Being an iPhone owner, it can be a tad stressful when viewing a regular webpage that is graphic intense with the built in Safari browser. Any iPhone owner can tell you that all it takes is too much processing power and *POOF* a blank black screen.

I decided that because I have been trying my hardest to keep up with replying to recent comments, that it would be best to optimize the site for the iPhone/iTouch environment. A quick check of my stats and I found that there are several readers browsing my site with iPhone’s as well!

From this point on, anyone who views Islesblogger will be served the optimized content automatically. It’s easy to read, loads fast and still features the same great content you are used to. The only difference is that the main color of the site is white - which I was tempted to change, but it’s so easy to read I decided to leave it be.

If anyone has any suggestions, or finds a problem - please let me know as soon as you can!

Hockey is back baby and so is my gallery!

It took me countless hours to work out all the stupid errors, hopefully I never have to move to a new server - but at least next time I know a bit more about what to expect. If you go check it out, it should be working 100% and will have more photos by tomorrow night.

Mike over at Islanders 360 touched on the weather in his most recent post and I noticed the same thing when I went out to my van first thing this morning - the chill in the air. It was 52 degrees to be exact, perfect temperature to be working outside - something I do daily. It means that I don’t have to sweat ALL day, the busy season is over and that hockey is right around the corner.

Starting things off on the hockey beat, Greg Logan was doing all sorts of updates today. He had a few blog entries from camp, a live chat answering any question thrown at him and then a semi-live blog during the exhibition game against the Bruins. Busy guy that Greg Logan. Check out his blog and all of the entries over at Newsday’s site. If you are interested in the live chat recap post specifically, you can find that here.

Logan points out that he is getting similar reactions from all the veterans regarding head coach Scott Gordon - they buy into his style of coaching. While everyone is concentrating on what “overspeed” doesn’t mean - I will give you my opinion, as a hockey player.

Overspeed to me does two things, it makes your opponent make THE CORRECT split second decision and it enables you to take your game to a different level. The misconception is that the style makes slow players fast, but in reality it allows those players to make the right decisions in the little time they have. Here is a brief example:

Comrie skates up the boards and while in full stride receives an outlet pass from Campoli, Comrie continues up the wing and gains the zone - all the while his wingers and the defensemen join the rush. A quick pass here, players zipping left and right - where does the opposition go to play defense? Quick passes, quick skating, quick shots, bodies in front and constant high speed motion - these things cause turmoil and most importantly it’s tough to defend against. Greg points out the difference in shots tonight in the Bruins game - it was almost 2:1 (38-19), a game the Islanders won 2-1 in overtime, all due to overspeed.

I know I love what I am starting to see out of Gordon, just watch him yelling and pointing on iTV and you will see the glaring differences between him and Ted Nolan.

Keep an eye on Campoli, apparently he was injured during the game and those following shouldn’t need to be reminded about his recent shoulder woes.

Updates

Instead of taking up space in a second and third post I just wanted to address a few things.

First, Jim McGlynn of Greetings from Islanders Country has decided to step down from the Blog Box. Earlier this summer, Jon Jordan (now a full time Tampa Blogger for Hockeybuzz) decided he too needed to step down. I just wanted to take a second to wish them all the best in their future!

Secondly, tomorrow (or today by the time most of you read this) is the debut of Chris Botta’s new blog - Islanders Point Blank, be sure to check out Botta’s latest digs.

I have saved the best of last!

Every year since my mom passed away in 2003 - my Aunt has held a fundraiser at her hair salon Special Effects in East Hampton, NY in her honor. She sells raffle tickets leading up to and during the day of the event for prizes (proceeds going to the charity Breast Cancer Help) and also donates whatever intake from the salon as well. Last year, they managed to raise over $30,000 and the total grows every year they do it.

This year, the Islanders have stepped up to the plate and have made a donation! While I don’t exactly know the details just yet - I am blown away by their support. I cannot thank them enough!

For those interested out in Suffolk, here are the details:

Host: Elaine Hayes & Special Effects Hair Salon Staff
Start Time: Sunday, October 12 at 9:00am
End Time: Sunday, October 12 at 5:00pm
Where: Special Effects Hair Salon East Hampton, NY

Special Effects Hair Salon
1 Osborne Lane
East Hampton, NY 11937

Good evening everyone!

I know what you must be thinking, where have you been with everything going on at training camp? Good question…..allow me to explain.

Going back to July, I was informed by my friend that we would be moving servers and that this was a necessary move. I delayed this as LONG as humanly possible because of the amount of work it entailed. As you can see from looking around the place, not much has changed.

Some of the things you may notice…..

The gallery is temporarily gone, I have been toying with that on and off since Friday but the import just isn’t working the way it is supposed to. I will keep everyone updated, I should get around to adding the rest of the pictures from last season while I am at it.

All permalinks SHOULD still point to their posts. I did a quick search on Google and the older stuff still points here, there and everywhere.

Email should be back up and running soon, if it isn’t already. It takes some time for the DNS to propagate and point things to their proper locations.

I did not loose any posts or comments, I imported all the subscriptions to the older posts (I think….) as well as some of the other database stuff (like most popular posts for instance). Some of the pictures in the older posts will need to be fixed, because they aren’t in the gallery yet.

Looking around there are some images that aren’t playing nice tonight, but I will fix those too.

As far as some new content, now that I have the site on the new “box” (because it’s not really a box anymore but a cloud or cluster of servers (think BOXES!)), I don’t have to import any NEW posts from a different site…..

Enough mumbo jumbo technology talk, I have a lot of catching up to do and I apologize.

It was exactly one year ago today, when I decided to try my luck here in the blogosphere and re-submit my application to the Islanders Blog Box. Time certainly does fly when you are having fun!

During the past year I have experienced what seems like a life time of great things and made a ton of what I consider very good friends. The Blog Box has given me an opportunity I never really thought I would have and for that I am genuinely grateful.

If I could pick a favorite moment out of everything over the past year, I do not really think I could. Between doing things like the Open House two weeks ago or even going up to the draft in Ottawa back in June - could anyone? I would just like to take a minute to thank everyone out there who regularly reads the site, links back to my content and mentions my blog - without all of you, this would be pretty pointless. It’s nice to have an audience when you are speaking about something you enjoy! Most importantly, I would like to thank the New York Islanders, for without this opportunity, I would certainly not have the reach I would.

Here are a few stats from the last 365 days!

Posts: 309
Comments: 408
Tags: 529
Unique Visits: 26,166
Total Visits: 73,212
Pages: 728,331
Hits: 1,382,259
Google Page Rank: 4

During the coming months, I really want to continue to focus on doing things nobody else is really doing. I have a bunch of ideas on stories and angles that interest me and that I fee would be an interesting read. It’s becoming more and more important as a blogger to have a close border to that of a journalist, because the content gets diluted and the readers a bit bored. I am also about to invest some serious money in some new camera lenses so I can get some great game shots. I have a bunch of photos I am yet to upload because I have not had the time to sift through them just yet, so look for that shortly.

I am open for suggestions, if anyone has any ideas of what they would like me to chase down - do not hesitate to contact me!

Thanks again for such a great year!

As you may have already read on the Islanders website, there is another open house this Saturday morning at Nassau Coliseum from 10am to 12pm. The events are usually organized well and offer many things to do and see. This Saturday, the Islanders are going above and beyond and will be introducing two of the newest New York Islanders in Doug Weight and Josh Bailey for the first time.

Per the Islanders website (excerpt):

The Islanders and the Islanders Community Events (I.C.E) Tour will open the doors to the Nassau Coliseum this Saturday morning, August 9th, and fans will be introduced to Doug Weight and Josh Bailey — two of the newest members of the Islanders family. Weight joined the Islanders in July after spending last season in Anaheim, where he had 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 67 games. He needs 31 points to reach the magical 1,000 point plateau in his career. Bailey was the Islanders 1st round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft after posting 96 points in 67 games last season for Windsor Spitfires of the OHL.

As part of the Re/Max Open House, Doug and Josh will field questions from a select three-person panel. The panel will consist of members from Islander Mania and the NYI Blog Box. Weight and Bailey will also take questions from fans in the crowd. This portion of the open house is available to all fans in attendance.

As luck would have it, I was asked by the Islanders during the week if I would like to take part in the three-person panel asking the questions. Of course, I jumped at the chance!

There are a few things that I want to ask, but I wanted to take this opportunity to open things up to you guys - the whole reason why I am even blogging in the first place, a chance to get their question out there. I am limited in my questions to each player (time constraints), but fire away in either the comment section, or the contact form and I will give each question consideration.

The other two individuals asking the questions are fellow Blog Box member Tom Liodice of The Tiger Track and Islandermania message board member Son of Scissons.

It should be a fun filled Saturday for sure, so check back in the afternoon for photos of the event.

As always, there will be plenty to do for the kids, as the Islanders RV, inflatables and other interactive games will be set up for them to enjoy. The Islanders will also be giving away free Islanders street hockey sticks to all kids in attendance - so get there early. Doors open at 10:00 AM and fans should enter through the Coliseum’s Box Office on the Marriott side of the building.

See you there!

As if heading up to Ottawa for the grand daddy of all things hockey isn’t enough excitement, both Tom Liodice of The Tiger Track and I will be making numerous media appearances this weekend. Here is what we have confirmed so far (we will update times and links when and if necessary).

Friday Morning: Islanders TV interview/blog. Time: TBD You should be able to view it sometime tomorrow night!

Friday Afternoon/Evening: Tom and I will be talking to Steve and Tony from Islesnation on their internet radio show broadcast live from the Draft Party at the Coliseum. Time: TBD

Saturday Afternoon/Evening: Tom and I are scheduled for a special Draft-Weekend-Edition of Hockey Night on Long Island. The show starts at 3:30pm EST, and I believe we’ll be on right at the top of the show.

Be sure to visit both sites and call in with your questions! If anything else gets added to our schedule we will be sure to update everyone on the latest!