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McKee Earns His Wings!

November 28, 2012, 9:35 AM ET [18 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Jay McKee made his bones in the NHL the ole fashioned way. He ate frozen, vulcanized rubber like they were Tim Bits. Imagine how intense a cat you'd have to be to eat Black Talon bullets traveling 95-110mph for 800+ games, over the course of a 14 years. In his illustrious NHL career, McKee saw more rubber than the Daytona 500 and Molson Indy--- combined!

McKee unselfishly placed himslf in the heat of every battle by placing himself in harm's way of sniper fire. He dug the ditches, plowed the crease, and manned his end of the rink so that his teammates could do their job in the offensive zone.

As a player, he was dependable, sturdy, stoic, and tough as nails. He was an excellent competitor and a decorated warrior. Albeit, his body was decorated by lacerations, bumps, bruises and scar tissue from all of the battles that he waged. I'll never forget sitting with him in the Buffalo room, after games in the 2006 Eastern Semis and the Conference Finals. He'd peel off his shin guards, elbow pads and skates and his badges of honor would glisten with perspiration and blood. He'd shrug it off and tell me that its all part of his game.

Thats how McKee rolled. Rough and tumble. No panic. No drama. No challenge too big, nor too small.

You don't play 802 regular season NHL games, and 60 more playoff games if you are a shrinking violet. Only the tough survive the rigors of the NHL.



McKee is retired now from the NHL. He tried his hand at coaching in Rochester last season. Now, he's in search of the bigger buzz that comes from the burning desire to compete. That's why it surprises me like, not at all, that McKee has been hand -chosen to compete in the upcoming Red Bull Crashed Ice event that is rolling into Niagara Falls later this weekend. When Jay sets his mind to something, expect him to deliver above average results.

I caught up with my old buddy via email on Wednesday as he prepares for this weekend's event. McKee is stoked to have made the cut to participate in this extreme downhill skating freakshow!

Here's a recap of the 2011 season, courtesy Red Bull:

!


#74 is locked and loaded for the white-knuckle rides of his hockey life!


Me: You competed at a high level in the NHL for over a decade. Are the competitive juices still flowing not that you are in retirement?

McKee: I'm always competing.. Whether it's an app on my phone vs friends, beer league hockey, trivia games or even condition skating the players in Rochester last year.. Anything and everything really.. I want to win at everything I do, but I'm ok with losing.. Once in a while.. Haha..

Me: This Red Bull event looks pretty intense. How do you train in advance for such a rigorous and demanding challenge?

McKee: This summer I made a bet with one of my best from back home; we agreed to compete against each other in the Kingston Triathlon, 600 meter swim, 30K bike, 7k run.. The deal was, I could train for a single day in the 4 months leading up to the event.. I stuck to my promise, and finished with a time of 2 hours and 12 minutes, edging my buddy out by 12 minutes.. The victory was great although my body felt crippled for the following 7 days.. I've chosen the same approach for this Red Bull Challenge.. I'm just gonna slug back a couple 16 ounce Red Bulls and wing it.. (Red Bull gives you wings right?) I'm sure after Thursday and Fridays runs down the track, if I make it to the finals, I'll be feeling like that same crippled fool that thought not training for a Triathlon would be a good idea..


Me: Are you competing with friends or family, or are you flying solo?


McKee: I had to qualify for the event.. I had to place in the top 5 guys in a timed obstacle course set up in a normal arena about 6 weeks back.. There's no free passes to this event.. Thursday and Friday, we will be racing the track, doing time trials.. After those two days, the field of approx 160 will be cut down to approx 50 of the fastest competitors.. I was never built for speed, I'll do what I can....

Me: You are aware that there is a 40 metre drop at the beginning of this course, aren't you?

McKee: I have seen the 40 meter drop and I can't wait.. Red Bull doesn't do an event if it doesn't include a major adrenaline rush for its competitors.. It's certainly not for the feint of heart, but that's not me..


Me: Do you have a fear of heights?


McKee: I do not have a fear of heights.. No concern there..


Me: You do want Sabres Nation to come out to support you, live at the event, don't you?

McKee: I'd love the Sabres nation to come out to the event.. Minnesota had approx 80,000 people show up and Quebec had an estimated 100,000 people.. There's no hockey right now, why not come check it out....I have two days of competing before the main event so I can't guarantee I'll still be around for our Loyal fans to cheer on come Saturday..


Me: Is this the craziest thing you've ever done?

McKee: Is this the craziest thing I've ever done? For me, outside of being fortunate enough to live my dream for 14 years playing in the NHL, it's definitely the most exciting thing I've ever done.. Craziest? I'm thinking, enjoying stepping infront of a Chara or Kovalchuk one timer during the PK might be more suited for that category.....


His name is Jay McKee and he is a badass.


Check out Jay at the Red Bull Crashed Ice Event in Niagara Falls! I'll be there, and you and your crew should be there, too!





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Here's how this most excellent event works:

Got a screw or two loose? The lights are on, but nobody’s home? Are you fearless? Aspire to be the best competitive skater/daredevil in North America?

Then the 2013 Red Bull Crashed Ice World Champion is your proving ground!

You will have to prove yourself against some of the best skaters in the world, in mano y mano competition, in front of tens of thousands of fans. Whats more, you’ll have to do it all while being pelted by the frozen mist where the Mighty Niagara thunders over Niagara Falls!!

Welcome to the 2013 Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship. This awesome event is louder than bombs, and features qualifier heats for national and international athletes.

The top 32 athletes from the National Shoot-Out (the qualifier for Canadian athletes) advance to the Elimination Round on Friday evening. The top 32 athletes from the International Shoot-Out (the qualifier for international athletes) automatically advance to the Saturday night finals and athletes ranked from 33rd to 64th place in the International Shoot-Out advance to the Elimination Round to face off against the top 32 national skaters.

In the Shoot-Outs, each athlete has two timed, single runs down the icy and treacherous course. The fastest time wins. The results determine the pairings for the Elimination Round. All ice daredevils will then be seeded into brackets of four, as the 32 fastest skaters out of 64 will advance to the finals on Saturday, December 1. The top 16 female athletes will also advance to the finals on Saturday.

This outstanding event is FREE to spectators and the general public! Talk about a great way to get your hockey jones. Its not the NHL, but it’s pretty damn close! Power skating for supremacy at the brink of The Falls while tens of thousands of spectators buzz up and down Lundy’s Lane and Clifton Hill to watch the thrilling action at the Skylon Tower. Sounds like a plan to me!

The add more sugar to an otherwise sweet event, Red Bull will present a concert from Juneau Award winners, and Buffalo Sabres fans, Arkells on Friday night!

After the race at Niagara Falls on December 1, the top 64 Canadian men and 16 women will earn their spot for the season finale in Quebec City on March 16, 2013.


For the first time, Red Bull Crashed Ice introduces the Team Challenge, giving all athletes one more chance to race down the world’s most exciting ice track. Each team will be comprised of three athletes. After a round of qualifiers, the top 16 teams will advance to the Team Challenge, which will take place after the Elimination Round. Each team has a budget of 6,900 draft points (based on the world standings) to pick their athletes.


Location: Niagara Falls, Canada (Map this address )

Start:
DEC 1, 2012 at 7:00 PM

End:
DEC 1, 2012 at 10:00 PM


The Red Bull Crashed Ice season kicks off for the first time in Niagara Falls against the breathtaking and spectacular natural backdrop of the magnificent falls. Straddling the border between Ontario, Canada, and New York, USA, Niagara Falls will host 80,000 people on December 1 in the most thrilling and heart-pumping sporting event.

The tour will feel a little like home for the series’ defending champion, Kyle Croxall, of Mississauga, who thwarted Finland’s Arttu Pihlainen and his brother, Scott, to capture the title in 2012. Expect a new and exciting course when Red Bull Crashed Ice rolls into the streets of Niagara, speeding down beside the booming falls.


This event is open to the public and free to attend
Event Location:

Skylon Tower, Niagara Falls

Event Schedule

* Timings subject to change

Thursday
10.30am – 1.15pm: Training for Canadian athletes
1.30pm – 3pm: National Shoot Out



Friday
9.30am – 10.45am: Training for International athletes
11am – 12.30pm: International Shoot Out
1.30pm – 1.45pm: Training for athletes competing in the Elimination Round
2pm – 3pm: Elimination Round
6pm – 7pm: Qualifying for Team Challenge
7.30pm – 8.30pm: Team Challenge
9pm: Concert with Canadian band Arkells (Victoria Ave)

Saturday

11am – 12pm: Training for the final 64 athletes
7pm – 10pm: Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship Finals




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The Red Shirts Are Coming! Again!

The Buffalo love affair with the Rocehster Amerks is hotter than ever.

On October 23, 10,936 loyal fanatics watched in person as the Rochester Amerks played Montreal Canadiens farm boys, The Hamilton Bulldogs at First Niagara Center.

The buzz was so great from that game, that the Amerks will be moving their December 28 game vs. The Lake Erie Monsters to first Niagara Center. NHL lockout or not, the game still will be played in Buffalo. The NHL has canceled games only through December 14, however, Decemeber 28 is an open date on the First Niagara calendar.

Sabres President, Ted Black, told the Rochester D and C that he sees this opportunity as a way to co-brand the Buffalo and Rochester market places.

“There are Buffalo fans in Rochester and I want to make sure there are Amerk fans in Buffalo,” Black said. “By choosing that Friday game, we do want to expose more Buffalo fans to the Amerks.”


Such is the beauty of Terry Pegula being the owner of both the NHL squad and the AHL affiliate. Having Rochester in its backyard makes it easy to move games into Buffalo. Were the Sabres still affiliated with the Portland Pirates orgnaization, there would be more headaches with logistics due to the great distances between the two cities.

Fans who already have a ticket for the December 28th game have three options:

1). Exchange it for a ticket to that game in Buffalo
2). Exchange it for a ticket to another Amerk game in Rochester.
3). Request a refund


I'd get my tickets now, because with all the pent-up love for live hockey, and the fact that kids will be on holiday break in Buffalo and Southern Ontario, this game will no doubt be a sell-out.


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