Wasting Time On the Net So You Don't Have To

Here you go, the lamest effort yet. I have had absolutely zero inspiration and the only project that I have in progress is no where near fleshed out, so it's time to release the bits and pieces of things that just didn't make a full column.

One of the things I really wanted to write-up was sledge hockey. I had the privilege a few years ago to watch a sledge hockey tournament first hand. I know that I'm a big softy, the dolphins make me cry, but it was very inspiring to see this group of people from all walks of life, all ages, coming together for their one common love, HOCKEY. I have stated before that I would be playing this game until they cart me off the ice. . . These men and women cart themselves off the ice, and they just keep coming back. And, this thing is full contact, it's violent and competitive. I don't recall any fights, but it wouldn't have surprised me.

The coordinator of the tournament told me that they have a league in Addison, but I haven't been able to find a current incarnation.




When I was a kid video games were incredibly crude, and expensive. We played outside most of the time, but when the weather outside was frightful, card games and board games filled the gap. Lots of kids played baseball with playing cards, my sister and I created a version of playing card football one summer. My other sister would play one game of chess, then expect me to play ballroom dance with her dolls on the "marble dance floor" chess board.

I don't think I could make it through one quarter of my football game these days, but I think I would rather do that than play this. Some guy created the game and spent quite a bit of time making diagrams and a complete set of rules. Heck, I might prefer ballroom dancing

I have saved a lot of broken hockey sticks over the years, and at some point I will transform them into something special. Inspiration struck when I was visiting the Valley Ranch Starcenter and saw the beautiful deck chair of goalie coach Chris Fries. There are many styles of these things out there, some you can buy complete, others just the plans. This one looks great- simple, elegant, cheap. If you have one of your own, I would very much be interested in a look-see.




If you're new to hockey, this site is a good primer. I found one aspect particularly interesting: The physicist in the "ice" section disputes the theory that your skate melts the ice as it makes contact, letting you slide on a tiny layer of water. He claims that the structure of ice has a quasi-fluid layer on top, that gets thicker as the temperature increases. Your skate slides on this layer, the thinner the layer the less friction your skate has to fight- Colder ice, faster ice.

What about those battery powered skates that actually do melt the ice? I don't know if that's hogwash or not. . .

Hope something tickles your fancy,

In hockey,
bciii

I-League Hockey, Fighting Global Warming Half an Acre at a Time

Does anyone own a grapefruit spoon?

LSI (5-1-0) 3
Grave Diggers (0-5-0) 2


The Diggers may have been mathematically eliminated from the minor championship in week one, but tonight they played an all-star caliber game. After ending the first period in a stalemate, The Diggers score two goals, first Bruce Davis, next Andrew Davis, making an unexpected, but comfortable, two goal lead. The Imports premier scoring line promptly returns the score to even, a goal from Catherine Levesque, then one from Gabe Rivera. With eleven minutes to determine the hero, the Diggers collapse their defense around their net, effectively screening Ellis who cannot locate the rebound before Levesque. She scores the game winner early in the third, and the Sparrow seals the deal. Are the Imports still in a lurch after the loss to the 'Teers last week? Ordinarily this team would make minced meat out of the Diggers.

Silverwings (1-3-1) 1
Puckers (3-2-0) 2


When the Wings went to play against Pucker
Patrick made their offense look the sucker
And they would only tell Ginger
That Casey's a ringer
'Cuz Casey's a big mother. . .

So what if Ginger and ringer don't actually rhyme.

The first was scoreless, but the Puckers get on the board first. Larry Nounemay's goal was erased just a couple of minutes later when the sole Silverwing to make the scoring summary, Ryan Kelly, ties it up, unassisted. Early in the third Casey J feeds John Ward for the game winner. The Silverwings could use a rematch with the Diggers about now.

Privateers (4-1-0) 3
Chiefs (3-2-0) 5


OMG! After emerging victorious in the much vaunted battle with LSI, the 'Teers get owned by the Chiefs! Robert Meassengale starts the Privateers off on the right skate, but former Chiefs netminder Ben Stillwagon reverses the tide with the first of a deluge of Chief goals. David Dahms and Ryan Brett leave the score at three to one for the close of the first. Joel Bush sinks his teeth into the fight with a goal in the second but the period ends in a wash with another Chief goal from Stillwagon. In the final two minutes of the third period Stillwagon gets the hat trick, Patrick Haley tries to save a little Privateer pride with a garbage time goal. The Chiefs are turning this thing around, and it looks like the biggest factor in the new direction is goaltender Josh Ayala, perhaps the best addition to the league this session. Brooks Willhoite was spotted at the bottom of a pit after the game, Stone Cold above him yelling,"It puts the lotion on its skin, or else it gets the hose again!"

Whalers (4-2-0) 3
Team Euless (1-4-0) 2


The Whalers are staying the course, surprising all of the odds makers. These guys work on the stock exchange. . . When things were going well with the economy, the Whalers sucked, now that we're in the toilet, the Whalers rock. . . What kind of a trade-off is that? Paul Thurston buys in with the ground floor goal, but shares drop when the rag-tag Team Euless gets the equalizer from Will Turner. Fortunately the close the period on a gain with another Whaler goal from Thurston. The second was bearish for the Whalers, without a single goal for, Euless ties it up with a goal from Rick Gregory. When Brian Hamstra rang the opening bell for the third period, the Whalers rallied to finish the game with a victory, the game winner in the middle of the period falls to who else but Paul Thurston, a hat trick.

Snipers (1-3-1) 1
Ice Bats (4-1-0) 8


It's a tough thing. . . Roaring out of the bat cave was Eric Petty and then in the final minute of the first period was the second Bat's goal, from Tim Marra, the Snipers were spinning. The second period scoring started-off with a goal from Nidal Al Jabri, followed by a bench full of Snipers clapping loudly and chanting, "I do believe in Snipers, I do believe in Snipers, I do, I do!". But it would take more than pixie dust to get this thing going. . . Four unanswered Ice Bat goals wrap-up the middle frame: Joel Blix, Eric Petty, and two from David Tratham. In the third the Bats let the limping Snipers off easy with only two more goals, the first from hat trick owner, Eric Petty- the last to Danny Grimes. Matt Walker was able to be revived and should be ready for next week's game. An eight goal game, it looks like the Ice Bat's dungeon master got them stuck in a never ending orc chasm.


Komets (3-1-1) 2
Patriots (3-1-1) 3
Jeremy Irons and Wil Dobson, separated at birth?












The goal tenders at either end turned away all attempts in the first with tension building between the two teams, the Komets trying to avoid a second loss, the Pats trying to stop the bleeding, the tension built until Wil Dobson stumps Ellis in the final second of the period. With a losing streak hanging over their heads the Pats finally get past the emotion of the first period with the help of a power play goal from Travis Lehr, the only goal of the frame. In the third, the Pats find their winning ways with two more goals from Lehr, completing a hat trick (how many hat tricks is that for tonight?). The Komets take advantage of the Pats, busy patting themselves on the back, and cut the lead to one when Bryan Brookman slides the puck through a mass of humanity and just under Ellis' leg. With little more than half a minute left in the game the Komets go on the power play. Coach Al calls a pow-wow at the bench and returns his troops to the front, but they cannot find the tying goal. The Pats and Komets are now tied for second (or third, depending on how you note these things) with only three games left.

Brewzers (1-3-1) 0
DFW Titans (2-3-0) 4


Some are questioning if Mike Moore is devoting too much of his time and energy into his goal tending clinic, especially after his collapse in the second period of this game. In a boring, scoreless first period, Mike and the Brewzers escape with their best goal differential of the night. In the second the Titans kick it into gear launching three pucks past Mike, first from Mike Kirkland, next from Justin Mason, and finally from Mac Miller. In the third the Brewzers leave it all on the ice only to see another goal late in the period to Mason. James Barber, unbelievably, figures out how to play goal turning away 23 of 23 shots for his first ever shut-out? Mike Moore would do anything for puck, but he can't do that. . .

Stickmen (2-3-0) 0
Blue Devils (4-1-0) 1


In a blood match between these two teams, you have to throw records out the window. Scoring was limited for the Sticks by penalties, of the twenty-two minutes worth of penalties in the game, twenty of them go to the Sticks. Gloria Buell scores the loan goal of the night for the Devils in the middle of the first period and the Stickmen spend the rest of the game trying to beat themselves. I guess you could say they won that fight. Kyle Ryback deserves a medal for his valiant efforts in the Stickmen net, turning away all but one of the twenty-six shots he faced. The Ice Bats and Blue Devils share the top spot, now you know. . . And knowing is half the battle.

P.S. Have you seen this one yet?

The Spirit of I-League?

Last week, I missed out on the happenings at our rink so that I could go to Lubbock and get beat by my baby sister in a foot race. So I needed to find a few people to cover my games. The Patriots all ready have a stand-by goalie on the roster, Doug Phillips, who ordinarily plays wing. It would not be a problem for him to pull out his old gear and act as my substitute. The Diggers on the other hand were not so fortunate.

Without a win on their record (yet) and no other guy with a set of pillows in the closet, it looked like they would face a difficult situation. But no, coordinator Bob Sirkis has the burning urge to fill the net.


Bob's son plays goalie in the mites (I think) and he decided he should give it a try, just to see what his little guy has to deal with. He let me in on his plan, and I was more than happy to loan out my sack-o-biohazard for the weekend. I had a pair of shorter pads hanging in the garage, the rest of the stuff would be close enough to fit for one night, except of course the cup, ahem. Donning a hodge-podge mix of older and newer equipment he hit the ice.


I have been trying to encourage the development of goalies in our league with little more than a nominal effort in practice sessions from skaters, some don't get any further than just asking about equipment, and techniques, and whether or not it hurts.


The equipment is really not very heavy, you get used to the bulk of it and learn to move within the parameters of it, hopefully utilizing every square inch in the process. When it comes to techniques, there are plenty of books and videos and whatever to aid in that. I am not the picture of technique, that's for sure, but whatever it takes to stop the puck (safely) is the key to goaltending. Technique changes from year to year in goaltending, some of the biggest innovations come from people who either broke the rules or played unconventionally, so make it work for you. Does it hurt? Not usually, in this league, if you are ever fortunate enough to spar with a really talented shooter, and actually stop a shot you will have respect for Turco and all the pros, where every shot is harder than the hardest shot you will ever see on a Saturday night. Making a desperation save in the NHL is often painful, despite the equipment. There is about three inches of padding in my leg pads and I have worked with guys before that make my shins sting, that's pretty amazing. Meaning, even a save that you are set for can leave a bruise.


So how did the experience go for Mr. Sirkis? He had a good time. It surprises me when people tell me how tiring it is to play net. I have read that you lose eight pounds in just one game. Bob claims he lost fifteen, we'll see. It gets hot in that gear and as Bob found the only thing you can do is skate around in circles during play stoppages to cool-off. Did you wonder why those guys are wandering around back there? He also learned to hold still until the whistle. The first shot wedged itself between his left arm and his chest, when he turned his body to look behind for the puck, it fell into the net. I know what a downer it can be to allow a goal on the first shot. . . and the second. But mainly it was about perspective, you have to follow the action through the bodies in front of you, always at the ready. A shot can come at any moment, so that tension builds in your stance until that shot finally heads your way. That sudden release of the puck fills you with such urgency, especially if it catches you by surprise, so that even the slowest shot can seem like a lightning bolt.


Perhaps the most difficult part of playing goal is that no matter how good you play, you can't score a goal and win the game yourself. It isn't much fun to see your forwards struggle all night and then you go and allow a goal against.

I was very proud of Bob for giving it a go. He doesn't think he'll become a regular, in fact he doesn't think he'll play net again until next session, maybe.








If anyone else is interested, drop me a line and I'll see what I can do to help.

Back To Hockey!

There are no perfect teams in the Majors anymore. But, in the Minors, the Privateers prove that in the regular season at least, offense triumphs over defense. The 'Teers are flawless and looking ahead at their schedule, I can see no losses. . . or wins for that matter. Is there a schedule on the way?


declare your
Major

Stickmen (2-2-0) 2
Komets (3-0-1) 1

Komets lose but hold onto first place


Coach Al sent the Komets in to battle preparing them for another tough opponent, and they respond with an early goal. Just barely half a minute into the game, Dustin "Domi-" Nation puts the Komets in the driver's seat. About the time Dustin's shift ended, Damon Flores ties it up leaving Al looking up to the heavens. Both goalies, Bryant for the Komets and Blubaugh for the Sticks, bow-up under the pressure, neither allowing the compromise of their nets. Blubaugh turns away twenty-nine of thirty. The Sticks needed to finish off the Komets in regulation in order to keep them in the middle of a three-way race for first, but Bryant would not buckle, not even in overtime, in fact, it takes six Stickmen shooters before the game would finally fall to the Sticks. The Komets lose the battle but still have the upper hand in the war. . . for the KEG.

Patriots (2-1-1) 1
Blue Devils (3-1-0) 2

Pats half-ass into losing skid


Can you blame the lack of schedule for this? In what should have been one of the more important games of their regular season, the Pats only bring half of their players. Questions of commitment are popping-up around goaltender, jon ellis, and the absence of Captain Les York did not go unnoticed, either. The Devils came prepared, their extra manpower allows them to fight through six minutes worth of penalty kill until in the second period they finally get a power play opportunity of their own. Jay Peters collects the goal to put the Devils on top. Bryan Brookman evens the score a few minutes later, but the short bench catches up with the Pats after another Blue Devil goal, this one belongs to Charlie "Kiss My" Heine. The Devils hold-on for the win in the third.

Snipers (1-2-1) 5
DFW Titans (1-3-0) 3

Snipers shock the major world


Matt Walker had a good week at Mike Moore's goaltending clinic, and comes up with an impressive win. It certainly wasn't just the work between the pipes though, Jesse Henderson and Chris Hale prove to be a very effective combination the team-up for the first two goals, Henderson gets the first, Hale the second. Tyler Klunder puts one in for the Titans, but Henderson gets the assist on another Sniper goal, this time it's Ed Vogel with the "g". All of this Sniper offense before the fourth minute ticks off the clock. . . Then another goal from Henderson in the last minute of the first? Maybe James Barber, Titan netminder, needs to do some self-examination? Bill Turner scores one for the Titans early in the second, but the Snipers tie the period and hang-on to their three goal lead until the third. Sniper, Chris Davis, puts the Titans on the advantage one too many times and Mike Kirkland makes them pay. . . I guess, the Titans still lose by two. Lunchbox has a four point night with no penalties, he was due.

Brewzers (1-2-1) 3
Ice Bats (3-1-0) 4

Bats, a one man crew


After a long, boring first period, the Brewzers, vias John Parker, manage to generate a goal, the first one to get past Tony Marra this season (according to my records). Before the period ends, Eric Petty steps-up from the point to even the score. In the third, Petty takes the lead and then one more. Young Joshua Sutton of the Brewzers scores two of his own to tie the game, the second on the power play. But unable to contain himself, Petty skates to the other end and grabs the winner, with less than thirty seconds left in the game.

contributing to the delinquency of a
Minor

Privateers (4-0-0) 3
LSI (4-1-0) 1

Privateers triumph in best test so far


The Privateer offense wasn't able to run free as in some games, but Steve Haley does get the only goal for the first period. Kevin McGlaun commits a hooking penalty as time expires putting the Imports on the power play to start the second, but the 'Teers kill-it-off and hang on to the one goal lead until the third. In the final frame the Privateers punch one more in off the stick of Patrick Haley, LSI needed something. Gabe Rivera maintains his scoring streak and brings the Imports to within one, with nearly half the period left to play. Ryan Haley makes a key save just after the seventh minute, and spots a breaking Joel Bush, she hits him with the pass at center ice where he carries it in untouched for the spirit killer. A few more awesome saves and Ryan secures the Privateer win.

Whalers (3-2-0) 3
Chiefs (2-2-0) 1

Whalers, get-up, stand-up


After a scoreless first, despite having a power play opportunity, the Whalers stir it up with a goal from Paul Thurston. They have to wait until the third to get another, it comes from Ben Schechter. Thurston is jammin', and collects one more. On their exodus to a three nothing shut-out the Whalers give-up a goal in the last half of the period, Jimmy "Stone-Cold" Welch sends one in from the point and Tom Harntichek tips it in past the otherwise flawless Gregg Mata. The Whalers have only one love this session, and that is winning. Could this session be the Whaler's redemption song? Couldn't work-in "No Woman, No Cry".

Grave Diggers (0-4-0) 2
Puckers (2-2-0) 4

Puckers bury Diggers


Ellis is still out, and Bob Sirkis ably fills-in. . . David James scores two unanswered goals for the Puckers. Randy Cappel finds a way to beat Donaghue at the other end. Prodigal forward Teresa Leon gets a goal (first time, in a long time) to pad the Pucker lead. Chappel scores another, but proves to be the only one able to solve Donaghue, the Diggers give-up one more to Larry Nouanemany, before falling-out of the play-off picture. While Sirkis played well in his debut, the Maestro at the other end has convinced him to hang-up the pads forever. . . or at least until next session.

Silverwings (1-2-1) 4
Team Euless (1-3-0) 5

Someone had to win


The "C-train" Sergio Castillo, leaves the station right on time, scoring a Wing goal in the first minute. Paul Reid adds to the lead a couple of minutes later. Late in the period, Casey Jenkins stops the bleeding with a Euless goal. In the second, Val Kuntz ties the game with her power play goal, and Guy Riggs puts Euless on top. Scott Alcon knots it up again leaving the decision for the third. Larry Nouanemany scores on the power play for Team Euless, and Rick Gregory makes the lead into two. The C-train pulls-in again but this is the end of the line, there would be no hat trick, no over time, no shoot-out, just a sick feeling in the pit of the Silverwing stomach.

In the News

Here's something different, let's see if I survive.

The economy is in the dumps, and just like with everybody else, the best way to make things better is to spread it around. Therefore the stock market is falling on the Stars. Marty isn't the best goalie in the league as per usual, he's not even the best Marty in the league, despite Brodeur being inactive now. Biron is kicking his arse. It isn't all on Marty, though. How much longer can we go without Lehtinen and Zubov? I really liked the idea of signing of Avery, and it is now obvious that not only would I make a terrible NHL general manager, but so would a couple of other guys. . . Oh my sweet lord, someone please help the Stars!

Are there any good teams in the area anymore?

What about me?

This weekend, I will be burying my head in the sand. After being showed-up by the Privateers, Ice Bats, and for Pete's sake the Chiefs.

I had been looking forward to dealing out a little sumthin'-sumthin' to those Blue Devils, but I just don't think I can show my face in the place.

I am retreating to Lubbock, to sit at the feet of Mike Leach. To learn how to win. The remainder of my free time in the work week will be spent at the Mike Moore Goaltending Clinic. So watch out next week.

Elsewhere. . .

Do you remember how you felt in the weeks after 9/11? There was a feeling of patriotism that permeated the entirety of the country. It cut across racial and political lines. You felt proud to be an American.

Unfortunately, it came at a great expense. And, the intense sadness of the whole event often overpowered the collective embrace. Often, there was an anger boiling-up.

I voted for the first time last week, and I Barack-ed the vote. I felt good doing my part as an American. I didn't start to feel anything as powerful as those seven years ago until last night.

I am only thirty-two and I'm not black, and will never be able to understand the extent to which the American life can be distorted just by the color of your skin, but it is humbling to think of how much has changed in what is only a long lifetime. On the verge of tears myself, I listened to the testimonies of men and women who had endured inhuman treatment, constant oppression, and their overwhelming disbelief, to be at the precipice of such a moment in this nation's history. The unthinkable. A black president.

I certainly hope that no matter your political affiliation that you will realize what a positive moment this is, how much healing and unity can result from this one event. I feel good to be an American, again. It doesn't solve everything. It doesn't solve a lot of things. It is a huge step toward the American ideal, where anyone can go as far as their will can carry them.

I don't know if this will come across the way I want it to, but, this time it is a purer feeling, because it comes without that expense, without the sadness, fear, and anger. The payment is the event itself.

We May Have Something Here. . .

Things are finally getting interesting in the fourth week of the schedule. . . LSI and the Privateers are battling for dominance in the minors: LSI had zero goals against until this week, the 'Teers have (in the three games that I have records for) twenty goals for. One of these teams will be graduating the Minors at the end of this session, should be quite a battle when they eventually meet.

The Komets stand alone atop the Majors, as the Pats fall in the shoot-out this week. In fact all of the major games were very close except for the Komets, who mopped the floor with the misplaced Snipers. The Snipe will have to set their sights on next session when they will be rightly placed in the Minors. Definitely some discretions on Yockey's part for the Major/Minor division, unfortunately the Snipers will suffer the most from this decision.

Minor

Privateers (3-0-0) 7
Grave Diggers (0-3-0) 1

left : Brooks Willhoite, Jon Ellis, Cody Payne (l,r)


Well, I threw down the gauntlet. . . The 'Teers lit a fire in front of the Digger's net and no matter how much gasoline I threw on it, I just couldn't put it out! The Privateer tide rolled in quickly, in the fourth minute of the game, Casey "Bring the" Payne puts one behind me, Bush gets his only point of the game for the assist. In the seventh minute it's Patrick Haley who comes away with the tally. To finish off the first period, Cody "Max" Payne, puts up the third unanswered goal for the 'Teers. The second sees an early goal from Robert Meassengale (pointstreak spelling, AKA Bob-O) and a counter punch from Bruce Davis of the Grave Diggers. For a moment it looked like the Diggers might have a chance. At the other end, Ryan Haley responds to the pressure with timely saves on every Digger scoring chance, crushing their hopes. In the third the Diggers returned to the ice with their heads hanging, breathing through their mouths, with heavy skates they chased the 'Teers as the chasm widened between the two teams. Steve Haley scored first, followed by a goal by Erick Ahlstedt, and Casey scores the final goal of the night. They bested me with their wood, their composite. They bested me with speed. They must have out-played Ellis, and a team that can do that can plan my castle onslaught any day.

Calm down a bit, Willhoite, we're all havin' fun here, right?

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


The Whalers got the first franchise victory last week against the hard luck Diggers but prove it was no aberration with the start of a streak. The Puckers, on the shoulders of Patrick Donaghue, get behind in the first minute, as Brad Watson scores for the early Whaler lead. Chris Mosely ties the game half way through the period, only to give back the lead late in the period to Whaler, Kenneth Thomas. The Puckers win the second period with the first goal coming from John Ward. Brian Hamstra, Whaler captain, gains the the lead, but with their second goal of the second period, Steve Niecamp knots the score leaving the third period for the colossal battle between these two Minor power houses. Both teams lock down their defenses until halfway through the frame when Kyle Boltz puts the Whalers on the power play, Captain Hamster finds a way late on the advantage to sink the winner. The Whalers may be figuring this thing out, heck if you work with the stock market 9-5, I-league shouldn't be too hard.

Team Euless (0-3-0) 0
Chiefs (2-1-0) 3


The collection of leftovers, known as Team Euless got on the ice without a goalie, Bob Sirkis made a great stick save on the first Chief shot but could not find the rebound directly between his skates, Troy Clarkson does. . . Ellis arrives to try to stop the bleeding, throws a pass to the wrong color jersey, Bill Broad skates it back in and scores high glove. Team Euless takes a moment to breath, collect themselves, and make it to halfway through the second before Thomas Harnitchek holds Ellis to the post before sending the puck to David Dahms in the slot, who delays then beats Ellis top shelf. The Chiefs play most of the third in the Euless end, but somehow fail to score again. Ayala gets his second consecutive shut-out. Do you smell what the Chiefs are cookin'?

LSI (4-0-0) 5
Silverwings (1-1-1) 4


The last game on the gold rink was a doozy. After nearly seven minutes of scoreless hockey the usual LSI suspects show up on the score board. First, it's Gabe Rivera quickly followed by Katherine Levesque. Sergio "The C-Train" Castillo blazes down the ice to put a dent in the Import game with a late goal. In the second, Castillo hits it again on the power play, and before the Imports can adjust their game plan, he makes the hat trick. In the third, Ryan Kelly puts the Wings up by two but the Imports knuckle down. Just five seconds into their power play opportunity, LSI goal leader, Gabe Rivera, gets his second. And, with only little more than a minute left in regulation, Erik Todd steals the momentum with his tying goal. In over time, A flurry erupts in front of Silverwing net minder Eric Spivey and in just thirteen seconds it all comes to an end: Mark Haman sends it to Linda Mason, Mason finds Ken Lentz, Lentz drills it home for the LSI victory. LSI had no goals against, until tonight, where they proved that they have the fortitude to when in the clutch. The poor Silverweinies find a new way to lose.

Major

Patriots (2-0-1) 2
Ice Bats (2-1-0) 3


The new look Patriots take the ice limiting shooting from the Bats to three shots in the first and scoring on the power play with forward Bryan Brookman. In the second it was more of the same, the scoring this time from Brad Allen. In the third the Patriots dug in to ride the lead in, but the Bats, more specifically Eric Petty, would not go down, on the power play, Petty gets some space and beats Ellis with a quick one over the glove. Petty scores again late in the third with a deflection off a defenseman's skate to beat Ellis on the ice this time for the tie. Over time would not be enough and in the shoot-out, it's Petty again, on the first Ice Bat shot who scores off the cuff of Ellis glove. . . no one else could net a thing. Last session, the first loss for the Patriots proved to be a defining moment, has the team got the character to overcome this time?

DFW Titans (1-2-0) 2
Stickmen (1-2-0) 3

The Sticks pull-out their first win against the hot-and-cold Titans. It's the Sticks who score first with the goal from Lynn Young in the second minute. The Titans strike back with a goal from Lincoln Foster to tie the game. The second was the Clint Tippet show as he scores for the Stickmen two goal lead. Brittany Boisvert brings the Titans within one with her early goal in the third but, despite having nearly ten minutes to tie the game, the Titans fall short. Blubaugh looked less than stellar but comes away with the win.

Blue Devils (2-1-0) 3
Brewzers (1-1-1) 2


In Blubaugh's second game, his offense shows up first with a goal from Devil Jake Reynolds, the only goal of the first. In the second Scott Spellman puts the Devils up by two but sees his efforts erased by the goal from Brewzer lightning rod Joshua Sutton, he would draw on this later. In the third the Brewzers' Nidal Al Jabri draws on the last meeting of these two teams and this time it is he who bests Blubaugh to tie the game. After a deadlocked over time, the shoot-out commenced, and it's Spellman who uses his anger to strike Mike Moore down on the first Blue Devil attempt. But in the last Brewzer attempt it was Nidal's chance again to send it to extra shooters, he slides to Blubaugh's glove side, Blubaugh stacks the pads, Nidal lifts the puck, but it hits the edge of Blubaugh's glove. . . The Blue Devils hold on to tie for second in the standings.

Komets (3-0-0) 5
Snipers (0-2-1) 0


In the final game on the green rink, the Snipers laid their head on the chopping block. The Komets are the talk of the league these days, and without a loss on their record, they certainly deserve to be. This week it would not be another tight one goal lead though, they drill five goals while maintaining a shut-out for long time Komet netminder, Brent Bryant. Wil Dobson gets an assist on Rodney Forehand's goal. After only a few more seconds, Wil gets his own goal, followed by a lull of nine and a half minutes of scoreless grab-ass-ery. After a power nap between periods the Komets come roaring back with another goal, this one from Dustin Nation, Dobson gets the assist. Ram Lavani rams one home to close out the period. Early in the third, Bryan Brookman gets an unassisted goal before the Komets crawl into a shell to finish the game. A three point night for Dobson, it is however, against the Snipers. Maybe things would be different if Matt would wear his business socks.