How else would you describe it? Oh, how my lucrative (I.e. paying), day job gets in the way of my love of hockey blogging as displayed yesterday when Katie Strang once again broke an NYI story through the power of Twitter. The cancellation of the unprecedented planned training camp in China came over my cell phone with a buzz. It was followed by additional mobile Tweets with additional details and article links -- in 140 characters or less by other news outlets.

I was stunned and intrigued (along with angry that I couldn’t also be included in the conversation other than by my own mobile tweets). But while the NHLPA rep, Jonathan Weatherdon tries to point fingers at Charles Wang for the cancellation, and the NY Islanders release no “official” statement other than Garth Snow’s quote to Newsday “It’s disappointing.” let me take the fan’s point of view on this.

COOL. Okay, so maybe I’m not just a “fan” per say. I do have a vested interest in the team (sort of) and had mixed emotions over the whole idea of heading so far from home in the first place. While I understood the trip was only nine days, scheduled from Sept. 14 - 23rd, it’s FAR. No, it’s REALLY, REALLY far. How could I possibly keep on top of all those interesting stories of prospects and vets in a land so far away? I’m already behind the eight ball with news without having office access to Twitter, now they’re going to be in a time zone half way around the world? How long did it take to get the news of the Titanic sinking? That’s what it would be like.

From another perspective -- it’s “different.” I wondered about the language barrier, the politics and the food. Hey! These are our boys! And training camp is a very important part of the season. I want them healthy! Oh wait.

Is that why the NHLPA said they wanted to go check things out first? As a “union” (if you can call it that.) they do have a responsibility to take care of the players health and welfare. As reported, Rick DiPietro, NYI’s NHLPA rep was involved in the meetings and the approval process with the NHLPA in January. But the “fees” and “suggested donation” does indeed sound fishy to me. Especially considering at this time the NHLPA doesn’t even have a chairman. Do they? Who runs it? Has anyone heard? No.

Yes, Charles Wang already is involved pouring financial resources into a program developing hockey in China. Did the NHLPA want the positive publicity on Charles Wang’s dime? They wanted a donation funneled through them? And they wanted a “substantial deposit”? For what? NHLPA rep plane fare? There are, of course, two sides to every story. But I don’t think we’ll hear both of them on this one.

Suffice it to say that the players were indeed happy to go along for the ride. When I spoke to a few of them about the China trip in April, they all were excited about it. I was saving all their quotes for an entry closer to camp time. That crumbling sound is the notes being balled up and thrown in File 13.

Back to fan mentality: One of the few tweets I could pump out without getting caught yesterday was “Can we vote on WHERE camp is? I vote LI!” Yes please.

If the Islanders are now scrambling to plan a training camp, why not give the avid, devoted Long Island fans something they haven’t had in years -- A training camp in their own backyard. It’s not that LI doesn’t have the facilities. The Islanders paid to build them already. They also have the Arena at Harbor Yard should the Coliseum not be available for exhibition games. There is also the Sound Tigers training facility in CT.

If they do not want the players living at home for the two weeks in order to build chemistry, well -- they own the Marriott. It’s quite comfy, cozy and the players are already familiar with it.

I have another suggestion. How about they try heading out to the EAST END of Long Island for a change? PS, there are TWO shores on this Island. The SOUTH shore is not Guam. There are plenty of fans out East that would love to see them in their own neighborhood. There are quaint towns and even an Indian reservation. How much different from Moncton could it be? And we have beaches and vineyards, parks and golf courses. I’m certain there are miles of our own little Island that these players have never ventured to. Take them!

Or should I say KEEP THEM -- as in Keep them HERE!

Okay, just a thought. Or how about Maine or Massachusetts. I don’t need a passport to get there.

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