#BellLetsTalk Gameday Updates: Red Wings at Flyers

Let me first start off by saying that in no way are we sponsored or endorsed by Bell and we have absolutely zero reason to go ahead and post updates with their logo/slogan in our post. However, if you’re Canadian, or an American with opposable thumbs and a Twitter account, you may have heard about today’s fundraiser by the Canadian telecoms provider, Bell, called “Let’s Talk.”

Today is the company’s day to give back to research and health initiatives involving mental health, and targeted at depression:

Bell will donate 5¢ more to mental health initiatives for every:

Text message sent*
Mobile and long distance call made*
Tweet using #BellLetsTalk
Facebook share of our Bell Let’s Talk image

*By a Bell or Bell Aliant customer only. Regular long distance and text message charges apply.

As a person who has experienced bouts of depression, the feeling of not knowing anything around you is best described as empty. I felt like a car on an empty gas tank that was told to drive 200 miles. I found ways of dealing with it, and so have plenty of others. The biggest obstacle is acknowledging that depression is not a weakness nor something that makes you less of a person. The hardest thing is mustering up the courage and asking for help.

Today is Bell Let’s Talk Day. For every tweet using #BellLetsTalk, we’ll donate 5¢ more to #MentalHealth initiatives: http://t.co/gmN6btcEVM

— Bell Let’s Talk (@Bell_LetsTalk) January 28, 2014

I have a friend from Vancouver who struggled with it for years and sought out the appropriate help to deal with her depression. She not only received the appropriate treatment, but she is currently the happiest she has ever been, and is presently taking a sabbatical abroad before heading off to college/university. Speaking to her made me realize that she no longer lets depression define who she is.

We have had instances in our hockey community of depression, and some stories have happier endings than others. If you, a loved one, or a friend are struggling, seek out the appropriate help and realize that this is not something to battle on your own.

Be strong. Be you.

Gameday Updates

We are off to the City of Brotherly love or whatever they changed the name to for a game against the Flyers, the last of the season. The Wings have a pretty significant change for tonight, and that is the absence of Johan Franzen, who has been thrown back onto the IR with the return of concussion-related symptoms. I can’t imagine anything else will happen, since it’s already hard to take a player out of the lineup when Joakim Andersson has been promoted to first line center. Todd Bertuzzi remains a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game.

The Wings’ lines will otherwise remain intact. The Wings have been icing what looks like a preseason split quad game’s B team roster for quite some time now. I’d expect Brian Boucher in net for Philadelphia and maybe some other infamous names from the Adirondack Phantoms.

Here is the starting lineup for Philadelphia:

Forwards

Defense

Goaltenders/Goons/Sieves

The Wings gifted a point to the Panthers, while the Flyers have been on a pretty decently sized losing streak. Which one is hungrier?

Get pucks in deep and go to work boys! LGRW!