Editors note: This is the seventh installment of "Admirals Playoff Diary," OnMilwaukee.coms exclusive look at the Milwaukee Admrials as they progress through the American Hockey League playoffs in search of their second Calder Cup championship in three years. The Admirals swept their second-round series against Houston and will play the winner of a series between Grand Rapids and Manitoba in the Western Conference Championship Series. Game 7 of that series is slated for tonight in Grand Rapids.
OVER THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN DAYS, we have tried to keep things pretty focused. We need to concentrate on the next series and keep the focus on practice. When we aren't on the ice, we are working out at the rink.
Obviously, though, we can't just think about hockey the whole time. When I am away from the Bradley Center, I like to hang out with the boys. Since the weather has been pretty good lately, besides this past weekend, we have gone out golfing a few times and we also play a lot of video games.
Right now, we are really into FIFA '05 for PlayStation. It's usually me, Brandon Segal and Chris Durno and we come up with little tournaments. Segs [Segal] has the cup for right now. I just started playing, so I am not very good and thus I get Brazil as my team, because they are the best one. My very first time playing, I beat Durno, who has played with England and Segs plays with Chelsea.
I think it is awesome that the Packers drafted A.J. Hawk out of my alma mater, Ohio State. I was there for two years while he was playing, and he is unbelievable. He is a really good pick for the Packers and he will help them out a lot. I know the Pack had some trouble last year, and he will definitely make a difference for them.
Ohio State was a little too big to really get to know the football players. I knew some of them and hung out with a few, but they usually stick to themselves and are on their own page. The hockey players used to hang out with the baseball players a little and also with the soccer teams. Because there were so many people, we generally stuck with the guys on the team and also on the people who were in your dorm.
I am rooting for Edmonton in the NHL playoffs. I am pretty impressed with Buffalo, too. They sort of came out of nowhere and are fun to watch, but I will have to stick with the last remaining Canadian team.
I really enjoy playing in Milwaukee. It isn't too big and it isn't too small and there is always something to do. I am a really big fan of Potbelly Sandwich Works restaurant for lunch. I also like to go to the IMAX and out to Mayfair Mall for fun as well.
