Cattlemen’s is brand new but true to old Texas traditions.

A sunny dining room is now open in the 1947 Stockyards anchor building. And it’s just in time for Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day.

October 26th is Texas’ annual celebration of chicken culture, a day to enjoy the best in the world.

In Fort Worth we don’t need a special day.

So a recent Cattlemen’s lunch included the new owners’ updated CFS, now in a converted dining room with windows overlooking a yet-to-be-built patio.

Cattlemen’s is now owned by investors from television producer Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone,” so the menu has undergone some abrupt changes. But all steaks come from Sheridan’s Four Sixes Ranch in northwest Texas.

The chicken fried steak is now a strip sirloin steak, breaded, fried and topped with a “pan sauce” with a hint of chorizo.

It was silky soft and tender, although the steak required more careful trimming.

It’s $18.95 for lunch, $21.95 for dinner, with Cattlemen’s classic baked potato and the three-shell carrier with bacon bits, cheese and chives.

Cattlemen’s lunch menu also includes fried chicken, fried catfish, burger platters and salads, all for about $14 to $18.

Don’t miss the steakhouse onion rings, veal fries or potato soup, a Stockyards tradition.

A lunch steak platter starts at about $18, but dinner steaks are $34.95.

Too many chicken patties for one day

Here are a few more chicken-fried steaks to consider if you want to make a week of them:

▪ Mac’s Bar & Grill, 6077 Interstate 20 West, Arlington, and Mac’s on Main, 909 S. Main St., Grapevine, were often late author and connoisseur Dan Jenkins’ favorite chicken-fried steaks.

Mac’s CFS is lightly breaded and tender, a Texas classic from the restaurant’s original roots in Midland.

▪ Fred’s Texas Cafes, 7101 Camp Bowie West Blvd. and 2730 Western Center Blvd. are the frontrunners in the category of thick, sourdough-breaded chicken patties.

Fred’s CFS is available in four ways: with cream sauce, as a “Texican” with chili and cheese, with white queso and pico or with pepper jack cheese poblano.

The big, fancy chicken fries

For big, impressive chicken-fried steaks, try the following:

▪ Babe’s Chicken Dinner House in Arlington, Burleson, North Richland Hills and seven other regional locations;

▪ Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, 2406 N. Main St.;

▪ Lucile’s, 4700 Camp Bowie Blvd.;

▪ or Reata, 530 Throckmorton St.

Great easy chicken steaks

For cafe lunch bargains – some of the best around – try these:

▪ Bluebonnet Cafe, 2223-A Haltom Road;

▪ Jesus BBQ, 810 S. Main St.;

▪ Old Neighborhood Grill, 1633 Park Place Ave.;

▪ Our Place Restaurant, 950 N. Burleson Blvd.;

▪ Vickery Cafe, 4120 W. Vickery Blvd.;

▪ or West Side Cafe, 7950 Camp Bowie Blvd. West.

Chicken Fries All Over Texas

On the go, try the following:

▪ Blue Bonnet Cafe, Marble Falls;

▪ Jake & Dorothy’s Cafe, Stephenville;

▪ Mama’s Daughters’ Diner, Irving and four other regional locations;

▪ Mary’s Cafe, Strawn;

▪ Norma’s Cafe, Dallas and five other regional locations;

▪ Perini Ranch Steakhouse, Buffalo Gap;

▪ or Smokestack Restaurant, Thurber.

Published: Oct 21, 2024 6:45 am

HARTFORD — Gov. Ned Lamont and Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas reminded Connecticut voters last week that a 14-day early voting period for the 2024 general election begins Monday, Oct. 21.

Early voting provides all voters the opportunity to cast their vote in person on a day of their choosing before Election Day, including on two separate weekends, providing greater convenience to voters and encouraging greater participation in elections.

This is the first time in history that Connecticut has offered early voting for a general election. This makes the state one of the last in the country to introduce an early voting system. Connecticut became the 47th state to adopt early voting.

The governor said Oct. 16 that he and others hope Connecticut “finally joins the rest of the nation in adopting an early voting system … that the convenience it creates will encourage more people to vote.”

“Early voting is nearly identical to voting on Election Day, with two key differences,” Lamont continued. “First, instead of going to your regular polling place, each city has at least one designated location where all early voting takes place for that city. Most cities opt for early voting at city hall, but this can vary. So, before you go, check your city’s early voting location. Second, all ballots cast during early voting will remain secured and unopened until Election Day, when election officials begin counting.

Registered Newtown voters must visit the Registrar’s Office at the Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, to participate in early voting. A list of early voting locations designated for each city can be found online at myvote.ct.gov. Voters can also check their city’s voter registration website for location information. Voters can only vote in the city in which they are registered.

Statewide early voting hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Tuesday, Oct. 29, and Thursday, Oct. 31, where hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters must show ID and registrars will check voters on the computer.

Thomas noted that after years of waiting, voters no longer have to worry that an emergency or unexpected event will prevent them from voting.

“Together with our office, voter registrars and city clerks have worked diligently and cooperatively throughout the year in a nonpartisan manner to implement early voting to ensure a safe election for all,” Thomas said.

Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz said early voting provides convenience and flexibility in voting and “ensures your voice is heard without the constraints of a single election day.”

“Many people do not have the privilege of flexible work schedules, reliable childcare options or circumstances that allow them to vote on Election Day,” she added. “That’s why almost every other state in the country offers early voting, and now Connecticut residents have the choice, too.” Whether you’re busy on Election Day or just prefer to vote at your own pace, early voting is a good option By voting, you can help shape the future of our democracy.”

Election day is Tuesday, November 5th. All polling locations in Connecticut will be open as usual from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Election officials in each city keep records of every voter who voted early, preventing them from voting early at another location, submitting a mail-in ballot or voting on Election Day. For more information about voting in Connecticut, visit myvote.ct.gov. Newtown residents can also contact the registrar’s office at 203-270-4250 or [email protected].

Early voting for a Connecticut general election opens this morning for the first time in state history. Polls will also be open as usual on Election Day, as noted by signs at the Sandy Hook Center. – Bee photo, Hiccup

The Grill Museumthe world’s first barbecue museum, will open next spring in Kansas City, Missouri.

The new venue in the Crown Center shopping district is described as a feast for the senses and offers a immersive experience consisting of interactive exhibits that explore the different elements and regions of grilling.

It will also house a curated gift shop selling rubs, sauces and barbecue-themed gifts.

“Barbecuing is a feast for the senses,” said the founder of the Museum of BBQ Jonathan Bender. “Here in one of the BBQ capitals of the world, we are creating a place where you can immerse yourself in the stories of barbecue.”

“This is a place where barbecue comes alive”

According to a press release, guests will be two “Storytelling Hiking Trails” in the attraction. In the first part you will learn about the elements of grilling, such as meat, rub, wood, fire, smoke and sauce.

On the second, they will travel through the main street America Grilling regions like the Carolinas, Memphis, Texas and Kansas City. Highlights include an oversized pot of “grilled beans” to play with.

“This is a place where barbecue comes to life,” added Bender, who is opening the BBQ Museum with the chef and restaurateur Alex Pope as a partner.

“We want you to play and learn and appreciate the joy and community that is part of barbecue culture.”

Ahead of its opening next year, the Crown Center will display a miniature version of the Museum of BBQ to showcase the new attraction.

“Kansas City is a natural home for the Museum of BBQ,” Bender said. “Barbecue is synonymous with the city because of its rich traditions, and we are proud to bring the world’s first museum dedicated to grilling to KC.”

Within the Crown Center complex, the Museum of BBQ will include attractions such as a Sea Life aquarium and the Legoland Discovery Center. On the other side of the street is the National World War I Museum and Memorial.

Images courtesy of the Museum of BBQ

Given the increasing anti-alcohol rhetoric, it is time for the beverage trade to defend the role of wine in society, emphasizes doctor and winemaker Dr. Laura Catena.

This view comes from an increasingly frustrated Catena, who cites a number of recent articles in the mainstream media that uncritically promote the idea that consuming any amount of alcohol poses a health risk.

Adding to her irritation is the fact that, after drawing media attention to credible scientific studies showing that drinking moderate amounts of wine may provide certain health benefits, she received no response from articles such as: B. received The Times, The Guardian And The Wall Street Journalwho they believe have spread “misinformation.”

That’s why Catena, who practiced medicine in California for 27 years before running her family’s wine business in Argentina, Bodega Catena Zapata, created her own website called ” In defense of winewith her thoughtful letters to various media outlets as well as a presentation on wine and health.

She spoke to earlier this year db In it, she explains her thoughts on the nature of reporting on alcohol and health and the need for a balanced perspective on the issue – something she says is being expressed in some media outlets as well as by the World Health Organization (which takes the view that “No level of alcohol consumption is “harmful to health”).

“I don’t know what their motivations are – I can only speculate – but what I see in the press, such as The Guardian“These are stories that I think contain misinformation while simultaneously attacking reputable, credible research,” she said db.

She continued: “The lifestyle press only publishes anti-alcohol articles and does not quote reputable magazines.”

She accuses the World Health Organization of failing to recognize the credible scientific evidence of certain positive effects of moderate alcohol consumption among those over 40 – in other words, the message that there is “no safe level” of alcohol consumption is untrue.

Such an approach risks “confusing the public,” Catena fears, adding: “We said that moderate alcohol consumption might have some advantages and some disadvantages, but now we say there are no advantages.”

“That’s why I publish all my letters to the editor on ‘In defense of wine‘” she said, referring to the website she set up to publish her work on alcohol and health.

“It’s really a reaction to the fact that newspapers only seem to want to hear one point of view,” she says of the site.

One topic Catena would like to address during our discussion is the issue of bias that has arisen in the media in the United States regarding a National Academies review of the health effects of alcohol.

Two of the scientists involved in this study were said to have had ties to the alcohol industry – they had reportedly received funding from the industry – as revealed in an article New York Times Article. As a result, the National Academies removed them from the “Committee of Experts” due to “conflicts of interest.”

While Catena acknowledges such bias, she says that “there are two types of bias, and one of them is financial, but the other is ideological.” In the case of the National Academies’ “Committee of Experts,” Catena says there is now ideological bias : “They are all members of anti-alcohol groups, and there is no cardiologist,” she notes, the latter being particularly important since numerous scientific studies indicate that moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease .

She asks: “Without a cardiovascular specialist, how can you form an opinion about what moderate alcohol consumption is like?”

In any case, she believes that raising money from the drinks trade is necessary to help people learn more about alcohol and health.

“5% of research is funded by the alcohol industry and it has been found that there is no bias* – and I think the alcohol industry should fund research, just like pharmaceutical companies [funding clinical research]” she says, before stating: “Alcohol is the most widely used drug in the world – we need the answers.”

While Catena’s campaign and website are called “in defense of wine,” she tells me that it is really “in defense of science,” explaining that while there are thousands of studies, there are “hundreds that are good,” and which clearly demonstrate that “The greatest potential benefit of moderate alcohol consumption is cardiovascular.”

Such studies also show “some small cancer risks – and they are really small – from moderate alcohol consumption,” she continues.

As an example, she says, “If my risk of getting breast cancer was 10%, then it would be 11%.” [as a moderate drinker] – but they don’t tell you that; And they don’t tell you that there are risk-reducing means – like eating vegetables.”

According to Catena, “seven different types of cancer” are associated with alcohol, which “usually only pose a problem if you drink excessively”, but “moderate drinkers” have a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer of the oral cavity – “although Smoking and drinking together are very bad.”

Perhaps surprisingly, moderate alcohol consumption “does not pose an increased risk of liver cancer because wine breaks down into acetaldehyde – which is toxic, but in small amounts the liver is cleared of it very quickly – so there is no toxic effect.”

Meanwhile, “there is a physiological reason why alcohol is good for cardiovascular health – it has an anticoagulant effect like taking aspirin, so wine in moderation is a preventive measure.”

“Then there is the effect on diabetes: If you drink a little wine with meals, your blood sugar level does not rise as much, and numerous studies prove this,” she explains the reason for the lower risk of type 2 diabetes if you are a moderate wine drinker.

And she adds that moderate wine drinkers tend to have higher levels of HDL – the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also known as “good” cholesterol because it helps eliminate “bad” cholesterol. [low-density lipoprotein] cholesterol from your body.

As for criticism of studies that show some benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, such as the idea that they include “ex-drinkers,” so-called “sick people who have stopped trying,” Catena stresses that these quibbles are no longer valid and only “never drinkers” are taken into account in the last two decades of research on alcohol and harm – “and we are still finding the effect”, for example with regard to the positive effects on cardiovascular health.

She points this out with the comment that “this is a super complex thing.” The lancetThe 2022 publication of the results of the Global Burden of Diseases Study (2020) states clearly that “consumption of small amounts of alcohol may provide some health benefits for people over 40, such as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease diseases, strokes and diabetes.” .”

She says: “It’s a respected British journal and if anyone wants to take action against it, it needs real science.”

Furthermore, while it is clear from such studies that excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a range of harms, “in a democratic society, the choice is up to the people.” [how much they consume].”

She adds: “It would be like not letting people drive because they might drive too fast and get into an accident; People have to decide whether it is an acceptable risk. Driving allows them to go on vacation or go to work.”

Catena is also horrified by the similarities between alcohol and smoking. “It’s shocking to find comparisons with cigarettes, which have no benefits in any way… You can’t compare wine with cigarettes, which are much more addictive, very difficult to moderate and there is no study that proves cigarettes are good .”

One development observed by Catena that is of concern to overall human health is the increase in obesity due to a less active lifestyle.

“We’re dealing with a new breed of people who are much more sedentary,” she says, pointing out that inactivity and alcohol are not a healthy combination.

“It may be that we as a society need to support those who need to moderate their drinking or stay sober, but the way to get there is not to be anti-science,” she explains.

Finally, Catena says, “Do we have the gold standard study? No, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore all these observational studies.”

“And to say that drinking alcohol is bad or that there is no safe limit is not supported by the broader body of scientific work.”

Catena actually says, “Drinking in moderation makes you feel good – that’s why I say it’s health-neutral and enjoyment-positive – which is very different than saying there’s no safe level.”

Finally, Catena expresses her dismay at the inability of some organizations and certain media outlets to present a balanced view on the issue of wine and health.

“I am very surprised that we are at this moment in history. “I never – ever – predicted that we in democratic societies should follow this line of thinking,” she said, referring to the promotion of wine as a dangerous substance even without considering its proven health benefits.

* “Many studies demonstrating the cardiovascular benefits of alcohol were funded by the alcohol industry” – writes the WHO in Reporting alcohol: a guide for journalists (April 2023). However, Catena points out that the article cited by the WHO shows 5.4% of industry funding from 386 observational studies and no apparent bias in the results (see below).

Related news

The OIV meets with the WHO to discuss wine, health and warnings

“No science” supporting a dry January is good for your liver

European politicians called for the health benefits of moderate drinking to be recognized

Thousands of runners made their way through the Motor City for the Detroit Free Press Marathon.

Sunday’s races broke records for both runners and marathons.

Just before 7 a.m. on Sunday, October 20, 2024, the Adaptive Athletes Division started its race, followed by the first wave of marathon runners at the starting line near Fort Street and Second Avenue.

Runners traveled around the world for international races, cruising between Windsor and Detroit.

“We had over 26,000 participants – a sold-out event this weekend,” said Aaron Velthoven, vice president and race director.

Also for the first time, elite runners who had to qualify took part in the half and full marathons. The first place winners in the men’s and women’s full marathon went to a couple who live in Ferndale.

Andrew Bowman celebrated an amazing performance, but the victory wouldn’t be complete without his other half.

“If she can do that – I mean, she continues to be my inspiration. “I mean, that’s why I married her,” he said.

“We both came here with the intention of being the couple that wins two cities,” Bowman said.

The couple won the Pittsburg Marathon in May. He didn’t have to wait long before she crossed the finish line too.

“For the last four miles I thought, ‘He’s waiting for you.’ “He’s waiting for you,” Sydney Devore said. “As I came around the corner, I felt like I was going to cry.”

As the runners set off, their loved ones and friends cheered them on.

“Seeing other people just being supportive — even if they know the person running — just always being encouraging,” Bernadette Skodack said.

There’s something about the energy of the city that fires you up. Local hero Priya Mann ran her first international half marathon.

“When you turn the corner and you see the sun shining and you hear those screams and screams – it just nourishes you and it’s so warm,” Mann said.

But look at this, she said, pointing to her medal.

“Isn’t that the best? “Isn’t that the best?” she said.

US Vice President Kamala Harris said on Sunday that her election rival Donald Trump was “demeaning” the office of president with his crude language, a day after the Republican insulted her with a profanity.

In an interview broadcast on US channel MSNBC, Harris said Trump’s comments were an insult to the office and a denigration of the moral authority of the United States internationally.

“What you see from my opponent, a former president of the United States, really demeans the office,” she said in response to a question about the comments.

Speaking at a rally in the key swing state of Pennsylvania on Saturday, Trump called Harris “a shitty vice president,” drawing loud applause from his supporters.

With just over two weeks to go before Election Day, polls show Harris and Trump in a neck-and-neck race for the presidency, including in the key swing states that will decide the US election.

Trump has increasingly gone off script at campaign rallies, using coarse and sometimes bizarre language.

During the same event Saturday in Pennsylvania, he referenced the genitals of a famous male golfer.

Harris told MSNBC that the former president should not be allowed to lead the country again.

“Donald Trump should never stand behind the seal of the President of the United States again. He hasn’t earned the right,” she said.

She added that Trump’s comments disparaged the United States’ “earned and self-proclaimed authority” to speak on issues such as democracy and the rule of law.

History was made Sunday at the 47th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon, presented by MSU Federal Credit Union, a storied Motor City institution that dates back to 1978.

For the first time, a married couple, Sydney Devore-Bowman and Andy Bowman, both of Ferndale, each claimed victory in their respective marathons and hugged at the finish line.

Amid the high spirits of the day, tragedy struck when a 57-year-old man participating in the marathon collapsed and died about the fifth mile on the Canadian section of the course. He was taken to Windsor Regional Hospital, Marathon officials said, where he was pronounced dead.

“We are saddened by this and our thoughts are with the family,” said Aaron Velthoven, marathon vice president and race director.

A colorful run and a friendly bet

It was a perfect day for a marathon, with temperatures at 7 a.m. hovering in the low 40s Celsius, complemented by a light breeze and a sunrise over the Detroit skyline.

Runners gathered on the street and a flock of birds swept across Fort Street as Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” played over the speakers. Starting at 7 a.m., thousands set off from the corner of Fort Street and Second Avenue in downtown Detroit, all hoping to make it to Windsor and back.

It runs in the family: Sydney Devore-Bowman wins the 2024 women’s Detroit Marathon after husband Andy Bowman won the men’s marathon

The route of the full marathon took runners over the Ambassador Bridge into Canada before returning to Michigan through the underwater Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

Runners walked through other colorful Detroit neighborhoods, past the murals of Eastern Market and through the underground Dequindre Cut, leading to the finish line in the heart of downtown Detroit, near Campus Martius Park.

In addition to the acclaimed 26.2-mile marathon, Sunday’s race included an international half marathon as well as the Motor City half marathon, which remained in the United States

About 26,000 people signed up for the entire weekend of racing and challenges. That was 2,000 more participants than last year and not far from the all-time record of 27,833 registrations in 2015.

As the sun peaked above the skyscrapers along Woodward Avenue, half marathon runners began to cross the finish line, joined by adaptive cyclists who completed the full 26.2 miles. Zach Stinson, a 35-year-old Marine veteran from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, who lost his legs to an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2010, rolled across the finish line first on his handbike.

Anna Benedettini, a native of Kailua, Hawaii, took first place in the Women’s International Half Marathon with a time of 1:14:30, and Rayyan Morsi of Ann Arbor topped the half marathon field with a time of 1:06:56 of men.

Some had more on their minds than just medals and personal records. For John Urbanic of Ypsilanti, his hair was on the line.

Urbanic, 45, said the marathon is getting better. This year he was filled with patriotic pride after returning to America.

“All these people are cheering. “You come back to America and it’s just a great feeling,” Urbanic said of climbing out of the underwater portion of the race.

The only downer of the day? His time. Although Urbanic completed the 26.2 miles in a fast time of 3:03:56, he lost a bet with a friend because he didn’t beat 2:55.

“The loser gets to decide the other guy’s haircut,” he said with a laugh.

An elite and local field

The 47th Detroit Marathon was the first edition of the event to offer an “elite” field of runners, a new class that sought the top marathon runners in the country. Even in a broader field of faster runners, both marathon winners and many of the top finishers come from the Detroit metropolitan area.

Velthoven, the race director, said the fact that local runners are on the podium shows how special the greater Detroit area running community is.

“The elite distance running community is great here in the Detroit area and across the state,” Velthoven said.

Men’s winner Andy Bowman, who finished with an impressive time of 2:17:47, was followed by William Cadwell of South Haven (2:21:06) and Zacchaeus Widner of Lansing (2:21:22).

In the women’s race, Sydney Devore-Bowman (2:42:46) trailed Chelsea Hall of New Albany, Ohio (2:45:55) and Casey Mulroy of Richmond, Virginia (2:50:37).

Energy at the Detroit Marathon: Pickle juice, Metallica and Taylor Swift fuel runners

As Devore-Bowman broke the banner, she jumped into Bowman’s arms, a moment she had been waiting for since mile 22, when she heard her husband had won his race.

“The whole last 4 miles… I thought, ‘He’s waiting for you, he’s waiting for you,'” Devore-Bowman said. “And oh my God, I just started crying when I turned that (final) corner.”

After the race, Bowman — in a sea of ​​runners draped in flags and finishing medals and drinking chocolate milk and Gatorade — said he was grateful for everything.

“It’s another moment to be a part of this cause we care about, through all the ups and downs.”

Reporter Liam Rappleye can be reached at [email protected]M.

It seems no one is safe from the recent leaks hitting the industry. The massive Game Freak leak revealed all sorts of details that Pokémon fans wished they knew, and some they didn’t want to know.

We’ve now started to see Nintendo Switch Online playtest leaks that very few, exclusive people have been privy to. While it’s nowhere near the scale of the Game Freak leak, it gives us a glimpse into what Nintendo is working on, and fans have speculated that it could be anything from a Metaverse to an MMO to a Strand game.

Nintendo is apparently testing functions for a social sim

The leaks came almost immediately after the playtest went live. And even though players were asked not to reveal any details, Nintendo should have known that this was inevitable. Based on what some players have shared despite being prompted, it appears that Nintendo is testing features for a massive online game that is similar to an MMO. However, various features suggest that a lot of cooperation between players will be required, which is also similar to a strand game.

Players have to develop an entire planet. Each player receives a beacon that, when placed, marks a safe zone for themselves. You can interact with objects and resources as you wish in this area. Other players cannot edit things in your beacon and vice versa. Anything outside of the beacons is fair game. The goal seems to be the development of the entire planet.

There is also a social hub for players, currently known as Dev Core. Here, players can, among other things, interact with others, level up, and obtain items they need for the game. There are also details of a level up system and a reward system based on progress made.

User-generated content will also play a role in this game. You can create and present different types of content, but it’s currently unclear what that means. Maybe levels like in Mario Maker or islands like in Animal Crossing.

As you might expect, Nintendo is already working hard to crack down on these leaks, as leaked images are gradually disappearing from Twitter. The prospect of a Nintendo social sim seems quite tempting, especially since the company has traditionally stayed away from it or made the online components quite complicated.

Ryan Shea found himself in new territory last season when he was signed to the Pittsburgh Penguins roster following training camp.

He then spent a long time with the club and appeared in 31 NHL games by the end of the year.

All new achievements for Shea, who made his NHL debut with Pittsburgh last October after spending parts of three seasons with the Dallas Stars’ American Hockey League affiliate in Texas.

But while general manager Kyle Dubas re-signed the 27-year-old defenseman to a one-year, $775,000 contract in July, there was no guarantee for Shea this preseason, which saw stiff competition on the Penguins’ blue line.

In the end, Shea prevailed and secured a spot with the Penguins for the second year in a row.

“I think it definitely helps to know the systems, to know the (penalty kill), and I feel more comfortable – more comfortable with the guys, the coaches, I can talk to them at any time and get their feedback,” Shea said. “My confidence is definitely at an all-time high.

“That’s how you have to be when so many people are fighting for a few places. You have to have that confidence.”

Shea moved to the Penguins’ third defensive pairing alongside Ryan Graves with Jack St. Ivany.

St. Ivany, who also made his NHL debut with the Penguins last year, has played in five games, with Sunday’s puck drop in Winnipeg marking Shea’s second start of the season.

Through two games, Shea is averaging 15 minutes and 30 seconds of ice time, regularly factoring in the penalty kill. He hasn’t collected any points yet.

In addition to his familiarity with the Penguins’ overall system and penalty kill, coach Mike Sullivan values ​​the ability of Shea, a left-handed hitter who can play either side of a defensive pairing.

Additionally, Shea’s instincts with the puck have stood out.

“I think Ryan does a lot of really good, subtle things with the puck,” Sullivan said. “He has a really good stance, he doesn’t just throw pucks away, he has good vision and he has the ability to make passes from tape to tape to the outside.

“The subtleties of his play with the puck are what impress me most about Ryan. He defends very well with his stick, but when he has the puck he sees it pretty well. He makes a lot of really nice, subtle plays that help us get out of our defense or help us keep the ball. I think that’s hands down his greatest asset.”

Shea admitted that his nerves got the best of him at times last season.

As a result, he played a more conservative game.

“Last year I was kind of afraid to show any offense because I just wanted to keep the puck out of my net,” Shea said.

“I think there’s a part of my game, just the deception part, that didn’t come out much last year. It came out in spurts. I’m proud of that part of my game, making open plays and stuff like that.”

At the end of the season, with Graves sidelined due to injury, Shea teamed with St. Ivany to form a reliable rookie third line.

By this point, the nerves had subsided and Shea felt comfortable showing off the skills he believes can help win games.

“I got another chance to play in meaningful hockey — pretty much in the playoffs at the end of the year,” Shea said of his performance last season. “I just played fearlessly and played my game.”

Shea’s first NHL season was something of a roller coaster ride with multiple appearances and recalls to and from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL.

Exemptions were also granted for Shea last December, but she managed to be released.

For now, Shea feels more comfortable with the Penguins, but overall, he knows nothing is certain in the long run – from playing time to a spot on the roster.

Going forward, his goal is to maximize every opportunity that comes his way.

“Whether you play eight minutes or 15 minutes,” he said, “you just have to take it as it comes.”

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