Throwback Tuesday!

In dedication to the Oilers wearing the throwback jerseys, I thought I would take a look back at, not only my favorite VHS series, but the greatest hockey series of all-time, the good ol' Rockem Sockem Collection.

If you have never witnessed one of these works of marvel, seriously, stop reading our blog. You are a fair-weather fan, a band wagon jumper and probably a believer in the Flamers. You're a loser and your parents say they love you, but they are lying to your face, since they obviously never bought you this gift on your birthday or even Christmas. For shame.

Now, for those of you who have seen these movies, ARE THEY NOT THE MOST KICK-ASS THINGS EVER CONSTRUCTED?!?! Honestly, you could miss the entire NHL season, buy one of these, and be able to know just about everything that happened. It combines the leagues best goals, fights, hits, saves, bloopers and the best moments of Coach's Corner (purely for comical value rather then real knowledge). With the series including more than 18 installments, there is hard to pick a favorite one, but I had to narrow it down to either Rock'em Sock'em 6 or 9. Despite Rock'em Sock'em 9 having the best collection of goals (especially from Pavel Bure, Stick-to-Skate-to-Stick-to-Back of the net. Yikes, he was scary good), Rock'em Sock'em 6 won my heart and affection.

The VHS features the '93-'94 season in which the New York Rangers ended their 54-year Stanley Cup drought. Mark Messier gave his famous guarantee, Dominik Hasek's 'flopping' style of play ushers in a new era of goaltending and Sergei Fedorov won the Hart Trophy. This video features a segment on hip-checks (a lost art in today's game) and gives the greatest breakdown of the playoffs any hockey video has ever done. I still get goosebumps watching the Devils and Sabres battle it out (Hasek had a GAA of under 2.00 and STILL lost the series), or 'watch this beauty pass by Brown, right on the money on the money to Bure and he slides 'er home!' (Bure deking Vernon right out of his jock strap in Game 7 in OT) or how about Bure turning the tables on Shane Churla and delivering that vicious elbow! Wow! And who says the Europeans don't hit?! Stephane Matteau scored a wrap-around goal in game 7 (in OT) against the Brodeur and THE EXACT SAME GOAL BY THE EXACT SAME TEAMS AGAINST THE EXACT SAME GOALIE happens 3 years later to NYD (Adam Graves in game 5 in OT, look it up). What a great VHS.

Basically, if you own it - watch it! If you dont own it - buy it! If you can't afford to buy it - ask me and ill lend you mine! I'll leave you with this ridiculous Bure clip i was talking about earlier... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPqwtaFwTJM&feature=related

Cheers.
-Smith