Hawk On Fire

(Photo via Sportsnet ) No greater NHL playoff drought was longer than the Leafs'. But the wait to see them in the post-season is finally over. No, seriously. The Toronto Maple Leafs have a shot to compete for the Stanley Cup. Trust me, this has been cross-referenced, verified, and triple checked, and I'm probably just as amazed at everyone else right now. And never mind the 46-year Cup drought. Leafs Nation is just happy to be contending for a playoff spot To put it into perspective, consider the following list of either far-fetched or excruciating facts that will give you a sigh of relief. The last playoff game featuring the blue and white took place on May 4, 2004 at the Air Canada Centre and ended in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 of the second round. Interesting to note, 38-year-old, (now 47), Ed Belfour got the start for the Leafs. He played his last NHL game six years ago and is now in the Hockey Hall of Fame. It was impossible t...

It's the home opener. The team takes to the ice. Crowd cheers. The music plays. The announcer comes on the PA, "...And here are your North Bay Trappers!" The game starts. The play goes back and forth. The game reaches 1st intermission. No goals. No goal song. 2nd period begins. Both teams take to the ice, still awaiting the first goal. The ref then calls a penalty. Break in play = time to play a track. Play resumes. 2nd period comes to a close. Still no score. Both teams hit the ice for the final period of play, anticipating their first goal. Music plays. Gets the crowd cheering, clapping, waving and singing along. But how does the DJ know what song to play? One method I have always gone by: Just go by your ears and ask: what does this moment need; how can I express this moment through music; how can I establish the atmosphere with sound...etc. One knows when to play a good crowd-cheering song. With minutes to go, the opposing team scores. No song. No cheer. Onl...