Ever wanted to play some puck with punk icons? According to a news update posted recently on NOFX’s website, you now have that opportunity!

From NOFXofficialwebsite.com:

GAME ON! TOUR HOCKEY!
Yay! The NHL season is finally starting again, so let’s also play some shinny on this tour too. Eric Melvin and Number 2 want to know about your local rink and what time we can find drop in hockey, write to us at NoFlagHockey@gmail.com and maybe we can come play hockey with you. Rink name, address and phone number please, website as well if it exists would be helpful.

Stick-tap to Brandon of Up The Pucks! for pointing this out to us.

Up The Pucks! cohost and Iafrate frontman Peter Evans let us know a few days back that his band has some classy looking shirts available.

If you like Iafrate, or the Washington Capitals, or bands that blatantly infringe NHL copyright to produce their own logo, you should definitely get one of these:

The black shirts are $8 (plus shipping), white shirts have two-color ink and so cost a little more at $12 (plus shipping). Shipping will vary based on your location, but should be about $2 domestic. If you’re interested, contact Iafrate frontman Peter Evans by email at ninety7poundwuss [AT] hotmail.com, or on twitter @Real_PeterEvans

While you’re at it, go download their free EP from Anti-Creative Records.

At times it seems HockeyPunx is much heavier on the hockey than it is the punk, so today we’re going to do a little tipping of the scales.

As some of you may know, our good friend Peter from the Up The Pucks! podcast is in the Indianapolis-based punk band Iafrate. As you might also know, I myself run Anti-Creative Records. So Peter, his band, my label, and HockeyPunx have all teamed up to help distribute Iafrate’s first album absolutely free. It’s a two song EP and it won’t cost you a dime.

Go download the album for free by entering the download code:
ACRFree01iafrate
at the following website:  http://www.vinyldownloads.com

Because you are getting this release absolutely free, why not consider donating a couple bucks to charity in lieu of paying for the songs? The band recommends the charity Child’s Play.

Please also remember to check out the label by visiting http://www.anti-creative.com

Back in September, The Weakerthans front man John K. Samson released a solo EP on the label ANTI- entitled Provincial Road 222. According to exclaim.ca, it is the second EP in his planned seven-inch series inspired by the roads of Manitoba.

In what exclaim.ca describes as “a harmony-laden acoustic ballad,” Samson makes a plea to have Winnipeg-born NHLer Reggie “The Rifle” Leach inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on “Petition,” the EP’s second track. You can listen to this track below!

Petition

If this has you convinced, why not sign the song-inspired petition to have The Rifle inducted? Or maybe sign this slightly more formal one. Once you’re done, make sure to purchase the EP.

A podcast dedicated to the connection between punk and hockey? The idea might seem familiar, because we here at HockeyPunx have been thinking about it since last year. But some kids that have a lot more drive, a better plan, and the time on their hands to get it done have gone out and done just that.

Enter UP THE PUCKS.

Peter (who we’ve spoke of before) and his buddy Brandon have recorded and released the first episode of Up The Pucks, a podcast that reflects the goal of HockeyPunx.com – sharing, discussing, and celebrating the connection between punk rock and hockey. It clocks in at just under two hours, and their first episode is dedicated to the Central Division, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Columbus punk scene (and a whole lot more!). They also review Comeback Kid’s Symptoms + Cures.

GO LISTEN NOW: http://www.upthepucks.com/2010/09/episode-1-so-it-begins.html

We here at HockeyPunx are not the only ones starting to see the link between punk and hockey. Second City Hockey can tell you all about the connection of the two subcultures. Still not convinced? Allow Hoosier Hockey to expand on the idea a bit.

Hoosier Hockey is run by a guy named Peter Evans. Peter is evangelizing the hockey/punk connection, rivaling our work here at HockeyPunx. Through his “Punk Rock and Hockey” feature on the Hoosier Hockey blog, he’s already landed interviews with The Hextalls and with The Briggs (who we spotlighted previously), as well as spotlighted both the Dropkick Murphies (whom you might remember from their set at the Winter Classic) and Propaghandi (who have also spoken with Puck Daddy, as we pointed out in the past, and who Ottawa Senators fanblog Silver Seven snagged an interview with).

He even has a “Punk Rock and Hockey” podcast in the works. If that idea sounds familiar, it’s because HockeyPunx has been kicking the tires of just such a podcast idea since September.

Wait a minute; is this guy out for my job?!? Let’s switch gears before I hype him up too much.

I mentioned Peter’s interview with The Briggs, and it seems like that band is a hot commodity in the Punk Rock/Hockey world : Here is LA Kings fanblog MayorsManor.com‘s interview with The Briggs (and when you’re done reading that, why not check out their thoughts on the band performing at Staples Center during a playoff game). Looks like the Mayor’s interest in punk music goes a little deeper than simple knowledge of The Briggs, as here’s an interview with Greg Hetson of Circle Jerks and Bad Religion fame.

Not convinced that the hockey/punk connection is blowing up? Here’s some more evidence: As pointed out by Peter Evans (that guy again?), Erin Nicks of The Universal Cynic is one of us, and she writes about it often. Here’s some of her work, as pointed out on Hoosier Hockey:

I recently ventured on to her twitter page and came across the factoid that she absolutely loves punk rock. She is a huge Bad Religion fan and even named her blog after a BR song. We’ve briefly discussed the connection between punk and hockey over twitter and email. I decided to share the links she sent me with my readership as I now realize that a lot of you seem to think the same thing.

- After a reference to Pulley in an earlier post, Erin elaborates on the connection between hockey and punk rock.

- An interview with Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge on the use of their song “Bro Hymn” and its frequent usage at NHL games.

- An anecdotal story about a conversation with Bad Religion guitarist, Greg Hetson.

- Another quick tale of talking to Mr. Hetson after a show in Pennsylvania.

- Short post about being back stage at a BR show.

So there you have it. Irrefutable proof of the coming hockey/punk revolution. Or, at the very least, some interesting off-season reading. Have at it, kids. And, as always, the message board is open!

The Kings have been embracing LA punk band The Briggs this season, and I’m sure the Briggs are having a blast. Especially now with the increased exposure from the Kings finally making it back into the playoffs.

The Briggs at Staples Center

The band got a sweet gig playing the Staples Center during the playoffs, as well as various Kings promotional shows around town.

According to About.com Guide to Punk Music:

the Briggs play a brand of blue-collar street punk that owes as much of its sound to Boston as it does to L.A., and bears influences of bands from both coasts as well. At times they reflect shades of Rancid or the Distillers, and at times there are elements of The Ducky Boys or Street Dogs. But whichever sound they seem to be emulating, they almost always do it in an infectious way.

The Kings have been using the band’s song “This Is LA” for promotional videos and on their broadcasts. Here’s a video…

YouTube - - The Briggs "This is LA"

Definitely check out this band, regardless of their poor choice in hockey teams