Snyder Arena

Great coverage of the Thrashers visit to Elmira. I'm sure you have all seen this already, but wanted to post it just in case. Also, here is a nice little piece from Viv's Blog over at the AJC:

I waited to talk to LuAnn until the day was almost over. I wanted to stay out of her way, but also give her a chance to take everything in before speaking about it. She was again gracious. When I brought up the subject of Dan’s watch, broken in three pieces in the accident, she related the story of how she kept a piece, gave one to Bob Hartley and another to Kovalchuk. She started to cry, but made it through. To tell you the truth, I had tears in my eyes as well by the time she was done.

Why Kovalchuk, I asked?

Here is what she said. “I told Kovy that he was the future of the franchise. He was going to be the glue that holds the franchise together.”

And then she said this about the Thrashers captain: “He’s my boy. He’s a sweetheart. He’s an absolutely wonderful person. People that don’t get to know him on a personal level like we have, don’t realize what a wonderful, wonderful, genuine person he is. He’s a superstar hockey player, but he’s a father, a friend and he’s always, always been so good to us. He’s a wonderful kid, but he’s first and foremost a wonderful person and the fans have reason to love him.”


Good stuff.

Edit:

On a personal note, just wanted to point out how cool it is to follow an organization that has First Class people from the top down. That isn't always the case. Lots of folks have been on Waddell over the years (even myself, from time to time, though not nearly as much as others) for the lack of success on the ice. One thing he has ALWAYS done is conduct himself and run the Thrashers organization with tremendous grace and class. The team's visit to Elmira is just another example of that. And if this year keeps going the way it has started, I will be happiest for Waddell.