I am writing this blog in late May while most of the country is experiencing summer like temperatures my home state of Wyoming is going through another beautiful spring. We can experience all four seasons during springtime,sometimes all in one day. There is falling snow,thunderstorms,sunny days with temperatures ranging from the 30′s to the 70′s. I started traveling through the state again in the second half of April. Few times my travel plans were altered due to severe weather and road closures. read more »

This blog is a follow up piece to my previous blog “More Gun Control?”.

Twenty five years ago I became a young man. I could not wait to get to the USA. The opportunities and freedom were bountiful and with those came responsibilities. The players I always looked up to during my career or people who were my role models never shy away from it. After my retirement I became a proud gun owner. Our second amendment is very unique to the rest of the world. I’ve been to many countries and talked to people from many more. The political conversation always leads to gun culture in the USA. Many seem to think it’s a negative part of our history. I for a change, not being born here but adopting this country as my home, think the second amendment is giving us the opportunity to self regulate, self govern and be far more self reliant than any other nation in the world. read more »

The idea for a blog about the challenges teenagers face in today’s world has been on my mind for a long time. The quality time I have had with our teenage daughter, her friends, and many junior hockey players since I retired from playing has been a learning experience more than anything else. It is quiteadifferent environment than the one I grew up in and learned to play hockey in.

As many of my readers know I am a student of history, often reflecting on events other generations had to go through just in the twentieth century (the Great Depression, WW II, communism, etc.). I participated in a class trip with my daughter this spring that took us through some of the most important battlefields of the Civil War. Other times I spent mentoring and teaching young hockey players all across the United States and Canada. All these experiences allowed me to more deeplyanalyze the challenges teenagers faced in the past and today. There are several things young people, teenagers, have had to do to succeed in the world they lived in or live in now. I would call it ATTITUDE but using the word in a very positive way. I really enjoy writing or verbally debating why we as people succeed. Reasons for failure do not deserve the overwhelming attention they’re getting in today’s media. I firmly believe everyone is good at something; I often use that line speaking to young hockey players or athletes in general. It’s up to us parents, coaches, teachers and mentors to find out what it is and emphasize those qualities to each and every one of our children.
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The details of my perspective on social or economic issues will probably be written in the future blogs. I will try to dedicate this blog strictly to the gun control debate.

Some of the events of the past year were beyond any reasonable explanation, but that did not stop many public figures from completely exploiting the victims and their families for their agenda. It is not only politicians, but also people in entertainment or corporate world who put their personal ideology before well-being of a nation. Not a sign of good leadership. I personally felt embarrassed at the end of the 2012 for the great country the United States of America is. I could not believe the lack of common sense or the desire to have a reasonable debate. Before I express my views on future of the Second Amendment, I want to emphasize that every life lost to violence is tragic and nothing we say or do is going to bring it back. We need to open our minds and work together to continue to improve what we have, not subtract in a sake of false sense of security.

This is not a political piece but a mere attempt for reasonable perspective from a man who spent half of his life in a world ruled by centralized, one party government.  read more »

The month of November quickly became one of my most productive months I’ve had as a spokesperson for CZ-USA. I had an opportunity to participate in a hunting/product testing trip to Dismal River Outfitters to Nebraska’s Sandhills, co-chaired first annual fundraising Sporting Clays shoot in Colorado and got to meet lot of Canadian gun store owners through Big Rock Sports event in Las Vegas. All three were fun and productive experiences and all these events made me proud to be the Ambassador for CZ products.
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My intentions were not to start the blog with another honorable mention, but circumstances had it otherwise.  I started to head west towards Idaho over the Teton pass with my bull elk and mule deer buck tag in hand. The road near the top of the pass was blocked by Wyoming Highway Patrol. Most people’s curiosity, mine included , gets them out of their vehicles in these situations. We did not wait for long and rescue helicopter landed couple hundreds yards from us at the scenic overlook’sparking lot.  Few rescue personnel got out, few got in and Teton County Sheriff’s department along with the Highway Patrol were keeping the area secure and safe for all the emergency responders and also for people just traveling through. The calm confidence, composure of everybody involved during the rescue was comforting and gave me a sense of pride. We not only have the best military in the world, but we  also have the best law enforcement and first responders. If things go bad for someone, there is little comfort you will be helped and taken care of by the best. Upon my return from the hunting trip I learned they were rescuing someone at the top of the mountain above the pass. read more »

Visiting Northern California in early fall turned out to be an extension to our limited Wyoming summer. People in Sacramento area are still enjoying warm temperatures and us, Wyoming  residents, more than enjoyed the daily supply of fresh fruit and vegetables at local farm stands. Our daughter competed at a horse show just few miles southeast of California’s Capital. The main competition did not go on until the later part of the week, so I took this opportunity and visited couple of Sporting Clays Ranges within reasonable driving distance of Sacramento. I’ve never visited the area before so I really enjoyed learning more about it. There is many things I noticed, but will mention only some. There is a significant difference between the landscape, people’s attitude and overall atmosphere in what I called the “Heartland of California” compared to Southern  California. Once I realized that and talked to people on the phone at the respected clubs/hunting preserves I really looked forward to breaking some and hopefully lot of clays.

My  preparation started before we left home. I looked up Sacramento Sporting Clays on the internet. Names, phone numbers and addresses of many clubs popped up on my screen. Two days of time and driving distances initially limited my research. Upon learning people have reviewed many of their experiences my focus narrowed even more. My clubs of choice ended up being Raahauge’s Pheasant Hunting & Sporting Clays and Bird’s Landing Hunting  Preserve & Sporting Clays. read more »

It’s mid August and the rifles are getting sighted in. There is a growing excitement about upcoming hunting season for the beginner hunter I am. It is time to learn more about the process of ethical hunting. I consider myself more of a management hunter at this moment. I believe in gaining experience first before I try for the big trophy, but if the right buck comes across my crosshairs,it will be go time.

I made plans to go to Florida at the end of August to check on our farm in north-central Florida. Couple weeks before I went I approached a friend who is an avid shooter about possible wild hog hunt. He is a very good long distance shooter.  I know for a fact he had killed a coyote in just over 600 yards. Not a hog hunter.He has friends who are much more familiar with wild hogs in the area.

Florida has the second largest wild pig population in the U.S. after Texas. There is approximately 500 thousand pigs in the state. You can find them from the Everglades in the south all the way to northern panhandle. read more »

As many of you know I call the great state of Wyoming home. We spent many off seasons here during my playing career. Many years ago our family friend recommended us a trip to Jackson Hole. My wife and I made plans to set out west and visit as many places as we could in about six weeks.  Neither one of us has ever driven across the U.S.A. – it sure was exciting time for a young couple. We planned to visit Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Colorado. Well after spending the first couple weeks of the trip in Jackson Hole and other parts of Wyoming, the rest of the West did not quite offer the same feeling. We completely changed our plans and spent the remaining time in the Equality state. I do sound extremely subjective but I agree that other parts of the American West are just as beautiful and impressive. It’s just for a guy who came from Eastern Europe and spent close to twenty years performing on the hockey’s biggest stage, Wyoming is a wonderful change of pace. read more »

It’s mid summer and most people are busy with  planning or  enjoying thefamily vacation. I am no different. Hockey season is over and other thanfew free agent signings or non impressive roster moves the action hasslowed down to a crawl. That is why it’s called off season. There is noNRA conferences, Sporting Clays fundraisers or any hunting seasons.Summer is a time to enjoy having the kids off school and enjoy spendingthe little extra time we have with them. To take the opportunity andmaybe teach them new skills or improve the ones they already have. Wehave competition horses, they take up most of our time, but when we havethe chance  we also like to take our rimfire rifles and a pistol to honeour plinking skills amongst many other fun things to do in the summer. read more »