More Fun Than an Afternoon of Freecell

The championship has come and gone, and yes, I have finally gotten around to writing something up about it.

What is that you say? Back to back wins for the Blue Devils? I don't know if that means that a team should move up or not. If you are taking advantage of your coach's experience and advice, and paying attention to the better players around you, and by all means having FUN, then that sort of performance should inspire you to keep at it until you reach the pinnacle of I-league, just like the Devils. For me, I see a bull's eye. . . right on the front of the Blue Devil's jersey, specifically, David Blubaugh's.

Perhaps the Blue Devil's win inspires you to recruit half of the free world to your roster, I'm just sayin'.

Overall, it was a great experience, short line at the poo-poo platter, reasonable competition on the ice (only a couple of blow-outs, and one doesn't really even count), and plenty of fellowship among the. . . athletes? The Iceholes even appeared to be quite jovial despite losing the big one, again. With the crowd that hangs around the Holes, it's hard to imagine feeling too bad after a loss.

Here's a quick look at last week's events:

Snipers (3-7-0) 0
DFW Titans (5-3-2) 3

The Titans whip up on the Snipers to finish out their schedule. In their net was their coach, again, making strides in his goaltending game and collecting an easy shut-out on fourteen shots. Matt Walker for the Sniper's goal, performed well. He allowed two goals in the second to Sean Dugan. And in the closing minutes of the third just misses finishing the game with a save percentage over 90 when Mark Seacht (on Dugan's line) pops in the rebound to end the scoring.

Hitmen I (5-5-1) 2
Moose (1-7-0) 7

It wasn't really a game. The Lone Star Imports showed-up at both ends of the ice, in matching home and away jerseys for a dress rehearsal for their tournament in Las Vegas. The Netminder for the Moose, whose name I do not know, donated his stats to my profile, so I think he's pretty awesome. In the first Erik Todd scores for the Moose off of a Levesque assist, then Levesque scores off of a Todd assist, then the go at it again, this time Levesque sends it to Todd for the goal. The Hitmen collect one via the Sparrow. Thumb twiddling in the second. The third has more Moose, Levesque starts it off, then James Macha gets two in a row. Melissa "Smiley" Daniels receives the smile of the Hockey Gods and tickles the twine for the last Hitmen goal. Levesque shows everyone up by netting her fourth goal of the game, a seven point night! AMAZING!

Grave Diggers (4-4-2) 9
Whalers (0-8-1) 0

The Whalers have some cool looking jerseys. . .


Brewzers (6-4-0) 3
Stickmen (6-3-1) 2

The Brewzers lost in the first round, but demonstrate tonight that they do belong in the top four. After a scoreless first period, Damon Flores drains the first Stickmen goal before a minute can pass. It takes until the final minute of the period for the Brewzers to even the score with a shot from Joshua Sutton. Val Kuntz wrestles back the lead for the Stickmen early in the third. One shift later it's Sutton again to tie it all up. It goes to the shoot-out, and the Brewzer's John Parker makes the only goal of the exhibition. Brewzers=clutch?

Komets (5-2-2) 3
Patriots (7-3-0) 4

The Komets line-up, for the third week in a row, against Jon Ellis. Scottie Baldree
scores at a minute five to put the Komets in the driver's seat. It takes the better part of the first period for the Pats to get on the board, but in the second the Patriots come up with the lead off the stick of Roy Haenselmann. After more than seven minutes of scoreless play, Haenselmann scores again to put the game away for the Patriots. . . Not so fast. Baldree picks-up the rebound to bring it within one, and Ryan Smith comes away with the tying goal with only forty seconds left. It takes a shoot-out to resolve this one, and John Newell scores the lone shoot-out goal for the Patriot win. Too bad!

Blue Devils (9-0-1) 2
Ice Holes (8-1-1) 1

A great game to watch, even if it didn't look anything like my prediction. The first period was a deadlock, the Devils fought through one Icehole power play and managed to escape the frame with more shots on goal than the Holes. Finally in the second, the Devils get their chance on the power play. Jayson Jones, who had played a stellar game to that point begins to feel the fog of the painkillers propping his back up and allows a goal to Matt Weinrich. The Holes have never panicked when trailing into the third, and just over two minutes into the period the shot from Joe Picardo on the point (destined to fulfill his pledge to his kids) finds a key deflection from Joan Crook (her first goal this session, I think) to beat Blubaugh for the tie. The Holes prevent the Devils from taking the game in regulation but find it difficult to get out of their end with the puck. Over time was more outstanding blue line play, and no scoring. That takes it to the shoot-out. After four periods of hockey, both goalies were beginning to tire (unbelievable!) but still turn away the first three shooters, Blubaugh makes one in desperation falling to his left, then standing triumphantly with the puck securely in his glove. As the first Blue Devil extra shooter approached the net, slowly, then moved blocker side, then slowly backward and to the glove side, leaving Jones sprawling unable to stop the questionable shot. With a goal on the board, all the pressure was square upon the shoulders of David Blubaugh. The I-league "money goalie" confessed his trepidation as Raul Gilbreath skated toward him. After considering and re-considering his course of action, he goes for the poke, and barely makes contact with the puck, barely securing his second Keg. Jayson Jones at the other end has decided this game will be his I-league swan song, making his commitment to higher leagues. So where does this leave the Holes for the coming session? Can the Devils complete the three-peat? Not if I have anything to say about it!

Chiefs (5-3-1) 4
Puckers (4-5-0) 0

For the Puckers to win, Donaghue must play well, actually more like outstandingly. The Chiefs and Rich Wojcio make the first dent in the game, leaving the Puckers with a hill to climb after only two and a half minutes of play. They hold up well through the remainder of the first and all of the second, but don't come up with a goal of their own. In the third the eminent collapse arrives with a goal from Bill Broad, another from Wojcio, and Mark Millard in garbage time. Donaghue will have a clean slate for the new session, can he get some support this time?

Privateers (4-5-0) 3
Silverwings (5-4-1) 5

Okay, it's getting late and even the Silverwings players are turning their backs on their minis, so this one is short and sweet. Cody Payne scores first for the 'Teers, and Corey Howard ties it up. Paul Reid gains the lead for the Wings, Robert Massengale ties the game and Jason Neal puts the Wings back on top. Joel Bush ties it again, but Reid and Neal both score to cement the Silverwing win. The Privateers live to fight another day.