FanHouse Easton

Will Brinson is Easton-bound (but not down) for the Gatorade Replay of America's most important high school rivalry.

There's something surreal about recapping a game that originally took place in 1993. I mean, even though the game started 15 years ago, it finished on Sunday. I know, because I watched those same football players racing up and down the field. And ultimately the game counted. But for what? Well ... if you asked anyone on either Easton or Phillipsburg, they would tell you "everything."

I hear "Atreyu," and I'm thinking about the kid who helped save the princess in the movie with the giant flying dog. They're not exactly on my radar, but I guess there's an "emocore and metalcore" band (Wiki words, not mine) of the same name that the kids seem to enjoy. Excuse me for being a guy who listens to "Appetite for Destruction" on a continuous iPod shuffle.

Before this post gets too Buccigrossian, let's cut to the chase: Atreyu has become the first artist to license their logo and name for a piece of sports equipment with the release of Easton's new Ellipse Stealth S17 Limited Edition Atreyu hockey stick, according to FMQB.com. Check out the limited edition stick, which to me looks like something Carnage might have used to pummel Spider-Man.

FMQB reports that Atreyu's label, Hollywood Records, is organizing radio contests where fans can win autographed hockey sticks along with signed albums. Which is really good for hockey, when you consider how the NHL and its marketing visionary commissioner have basically repelled an entire generation of young fans with their bumbling. Maybe with buzz-worthy sensations like Sidney and Ovechkin, and by reaching out to others in this burgeoning "emocore and metalcore" industry, that can still change. Maybe the NHL will finally get it right; remember back in 2002 when trying to reach a young crossover audience meant having Jewel play the All-Star Game?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to track down an MP3 of these Atreyu gentlemen doing a naughty words cover of the Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name." Because I'm Jersey.