What is That Guy's Problem?

We've all seen that guy who always seems to be at the center of every melee. I always find myself throwing up my hands, trying to figure out how these guys get so wound up about a stupid game. But, the truth is, the same passion that tears me away from my family every Saturday night is what drives most of these guys too. The ice is their domain, and they must enforce a balance there. Jon Hale says,"I wouldn't say I am a hot-head as much as I am just passionate about the game of hockey" and, "This being I-league, coming up making a play you're going to have people running into each other, sticks going high, it's expected but I'm not going to go out and purposely try to hurt somebody." Robert Sirkis tries to restrict his actions to reactions,"I play defense, there is a certain amount of contact in front of the net. I only react when hit from behind into the boards or above the shoulders with the stick." So, are we to believe that every time these guys let loose on somebody it's because that player was asking for it? I can't watch every minute of every game from every angle but,"the refs usually tell the both of us to settledown. Believe it or not they do notice this stuff and give you fair warning." I have heard Sirkis complain about the refing and if he thinks that they notice most of this stuff then maybe there really is some justification for their incidents, there usually are two people in the box after all.

What about when that guy wrongs you, or your teammates and you can't get your pounding of flesh? Do you ever carry that over to the next meeting? Stone Cold says yes, sometimes "I have been known to hold grudges. Usually for a couple of months before letting go." Hale admits, "There have been a few occassions where people have done things that can't go unanswered. And I have done some things to get under their skin and rattle their cage a little bit, but I'm not going head hunting." I do respect this attitude to a point, but it does suck to see an opportunity for a powerplay lost to this vigilantism.

Of the people who responded to my interview only one reported having problems controlling himself off of the ice, that troubled soul is Stone Cold, "Both on and off the ice I have a tendency to react before I can think." Unlike Hale, Stone Cold has not been able to stay with one team for any period of time, he knows that it's because of his temper, which has plagued him for his whole life. He feels he has turned a corner, "I used to lose control on the ice all the time. I've argued with Refs, butted heads with teammates, coaches and team coordinators. Now I've learned to control my temper, cause I'm tired of burning bridges. The last two or three seasons my penalty minutes have gone down." I didn't have a way to contact another person, Tom Buckner, that I feel has also made a huge adjustment to his game. A big congratulations and keep it up to both of these guys, and anyone else fighting the battle.

Most everyone agrees that the ice and the real world are two different places, They all enjoy spending time in the crossbar after the game, Sirkis, "Once the game is over, it's over." And Hale says, "I almost always go up to the crossbar for some beers afterwards. So you know where to find me. J/K." I know that all of the people I singled out as hot-heads do go upstairs and I think that it is a very stand-up thing to do. Jon Hale might be just kidding but it is very important to show your face even when you have something happen on the ice that someone might take the wrong way. It, to me, lends a lot of creedance to the belief these guys have that their actions on the ice are justified.

Hale left me with one more comment,"Everyone does it, no one in our league has not ever hooked, tripped, slashed someone in some fashion." And it's true, or if it isn't just give it time. Having an injury that you caused hanging over your head would certainly affect any of these guys, but for the players I surveyed, this just doesn't happen very much, Hale did knock a guy out in another league after the guy had been playing an entire game of jackassery, without regard for anyone else, but most of the injuries that occur in this league are accidents. It's a shame but the real terrors out there aren't the "goons", but the "goofs".

I still don't really know where I stand on this whole issue, but I do believe that if everyone would learn to control there own play a little more, then these guys wouldn't be out there escalating things. It might not be their problem, but yours.

David Blubaugh hasn't yet responded to my survey, and I really wanted to get his take on things. He did tell me that the incident last week at the end of the Grave Digger's game was orchestrated to liven up a game that was practically over anyway. I found this more than a little disturbing since no one can read the mind of someone throwing a blocker in their face. Things like that can turn what was meant to be a joke into a bench clearing brawl. There really is a passion in everyone that plays in our little league, but in my opinion, this is just irresponsible.

Now before you start to indict me of being high and mighty and all, let me tell you a story. A few years ago I was playing net for a team that Knute was coaching, and from the first shift this one wing was just pushing all my buttons, messing with my stick, bumping me around, even tripping me at one point. None of the refs were seeing it, I was yelling at him and he knew he was winning. The switch flipped. I knew I was going to get this guy one way or another. I was watching and waiting but I never got my chance, his last shift ended on a whistle. I left my net while the play was stopped, came up behind him and pulled his legs out from under him. The whistles were blowing and stripes were swirling all around me, Knute stepped in to talk with the refs. And that's how I ended up serving my own penalty, watching the final minute of the game from the box, with an empty net. I'm not really proud of this, but it happened.

Good luck to everyone, I will not be at the rink this weekend. My first (maybe last) marathon is this Sunday in Austin. So I won't be watching you, but all of the enforcers will be, be safe, and keep your stick on the ice!

bcIII

Finally the I-league Delivers

So many great games this week. Four teams are starting to assert their dominance. A couple of the teams may be turning the corner. Hope you had as much fun as me.

players of the week:
Travis Lehr 3 goals (questionable tactics)
Eric Johnson 2 goals
and a tie for third...
Nicholle Palomar 1 goal, game winner, shoot out
Lynn Kresta 1 goal, game winner, regulation

goalie of the week:
David Blubaugh shut out on 26 shots

And here's they way it went down*


The Warriors 4, The Puckers 0

The evening started off with a huge effort by at least one Pucker, the backstopping of Patrick Donaghue was inspirational to everyone but his offense. For shot after shot he stood his ground, turning away breakaways and long Warrior offensive possesions, even effortlessly dismantling a well managed three on one. But this one man team eventually did lose steam, a low shot from Mindo on the point gives up a tasty rebound and with that Eric Johnson breaks the dam early in the third. The onslaught continued eventually stacking up four goals against on a night where he saw FORTY THREE total shots. Ginger had probably the only Pucker goal on her stick early in the first but couldn't capitalize, the Puckers can't let this fine goaltending go to waste. The Warriors are still winning. Our condolences to Bobby Michaelides, and his family.

The Army of the Twelve Monkeys 8, The Snipers 0

A stat padding jaunt from ATM, the first period sees five goals from four different Monkeys. They let off the gas (a little) scoring just two more in the second, pointstreak attributes one to netminder Phil Talley, who otherwise saw little activity. Nick Murphee goes into the third with seven goals against and all of the Monkeys hear his call for uncle except one: Travis Lehr. The temptation for the hat trick was too great for him, no more scoring took place for the remaining 10 and a half minutes of the last period. Travis also has the only penalty of the game. I hate to sound like an ass, but this is the kind of game that makes for real animosity toward "the ringer" and sportsmanship in general. I didn't see this game personally and I have no doubt jumped to some conclusions (after all, I'm going off of pointstreak's info, from a lackluster group of data entry scorekeepers) but I hope that the Army of the Twelve Monkeys feel good about this display. I know you guys are getting hot under the collar, so let me have it.

Spider 2, Blue Devils 1

Why did I fall into the seduction of handheld youtube? I missed the only goal, on the first shot the the Blue Devils fired at Nina Bonifaz. Other than that I watched this one wire to wire. An intense game thick with drama. After Todd Smith opened the game for the Blue Devils the constricting defenses really started the tussle. The shots that did make it through were nothing to snivel at, demanding all of the focus of both netminders. Blue Devils goalie, Jim DeBaro, eventually gives up the tieing score on the Spider's power play to Evan Callahan. Ryan Wacker, was the man responsible for the roughing penalty, a player who has scored, and scored often in both of the Blue Devil games so far. Unfortunately for him the scoring streak would come to an end this week. With the game tied at the start of the third the penalties started immediately (a holding to Ryan's Dad, Clint). One face-off in particular sees Scotty Olsen (who should have been called for illegal use of hands, taking every opportunity to touch every female player) get knocked ass over tea kettle, along with several of the nearby players. In the end, it was Lynn "the aggressor" Kresta, who lifts a crease-crossing rebound over the glove of the outstanding DeBaro. A final penalty kill from the Spiders and they seal the hard fought victory. Unanimously a great game from both of the spectators present.

Stickmen 2, Brewzers 0

12 minutes of penalties, 55 total shots, Mike Moore gives up the first in the first to Alex "Steve" Eysermans. Then in the second Sarah Buckner serves the two minutes for a bad change that results in too many men. Another Stickmen goal (Timothy Schmidt) gives them a less than comfortable lead on the power play. With Jamil Jabri around the net there would be no rest for the Sticks until the final buzzer sounded, but David Blubaugh answers the call and staves off all seekers for his first shut-out this session. The heartbroken Brewzers suffer another defeat despite stellar play all around, maybe it was just too many penalties to overcome. The Stickmen remain one of four undefeated teams, a trend to be put to the test in next week's battle royale against the Blue Devils. Look for corrections from Blubaugh on the comment board.

The Patriots 6, Grave Diggers 2

The score would give you no idea of just how close this one was. Rahul Sharma, growing bored with trying to create plays, goes coast to coast and puts it behind David Blubaugh (his second game) in the meat of the first period, a slow moving frame. The second period starts with a sloppy change for the Grave Diggers to put the Patriots on the power play. Eager to stomp on the throat, they... go ahead and give-up a shorty allowing the Grave Diggers a clean start for the third. With it notted at one, Blubaugh begins to feel the affects of back to back play. A rebound on his stickside is flipped in before he can pick up his narcoleptic carcass. But it's Sergio Castillo who comes up big for the Grave Diggers. He connects on an awkwardly placed onetimer catching goalie Jon Ellis (his second game) cheating to the right, over the glove. A beauty. The tie did not last long as Blubaugh fell into hypnosis and watched four more goals go in until he decided he couldn't take it anymore. Spotting one, Robert Sirkis, rolling around with Troy Ramsey (I think) in the corner, he lowers his head and bull rushes the Patriot throwing a few nominal swipes with his blocker, then is pulled back by the refs, sprays his waterbottle over the shocked onlookers and is escorted off of the ice. A signature Blubaugh exit! Not much happened for the remainder of the game.

Iceholes 2, Komets 1 OT, Shoot-out!

A typical Iceholes victory. Ryan Smith returns from sick bay and puts up a goal unassisted, early in the first. The Iceholes proceed to lay shot after shot onto Komet's goalie Tom Cox. But he refuses to give-in, despite facing three straight powerplays (the first is Ryan's). Jason Jones does his part keeping the slightly less agressive Komets back until Scottie Baldree takes his second cross checking penalty, two seconds later Greg Durante carries the Iceholes into overtime. Jones receives a new, well deserved, lease on the game and keeps it tied throughout the fourth period. The shoot-out puts the Iceholes behind again as Rich Duval nets the first shot of the exhibition. In Icehole fashion, Joe Picardo saves his platoon from defeat, scoring as the last of the three original shooters. Then shooter after shooter, ten total, leave the ice without the triumph they seek. Who was it that resolved this mighty battle? As midnight loomed over the rink, Nicholle Palomar finally ends the contest. The Komets give the Iceholes their first win of the session, the Iceholes have allowed only 3 regulation goals in their three games.

What a weekend it was!
bcIII

P.S. I will try for the special effects next week, Rahul, no time right now.


*Not all facts are factual, in fact many may be completely made-up since pointstreak and our scorekeepers are less than ideal at delivering the correct statistics to your humble blogger, please keep this in mind before blaming me for inconsistencies reported here.