Hershey Adds Unsigned Aussie to Training Camp Roster

September 22, 2013December 11, 2013 / annerling / Leave a comment

Finally, we can see the puck at the end of the hot, humid tunnel we call summer. With the NHL deep into training camps, the AHL is filling its rosters and prepping to kick off camps of its own.

On the same day the Hershey Bears announced their 2013 training camp schedule, a dozen players hit the ice at Giant Center. Last Friday, Derek Whitmore, Julien Brouillette, Peter LeBlanc, Chay Genoway, Patrick Wellar, Jamie Johnson, Brett Flemming, Matt Watkins, Brandon Segal, Nicolas Deschamps, Josh Brittain and goalie Brandon Anderson pulled on their skates to warm-up for the start of this week’s training camp.

The entire group, excluding Brittain, had participated in the Washington Capital’s training camp before being assigned to the Bears late last week or over the weekend. The Caps started their 2013-2014 training camp at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on September 12th, and assigned a handful of players to Hershey since then. Players at the Kettler Iceplex got a sneak peek of new Bears head coach Mike Haviland during on-ice practices. Haviland and Bears assistant coach Ryan Mougenel led a practice group that was numbered with Hershey players, including Jamie Johnson, Derek Whitmore, Matt Watkins and Chay Genoway.

“I really liked Whitmore and Watkins and Johnson,” Haviland said. “Those three guys looked pretty good today together in doing some of their line stuff. Genoway can really skate on the back end. I was pleasantly surprised with all four of those guys for me.”

Most recently, Jeff Taffe, Ryan Stoa, Casey Wellman and Nathan Walker were sent to the Hershey Bears on Saturday. While many of these players were expected to don the chocolate and white for the 2013-2014 season, Walker was a surprise pick from the Capital’s training camp.

Walker Hopes to be First Australian NHL Player

One of 40 forwards listed on the Capitals’ training camp roster, Walker, 19, is still unsigned but will report to Hershey for camp on Monday. The 5’10”, 185-pound Australian hopes to be the first Aussie to play in the NHL—a league dominated by players who typically hail from much colder climates with far less marsupials. Walker was expected to play for Youngstown in the USHL this season, but had a strong showing at Washington’s training camp as an unsigned invitee. Born in Great Britain, Walker’s family relocated to Australia when he was 2-years-old. Realizing his Australian home was dominated by soccer and surf, Walker made the move to icier climates to hone his hockey skills.

“When I was 13, that’s when I decided I really wanted to take a shot at this, so I went overseas [to the Czech Republic] to learn and play the game,” Walker said.

Walker, nicknamed Stormy for his aggressive playing style, spent six seasons developing his game in the Czech Republic. Before joining the Youngstown Phantoms in January 2013, Walker played the past two seasons with HC Vitkovice in the top Czech professional league. Depending on how training camp goes, Hershey fans might have the opportunity to see this Wonder from Down Under in action at the Giant Center starting in October.

Before the Bears start training Monday, more assignments are expected from Washington.The Capitals’ roster must be trimmed from 70 to 23 players by Monday, September 30th. The Bears are slated to report for meetings and physicals on Monday, with the first on-ice session starting Tuesday at Hersheypark Arena. Hershey opens its three-game exhibition when the new Utica Comets visit Giant Center this Friday night, September 27th.

Originally posted to http://thehockeywriters.com/hershey-adds-unsigned-aussie-training-camp-roster/ by Annie Erling Gofus

Featured Image via Penn Live

5 FUN WAYS TO GET HEALTHY AND HAVE FUN IN AUSTIN for WODLounge.com

September 16, 2013March 21, 2014 / annerling / Leave a comment

To represent their unique style, Austinites have adopted the unofficial slogan “Keep Austin Weird.” Everything about this Southern city is uncommon, giving you plenty of fun and quirky ways to go green and stay fit.

Get your caffeine fix at Progress Coffee which roasts small batches of coffee beans right in Austin. If bold espresso has whetted your appetite, swing by any number of Austin’s many farmers’ markets: Sustainable Food Center hosts local growers four times a week in different locations across the city. Fresh-picked ingredients can be found around every corner in Austin, including at Swift’s Attic, a farm-to-table restaurant known for its stellar cuisine.

More than just irresistible eats, Austin will give you hundreds of reasons to run and jump. Zilker Park is a cannot-miss spot that offers visitors 351 acres of fun. Botanical gardens, hiking trails, and a natural spring swimming pool will tempt even the laziest person to dive right in. But save some energy for CrossFit Central. This gym was recently named one of the top ten best CrossFit gyms in the US by Men’s Fitness. Get pumped up as you train with the best in a city that’s sure to turn your head.

Originally posted to http://www.wodlounge.com/5-fun-ways-healthy-fun-austin/ by Annie Erling Gofus

Austin Hot Spots: Locally Sourced Grub via Swift’s Attic | Zilker Park; image via Kariandvijay.com | Progress Coffee; image via WanderingYew2 | CrossFit Central | Farmer’s Markets; image via Friends Of Family Farmers |

Hershey Bears Find Winners With New Coaches for TheHockeyWriters.com

September 16, 2013December 11, 2013 / annerling / Leave a comment

This summer, while Hershey fans were cranking up the A/C and dreaming of a cool October puck drop, the Bears were busy filling a roster void of key leadership roles. With the regular season just weeks away, the American Hockey League’s oldest and most storied franchise has welcomed newly hired Head Coach Mike Haviland and Assistant Coach Ryan Mougenel into the fold.

Bears introduce Mike Haviland as the organizations 24th Head Coach. #AHL #HBH pic.twitter.com/llu9k5yVHS

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 18, 2013

Haviland, 45, enters Giant Center as the Bears’ 24th Head Coach with 14 years of coaching experience under his belt. Prior to his move to Chocolatetown, Haviland spent four seasons as assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks, from 2008-2009 and again in 2011-2012. He arrived in Chicago after three years as a head coach for two different teams in the AHL—first for the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate Rockford Ice Hogs (2007-2008) and before that the Norfolk Admirals (2005-2007). Most recently, Haviland returned to Norfolk, the Anaheim Ducksaffiliate, for 2012-2013 as associate coach.

“Mike Haviland has coached his teams to compete and win, and we look forward to having him do the same in Hershey,” Bears General Manager Doug Yingst said in a press release.

“This is the premier franchise in the American Hockey League. To be selected and knowing some of the guys I was up against, it was an honor and a privilege,” Hershey Bears Head Coach Mike Haviland said, “When you put that sweater on you have to understand that you are playing not for the name on the back but the name on the front.”

After his 2006-2007 season with the Norfolk Admirals, Haviland was honored with the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award, a trophy awarded annually to the AHL’s most outstanding coach. In addition to winning AHL Coach of the Year, Haviland has championships on three different levels to his name. In 2010, he helped guide the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup, and between 1996-1998 he lead Elmira College to two ECAC championships as an assistant coach. Additionally, Haviland hoisted the trophy twice as a bench boss in the ECHL—he coached the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies to the Kelly Cup in 2003 and again with the Trenton Titans in 2005.

Head Coach Haviland and Assistant Coach Ryan Mougenel Have History

It was while coaching in Atlantic City that Haviland met Ryan Mougenel, new assistant coach for the Bears. In his final season as a player, Mougenel served as an alternate captain for head coach Haviland on the Atlantic City club that won the Kelly Cup. After four years as head coach of the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers hockey club, which he led to the Kelly Cup finals in 2011-12, Mougenel (pronounced moo-zhuh-NEL, in case you were curious), 37, has landed his first AHL coaching gig in Hershey. Before his head coaching job in Las Vegas, Mougenel spent four seasons as assistant coach of the ECHL’s Fresno Falcons.

“Ryan fits that bill. He understands the work ethic and the details that have to go into being successful. He also understands the relationship between the players and coaches, and he knows how to nurture them,” said Haviland. “He’s a good communicator. He’s a very personable guy. The players are going to like him and the fans are really going to like him. They’re going to take to him. He’s got a great personality.”

This duo’s history has the makings of a dynamic coaching relationship for the Bears. Being familiar with one another’s coaching and playing styles will hopefully make both Haviland and Mougenel feel comfortable and confident in their new leadership roles.

New Leaders Fill Roster Voids Left by Mark French and Troy Mann

Mougenel, a native of Ontario, follows Troy Mann, who served as Hershey’s assistant coach the past four seasons and is now head coach of the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors. Haviland, a New Jersey native, replaces Mark French, who finished up four years in Hershey at the end of the 2012-13 season. French has since been named head coach of the Kontinental Hockey League’s (KHL) Medvescak Zagreb in Croatia, whose mascot just happens to also be a fierce bear.

French isn’t the only Bear to make the leap to Europe. A month after French landed a job with the Medvescak Zagreb, it was announced the Washington Capitals would not be renewing Boyd Kane’s contract for the 2013-14 season. Kane, three time captain of the Chocolate and White and three time Calder Cup Champion will swap one Bear sweater for another in Zagreb. In five seasons with Hershey, Kane skated in 365 regular season games along with 58 Calder Cup Playoff games.

Originally Posted to http://thehockeywriters.com/hershey-bears-find-winners-with-new-coaches/ by Annie Erling Gofus

HOW TO BUILD A FIRST-AID KIT FOR YOUR CROSSFIT GYM BAG for WODLounge.com

September 15, 2013March 21, 2014 / annerling / Leave a comment

Scrapes, blisters and calluses are everyday owies that happen anywhere, including the box. Come prepared for minor CrossFit injuries with an arsenal of first aid remedies.

Start with the basics: Bandages and cold packs are must-haves in any first-aid kit, including the one you toss in your gym bag. Calluses are impossible to avoid in the box. The best way to keep them from affecting your fitness is to shave them down and keep them smooth with a specialized callus shaver with safety slide. There is no magic potion out there for aches and pains, but there are plenty of salves and ointments that do the trick. Aquaphur Healing Ointment prevents chaffing and helps to soothe irritated skin, while Biofreeze relieves achy muscles and joints with an instant cool and tingling sensation. Roll out those knots with the Gemini, which was created specifically with CrossFit athletes in mind. And last, but not least, just think of the sweaty paws all over those kettlebells—kill some of that borrowed bacteria with good ole’ fashioned hand sanitizer. Bring your WOD-ready first-aid kit to your next workout and you’ll be ready for anything.

Originally Posted to http://www.wodlounge.com/build-first-aid-kit-crossfit-gym-bag/

CrossFit First-Aid Kit: Band-Aid Flexible Fabric Bandages via Drugstore.com | Instant Cold Pack viaWalgreens | Tweezerman Callus Shaver via Drugstore.com | Aquaphor Healing Ointment via Drugstore.com | Biofreeze Pain Relieving Gel via Performance Health | MobilityWOD Gemini via Rouge Fitness | X3: Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer via Drugstore.com |

Neon Wedding Created for WinifredBean.com

September 10, 2013September 16, 2013 / annerling / Leave a comment

WEEKLY WEDDING LOOK – NEON, PART II

September 10, 2013

Skip the pastel pink roses and head straight to vivid orange dahlias. Add a volt of electric color to your wedding with neon-inspired decor.

Start with the bloomingest details: Gather shades of blue and yellow in your bride’s bouquet, while your bridesmaids hold hot pink tulips against their dazzling yellow dresses. Line the aisle with giant round balloons anchored with flashy tassels, and carry the fringy theme into the reception hall with tasseled neon streamers. Pull up a chair to a table set in eye-popping hues—blinding yellow glassware stands beside forks and knives hand-dipped in brilliant paint. Each table is set with blazing pink and yellow blooms that perfectly match your neon-ombre cake. Send your friends and family home with hot-hued macaroons, and give them a kiss goodbye with a giant glittering and neon “XO” sign at the door.

Originally posted on http://winifredbean.com/blog/2013/9/10/weekly-wedding-look-neon-part-ii by Ann Erling Gofus

Neon Bridal Style Created for WinifredBean.com

September 9, 2013September 16, 2013 / annerling / Leave a comment

WEEKLY WEDDING LOOK – NEON, PART I

September 9, 2013

For centuries, weddings have been all-white affairs, only adding soft colors in bouquets and modest bridesmaid dresses. Break away from tradition with hot hues at your neon-themed wedding. Subtle splashes of eye-popping color offer a brilliant contrast to Winifred Bean’s strapless Sweetheart chiffon gown. Bring the bling with sparkly jewels—a crystal necklace with pops of neon color hangs around your neck, while hot pink gems decorate your ears. Keep your makeup neutral except for a vivid splash of blue swiped along your lash line, and tuck a soft pink lipstick into a blindingly blue clutch. Dance the night away on hot pink heels, as you finish your neon newlywed look with a kick of fuchsia on your feet.

Originally posted at http://winifredbean.com/blog/2013/9/2/wwl-neon by Ann Erling Gofus

Image compilation created by Ann Erling Gofus

FIT PHILLY: GET ON YOUR FEET AND STAY FIT IN PHILADELPHIA for WODLounge.com

September 9, 2013March 21, 2014 / annerling / 1 Comment

Philadelphia often conjures images of our Founding Fathers, cheese-and-meat-loaded sandwiches, and overzealous sports enthusiasts. But, hidden among the cheesesteak joints and hardcore Eagles fans, is a fit Philadelphia ready to get you off your feet.

Lace up your walking shoes and take off on a self-guided tour of Philly’s most historic spots. Channel Benjamin Franklin’s good sense and swing by Totem Brand—this store sells USA-made men’s clothing and accessories that’ll get you looking sharp for a night out on the town. When you’re suited up in Philly’s finest threads, pull up a chair at Tulala’s Garden, a eatery with a seasonal menu inspired by local growers. Philadelphia never misses a beat, and neither should you with your training! Step it up at CrossFit Center City—right in the heart of the City of Brotherly Love. Looking for a more relaxed workout? Dip your paddles in the Schuykill River and get a gorgeous view of this stellar city from the comfort of a rented kayak.

Originally Posted to http://www.wodlounge.com/fit-philly-feet-stay-fit-philadelphia/

Philadelphia Hot Spots: Locally Sourced Grub via Talula’s Garden | Kayak on the Schuykill River via Hidden River Outfitters | Danner Boots via Totem Brand | CrossFit Center City | Self-Guided Walking Tour of Philadelphia via The Constitutional |

MAD DASH TO THE BOX: HOW TO PACK A MINIMALIST GYM BAG FOR QUICK WORKOUTS for WODLounge.com

September 7, 2013March 21, 2014 / annerling / Leave a comment

Workdays are a blur, making it tough to find time for fitness. The key to squeezing a quick workout into your hectic day is to simplify: Organize your schedule, manage your time, and carefully pack the bare-minimum of gear for your mad dash to and from the gym. Skip the gym bag altogether, because these bare essentials can easily fit in your purse. Start with Patagonia’s bold green running top which features a built-in bra. Throw on a pair of light shorts, then lace up Merrell’s Vapor Glove running shoes which weigh in at 10 ounces—total. Even during a quick workout, hydration is vital! Bring along Vapur’s collapsible water bottles that roll up and are easy to store when empty. And as you wipe the sweat from your brow and head off to your next appointment, stuff your stinky gym wear into Flight 001’s handy Gym Gear Bag, which separates your sweaty clothes from the clean stuff.

Originally Posted to http://www.wodlounge.com/mad-dash-gym-pack-minimalist-gym-bag-quick-workouts/

Minimalist Gym Bag Fashion Features: Gamut Sport Top via Patagonia | GTD Running Shorts via The North Face | Gym Gear Bag via Flight 001 | Barefoot Run Vapor Glove Running Shoes via Merrell |Water Bottle viaVapur |

Friday Roundup Created for WinifredBean.com

September 6, 2013September 16, 2013 / annerling / Leave a comment

FRIDAY ROUND UP

September 6, 2013

As the weather cools down across the country, one state is cranking up the heat. Swing by Santa Fe this weekend to torch your taste buds at the inaugural Green Chile Harvest Festival. Celebrate New Mexico’s most bountiful crop with cooking demonstrations, the Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown contest, and spicy hot entertainment. Set your mouth ablaze in your own kitchen by skipping a trip to the desert and whipping up some green chile cheeseburgers at home.

After a summer of sandals in the city and frolicking barefoot outdoors, our feet need a little T.L.C. before slipping into our favorite fall boots. Pamper dry, cracked heels with Butter London’s Stiletto Stick—a swipe or two of this stick will soothe and smooth your tired toes. Put your best foot forward as you plan an autumn-inspired wedding. Sweep your flowing locks into an elegant updo, and welcome guests with personalized iPhone covers that double as escort cards. A transparent sticker printed with guests’ names and table numbers can easily be removed after the wedding, making it a pretty and practical favor.

Originally posted to http://winifredbean.com/blog/2013/9/6/friday-round-up by Ann Erling Gofus

1. Butter London Stiletto Stick via Ulta | 2. Green Chile Harvest Festival via SantaFe.com; image via Bon Appetit | 3. Classic Updos via Birchbox | 4. Green Chile Cheeseburger via Saveur | 5. iPhone Covers via Ruffled

7 CROSSFIT INSPIRED TWITTER ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW for WODLounge.com

September 3, 2013March 21, 2014 / annerling / Leave a comment

It’s amazing what you can learn in 140 characters or less. 200 million Twitter users generate approximately 340 million tweets a day. According to a San Antonio-based market research firm, Pear Analytics, 40% of Tweets are “Pointless Babble,” but 9% have pass-along value. Don’t worry about digging through the pointless babble and spam to find the Tweeters who matter—we’ve done all the hard work for you! Check out the Top Seven Best CrossFit Lifestyle-Inspired Tweeters:

@CROSSFIT

This is the official Twitter account for CrossFit. Chock-full of motivational quotes, WODs and links to fascinating content, this is a must-follow for CrossFit Tweeters. Follow @CrossFit for all the news and tidbits from the official source.

@CROSSFITGAMES

This year’s CrossFit Games have come and gone, but that hasn’t stopped the official Twitter account from Tweeting out interesting links, quotes and interviews with CrossFit athletes. Follow @CrossFitGames for a first hand look at hardcore CrossFit athletes.

@CROSSFITJOURNAL

CrossFit Journal is a fitness, health and lifestyle publication dedicated to improving athletic performance and quality of life. Follow @crossfitjournal for links to articles, videos and audio files covering everything from exercise technique, nutrition and much more.

@MARK_SISSON

Mark Sisson is a blogger, athlete and author of the book “Primal Blueprint”. Sisson’s diet tips incorporate many aspects of the Paleo Diet, which is closely tied to the CrossFit lifestyle. Follow @Mark_Sisson to get great tips on healthy eating and general fitness.