For the Love of Two Teams

I realized something the other day. I am a fan of Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. Well that may not come as a surprise, just remember how this all started out. I started following Loko when Ulanov signed with them. I would look at his player page and nothing else. Somewhere along the way, though, I became a fan of the entire team. Due to the fact that I live right outside of Edmonton, news about the Oilers pretty much falls into my lap on a daily basis. I spend way more time on the Lokomotiv's site than I do on the Oilers one. I sit here at the computer madly trying to decipher what it says, while using shitty online translators because I have zero knowledge of the Russian language. My fandom will follow Ulanov to whatever team he plays for, but now I sort of have two teams and never the two shall meet. Perhaps one day I'll even see the second one in action.

I taped the Oilers game from last night where they played (and lost, but not badly for a change) in Nashville, and lo and behold, there was a fan there wearing a Lokomotiv jersey. I had to rewind and look about three times just to make sure. Also, Mini 'Nov (Tom Gilbert) got two assists and the second star of the game.

We feel your pain.

It's the end of the road (tracks?) for the Lokomotiv of the fine city of Yaroslavl. They were knocked out in 4 games (which isn't a sweep in the Russian Superleague, if you're paying attention). From the account of our Yaroslavl correspondant, the city got drunk to ease its pain.

Months will heal wounds, until you see a picture of Rod Brind'Amour holding the cup and then the rush of negative emotions will start anew. I hope that each of you receives a game-worn Ulanov jersey in the mail today. It will offer you a temporary escape from your grief. You can trust me on that one.

The future of Ulanov's hockey career is once again up in the air. I am sad.

Who's your (grand) daddy?

At left, we have the sexiest current Oil defenseman (Sorry, Tjarnqvist. I've forgotten what you look like. I hope your hernia surgery went well), Tom Gilbert. Gilbert is pictured here after his team, U of Wisconsin won the NCAA championship against Boston College. He recorded the game-winning goal. Why all the Gilbert talk? Take a look at that manly beard. It's clear that he was taking tips on facial hair from his predecessor, Igor "ZZ Top" Ulanov (and not from current team mate Raffi "crooked landing strip" Torres, thank goodness). I wish I had a picture of Ulanov during the playoffs last year. Because that facial hair was mighty.

On St. Patrick's Day, I was at my favourite watering hole on Whyte, and I ran into an Oilers defenseman there. He was quite jovial (perhaps because the Oilers got a point in their OT loss to St. Louis. Now they have 67 points!). I will not say who it was, except that his name rhymes with "rat spleen." I told him that I was a huge Ulanov fan, and that Ulanov had recently scored three points in one game. He said that he was also an Ulanov fan, and that Ulanov had called him after the famous three point game. Then he said that Ulanov was like his grandpa. Uhh...what? I'm not quite sure what he meant by that, but I'm resting easy in the fact that it's mathematically impossible. Just like the Oilers' playoff chances.

Yaroslavl is in its second round of the playoffs, and they sit at 1-1 in the first two matchups against Omsk. I haven't been able to check yet who got the goals, but we have it on good authority that Ulanov made two great defensive plays in the first game, and that he got another game misconduct penalty. Let's go, Loko!

GOAL! Scored by...

UlieUlieUlie



Sweet fuck. Yaroslavl swept the Moscow Dynamo right out of the playoffs after winning three games straight in the first round. But that's not even the big news! On March 11th, Yaroslavl beat Moscow 3-2. The following day, they beat the Dynamo 4-3 and Ulanov got one assist. Then came March 14th. The Russian powerhouse scored a goal and got a pair of assists. This fan club could not be more happy at this very moment. We also have it on good authority that he was voted best player of the game!


Number 58, your days are numbered. And it's been too long since I've seen that playoff facial hair. ROWR!

The face of a franchise.

That's Ulanov on the far right. I also believe that that's Mikhnov third from the right.

Many games to report here: February 24th gave Yaroslavl another win when they defeated St. Petersburg SKA by a score of 5-3. A quiet night for Ulanov, but Mikhnov got an assist, and Grebeshkov was handed a trio of penalties. Yaroslavl was shut out on February 27th when they faced Togliatti Lada and allowed five goals. Ulanov spent two minutes in the box for "the attack of [sop]. not Vlad. by the washer." I even tried a different translator that time. What the hell kind of penalty is that?

On March 3rd, Yaroslavl beat Cherepovets Severstal by a score of 6-2. Ulanov assisted on the Lokomotiv's first goal. This brings his point total to 5! On March 6th, Yaroslavl beat Tver (?) by a score of 8-3. I believe that March 8th was the last game of the season, and Yaroslavl tied the Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik 4-4. Ulanov got one penalty for roughing.

Ulanov's Regular Season stats (as of November 15th, 2006)

Games played: 32
Goals: 0
Assists: 5
PIM: 36

Yaroslavl will be facing Moscow Dynamo in the first round of the playoffs, starting on March 11th.

Another Ulanov Fan!

His blog is named for Ulanov!
Find it here!

The Greatest Video ever made

Well, I'm not one to boast, but there it is. The most amazing video humankind has ever seen. And we made it. Well I'll be. A follow-up video full of clips of the party will follow, but this is the one that we made in preparation for said party. Enjoy

"This is the weirdest party I've ever been to."

And I assume by "weirdest," j-roc actually meant "most awesome."

Yesterday's party brought in mediocre attendence. But it's the quality, and not the quantity, that counts. It was a chance for Ulanov fans to get together and celebrate all things Ulanov. And we collected twenty-nine food items and a twenty dollar donation for the Campus Food Bank, which will all be delivered there on Wednesday. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and made the night special. Thanks also to the staff of RATT, the finest campus bar there is.

Pictures of the night and a kick-ass tribute video to follow.

It's going to be an interesting night of music!

The party is tomorrow night, and we're busy at work here making a tribute video and tying up any last minute loose ends. Oh yeah, and we're getting our music ready.

A hand full of people responded to our music call out. There were three votes for Boney M.'s Rasputin, by far the most popularly suggested song. Metallica's Ride the Lightning (for his years in Tampa Bay) got one vote, as did Bennie and the Jets (in honour of Winnipeg) by Elton John. Jethro Tull's Lokomotiv Breath also came up with a vote, along with the likes of Eye of the Tiger by Survivor ("When I think of Ulanov I think of the heroic underdog. And what better song than Eye of the Tiger to convey this powerful theme?") and Tom Jones' Sexbomb. There was also a vote for that Do You Think I'm Sexy Song, as well as one for Russia, My Homeland by ...And you will Know us by the Trail of the Dead and one for the entire album called Broom by Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin. Last but not least, there was also a suggestion of "...any country music suggestions should be kept to themselves." No problem there, as I find country music to be rather loathsome for the most part.

Thanks very much to Jo, Young D, Dan (and an extra thanks and cookies for him for mentioning the party on his radio show), Megan, and Danna for sending in their suggestions!