IT’S THE TEAM NAME ON THE FRONT….

Not the player number on the back…..

The NHL Lockout caused havoc for every team. I don’t care if you’re concern only goes as far as the Bulls, it affects EVERY team, so if you care about the Bulls, you should care how the aftermath of the lockout affects every team in not just the ECHL, but the AHL. Because, let me tell you, the changes will help and or hurt every hockey team in the minors.

Just today there were more changes. I for one am VERY happy we have a pro-active coach and management team! I’ve never been pleased with the lassez-faire attitude of some hockey teams, content to just ride things through, regardless of whether games are won or lost.

Coach Curcio and company traded Captain Justin Bowers and top Defenseman Sacha Guimond to Gwinnett Gladiators for three young guns: Cody Carlson, Ryland Galiardi and Christian Ouellet. Same last name, I know, but no relation that I know of. But that is TJ Galiardi of the Sharks' brother! And while this will make all of us sad to lose them, it should also make us excited to have some young, good players to give us a not only the change to stay OUT of the basement and get INTO the playoffs.

The reality is Guimond will probably not come back to San Francisco and instead stay in Worcester with the Sharks and Bowers, while being a great player is not as young or as speedy as we need.

And if you’re crying why couldn’t we trade someone else? You have to trade quality if you’re going to get quality. It’s nice to see Curcio isn’t afraid to make a good trade. He knows what the team needs and he’s looking far more forward than most fans. He knows that for the team to survive in San Francisco, it is vital that we make the playoffs and not wind up last.

This should be apparent to fans, but unfortunately, I see it is not. I see that to many, having their favorite players is the most important thing, even if it means losing every game to keep them.

WAIT!!!! THINK ABOUT THIS PLEASE!!!

If you fans want the Bulls to stay in San Francisco, if you want a team to root for, to go to games, to have fun enjoying, then people must attend games. They will NOT come to games if the team continues to lose and falls behind Bakersfield as the worst team in the West. Be realistic! This could easily happen, especially if management did not make any trades and allowed the continued slide downwards. The Condors are getting better. They’re rising phenomenally quickly. Curcio saw this and reacted just as quickly. Thank goodness he did and didn’t wait for us to lose six or ten games or until it was too late.

If you are more used to following an NHL team, then you need to pick up the pace. Player changes happen much faster here. It’s the way it is. I did write in the beginning of the season that the minor leagues switch members more often. This is a fact and will always be so. If you can’t handle that, then tennis is nice.  

I hope you will all welcome the new guys to the team and to San Francisco. Root for the team, hand out team calendars, talk about the Bulls to everyone you know and don’t know, and have faith and trust in Curcio; he knows what he’s doing.

Remember, Bulls Weekly is this Thursday, January 17^th, 6pm at Pedros. Next home game is Saturday the 19^th against Stockton. And check out the Bulls new ad, it’s way cool!

GO BULLS!!!

BULLS LOSE TO THE CONDORS & THE BULLS SHEET SALUTES THE 49ERS!!!

Long title, I know, but my blog today serves two purposes so I'll get straight into it. First, let's take care of business.

Today's matinee was against the once-lowly Bakersfield Condors. But they are lowly no more. This is a new Condors hockey team. They're tough, strong and fast. They have many new players and the chemistry between players works great. They've won their last few games and the Bulls had better watch their backs because this last place team is knocking on their door.

We really needed to win today's game and we nearly tied it in the last period. Instead, we lost 4-2. It was a great game, exciting to watch, fast with some great plays and good scoring, but in the end the Condors outplayed us.

The Bulls have new players as well as I've previously written about. But is it enough? I'm not so sure. We got the chance to see the new guys play today. I was most impressed first with Collin Reddin. The guy can skate! He had some nice flow going down the ice, reminding me of Tarasov who we miss so badly right now. Jonathan Lessard I also really like. He's a tough, gritty player, more in the style of Alex Tuckerman. He's not afraid to make a good hit when needed or plunge through a line with the puck.

Rob Kwiet is also standing out as a leader on the defense. He's grown so much since joining the Bulls, and we really need him and the rest of the defense to protect the net. This was the first game goal tender Taylor Nelson was pulled, after giving away two goals. The first goal wasn't his fault. The defense allowed a puck to get past them, so the help wasn't there for him, but on the second goal perhaps Nelson didn't react quickly enough. Whatever the case, Coach Curcio felt the need to change goalies and it was our first chance to see alternate goalie Bryan Hince, who, with the exception of one early goal, held the net well.

The last two games have been very close, so it's only a matter of time until the team pulls it all together. Do they need a couple more players to do this? It wouldn't hurt. But we'll see what the Coach does. I'm sure he'll think of something.

Now there's a couple issues I have to address and I hope the Bulls management reads this. The first is the in-game announcer. Is he a friend of someone? A relative of the team owner? Why is he there? He mispronounces players' names, forgets what team the Bulls are playing, doesn't read penalties, gets players positions wrong; the guy can't get through a game without messing up a dozen times. He's an embarrassment, to be honest. Sorry to be so blunt, but if there's an ongoing complaint I get from people, it is him. I'm sure there's a dozen people more qualified who could do his job. He's had his fun for four months, now can we please get someone who knows how to announce hockey games, pretty please???

The second problem only started two games ago. Whoever is in charge of getting the visiting team ready either needs a new watch or we need a new person doing that job. It's INEXCUSABLE that the visiting team is NOT on the ice for the singing of the National Anthem. Tonight, they were barely on the ice on time, so either wait and make sure they are ready, or get them prepared earlier.


OK, business is done. Now for the fun part....because I love our San Francisco sports teams and I've been a San Francisco 49er fan my entire life, I'm VERY happy they beat Green Bay yesterday. I thought the BULLS SHEET would have a tribute to this great football team by showing pictures of Bulls fans Kaepernicking! What is Kaepernicking? Exactly what 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is doing below! So, without further ado, here is a collection of SF Bulls fans KAEPERNICKING!!!

Don't forget! Bulls Weekly is Thursday, January 17th, 6pm at Pedros. Next home game is January 19th versus Stockton. There is NO GAME on the 16th!

GO 49ers! GO BULLS!!!!

BULLS SIGNING AT SERRAMONTE SHOPPING MALL

The Bulls did a public signing at Serramonte Mall in Daly City today. Here's some pictures from the event. This is a quickie blog today as the FORTY Freakin NINER game is in about 40 minutes and I'm too stoked to write anything!!!

The team plays the Bakersfield Condors at 2:15pm tomorrow, Sunday, hope to see you there!

Enjoy the photos and GO 49ers! GO BULLS!!!

Signing Line 

Line of anxious fans moved quickly 

Keep those pens handy, Guys! 

The new guys Colin Reddin & Joe Tolles

Jonathan Lessard

Dean Ouellet & Jordan Morrison

Taylor Nelson

Alex Tuckerman

Justin Bowers

Scott Langdon, Dylan King & Peter Sivak

Peter Sivak

BULLS LOSE A CLOSE ONE TO THE STEELHEADS

Breaking News! (Friday, 9:50am)

 

I just heard that Sacha Guimond has been called up by the Worcester Sharks. So, the Bulls will even need more help on defense. That and they're waiting to hearing judgement on a hit Langdon gave to a Steelhead player. Cross your collective fingers!!!

 



 



 

It was Thirsty Thursday at the Barn, meaning Two-For-One beers, but they're not supposed to say that, so they get around it by saying they have beer specials on Thursdays.

Captain Justin Bowers

The Bulls played the Idaho Steelheads, who are third in the Western Conference, behind the Alaska Aces and Ontario Reign. They're a very good team, so playing them would be a true guide to how the team is doing.

Jonathan Lessard

The was an exciting and close battle all the way through. The Bulls lost a close one at 2-1. Taylor Nelson is doing so well at goal tending. He had 29 saves as Peter Sivak scored the teams only goal. That doesn't tell the story however. Offense and defense were on the job last night and it was so close, none of the three goals scored were easy ones. No one got away with a cheap goal. One of my friends said this was as close to an NHL game as he has seen all season.

Taylor Nelson

Scot Langdon does what he does best...he fought. And what a fight it was! it was probably the best bout all season and helped get the team going, although he was tossed from the game because of it.

The team tried their best, despite a couple adversities. The flu has hit epidemic proportions all over the country and also hit the Bulls locker room. Hans Benson and Dean Ouellet were both suffering pregame and hooked into IVs.

Joe Tolles

Don't forget that the Bulls have lost some key players. Offense is off by losing both Daniil Tarasov and Andrwe Crescenzi. Those are big skates to fill. The rest of the lines will have to work a bit harder to do this. I also hear we should get a couple more players shortly. So stay tuned.

The crowds are a bit rowdier, a little louder and always fun on Thursdays. If you ever wanted a wild night AND wanted to get in a hockey game, I would suggest a Thirsty Thursday game.

Next game is Sunday afternoon against the Bakersfield Condors. The Bulls also have a team signing at Serramonte Shopping Mall Saturday from 1pm until 2pm.

GO BULLS!

BULLS WEEKLY WITH BRYAN HINCE

Personable Goaltender Bryan Hince was Jason Lockhart's guest at Bulls Weekly, held at Pedro's Cantina. Bryan is likable to say the least. His chatty, relaxed nature is genuine and came across well in Jason's broadcast. He likes it in San Francisco and with his past goaltending record, we like having him here. He was 5-0 with the Greenville Road Warriors in 2011-12 and 3-1 in the same season with the Idaho Steelheads.

Bryan Hince

Also tonight, the Voice of the Idaho Steelheads, Will Hoenike stopped in and talked about hockey, Idaho and New Years Eve in Vegas. Yeah, it was THAT kind of a night at Pedro's.

Will Hoenike & Jason

Jason had some surprises up his sleeve as well. He does a superb job of tossing new things into the show, and they work very well. Tonight, he introduced Cup Toss! You chug your cup of beer, then you have to toss the cup over on its end. Needless to say there was a bit of discrepancy over who won and we'll leave this for late night bar discussions later...

Cup Toss!

Who won? TBD....

Now, aren't you sorry you didn't stop by? Next Bulls Weekly is next Wednesday. BE THERE!

The Bulls also added defenseman Joe Tolles who last played with the Kalamazoo Wings. We welcome Joe and hope he likes it here in The City.

Bulls play the Steelheads tomorrow night at the Barn! Beers are 50% off!!

GO BULLS!!!

Sad Day, Passings, Thoughts….

I was not in the best mood this morning when I got up. I had a case of insomnia last night. I woke up every hour on the hour it seemed, having very vivid dreams when I could get to sleep. I’m not sure if it’s the winter doldrums, stress or leftover disappointments of the holidays, but these last few days haven’t been the greatest and my downtime is feeling it.

Maybe it was a foreshadowing of the news of the day. The first thing I heard was a tweet that former Shark and NHL career journeyman Dominic Moore’s wife Katie had passed away from liver cancer. She had suffered a long time. Liver cancer is quite painful and more harsh than most. She battled it like a warrior for as long as she could.

We’ve all been affected by cancer. It is our shadow. We can try to run from cancer, but it follows us. We can make our lives as healthy and safe as we possibly can, but that doesn’t mean that those close to us will do the same. So, this horrible disease is still next to us, following, following, ready to strike.

My mother suffered for many, many years before she passed with cancer. It first appeared as breast cancer, but then after a two-year remission, appeared in her back, then spread everywhere. It could not be stopped before it took her life. Like Dominic, my father was at her side the whole seven years, doing what he could, loving her, supporting her, comforting her.

I am sure you all have stories. Heartbreaking ones. My Twitter friend Matty suffers terribly every day. It’s hard to hear how much he hurts and how much he has to go through. He loves hockey so much and if you use Twitter, he would love new friends and can be added at: @hockeyKOsCancer and @TeamMattyBear.

Word about Katie Moore’s death passed quickly through the Twitter lines and soon every hockey fan was sad. Dominic Moore, as a utility player, was used to switching teams, doing what he needed to do where it was needed, was loved by many, so he had many writers and fans sending their sympathies. We all feel bad because we all know what it’s like. Every one of us knows.

We cannot stop fighting this enemy. I don’t care what it takes, how long it takes, but it will be stopped. We will stop it. Fuck cancer.

For some more sad news, due to the end of the NHL lockout, we lost a couple more players today. Michael Tam and Daniil Tarasov are going back to Worcester Sharks. Tam I expected and I knew Tarasov would have, but I didn’t want to believe it. I wanted the Bulls to keep him! We need him!

The bright side of this dreary, sad day is that we’re getting Jonathan Lessard back. So, that’s pretty cool. I know we’ll get more new players and probably a couple more who have already been here. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear something.

And yes, the sun will come out tomorrow. Blah, Blah, Blah. Save it. I’m not in the mood…..

Remember Bulls Weekly tomorrow night with Dean Ouellet at Pedros and the Bulls take on Idaho Thursday at the Barn!

GO BULLS!

THOUGHTS ON THE LOCKOUT AND FANS

This morning I woke up to hear there is a tentative agreement between the owners and players. About time. No, it’s way past about time and it’s into why the &*%^ did this take so long time? Unlike the teaming throngs, I’m not jumping for joy. This whole thing has me as disgusted as I am at the government is at being unable to solve their problems.

I refuse to point fingers at who is wrong or right. That’s not my place in this blog. All I can say is that this whole horrific experience has hurt FANS. And I will never forget this.

No, you didn’t help me find minor league hockey, I was already here. But, you made me realize that the minor leagues, unlike the NHL, cares about ME, the FAN. YOU, the NHL, do not. Whether you are an owner or player, you forgot who we fans are once you got to that level. 

So, maybe you think that we fans will ALL rush back to watch NHL games, pay whatever inflated ticket price is being asked for the rest of this non-season. And a majority of them may do this. I will be one of those who won’t.

On one level, the lockout helped the minor leagues because it brought a lot of fans to leagues like the ECHL and the AHL. I hope those fans who have been going to Bulls games won't rush off to Sharks games or other NHL teams' games and forget about the smaller teams who have been there for them. This would make me sad. The ECHL is NOT a replacement league, it is its own league and a better one, in my opinion. 

Sure, I’ll watch the playoffs. I may get excited, but it won’t be with the same gusto I have always had. I will not spend ONE DIME on the NHL this season. I certainly will NOT go to any Sharks games this season. Next season, we’ll see. Bulls games are so much more fun that I don’t know if I want to go unless they play the Rangers. The one game I wanted to see the Sharks play this year which was versus the Rangers, was wiped out due to the Lockout, so I don’t care much about the rest of this season.

We fans work hard for our money. We go to jobs that many of us don’t particularly like just so we can attend hockey games, buy hockey sweaters and have things we like. I see no reason to waste our money on teams and people who take us for granted.

But of you disagree you are indeed free to choose and I’ll hold no ill will towards anyone who rushes back to the NHL. Good on ya! Just don’t forget about the SF Bulls. They always love you!

Remember Bulls Weekly is January 9^th, this Wednesday. Jason always has a Bulls player as a guest, and this week it’s a very cool player. This is going to be a great show! Be at Pedro’s, just across from AT&T Park. Starts at 6pm.

The Bulls play the Idaho Steelheads Thursday,  January 10^th at the Barn!

GO BULLS!