Hockey Gifs Galore!

Hi, my name is Raven, and I’m addicted to HOCKEY GIFS!! Seriously, .gifs in general are the best thing the internet has invented. Somehow, the stupidest of moments caught on tape can bring such joy to my life. Recently, I was introduced to Tumblr, a.k.a. the home of .gifs. It’s such a wonderful place where I’ve found so many many many awesome .gifs. I, of course, love the hockey ones, specifically any featuring Washington Capitals players. So without further ado, I bring you some of my favorite hockey .gifs.

Advent Calendar of Hotness Day 18: Troy Brouwer

This guy is one of my favorite hockey players ever, and, surprisingly, I’ve never featured him here on Ladies…, but that’s about to change. Welcome to Ladies…, Troy Brouwer. You are now officially a hockey hottie!

Advent Calendar of Hotness: Day 6

Warning: hot goalie without a mask!

One thing most ladies have been missing this year is hot hockey players. Stupid NHL lockout. But we here at Ladies… would like to fix that with a little hockey hotties action. As a hockey-crazed lady, I’ve really missed my live hockey, but tonight I will finally see my first live hockey action of the season starring this man: Braden Holtby

Your 2011-12 NHL Hotness Preview: Atlantic Division

You may call him Captain Pronger. (Getty Images)

The first opening faceoff of the regular season is just a few days away, which brings me a small comfort as Sabathia struggles against the Tigers (as I type this…so many sighs…) Here’s a quick look at what we think is exciting about the Atlantic Division:

Your NHL 2011-12 Hotness Preview: the Northeast

Let's relive the best part of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, shall we?

Given that this hasn’t exactly been the happiest of NHL offseasons, I feel a bit conflicted about being excited for the forthcoming 2011-12 season. With every that has happened since June, doesn’t it seem like a lifetime ago that the Bruins proudly hoisted their first Stanley Cup since the 1970s?

But let’s face it: I like to focus on the positive, such as the groundswell of support from Vancouver residents after the Stanley Cup riots, the return of the JETS, the sometimes hilarious trips with the Cup made by the Bruins, and the conversations that have opened up about mental illness (please, if you haven’t already, read Michael Landsberg’s touching column about his friend Wade Belak.)

Time to accentuate the positive with our NHL Preview. We begin today with the Northeast Division.

It’s the 2011 NHL Playoffs, you guys!

It’s a glorious time of year! (Unless you’re a Leafs fan or Cory Clouston.) It’s time for our quick and dirty preview of the first round of the NHL Playoffs. Here are the matchups that begin Wednesday:

NHL Heritage Classic Results: Hogwarts 4, Habs 0

(Photo: Andre Ringuette/Getty Images)

Happy Monday, readers! Just a quick hit until I can write something more substantive tonight, as I couldn’t let this one slide. The talk of last night’s NHL Heritage Classic outdoors at McMahon Stadium was not about the crummy ice, Metric’s chilly halftime second intermission performance or Kipper’s shutout – at least not at my house. No, the talk was about Calgary’s unis, which may or may not have been channeling some sort of wizardry. Seriously, isn’t the cut on those jerseys bad enough without dipping it into the ugly bath?

Hump Day Hottie: Caps in Suits

Not all of these guys made the cut after the jump, but obviously the Caps love their suits!

Awhile back, I tried to enlighten the Ladies… readers on the hotness that is the Washington Capitals.  Thanks to a super sexy GQ-esque team photo shoot, I was able to show you a bunch of hot hockey players in street clothes looking super fine.  Well, the brains behind the GQ shoot decided to give us more.  This recent shoot was done in conjunction with the re-launch of Scarlet Caps, a site about the Caps geared towards female fans.  While I’m not a huge fan of the site, I’m definitely a huge fan of the photo shoots.

So follow me after the jump to see hot athletes in suits.

Your 2010-11 NHL Hotness Preview: Northwest Division

 

Happy Columbus Day and Canadian Thanksgiving! The NHL season is finally underway, and yes, we realize we are a little late filing our previews. But it’s still early enough in the season – heck, TORONTO is tied for first in the East as I type this. I’m not joking! See?

 

(Screen shot courtesy tsn.ca)

 

Sorry. I know we’re two games in but it’s been far too long since I’ve seen these guys at the top of the standings. Just let me enjoy this Very Special Moment.

OK! On to the Northwest!

Five Ways To Spend Labor Day

Yes, some people have to work today.

Happy last weekend of summer as we know it! For those of you not spending it at work, or moving to your dorm, or counting down the hours until you can put the kids on the school bus, we bring you five ways to spend that (hopefully) least of laborious days.

The NHL Playoffs of Hotness: For The Win

Well done, Habs. Well done.

The Ladies… have an innate sense of right and wrong. For example, this trade that Montreal made yesterday to ship their better goaltender to the Blues? Wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong.

It should probably be wrong to have to choose between two hot hockey players, but we’re making you do that anyway. We’re down to two gentlemen in our NHL Playoffs of Hotness. Vote now through Monday night at 9pm Eastern.

If loving these hot men is wrong, we don’t want to be right.

A Ladies… Mixtape: Songs About (and not quite about) Hockey

Sidney Crosby: Stanley Cup winner, Olympic gold medallist and cute and all, but call me when Gord Downie writes a song about him. (Getty Images)

Sports and music go together like nachos and beer, rum and coke, Maggiesox/CuteSports/Lady Bee and red wine (sensing a theme here?) With NHL playoff hockey fever running rampant around these parts, I started thinking about all the music I dig that references hockey. These songs have been running through my head at one point or another these last few weeks, so I thought I’d share them with you. No Stompin’ Tom this time around, but I assure you this list is 100% CANCON.

Here Comes Round Two! (Sadly, Ovie-Free)

A couple of weeks ago, Raven and I delivered to you our first round NHL Playoff predictions. For the most part we were correct, but I can’t help but feel a little guilty about my Cup winner prediction. Did I jinx Ovi and the Caps?

Sadness. (Photo: Getty Images)

Maybe? Habs fans were screaming in the streets of Montreal Wednesday night like they were headed to the Final. Is it a good time to tell them that they’re facing the Pens in the next round?

I checked in with Raven Thursday morning, and all things considered she seems to be OK (and fortunately she didn’t have car trouble on the way home Wednesday, although if she had, Mr. Laich could have been of assistance). Her colour of mourning is red and she wishes to be consoled in the arms of one Ryan Kesler. (BTW, Ryan, if you’re not too busy, can you see me when you get a moment? I hit my elbow on the towel rack this morning and could use a hug.)

At any rate, here’s how we see the second round of the NHL playoffs playing out.

Your 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview

So Lady Bee and I have decided to do the preview for the 2010 playoffs.  Since we’re the hockey fiends, we figured we’d do a fun roundtable discussion of predictions and hotties.

Follow us after the jump for some knowledge and eye candy!

Holy Patriotism, Batman!

The Olympics can bring out the best and worst of one’s allegiances to their country.  I’ve never found myself hating on countries like Germany and South Korea in the past, but make them the USA’s latest competition, and I loathe them.  I’ve also encountered another sort of conundrum.  Being a huge hockey fan, I have allegiances to certain players because they play for my favorite team.  None of the players that I love play for Team USA.  Uh-oh!

So after the jump experience my patriotic conundrum. 

It’s MILLER TIME!!

USA! USA!

Apologies to our own Lady Bee in advance, but we’re not just talkin’ country pride here. We’re talkin’ hometown pride. That’s right – the Buffalo Sabres’ own RYAN MILLER is a force to be reckoned with, and that means you, Canada! 45 shots on goal is impressive and all, but Ry’s stopping 42 of them and helping Team USA on to a 5-3 win over Canada this past Sunday is even more impressive in my book. More after the jump on the, well, crap that my hometown hero had to go through leading up to that kick ass night.

I was there: US Olympic Hockey

Last week, the University of Wisconsin men’s and women’s hockey teams hosted Team USA teams.

On Tuesday, January 5, the women played the US Olympic Team as part of Team USA’s Qwest Tour, a round of warm-up games heading into the Olympics.

The following Saturday, the men hosted the U-18 team.

I was lucky enough to be at both games.

Hump Day Hottie: GreenLife52

It’s been some time since I showed the Caps some love over here, and a friend of mine sent me some gorgeous pics of the boys to use, so I thought, “What the hell? These are worthy of some Hump Day Hottie love.”  So that brings us up-to-date.

Today I bring you my favorite offensive defenseman and our resident wannabe thug – Mike Green.  I’ve shown you his insanely silly website before, but now let me show you some of his hotness.  Follow me after the jump for some Mike Green adoration.

Future Hump Day Hotties: IIHF World Juniors

While the world of hockey has been buzzing about the upcoming Winter Classic and the 2010 Olympics, the IIHF World Junior Championships have been going on in Saskatchewan, Canada.  I’ve been catching some of the premier games on the NHL Network, and tomorrow’s big match-up is USA vs. Canada. (Check it out live at 8pm on NHLNet in the US, and TSN in Canada)  In honor of this so-called clash of the titans, I thought I’d introduce the Ladies… readers to, what will some day be, a few future Hump Day Hotties. 

Right now, these boys are just cutie-patooties because they’re way too young for me (now – ahem).  So follow me after the jump for some up-and-coming hockey hotties, and stay for a mini-preview of tomorrow’s match-up.  (I promise the boys after the jump are hotter than the ones before it!)

Advent Calendar of Hotness: Day 18

Luke Schenn, Maple Leafs first-round pick in the 2008 draft. I couldn’t resist a little bit of homerism, but honestly, I don’t think you’ll mind. More after the jump.

Advent Calendar of Hotness: Day 9

How adorable!?  It’s Day 9, and just let me tell you, I wish this hottie was under my tree in 16 days. Find out what hottie this adorable kid turned out to be after the jump!

Ladies… Hero: Brendan Burke

This article is a long one.

It’s a long one, and it’s an important one, and it’s the only article from a major media outlet that has ever made me cry.

By coming out, Brendan Burke is standing up and showing the entire LGBTQA sports community a level of courage that very few other athletes have ever shown. And by accepting him and supporting him and loving him, his father is sending the message that there’s nothing to be afraid of with gay athletes. That having a gay man in the clubhouse is no worse than having a black man there or a Jewish man there, which is to say, there’s nothing wrong with it at all.

And you know, maybe as a queer girl and as a Maple Leafs fan, I’m biased. But unlike homophobia, my bias won’t hurt anybody.

So congratulations to Brendan Burke, my hero of the year.

Brendan and his father Brian

Be Gentle… It’s My First Time!

One of the great things about the ladies assembled here is love and fandom spanning all spectrums of the sporting world.  The majority of these ladies however, know something that I did not, hockey rocks!

Your 2009-10 NHL Hotness Preview: Pacific Division

For a change, Scottie and Matthew have something to smile about (AP/Paul Connors)

So you’ve seen our take on the Central, Atlantic, Southeast and Northeast divisions. With just hours to go before the puck drops on a new season, our in-depth (heh…) coverage continues with a look at the Pacific.

Your 2009-10 NHL Hotness Preview: Southeast Division

So none of these guys are after the jump, but I had to include some of my hot Caps in this post.

Tomorrow, tomorrow…I love you, tomorrow. You’re only a day away!!!  Now that I’ve got that stuck in your head…I can’t wait until tomorrow.  NHL regular season gets underway tomorrow!!  If you don’t have DirecTV, be sure to check out the double header on Versus starting at 7 EST.  Caps vs. Bruins is first, followed by Sharks vs. Avalanche.

Now it’s onto the preview of the Southeast Division.

Your 2009-10 NHL Hotness Preview: Central Division

By far my favorite storyline of the 2009 offseason. 20 cent is truly sorry!

Today we’ve got the preview for the Central Division, by far the strongest division in the West.  Ladies, the countdown to the regular season is on!  Is it Thursday yet?

Ladies… Linkups: Gettin’ You Through the Weekend

I don’t know about you, but the MLB trade deadline has exhausted me. There were a lot of trades this year, so my head’s kinda spinning.  My beloved Orioles only managed one little trade with the Dodgers for Mr. Flat & Breezy, so I’m not too upset. Thank God I’m not a Pirates fan. Yikes! You can check out everything that went down here. 

Enough about the trade deadline, let’s see what else is happening around the sports world. If you have some time to waste, take a trip with me after the jump for some time-wasting goodness!