Long time no talk, but here I am; and I come bearing a few thoughts. Also, I’d like to raise a simple question: how nice is it that meaningful hockey and football games are right around the corner?

First and foremost, I can’t help but be thrilled to see eight players signed to the Steelheads roster who are returners from last year’s squad. A couple players are rumored to have pursued opportunities overseas (More on that later), but the holdovers at the moment are certainly welcome. For example, a defense that already includes Cody Lampl, Brendan Milnamow, and Weston Tardy is already a solid blueline, as each is a capable top-four defenseman in the ECHL.

As the dog days of the offseason continue, I can’t help but mention that next season will be the first since 1984 without defenseman Chris Chelios having an on-ice presence SOMEWHERE. He called it quits recently, after finishing last season with the Atlanta Thrashers. He’s one of the poster children for the “If he’s on your team, you love him” adage, and made his mark with three different original six teams (Montreal, Chicago, and Detroit). A Stanley Cup Champion and one of the greatest American players of them all, his two Metro Detroit Cheli’s Chili Bar restaurants have become favorites of Detroit athletes, sports fans, and even Kid Rock. His career was fascinating, and I’ll reflect further on it in the coming weeks.

It’s not hockey-related, but did anyone else hear about the reporter in Fayatteville, Arkansas who was fired after having a dispute with Razorbacks football head-man Bobby Petrino? Well, Petrino didn’t like the fact that Renee Gork was honoring her alma-mater, the University of Florida; a school that happens to be an SEC rival of the Hogs. Should Gork have worn a Gators hat to the presser? No. Should she have been fired? Probably not. Nobody in this market would bat an eye if I show my Syracuse University colors, but if I’m going to ask Coach Calhoun at UConn about some of the recent issues involving his basketball program, you can be I’d at least be a little mindful of my wardrobe. And one more thing: Bobby Petrino bolted on the Atlanta Falcons during an NFL season because he didn’t think it was a good gig for him. Should he even indirectly try teaching loyalty lessons to anyone? The journalist in me had to vent on this story; I know it’s not hockey related. All the way from the blogosphere, I apologize.

Back to hockey… Over the weekend, I pre-ordered a copy of NHL 2011 for my XBOX 360. Anyone else play the game? Shoot me an email and we’ll fire up a game online at XBOX live after the game drops. If you understand nerd-speak, my gamer tag is DougP96.

‘Til we meet again…