Sportsman of the Week Ending 6/14/2026

Both the NBA and NHL finished amazing and dramatic Finals.  While neither went the full seven games, each game within was dramatic to say the least.  One of the most exciting games in Stanley Cup Finals history was Game 3, where the Las Vegas Golden Knights seemingly were putting a beat down of the Carolina Hurricanes both in the game, and maybe in the series, as they scored 4 second period goals to take a commanding 4-0 lead, looking to go up 2 games to 1.  This after torching the Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen for 5 goals in Game 1.  Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'amour had seen enough.  He pulled his goalie for a journeyman first-year player who had never played in the playoffs, let alone in the Stanley Cup Finals.  Brandon Bussi put up 45 straight minutes of scoreless hockey as the Canes came roaring back to force double overtime.  It was into second overtime before his Canes fell.  They would not fall again.  Bussi ran off three straight wins, the Cup winner a shutout of the high-flying offensive Knights in Game 6.  Bussi came from nothing to win it all.  And is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 6/5/2022

The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue to march toward a champion, and the New York Rangers are a team that few expected to make a strong run yet are positioned to make their first Stanley Cup Finals since 2014.  And their strong point has been goaltending.  By Igor Shesterkin.  The Russian wall has kept opponents at bay, winning 3 games out of 4 this week.  It started with a clutch 6-2 victory in the Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7 against the Carolina Hurricanes on the road in Raleigh, NC, where the Rangers had not won all series and were huge underdogs.  Then, starting Games 1 and 2 at home at Madison Square Garden, he held the two-time defending Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning to 2 goals in each game for clutch 6-2/3-2 victories in both.  Three wins on the week and a smooth 2 GAA with a save percentage over 94.5%.  Will the Rangers win their first Cup in over 25 years?  If so, it will be Shesterkin that will be the cornerstone, our Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 2/23/2020

Our blog is known for edge (not really but I like to think so).  There is no more a Sportsman than a common man.  A guy who hasn't played any professional sports prior to a heroic effort and he's over 40 years old.  Who makes a living driving the most interesting vehicle in the history of conveyance, the Zamboni.  Check, check, and, check.  And he played in a game in which his team won.  The Carolina Hurricanes found themselves without a goalie after both James Reimer (injury) and Petr Mrazek (collision) were forced out of the game.  Enter David Ayres.  Part time Zamboni driver for the Toronto Marlies (AHL) entered the game and after allowing two goals on two shots (cutting the lead to one goal) to the hosting Toronto Maple Leafs, stopped the next eight shots to enable the Canes to hold onto a 6-3 win.  Let's not fool ourselves, we all dream of that day we are called into action off the sidelines and get to lead our team to victory.  It just doesn't happen.  Except to David Ayres.  Our Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/5/2019

The Conference semifinals are going down to the wire in several series.  Except one.  The Carolina Hurricanes, fresh off of a dispatch of the defending Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals, continued their winning streak and crushed the New York Islanders in four straight games.  Led by Teuvo Teravainen, the Canes showed no mercy.  After clutch 1-0 and 2-1 wins on Long Island, the red hot Canes lit the Isles up for 10 goals over the last two games.  Teravainen netted 2 goals in Game 3, and added a goal and assist in Game 4.  Overall, he skated to a +5 +/-.  For the playoffs, he's netted 6 goals in 11 games.  A young Finnish leader of a budding dynasty, our Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!