Keep the Faith

Sorry I didn't get a post out on Wednesday as per usual, I was lacking inspiration, feeling the developing tension for the Detroit series, and not finding any schedule for our league on Pointstreak.

Well, the inspiration thing has been all shot to heck since the Detroit series opened with a bang, and (thank Zues) the I-league schedule has made it out.

What?

Hey, I already told you the inspiration thing is kaput.

You're still reading?

Hey, I ain't givin' up yet, NEWBIE! This beard is still filled with macadamia nuts and MOJO! So keep it comin', Detroit. When our offense generates some shots, Ozzie won't stand a chance. Oh yes, there will be offense.

De-Morrow-lized.

Without question I think we can all say Morrow is the MVP for the stars this post season.
You could also say Robidas, Ott, and Turco have to be mentioned on the same breath, but Morrow is providing the leadership, tenacity, and zeal this team hasn't seen since the late 90s.

(some of the saves by turco last night...were not human)

hit last night by Morrow broke whatever momentum the sharks had gained in the third on the tying goal and put the stars on an even keal with the sharks, huge.

oh, not to mention he got the game winner, and should have had a hat trick in game 5.

This same play from morrow and the entire team, especially turco, is needed in every game against the offensive machine in the red wings.

Morrow. You are our Leader.

Welcome to Euless, B!+<#E$

Another new team? All of the results make it to Pointstreak. Privateers get a Euless welcome. Diggers get a win?

Stickmen(2-1-0) 1, Spiders(1-2-0) 0

It took just two minutes and twelve seconds for Damon Flores to net the game winner in this game with a sweet screen/deflection past Spider's goalie Nina Bonifaz. The Sticks then show complete faith in their netminder and allow a nearly two for one shooting differential. They even go so far as to earn all of the games penalties (six minutes). But Blubaugh pulls (more than) his weight, gaining a shut-out victory on twenty-nine shots. I guess that confidence is deserved, it doesn't hurt that the Spider's bench was half full (half empty?).

Blue Devils(2-1-0) 5, DFW Titans(1-2-0) 3

The first period was all Titans, the Blue Devil's net was empty. Lincoln Foster gets two goals, Jake Jordan one. The Titans were riding high on a three goals to none advantage when David Blubaugh showed up on the scene. With the net secure the Devils put a hurtin' on the Titans. Five goals in seven minutes including a hat trick from Joshua Schechter. By the time the third period rolled around both teams were gassed but not enough that the Devils couldn't stave off Dan Glein's (1 goal, 2 assists) double minor. Titans will have to turn on their power play next time.

Brewzers(2-1-0) 2, Puckers(1-2-0) 0

Both teams show up with short benches but the Brewzers bring the only man they needed: Ken Thomas. In the first period he beats Donaghue single handed. He would have to wait until the third to net the only other goal of the game. It was Patrick Donaghue making a gargantuan effort to keep his Puckers in it, sometimes he looked to be the only one. The rest of the team collects thirty-two minutes of penalties including two game misconducts, apparently Constantine can't handle being left off of the scoresheet. I would be angst ridden too if they named a crappy movie after me (mental note: google film names). For his part, Mike Moore seems to be putting his demons behind him. Two wins in a row for the Brewzers, who saw that coming?

Warriors(1-2-0) 3, Komets(0-3-0) 2

The Komets start off strong, with two goals (M. Gallagher, Gigliotta) and own the first period. Never fear, the Warriors are very used to playing from behind (just ask about that Lehr Mindo shower incident) and in their usual fashion, the offense starts clicking. With Chuck "Hansen" Dolbee's goal at the end of the first, and Sean Griffin's tieing score at the beginning of the third, the stage was set for Travis Lehr to net the dramatic unassisted game winner. Brent Bryant was overwhelmed as his defense chased and screened in front and could only stop 21 of the 24 shots.

Patriots(3-0-0) 2, Snipers(2-1-0) 1

Two periods of skating preceded this amazing, exciting, crazy eleven minute game. Long after Mike Moore made his five for five appearance, Rahul Sharma (known for playing fast and loose) decides to skate the puck up between his own net and two Snipers, a gap of about six inches. Who would have imagined that it would end with the puck in his own net? With the performance of starting goalie Matt Sexton in the Sniper net it looked like this bonehead goal would hold-up. It took the best of the Patriot playmaking to fling one past him to tie it up, but in keeping with the fluky night, Brad Allen gets an easy one past Sexton for the lead. With the game in hand, Ellis (known for playing fast and loose) decides to throw a pass to Jamil Al Jabri from the top of the right circle to center ice. With less than ten seconds on the clock, Steve Benefield makes the save for Ellis and the Pats secure their third win in a team effort.

Iceholes(3-0-0) 2, Privateers (2-1-0) 1

The Holes give that Euless welcome with a good swift kick in the Privateers! Jon Bird scores early with a sweet deke to Ryan Haley's back side, and the Privateers rally round with aggressive puck possesion. The Holes looked just as staunch leaving observers wondering if the refs were watching the game at all. It takes until the third period for anyone else to score, and it's Cody Payne who evens it up for the Privateers... Only to see the Iceholes grab it back fifteen seconds later (Jon Bird, again). After turning a blind eye to the violence in the first thirty two minutes of play, the refs put the Privateers on the power play. But the Holes have never quivered at the prospect of holding a one goal lead and manage to hold-off all six privateers for the remaining minute with only their four skaters. IN YO' FACE DUNCANVILLE!

Silverwings(3-1-0) 5, Moose(0-1-0) 1

A lot of people have been asking me,"Whatever happened to Sergio Castillo?". I know it's frustrating, he seems to be in the bar after the games but is he playing? Well, wonder no more. Sergio scores unassisted at thirty three seconds into the first then finishes the Jason Neal play for his second goal. In the first minute of the second he is the trigger man for Sharma and Brookman, then does his own thing to collect his fourth goal. I think at this point he went up to the cross bar leaving the game in the hands of the remaining Silverwings. Roy Haenselman spoils the shut-out. Oh, and Corey Howard scores, also. The Moose (Mooses? Meese? Moosai?) missed out on their practice session, better luck next time.

Gravediggers(1-2-0) 2, Chiefs(0-2-1) 1, OT

Somebody had to win. Ben Stillwagon, the only hope for a Chief win, puts up a stupendous effort, but the puck seldom leaves his end of the ice. It's Randy Chappel who gets the fortunate bounce and puts the Diggers in the unfamiliar position of protecting a lead. But they play the roll well... For all but the final thirty seconds of regulation. With an empty net, Coach Nate Hodges devises an ingenious isolation, screen shot and with Ryan Brett in front of the Diggers net all alone, he deftly deflects Lee Morgan's shot in on Jon Ellis. With the previous periods of play as a pattern, it looked as if this game could go all night. But the hockey gods smile (for once) on the Diggers and Stillwagon is handcuffed halfway through the over time period by Joel Gigliotta. Will Stillwagon ever get his much deserved win? Yeah, this is I-league.

Bullshit call

No question about it, the Stars got the shaft from Toronto Friday night.

Whatagame

Hockey is not the first thing you think of when you think of Texas, probably not even in the top fifty. So what is it that makes hockey such an important part of our lives?

It's the Stars.

Back in the late nineties when the Stars were starting to peak, I became intrigued with the sport. As a native Texan I knew precious little about it. At the time I didn't know of any transplants that could let me in on what it was about. All I could do was watch the games and scour the area resale shops for gear. Slapshot, Elzie Odom, Bedford Boy's Ranch, and of course my local inline rink at Bartlett Park. I chose the goalie position because I was infatuated with Dominic Hasek, and I thought it would be the easiest to learn (see the puck, stop the puck). By the time I had made it to the ice, the Stars had already lost the cup to the Devils.

It was still high times at the rink though, no one was phased by the declining play of our team. That lasted for a couple of years, then times got tough. Fewer teams fewer new faces. And here we are again. The Stars are surging, pushing aside the former champs in the first round, chewing up the Pacific leading Sharks. Who can say just where this will end. It's hard to believe that just last year we had so many questions about our Stars.

Fifteen teams and plenty of fresh blood. Where goest the Stars, So also goes the league. Enjoy this play-off run, every game. And to the new players, I say enjoy this boon at our rink, it could be another ten years before it's like this again. Get out there and play as much as your body will allow. If you break a bone, relish it, suck out the marrow... Yeah! We're Texans and we love hockey.

Week Two for Spring '08

Only one game missed by our scorekeeper this week. The new team finds a name. A few lopsided games. And... fun by the TRUCKLOAD!




Iceholes(2-0-0) 3, Spiders(1-1-0) 2






This was the first game of the night and the one that never made it to Pointstreak, so I apologize if the score is wrong. And you wouldn't believe just how crazy this game was... I could tell you, but by the time I deleted all the expletives it wouldn't retain any logic or syntax. What? Hey, that hurts. If you're so great let's see you do it!

Brewzers(1-1-0) 2, Warriors(0-2-0) 1






A huge win for the Brewzers in general and Mike Moore especially. Daniels starts off the scoring in the first for the Brew unassisted and with four seconds left, John Parker adds another. With two periods and a two goal lead the pressure rested squarely on Mike Moore, Brewzer netminder. The second ended with no change. The third sees the Warriors return to their last session form, and they finally generate the late game pressure. Unlike last session they cannot muster enough, the lone Warrior goal goes to Phil Brown. The Warrior's start is their worst in recent memory. Will the Brew Crew hang on to .500?

Patriots(2-0-0) 3, DFW Titans(1-1-0) 1






The Titans rushed the net in National league fashion, for about three minutes, but it does yeild one early goal. Unable to hold onto the rebounds from the suffocating offense, Ellis gives-up the goose egg to Kenneth Rawson (assists to Greco and Kawano), but the weight shifted from that point squarely onto the Titan end. Troy Elliot faces 24 shots to Ellis' 7 and allows a goal in each period: first, Roy Haenselmann; second, Rahul Sharma; third, Troy Ramsey. Harry Hamlin must be rolling in his grave after witnessing this performance, if he had died while watching it.

Stickmen(1-1-0) 4, Chiefs(0-3-0) 1






Jimmmy "Stone Cold" Welch makes his first impression on this "New Team", by putting the Chiefs on the kill at 4:15 into the first. The Sticks power it in with just ten seconds on the man advantage. After Jesse Henderson's goal, Jeff Thomas scores at even strength to put the Sticks up two to nil. The remarkable Chief goalie, Ben Stillwagon, shows his stuff holding off the Stickmen for almost 21 minutes allowing Troy Clarkson to bring the Chiefs within one. Momentum was finally seized by the Stickmen when Graham puts them on the powerplay again. Brian Listman collects the powerplay goal and Jeff Thomas puts it out of reach. Stillwagon faced 38 shots.

Silverwings(2-1-0) 4, Grave Diggers(0-2-0) 2






In what looked to be a very evenly matched game, the Silverwings take the lead early with goals from Justin McCullough and Alex Adkins. The Diggers finish the first with a goal from Billy Quinnand start the second with one from Wil "Newbey" Dobson. At the door, waiting for a whistle to stop play, was the tardy Cory Howard. When the whistle did blow he showed all on the rink just who the alpha male was netting two more Phantom... er, I mean Silverwing goals. The Grave Diggers are still without a win, amazingly Sirkis is without a penalty in this game (is this a coincidence?).

Snipers (2-0-0) 2, Chiefs (0-3-0) 1







Jeff Thomas finds the stat sheet again, this time for the Snipers. Stillwagon and the Chiefs quickly even it up when Steve Selner sends it to Ryan Brett for the goal. In the second Alex Eysermans regains the Sniper lead but the men in yellow refuse to let off the gas. Sexton in the Sniper goal sees only six shots while Ben Stillwagon does his best against 30 (making 68 for his double header). Despite being down by one for over twelve minutes the Chiefs run out of gas and hardly clear the puck from their zone for the remainder of the third. The new look Snipers are looking stout.

Privateers(2-0-0) 4, Blue Devils(1-1-0) 0






A first period filled with a whole lotta nothin' gives way to two periods of total domination by the Duncanville rejects. Joel Bush gets one for the Privateers then in the third Kevin McGlaun's goal is sandwich between two powerplay tallies from Cody "Bring Tha" Payne. Reflex netminder Ryan Haley claims the easy shut-out turning away seven attempts from the Blue Devils. Although the BD goalie, Jim DeBaro sees only 15 (is he imploding?). It looks like the Privateers have arrived in the land of milk and honey, maybe someone should introduce them properly to the Euless brand of I-league. Perhaps the Devils should go ahead and order that bedroom set.

Puckers(1-1-0) 3, Komets(0-2-0) 1






The Puckers are standing up for Patrick Donaghue. They chalk-up the first goal and the second with the play of only one man, David Opalecky. Well, maybe some credit should go to Donaghue. Guy Riggs gets some help on his goal from Rick Gregory and Lotis Butchko. Dustin Nation gets credit for the spoiler goal robbing Donaghue of the shut-out. Well, maybe some credit should go to Donaghue. Jeez, Pat, you have the fate of the world in your hands.