The Penalty for Fighting

Don Sanderson, a twenty-one year old player for the Whitby Dunlops succumbed to the head wounds he suffered in a fall to the ice at the conclusion of a fight. The OHL is one of the few remaining leagues outside of the NHL that still allows fighting within the game. The question of weather fighting should be removed from the National League has been the subject of much debate for years, neither side seems willing to make a concession.

Don Cherry, tonight defended the place of fighting and it is true that it does serve a purpose to dispense justice to those plays that escape the eyes of the officials, or acts so heinous that a few minutes in the box are hardly an equitable trade, but the voices for change are growing. So what does the NHL need to do? No doubt the league is governed by stalwarts like Cherry who will resist such a loss of tradition and machismo, in fact the deputy commissioner of the NHL, Bill Daly, has been quoted: "It is an issue that from time to time is a point of discussion, so this may prompt further discussion. But I don't sense a strong sentiment to change the rules we currently have relating to fighting. We have advocated a mandatory chinstrap rule for at least the last eight years. The Players' Association has resisted the implementation of that rule, advocating player education instead.", will they take a look at this issue again in earnest, perhaps with an outreach to their fans for an accurate feeling of the popular opinion on fighting, or simply make a stand based on what they think is best for the game? To put it simply, will the NHL fit the game to themselves or the fans? Is it true that the fans are really drawn to the fights, and that the only protesters are the vocal minority (pronounced "the media")? It seems hard to argue that the fans are not drawn to the fight, with the popularity of the extreme fighting leagues. Does fighting make a tangible, positive impact on the game like so many think?

It all makes my head spin. It certainly seems difficult to allow the death of a young man just for the entertainment of the masses, or to pacify a few old men of tradition. Even if this death is not the direct result of a fight, and actually due to the fall afterward. . . it's hard to not feel like you're justifying a barbaric act for a barbaric hunger. Just to be clear, I love watching a good hockey fight, this seems to have no right answer.

Just wanted to hang this one out there, got to get to my game(s), see you at the rink.

Keep your stick on the ice,
bcIII

Three-peat, Keg Night Success

The night was again a great experience for all attending, even the food received good reviews this time around. Apparently their were several people making second and third trips, Jimmy "Stone Cold" Welch was almost thrown out for making six+ trips (he may have forced a voucher program for next session). There was record attendance by family and friends, and the noise was incredible. Thank you in particular to Mr. Hamstra (the Hamster's Dad) as he gave his services freely to document the night in pictures. Mr. Hamstra's web site is www.phase.com/Hamstra, go check it out. It didn't end exactly as I had planned, but it was still a good time, hope you enjoyed it, too. See the rest of the photos here

bcIII

The Battle for the Anti-Keg

Privateers (6-4-0) 1
LSI (8-2-0) 2

The 'Teers scored first, short handed, but after a goalie switch from the Imports they couldn't find their mojo. It takes until the final minute of the game before the Imports can perforate the Privateer's pride, they get the two goals they need for the win, the Privateers left the ice with a hunger still in their bellies.

Team Euless (1-9-0) 0
Grave Diggers (5-5-0) 6

Team Euless was rostered of the insatiated Privateers and a few other swabs, looking to get their licks in on the bad luck Diggers. The Diggers would have nothing of it, when there's nothing on the line the Grave Diggers can beat the world, much like the San Jose Sharks. Joel Bush, the Paynes and the Haleys fall in monumental fashion, not only giving up six goals but failing to score even once, are these 'Teers prepared for play beyond the J-league?

Chiefs (5-5-0) 2
Silverwings (2-7-1) 0

A great duel between goaltenders, these bottom feeding teams both appear to have at least one spot secured on their rosters. Eric Spivey of the Silverwings has delivered a very respectable sophmore session and Josh Ayala is debatedly the star of this freshman class. After the reshuffling of divisions both of these teams should be looking at a big upswing in their win totals.

Puckers (7-3-0) 2
Whalers (6-4-0) 1

The matchup for best of the rest culminated with the long waiting Puckers and the Whalers in only their second session. As the teams took the ice one couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the fan presence, the event could have just as easily been a girls tee-ball game, family members and confused Pockets patrons thronged the bleachers by the dozens. Brian Cudaback of the Puckers scores the first goal of the game, the spirits of Pucker nation literally resounded throughout the arena. Patrick Donaghue faced the counter punches of the Whalers and turned away all but one from Whaler defenseman, Brian "The Hamster" Hamstra, who manages to return the score to even where it would stay for the rest of the period. In the second the Puckers keep the pressure on flinging shot after shot onto Gregg Mata and in the middle of the game he does give up what would prove to be the game winner to Dusty Smith. The third period was an exercise in patience for the Puckers, they relied on the play of their veterans for effective defense, face-off domination, and continued offensive presence, they do finish the game with more shots on net. Patrick Donaghue knew this would be his last game for the foreseeable future (work scheduling conflicts will force him on to hiatus) and he drew on this motivation whenever the play did make it to his end. As the time wound down the crowd became more racous, and after a few key face-offs the game ultimately did fall to the Puckers. Their was little fanfare on the ice, the trophy was unready and the P.A. was not in service, but the fireworks were clearly visible in the faces of the men in red, and Ginger, too. Congratulations to the Puckers, I guess now you can move up to the "real" I-league. Plenty of time for the Whalers to make waves in this league.


Da' KEG

Stickmen (5-4-1) 6
DFW Titans (3-6-1) 2

The Sticks runover the Titans, by the end of the first they had scored half of their goals. The Titans kept the shooting close but experience in the net proves the difference, James Barber may not return for the Titans next session, say my sources. This game was even more of a route until the Titans collected a garbage goal in the final minute.

Snipers (4-5-1) 2
Brewzers (3-5-2) 1

Sibling rivalry, Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes... The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria! The only thing worse than this team having to battle itself would be that regardless of the outcome both will no doubt end up in the same division, again!

P.S. in net, the apprentice defeats the master.

Komets (5-4-1) 1
Ice Bats (8-2-0) 10

Hard to imagine, but this game was the debut of netminder A.J. Benedetto (strangley enough, the name Benedetto means "blessed" in Latin. . . God bless these Komets.) and he gets very little offensive help from his team in his effort, all he needed was ten more goals, you know I love you, A.J. The real question of the game is: with goals being handed out like government bail-outs, why couldn't Patty Greco get just one of them?

Patriots (5-3-2) 0
Blue Devils (7-2-1) 4
The main event looked good on paper, two tested teams with similar rosters and similar records but that's why they play the games. It turned early in the first for the Pats, aggressive netminder Jon Ellis tried to defuse a scoring chance with a clearing pass, but the Ref (clearly on the take from Blue Devil head coach Nate Hodges) skates into the path allowing a two on one that results in the first Devil goal. Chris Zoll proves to be the only one able to score in the first period, although it would bear-out as the game winner. In the second the Patriots threw everything they had at the net, but Blubaugh and his rebound eating defense proved too much for the Patriot forwards. Just two hundred feet in the other direction the Devils redoubled their offense, a goal from Charlie Heine at the halfway point and another to close the period from Billy Trull, if the Patriots were going to win in their characteristic come from behind they needed to get it in gear in the final eleven. The only edge the Pats manage to gain is in the way of penalties, the gloves were dropped on one occasion and they collect 21 minutes worth in the final frame alone. After a goal to Blue Devil Todd Smith, sweeping in the late period rebound a few big goal mouth stands from Blubaugh, the game was over. The Blue Devils are the best team in all of I-league, no one can question that. Nate Hodges will retire as coach of the Devils, and from coaching altogether, claiming a record of five championship appearances in five sessions, three total championship wins.