Hockey Arcade is shutting down

OK, folks, here's the deal. I've been doing these Hockey Arcades for a month now and I'm only getting, at most, two responses. I tried to make it interesting as well as informative. My goal was to show that there was more to hockey than just the NHL.

Though it certainly wasn't heavy lifting on my part, preparing these took the longest of any of the 260-plus posts I've done this season. And even though I had fun doining it, I'd rather write about other hockey-related matters, especially as we near the trade deadline and the push for the playoffs.

If this is a disappointment, please accept my apologies. And to Drew, Jaci and Slegr_71, I appreciate your loyalty.

That doesn't mean, though, that I'm giving up on fun. Keep an eye out for a new feature: Hockey Word Association. I tried it during a recent "Ten questions with" interview and found it quite amusing. Please know, too, that comments on this aren't required. Hopefully, it'll provide some levity during breaks at work, classes or intermissions.

To provide closure, here are the answers to Hockey Arcade 1.2:

What's this? 2.2: The Cleveland Barons logo. You were close, Drew.
Who am I? Aaron Asham, Lasse Kukonen, Nikolai Zherdev, Patrick Rissmiller and Yotaka Fukufuji
Team quiz: 1-c; 2-a; 3-b; 4-d; and 5-e
They play the game: 1-d; 2-c; 3-e; 4-a; and 5-b
Brainbuster: Columbus' Fredrik Modin played for Brynas IF Gavle during the 1995-96 season of the Swedish Elite League.

New year = New games

Rather than have two seperate postings for the various contests, quizzes and general tomfoolery available at Hound Central 2.0, Puckhound is moving everything under a single roof. Kind of like a hockey arcade. In fact, that'll be the new name.

Of course, you'll find existing features -- What's This?, player-name scramble (now known as Who Am I?) and the team quiz. The Hockey Arcade, though, is not only new, but it's also improved, with the introduction of three features.

So, if you're feeling smart and lucky, take a look below and test your hockey knowledge.

Oh, yeah, here are the rules:
1.) Answers must be left in a comment;
2.) Have fun; and
3.) Please, no wagering.

Clearing the books

Before we start Hound Central's new weekly trivia extravaganza, it's important that we provide the answers to last week's year-ending contest and quizzes.

What's This? 1.17: Yes, Jaci, it was a hockey version of Mr. Potato Head. Did you notice the blacked-out teeth and helmet? With the win, Hound Central 2.0 readers finished 2006 with a 12-5 record. This year, I promise, will be more difficult.

Player-name scramble: 1.) Darcy Hordichuk; 2.) Antti Miettinen; 3.) Radek Dvorak (C'mon, Drew, I thought that was an easy one); 4. Andrew Raycroft; and 5.) Duvie Wescott

Team quiz: 1.) D; 2.) A; 3.) E; 4.) B; and 5.) C

What's this? 1.17

In a classic case of too little, too late I was finally able to stump readers with last week's What's this? item.

I did learn, though, that hockey equipment, such as the shoulder pads from last week, do help my cause. I just wish I learned that sooner, as the Readers still hold a lopsided 11-5 advantage.

This week's item, more or less, is for fun. If you don't know what it is, well, you've been around way too many adults.

It's also the last installment for 2006. Beginning next week, the What's this? feature will be packaged with the player scramble and team quizzes in weekly Hockey Arcade postings.

What's this? 1.16

With his correct answer, my Big Four accounting firm said I can finally award the 2006 What's This? championship to Drew "The Schwab" Pelto.

Last week's item was indeed the jaw of John Kerry, former Democratic presidential candidate and starting left winger for the Senate's hockey team.

For the 2006 season, it's Readers 11, Puckhound 4.

In the individual competition, and with only two weeks remaining in the season, here are the scores:

Drew: 6
Tracy: 3.5
Wicked Bruins Fan Jaci: 1.5

Remember, it's free and easy to play. All you have to do is leave your answer in a comment.

What's this? 1.15

I just received word from one of the Big Four accounting firms, who because of pending litigation I can not divulge, that I was a little premature in awarding the 2006 What's this? championship to Drew "He's No Longer Known as The Enforcer, but The Schwab" Pelto.

Especially now that slegr_71, or Tracy, knew that last week's item was, indeed, the original Stanley Cup.

Though the Readers have easily sewn up the competition, breezing to a 10-4 lead, the head-to-head competition remains alive and well.

With three weeks remaining for this year's competition, here are those results:

Drew: 5
Tracy: 3.5
Wicked Bruins Fan Jaci: 1.5

Granted, Drew's magic number has dwindled to two, but Tracy remains in the game. Of course, a new player could win this week's contest, too.

Even better, I've saved my three favorite items for last. As always, they're hockey-related and answers must be submitted in the form of a comment.

Let the games begin!

What's this? 1.14

In proving a point that chicanery seldom works, congratulations are bestowed upon Tracy, or slegr_71, for her correct answer that last week's item were rolls of tapes, and not pucks.

I purposely used that photo in hopes of tripping up contestants, but it didn't work. Please accept my apologies. For the record, it's now Readers 9, Puckhound 4.

I did enjoy one suggestion that the item was a stack of Little Debbie cakes. My guess, though, is that they would have been a little sticky.

This week's item is fairly straightforward. It comes from hockey.

Remember, too, that answers must be submitted within comments. And, please, to borrow a line from David Letterman, no wagering at home.

Also, here are the correct answers to last week's team trivia quiz:
1-A; 2-C; 3-D; and 4-B.

What's this? 1.13

Drew "The Enforcer" Pelto made a triumphant return last week, being the only person, and I do mean the only person, to correctly guess that last week's item was, indeed, a jersey from the New York Americans.

With the correct answer, Drew has wrapped up the 2006 championship of What's This? However, with five weeks left to play, it's now a battle of readers, or at least those willing to participate, against Puckhound.

And, for the record, I've got a lot of work to do, as the tally is now Readers 8, Puckhound 4.

Maybe I'll have better luck with this item. Then again, I'm sure Drew will know what it is.

Post your answer in a comment.

Thanks.

What's this? 1.12

Well, well, well. What do we have here? It seems that Hound Central 2.0 was able to stump last week's visitors, narrowing the gap to Readers 7, Puckhound 4.

Last week's item was detail from a hockey glove.

For this week's contest, I wrestled with the choices. Do I adopt the holiday spirit and provide something easy? Or, do I follow my advice (see under Christmas shopping) to Joe Thornton and the Sharks?

I'll let you decide. Either way, it's related to hockey.

As always, I'm appreciative of those who participate. It requires no more effort than submitting a guess within a comment.