2/25/04 by phil

Seventeen days until Game Misconduct 2004. If you're half as excited as I am for this event, then you're somewhere between really psyched and euphoric.

Tips: Momentum Meter

In my limited experience with NHL 2001, it seems that the momentum meter plays a crucial role in your team's success. Located to the right of the scorebox (in the upper left corner), the momentum meter displays the amount of "momentum" that each team has. The white bar in the middle denotes "neutral" -- no team has an advantage. However, as one team begins to outplay another, they gain momentum, which is shown as a yellow-to-red gradient, with red being the maximum. When your team has momentum, your stats are beefed up and your opponents stats are lowered. Always try to keep the momentum favoring your team.

How to gain your momentum:

• Deliver big hits
• Offensive pressure
• Create scoring chances

How to kill opponent's momentum:

• Deliver big hits
• Ice the puck
• Big saves
• Time

News

From what I can tell, most people favor playing for a cash prize. With 8 players, we'll have $80 for this event. $10 will be spent on a prize (more below), and probably $20 will go towards snacks and food. This will leave $50 for a cash prize. How do you think we should split this up? 50/0 (winner takes all), 40/10, 30/20, 30/15/5? Keep in mind, in order to award money to a third place contestant, the losers from the conference finals will have to play an additional "consolation game" to determine who is third place.

T-shirt contest: First of all, I should state that this is really not limited to just T-shirts, but also hockey jerseys, polo shirts, and sweaters. Rain ponchos are explicitly prohibited. Just so you know, this contest is part of the fun, and to increase the interest, we will be awarding a DVD of the movie "Slapshot." (This is the $10 from the previous paragraph.) So be creative -- pretty much anything goes! I think the way we'll award the winner is to have everyone vote for their favorite (and you can't vote for yourself).

It has been brought to my attention that there may be an additional PS2/TV station in operation for the noon-2:00 practice period. This will allow for more people to become acquainted with the available teams, and also the feel of the game. However, once the tournament starts, those not playing in the game will be encouraged to cheer for (or against) those playing, rather than going in the other room to play or practice on their own.

Another point: When we choose teams according to our number (1 through 8), there is a maximum of 4 teams per conference. This means that if numbers 1 - 4 all choose western conference teams, numbers 5 - 8 must choose eastern conference teams.

The original schedule still stands: single game tourney from 2pm til 7pm or so. After that, we may start a doubles (or pairs) tourney for fun. However, we'll need a 4-player adapter. Does anyone have one? Todd?

Also I think I'm going to try to throw together a soundtrack. I've got some ideas for songs, but if any of you have favorite hockey or inspiring songs, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

E-mail me at pgraff {at} siu {dot} edu, or at my mac address for any feedback/comments/suggestions. Take it easy.