Stop The Madness: An open plea

All:

I haven't had much to say about the I-league portion of this blog since I moved up to D nearly a year ago. BAC has done a nice job keeping things going. I thank him for that. He's a good kid.

But I thought it was time to chime in with some thoughts, for what they are worth, about the direction I-league and to a lesser extent D-league have taken in Euless. Much of the change is good, but some of it is bad. This seems to me a natural effect of growth, and maybe it's time for a small course correction that we should all consider in order to keep our little community together.

First, the good:

When I started this blog in January 2006, there were seven or eight teams in the I-league. Last season, there were seventeen or eighteen. That is phenomenal growth in 1 1/2 years. Everyone who plays I-league is to credit for that. We have created our own community around the league and recruited our friends to take up the sport. We push each other to learn and improve. We're having FUN. We're having a few laughs, making new friends. And for those of us who choose it, we're drinking a little beer.

That's it.

Folks, we play for fun. You want to see guys who play for real, go watch an A-league game. Go watch the Stars. Go watch the Brahmas when they come back. We don't play for real. We have families and careers that have nothing to do with hockey. We play for fun.

It seems to me that's where we've gotten way off the track. I've run across too many people who might well be having fun, but they're taking this thing far too seriously. They care too much about winning the keg. They whine too much when the lucky bloke on the other team gets lucky and scores a couple goals. They complain too much about ringers even while recruiting ringers to play on their teams. I love these guys and gals, really I do, but they need to get a life. As the saying goes, we all have to go to work in the morning.

Yes, the lower leagues in Euless have a big problem with guys playing way down from their ability. Great, we all agree. Now, let's all shut up about it and let Yockey do what he can to fix what needs fixing.

I have a sense that the rampant ringer complaints in I and D are going to cause some changes no one really wants. Some of you are going to lose teammates just because an opponent fingered them, not because they're actually playing down. There will be unintended consequences.

If everyone would work to show a little more sportsmanship, the leagues would be much better off, and games would be more fun. That goes for ringers who doff their helmets and take a bow after scoring a hat trick (I saw this with my own eyes recently), and for those who incessantly whine about anyone who scores a goal, lucky or not.

It's a game. Here's some perspective: Every single one of us sucks at hockey. Every last one of us, in the I-league and the D-league. Even the ringers. Come out and play in a big-boy pickup game some time and see how great you are.

We all suck.

And, that's OK. We play for fun, remember? With some hard work and each other's encouragement, we might be better some day. Or maybe not. That's OK.

So, could we just get back to that simple notion? We play for fun and friends -- and beer. As we start another session, let's try and remember that.

About this blog: The stuff written here is intended only in the spirit of good fun. It shouldn't ever become personal or petty, and it should reflect good sportsmanship. That doesn't mean there's no room for good-natured ribbing, of course. But if anyone feels like we went out of bounds, please let me know. My e-mail is on the right side of the page.

Above all, the goal of the blog is to provide information about goings-on at the local rinks and provide a place for this community to exist online. Your thoughts are welcome.

See you on the ice,

BC

Pickup hockey

Sure enough, we fell off the wagon and failed to post a pickup schedule for July. Sadly, almost no one noticed. Our feelings aren't hurt (much). However, because someone did notice and leave a comment, here's what you have for the last couple days of July:

Sunday:
Euless DPSC -- 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Duncanville DPSC -- 4:45-6:45 p.m.
FB DPSC -- 4:15 pm.-6 p.m.

Monday:
Euless DPSC -- 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m.
FB DPSC -- 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m.
Duncanville DPSC -- 8:45-10:15 p.m.

Tuesday:
Euless DPSC -- 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m.
FB DPSC -- 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m.
NYTEX: 9-11 p.m.

Predictions for Summer I league...

So with the league starting up tonight, we are throwing down predictions for the league

prove us wrong.

Patriots vs Blue Devils for Keg

Final Standings...

1. Patriots

2. Blue Devils

3. Spiders

4. Puckers

5. Snipers

6. Warriors

7. Komets

8. Ice Holes

9. Brewzers

10. Stickmen

11. Black Widows

12. Leftovers

UPDATE ...
Hello, BC here, chiming in with a dissenting view.
We'll go on a limb and predict Leftovers to win it all, even over my alma mater BDs. BDs might make another keg appearance, though. And, we predict Total Eclipse will be goalie of the year. Also, Komets will surprise.

Patriots may never win the keg they seek, IMHO, not as long as that guy who plays like a bowling ball is anchoring their defense. ;)

Snap.

Sorry, Nate.

Cheers,
BC

Follow up...

touche Drago...Touche indeed sir :)

Summer Season: I League...Begins

we just got the word from Yockey. No Major/Minor...cause only 1 team signed up for the minor division...(so gay)

So since everyone believes that they are sufficient hockey players, there will be NO crying about ringers. If there is a complaint about a ringer...the comment is deleted. Welcome to the former Gold Division...where competition rules and whiners go to die...

Also, there is indicated by Yockey that a "skills clinic" will be offered at 10:15pm to teams that played in a 9pm game that evening. Every team will get the opportunity to use the clinic twice (hopefully there are more people there than there were at our practices)

This weekend...
6:30pm (Gold) Black Widows vs Brewzers: Are the Black Widows the former Platinum Spiders? And what is the obsession with Arachnids in this league?!?!?!

6:30pm (Green) Warriors vs Snipers: Unknown about the warriors, they lost some players though over the "offseason".

7:45pm (Gold) Spiders vs Komets: Komets get a fresh dose of healthy competition as they take on one of the former Gold Division's best teams. Who are Gallagher and Atkins playing for?

7:45pm (Green) Puckers vs Stickmen: What team will the puckers have this season, and can the Stickmen generate any offense?

9pm (Gold) Patriots vs Ice Holes: The D league Spartans will battle each other in this one.

9pm (Green) Leftovers vs Blue Devils: Did the leftovers try to sign up for the minor???? Blue Devils should rock the casbah.

10:15pm: clinic

btw...schedule for rest of the season...