mo., native graduated from high school in 2005 with a 3.6 grade-point average. While playing for the Stars, Bollig began taking courses at Southeast Community College. Even though the season ended last month, Bollig remains in Lincoln taking classes. He plans to study architecture at St. Lawrence.
He actually ended up studying psychology, not architecture, but I feel like he gave another interview while he was with the Hawks that brought up architecture again so maybe that was where his ~*true passion*~ lay.
“Education is important after hockey. I could have played there a few years, and then maybe signed to a lower professional league. But if something were to happen with an injury, I’d have nothing to fall back on.” (x)
I know that I quoted this earlier, but I think it's interesting to note that he's financially conscious. Food for thought.
And if three years wasn't enough time, you can probably still get Bollig's autograph before he heads for upstate New York. Bollig will spend some time at the Stars tryout camp this weekend in Omaha. He may even get to help coach one of the teams. "It's going to be pretty fun," Bollig said. (x)
I also wonder if he'd want to go into coaching at some point, or if it was more of a one off for shits and giggles deal.
This is a video of Brandon Bollig at St. Lawrence that has no real relevance to the rest of this post, but his cheeks are stupid and flushed and he keeps grinning and biting his lower lip AND HIS FACE IS THE WORST AND IT IS GOING TO GO BE THE WORST SO FAAAAAAR AWAAAAAAAAY D: D: D: MAKE LOTS OF GIFS, OKAY FLAMES FANS? PUT HIS FACE ON TV LOTS FLAMES PR PEOPLE. IT IS A GOOD FACE. I'LL WATCH IT. :(
*sad noises about his stupid tongue*
Of course one of the nice things about relatively small towns is they don't forget you even after you've moved away.
Brandon Bollig, who played for the Stars for three seasons, scored the game-winning goal in St. Lawrence's 3-2 victory against Yale on Friday. Here is the story: Freshman Brandon Bollig reached out and poked the puck over the goal line in a scramble around the net with 1:14 gone in overtime to lift St. Lawrence University to a 3-2 win over Yale in the ECAC Hockey opener for both teams at Appleton Arena Friday night.
The article is entitled: "One of everybody's favorite former players ..." *sad noises again*
His Stanley Cup celebrations have included a parade through Chicago with 2 million fans, throwing out the first pitch at Wrigley Field and a day with the Cup in his hometown of St. Louis.
On Friday, Brandon Bollig was thrilled to be back in Lincoln to celebrate the championship with the fans who were there with him in his early years of big-time hockey.
With the NHL on break during the Olympics, Bollig returned to Lincoln for the first time since the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in June.
On Friday, Brandon Bollig was thrilled to be back in Lincoln to celebrate the championship with the fans who were there with him in his early years of big-time hockey.
With the NHL on break during the Olympics, Bollig returned to Lincoln for the first time since the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in June.
Maybe the best moment came in the opener this season, when the Blackhawks raised another banner at the United Center, and Bollig scored the first goal of the season on a wrist shot in the first period.
“The banner-raising ceremony on opening night was unreal, and the fact that I happened to score the first goal of the season there on my first shift of the season was very cool, especially with my family in town for opening night,” Bollig said.
“The banner-raising ceremony on opening night was unreal, and the fact that I happened to score the first goal of the season there on my first shift of the season was very cool, especially with my family in town for opening night,” Bollig said.
“We had an awesome time here and the fans took care of us and the city took care of us,” Bollig said. (x)
*pets his dumb, stupid, face* Imma miss you boo. But I think you'll do okay. Go out and give em hell, alright?
no subject
Date: 2014-07-01 04:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-07-01 04:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-07-01 04:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-07-01 07:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-07-02 03:07 am (UTC)My Brandon Bollig feelings have not settled into a stage yet. But they are LEGION.
no subject
Date: 2014-07-02 03:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-07-03 02:33 am (UTC)Also, I think we need to know more about this Danny Baco situation. Was he Bollig's high school sweetheart? Or maybe just the guy Brandon had a huge crush on?
no subject
Date: 2014-07-03 03:40 am (UTC)Also, I think we need to know more about this Danny Baco situation. Was he Bollig's high school sweetheart? Or maybe just the guy Brandon had a huge crush on?
That is an excellent question, and I await with great anticipation your findings/speculation on the topic. :D
no subject
Date: 2014-07-04 02:47 am (UTC)As for speculation, Brandon thought the guy was honest, sensitive, and well-dressed, and while he may have let the media guide him into saying he would let Baco date his sister, what he clearly meant was, "Danny is great and I wish he would ask me out and be my boyfriend."
no subject
Date: 2014-07-04 03:07 am (UTC)As for speculation, Brandon thought the guy was honest, sensitive, and well-dressed, and while he may have let the media guide him into saying he would let Baco date his sister, what he clearly meant was, "Danny is great and I wish he would ask me out and be my boyfriend."
This all seems completely legit to me.
no subject
Date: 2014-07-04 11:52 pm (UTC)Brandon just thinks Danny would be a good boyfriend, and he's willing to let Danny use those skills on him.