Fun With a Purpose

Maybe I'm just a little immature, hanging-on to my youth with this hockey gig, but their are moments when I can justify my participation in more substantial ways than a healthy, recreational workout. A large part of the life affirming feeling that I get is from the charitable associations that present themselves in such a close community as ours. Another one of those opportunities has come to my attention just this week.



Tim Zemens has been giving back to the greatest sport on ice for quite awhile, in the thankless pursuit of ref-ing. But a deeper calling came to him about seven years ago when he was diagnosed with cancer. Specialized treatments were necessary, and available in only two spots in the country at the time. He chose his home town of Detroit. The ensuing family reunion was bittersweet with the reminders of his family's losses to cancer. But Tim fought hard and was blessed with a full recovery. He re-directed his life toward awareness and caregiving to those in similar situations, and received an even more harrowing lesson when he sat helpless watching his son undergo brain surgery after a traumatic car wreck. The outpouring of humanity from family and friends in both of these calamities focused his own feelings of compassion into the forming of the Hoffen Foundation, a multi-faceted charity aiming at the assistance of children in need, you can read more about it at http://www.hoffenfoundation.org/aboutus.html.

Read the rest of this article at WhereHockeyHappens.com

Minor Changes

Minor I
Warriors (0-2-0) 3
Brewzers (2-0-0) 4

Minor's opening weekend was a modest one, just the one game, the Brewzers were prepared at puck-drop. John Parker puts the Brewzers in control with two goals and Eric Johnson closes the all Brewzer period. In the second, the Warriors flip the flop- Chris Dolbee scores two and then, oops. Eric Johnson claims his second goal to bolster the Brewzers and Derek Tillemans scores for the Warriors in vain, giving his best episode III Darth Vader impersonation.

Major I

Whalers (0-2-0) 2
Shockers (2-0-0) 4

David Jackson's debut in net with the Shockers is a "good thing". After surrendering two goals to the Whalers in the first period (Paul Thurston and Josh Monaco) he settles in, locking-out all of Hamstra's heroes for the remainder of the game. The Shockers take-up the gauntlet immediately tying the game before the first intermission with goals from Thomas Mathias and Nick McMacken. Matt Rusel wins the game in the second and McMacken drives home one more in the third for good measure. Shockers, undefeated, can this hold-up?

Spiders (2-0-0) 3
Blue Devils I (1-1-0) 0

Just enough offense and great netminding make for a Spider win. Freddy Gilbert arrests the lead early for the Spiders and finally in the third Period Roger Taz joins him on the board. David Blubaugh his forced to abandon the net in the closing minute of the game but the desperation offense backfires and Evan Callahan beats the buzzer for the empty-net tally.

Patriots (0-2-0) 1
Puckers (1-1-0) 2

The Patriots had a disastrous session in SND and responded by changing leagues, but the disappointment continues. The frustrated Puckers find their way into the net with a goal in the middle of the second period from Mike Ahlstedt. Jason Arias builds a Pucker lead with his tally in the middle of the third before the Patriots manage their first goal of the game- Greg Durante claims the goal in the losing effort. The problems may not be goaltending or defense for the Pats. . .

SND

These are the scores from SND, since the inclusion of so many teams to Saturday night play, I have decided to return to the roots of this blog with a focus onI-league. My time is becoming too valuable. . .

Ice Bats (0-2-0) 5
Komets (1-1-0) 7

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

Warriors D (2-0-0) 9
Canadiens (1-1-0) 5

Episode XXVI a New Hope

Just last week in an ice rink in Euless the champions were crowned for both the I-league and the thinly veiled SND. We all had a pretty decent time, I even got the opportunity to do the introductions and sing the anthem for the Keg game, much to the chagrin of the referees on watch. The pictures. . .





There are more on my Facebook. You may also notice on my "wall" that Frank Casperson is recovering well from Joey's follow-through.

So this week things got underway for the new session with its two I-league divisions and SND in tow, some were only practices. I know that no one believes me that I won't be playing on Saturdays, and I did play this weekend, true, but that's it. I will be harder to find than a pair of Team Zissou Adidas Rom's from now on. Here's a good-bye pic from this weekend-er. . .

On to the games. . .

I-league

Blue Devils I (1-0-0) 6
Patriots (0-1-0) 1

Jacob Fulghan receives a rude welcome to the ice, his first time to play on the slick surface, replacing me in the Pat's net. He allows his first to Ed Vogel on the power play his next a shorty to Clint Tippett. Tippett gets another before Aaron Smith finally puts the Pats on the board. That would conclude the Patriots' offensive output as the Devils tack-on another three: two from Daryl Weiland and one from Matt Weinrich. Things are looking bumpy for the Patriots, again.

Shockers (1-0-0) 2
Puckers (0-1-0) 1

Patrick Donaghue is, once again, the force to be reckoned with in Pucker red, but the Shockers have a weapon of their own: Wil Dobson. Dobson drills home the first Shocker goal, late in the first and it happened in the third. . . Ginger Parker ties the game. Is this an error? Anyway, it goes for naught as the Puckers fail to contain the wiry Dobson who scores the crushing blow.

Whalers (0-1-0) 2
Spiders (1-0-0) 4

The Whalers salute themselves when Hamstra drains the first goal of the game, but the lead is relinquished when Bill Wessel and Evan Callahan both collect Spider goals. Dave Svoboda rallies with a Whaler equalizer but the Spiders have found a league they can play in, Mike Reeves wins the game and the Spiderweb defense holds-on allowing an empty net opportunity for Wessel.

SND

Privateers (1-0-0) 6
Ice Bats (0-1-0) 3

The Bats build on their last victory with the opening goal from, eh hmm. . . Hong Kong Kim, the 'Teers tie the period with a Patrick Haley goal (I guess beating me in Friday night D-league wasn't enough). Randy Perry takes the 'Teer lead for a moment, Chris Dolbee evens it up. Then the Privateers open the throttle- Chris Perkins and Tony Finazzo score. Ice Bat, Bruce Davis, interrupts with his tally and the 'Teers finish off with Joel Bush and another Perkins.

Komets (0-1-0) 2
Canadiens (1-0-0) 5

The Canadiens ruled the first frame, more specifically, Gabe Rivera did, with four goals. The second, however, was all Komets with goals from A. J. DiBenedetto and. . . well, that's it, just the one. Wil Dobson looked to be turning the momentum in the first minute of the third, cutting the Can lead in half, but Rivera snaps in another, whilst snapping the Komet nation beneath his skates. Gallagher blames a new stick on his lack of production.

Blue Devils (0-0-1) 1
Warriors D (1-0-0) 2

In the end of the first period, Clark Sandlin claims the tentative Warrior lead, it holds-up for the remainder of the frame and all of the second, but in the early third the Warriors' anemic offense sees its lead vanish with stickwork of Jake Reynolds, and the game would rest with the goaltenders from then on. Thirty shooters later Chris Dolbee makes it through the exhibition again and scores the winner for the Warriors. Michaelides survives the marathon puck-stopping experience making 37 stops in play and 14 more in the shoot-out.

The Stanley Keg is in the Building

I-league

Brewzers (2-9-1) 1
Mutineers (4-7-1) 3

We all know how hard a time Raul Gilbreath has putting pucks in the net so perhaps he should try keeping them out, makes sense, right? Wrong. The Brewzers make the first goal of the game hoping that a Steve Daniels' lead offense will balance out the lack of experience in the net. The Mutineers make adjustments for the cherry-picking and tie with a goal from John Swartzbaugh, win with Nate Hamilton's bold stroke, and top-off the season with a power play goal from Kyle Boltz. Ryan Haley is raring to get off the DL, and reclaim her position in the Mutineer net but who will push Gilbreath out of the Sniper crease?

Grave Diggers (1-6-4) 6
Silverwings (5-7-0) 8

Another odd fit in net- the Diggers debut Chilly. Stephen had a little trouble finding a rhythm in the opening minutes, Troy Ramsey finds the back of the net first and Silverwing-wingman Sergio Castillo goes next. On the power play Justin McCullough cashes in and Scott Alcon makes it four unanswered Wing goals. Billy Quinn comes to the Digger rescue with two goals but Chilly allows another to Ramsey. Quinn responds with a hat trick, McCullough cancels, and Quinn goes fourth. Castillo jumps on the teeter-totter followed by a Digger push from Tom Edwards. Bryan Brookman swings it back toward the Silverwings and the final goal is a digger tally from Tim Rivers. Close, but Chilly's slow start is too much for the Diggers to overcome in this underdog match-up. Bruce Frankel can't complain about the loss in Euless, just happy to be back where he belongs.

Snipers (6-4-1) 5
Puckers (6-5-1) 4

Another face from the past, Lee Miller, makes his presence felt with two early goals for the Snipers. The lead evaporates with goals from the Pucker elite: Rob Constantine and Jason Arias. The Snipers slip the hold with a goal from Eddie Vogel and another from Jeff "the Red Plug" Vaughan (I think the name has something to do with his hair and defensive skill). Arias makes a hat trick and ties the game late, setting-up a staring competition between the two grizzled veterans between the pipes, Michaelides for the Snipers, Donaghue for the Puckers. Donaghue blinks thirty seconds later and David Counce wins one for the Big Red Machine.

LSI (6-5-0) 8
Spiders (6-5-1) 1

The Spiders hit the ice with six skaters and a goalie, that's fourteen legs- impressive for one spider, not so much for a hockey team. Ken Lentz leads the way for the LSI, then the Spiders start their two minute shifts in the box, rest was hard to come by. Catherine Levesque has the first power play goal, Cody Woodward strikes at a nominally full strength opposition. Carina Manalo claims the lone Spider goal, and quickly retires to the sin bin. The Imports resume their onslaught with a Matt Dever goal and two power play goals from Ken Lentz, a hat trick. Danny "R" piles-on and Lentz makes his fourth I-league goal of the night.

Whalers (8-4-0) 3
Blue Devils I (8-2-2) 1

The Whalers missed their opportunity for the Keg but find no challenge in BDI, Paul Thurston takes the lead and who else but the Hamster should claim the game winner? Well, that was more or less a rhetorical question, it was Brian Hamstra. The Beady Eyes get their only goal from Mark Millard and in the third period Thurston beats Blubaugh again, sending the netminder into a emotional spiral for the night.

Warriors (6-4-2) 1
Shockers (8-3-1) 4

It was crazy! Josh Rooker and Justin Driscoll score enough goals to win the game for the Shockers in the first period, but the Phil Brown goal gives the Warriors a glimmer of hope. The third was where the universe began to collapse upon itself. Eric Yepez scores another Shocker goal early in the frame and Tillemans responds with a hook, putting the Shockers on the advantage. Thomas Mathias commits a double before that one expires and Chuck Dolbee seeing his son at the receiving end takes himself out of the game with fifteen minutes worth of penalties and plenty of expletives. The Warriors never regain their composure and a total of twelve more penalty minutes pass before the game ends. Nick McMacken grabs a goal in the midst, somehow at even strength, for the Shockers. And, once again, the Power Puff Girls save the day!

Soul Patch (7-3-1) 2
Stickmen (9-2-1) 3

The KEG!

After a lengthy introduction, the teams finally take the ice for an epic battle of I-league powers. Clint Tippet is the only one to penetrate in the first period and it comes in the final minute, surely defining the tone of the second period. But the Soul Patch bucks the trend scoring the equalizer early in the period with a shot from Kenneth Watkins. The Sticks reclaim the lead with a Kyle Rybak goal tenaciously holding the one point lead until Jesse Henderson figures-out his role and supplies the security of a two goal lead with only five seconds left in the second. The Patches struggle to hold-off the Sticks and come up with a goal in the middle of the final period from Brian Lochkos but fail to tie the game. The Stick offense was too much for the Patches, they spend too much of their time in their own end getting outshot 30 to 18. The Sticks hold on for the third Keg win, but the Soul Patch could be back next year, like the Penguins and the Oilers before them, a dynasty can begin with a heartbreaking loss. . .

SND the bastard league, will it make it another session?

Canadiens (4-7-2) 6
Blue Devils (7-5-1) 10

The original six match-up for third? The Ringer ho-down rolled back and forth, end to end with neither team taking any real advantage with scores from the likes of Chase Hannah, J.T. Macha, James Barber, Casey Jenkins, Ken Lentz, Chris Gallagher, Charlie Heine, and Scottie Haman. The third period is where the Devils finally took the upperhand ending the period with a 4 to 2 differential. Both teams were complaining about rosters afterward, a wash?

Patriots (2-10-1) 2
Ice Bats (5-6-2) 9

The once great Patriots knew they were unlikely to make an impact, they were right. The Bats lined-up on the midway trying to win giant stuffed animals for their girlfriends, Joel Blixt is the first to knock over the milk bottles, but can only do it on the power play. Corby Antropik dusts off his stick, after a couple years on the shelf, Chuck Dolbee was next. John Newell breaks things up with a Patriot goal, but Frank Casperson returns things to normal with two goals for his Bats. Andy Latham rings the bell at the top of the pole, Danny Grimes beats Ellis to the angle, and Kendall Bernard adds one more Patriot tally! Chuck gets his second and just misses on the sweet feed for the hat trick. Stanley Kim finally puts one behind the Patriots net minder to end the night. The score never seemed to affect the emotion of the game much which for the most part was positive and fun. In a zealous play on the puck behind the net, Joey Otsuka catches his own defenseman, Casperson, just below the eyebrow with his stick on the follow through. Last I knew he was headed to the hospital, hoping to hear good news about this situation.

Komets (9-3-1) 5
Privateers (12-0-1) 6

The Championship game looked to have nothing on paper, the undefeated in regulation 'Teers versus a strong, but fallible Komets squad, but what the Komets lacked in talent they made up for in charisma. The 'Teers started things up on the scoreboard as expected with a goal from Tony Finazzo, and another from Brian Zientek. The Komets end the first with a power play tally from Graham Dunlap. The Komets can't carry the momentum into the second suffering another Privateer assault from first Matt Taylor, then when the Komets take the man advantage they watch as first Zientek claims a shorty, then Joel Bush- a five to one Privateer advantage. The Komets make more late period heroics finally capitalizing on the power play with a Billy Ashman goal. The Komets review their strategies in the second intermission deciding their hopes rested on the shoulders of one man- Graham Dunlap starts the third with two goals completing his hat trick. The Privateers answer with Zientek's hat trick, so Dunlap one-ups him- unfortunately it's in the final second of the game, meaning the Komets fall short by one goal of forcing overtime. What would that really mean against a team like the Privateers? Who knows, that's why we play the game. Congratulations to the Privateers on a hard fought victory.

Euless-GV game thrives

Way, way back in the fall of 2005, when I was just learning to stand up on skates, I just couldn't get enough hockey. I went to Stars games, I bought the Center Ice package. I drove my wife nuts. And, I joined not one but three I-league programs. Those were the days.

Anyway, we were coming up to the end of seasons in both the Euless and Grapevine leagues. I approached the coordinator in GV (Steve Kaeppel) and suggested a Death Match. I would bring over a bunch of I-leaguers from Euless and play their bunch. He agreed, and we killed 'em. Then, a few months later, we killed 'em again. That image above is from the T-shirt I had made for the winners in that March 2006 game. I wrote about it here.

Well, the game caught on despite the inequity. (Grapevine is a true I-league, for those of you who don't know. It's a better place to learn the fundamentals, IMO. The guy who runs the show at The Parks also does a nice job of coaching.)

We at Euless have mostly kicked their butts, but they've won one or two, I think. At some point, the Komets became the defacto Euless representative. Komets coordinator Bruce Frankel made a trophy, the Heineken Kup, that you'll see behind the bar in Euless.

I have long since moved on, but I was surprised recently when Wil Dobson emailed me with his dispatch on the latest game. I told him I'd repost his report, but I'll just link to it. He's got pictures there, too.

Kudos to Wil for keeping the tradition alive.

BC

First Round Follies

I am not informed, nor can I figure out who is playing for the Keg (I-league championship), but here's how the scheduled games played-out. If I had more time, I'd do the research but as it happens I left my six year old daughter to be babysat while I was doing some of my work for the blog with a movie. I thought it was "National Velvet", young girl, horses, blah-blah- success. Turns-out I recorded "Blue Velvet". . .

I-league

Grave Diggers (1-5-4) 5
Brewzers (2-8-1) 4

Some roster changes on both teams may have lead to the first Digger victory of the session. The Brewzers put Topher McPherson in their net and the Diggers call for Canadien's netminder A. J. DiBenedetto. No stranger to the Brewzer's boxscore, Steven Collyard establishes a two goal lead for his team mates, but Bruce Davis and late sub Ryan Smith tie the game back up. Tim Rivers drives the pill through Topher for the Digger lead early in the second only to watch it evaporate with another goal from Collyard and a lead change in the Brew Crew's favor with a Tom Buckner tally. In the third Digger rookie, Diana Edwards saves the day sending the game to overtime, her first goal of her hockey career could not of come at a better time. In the extra period, Ryan Smith makes the most of a rare Saturday night appearance winning the game for his dear friend Chilly, while Becky looks on from the crossbar. Topher reportedly has recorded a replacement for the Wilhelm scream.

Shockers (7-3-1) 3
Spiders (6-4-1) 2

The Shockers, fresh off their defeat in the Heineken Cup, unleash their frustrations on the incredibly shorthanded Spiders. Josh Rooker leads the charge but the Spiders counter with a goal from Roger Gray. Free agent acquisition Wil Dobson sets out to earn a long term contract with the Shockers by regaining the lead and Nick McMacken donates another for a comfortable two goal lead into the third. Like sands through the hour glass, the limited quality shifts from the lean Spider bench slip away- the last nepotismic goal comes from Heather Gray. No Jennifer Gray on the roster, and nobody puts baby in the corner.

Whalers (7-4-0) 0
Stickmen (8-2-1) 2

Everything counts in large amounts. . . except scoring. If you like defense and goal tending you have come to the right re-cap. Ken Halford and Glenn Listman in the first for the Sticks. McCollister holds the line against nineteen shots.

The Whalers were spotted crying to Adagio for Strings, Hamstra's hands pleading to the heavens for mercy.

Warriors (6-3-2) 3
Puckers (6-4-1) 1

The first period is a wash- the early Warrior goal from John Erickson is negated by the late goal from Steven Niekamp. The impotent Puckers fail to penetrate the zone, much less the net, watching Donaghue flail about keeping the game tied against thirty Warrior shots. But, Patrick is handcuffed by the patented partnership of pugilism and prestidigitation that is Chris Dolbee, surrendering the lead in the first minute of the third. Dusty Smith compounds his problems with a tripping violation that ends in a power play goal for Derek "Tea for the" Tillemans. The Puckers were sunk.

Mutineers (3-7-1) 1
Snipers (5-4-1) 2

Donaghue would not settle for an ending to the night on those Pucker terms and finds a quantum of solace in the Sniper nest. . . err, "net". He would relinquish the first goal to Mutineer center (and sometimes goalie) Patrick Haley, but he was avenged by Sniper wing (and former goalie) Terry Redmon. Bill Turner suffers the offense in the Mutineer net, leaving all of Euless wondering where the last netminder, Ryan Haley, might be. The two juggernauts lock into a scoreless tussle that must ultimately be decided by a shoot-out. The first shooter, Ed Vogel, gains the advantage for the Snipers and no one else can muster a meritous shot, Snipers win.

LSI (5-5-0) 2
Silverwings (4-7-0) 4

The Wings have discovered a goal scoring machine, Ryan Kelley. Kelley takes responsibility for all of the first period offense with the two-nil lead for the Silverwings. Cameron Bogle cuts the lead in half, but Sergio Castillo cancels his mark with one of his own. Cody Woodward tries to turn the tide for his Imports but he would be the last to mount an assault for LSI and Kelley takes the opportunity to gain the hat trick, his first but not his last of the night.

Soul Patch (7-2-1) 6
Blue Devils I (8-1-2) 5

Terry Redmon tries to play every position on the ice by taking the net for the BDI's, perhaps the burden was too heavy. . . The Devils put their goalie on the spot by spending most of the first in the box, Brian Lochkos collects the first Patch power play goal, Casey Jenkins evens it up. On the man advantage, Brad Aho puts the Patches up again, this time Martin Berryman ties it. The Patches escape the first with the lead, however, when despite being on the kill, Aho gets his second of the night. Mark Millard returns the goal volley with a BDI equalizer but Aho again puts the Patches in front- a hat trick. Casey Jenkins makes it deuce and Jeff Lester finally takes it to advantage BDI but before they can break serve Brian Blake ties the game again. Another shoot-out plays host to twenty shooters and the only score comes from James Paxton for the Soul Patch win.

SND

Ice Bats (4-6-2) 2
Privateers (11-0-1) 3

The Privateers had this one well in hand, whatever the score might suggest to the contrary. Matt Taylor has a goal and a helper to Patrick Haley for the 'Teer lead. The depleted Bat offense finds a spark from Andrew Latham, but the fire refuses to ignite. Brian Zientek finds his way through the squalor to net another Privateer goal and Joey Couch nets a meaningless late game goal for the gasping Bats. As the records make evident, these teams are on the extreme ends of the post season seating and as often happens when there is so much on the line, it got a little messy. . . did anyone expect any less from these two teams? Eighteen minutes in penalties. The 'Teers play for it all next week, against. . . the Komets. As a consolation, Joey Otsuka looked outstanding in the losing effort stopping thirty-three of thirty-six.

Canadiens (4-6-2) 4
Patriots (2-9-1) 5

The fight for last place in the SND original six came down to a battle between the hard luck Patriots and Ryan Kelley. The Pats were on the board first when Kendall Bernard chips the rebound over A. J. in the Kelley's net. Ryan Kelley leaps the lead in a single shift with two goals, but the Patriots lift their spirits with a tying goal from Aaron Smith. To complete the active first period Chris Gallagher puts the Kelley's back on top. Joe Picardo puts the Patriot power play at 100% with his tying goal, but again Kelley takes the lead with his hat trick earning goal. In the third period the Patriots collapse on Kelley limiting his shots and suffering another penalty for it but the survive the Ryan Kelley offense and manage to send it to over time when Jeff Eagle breaks the plane. The shoot-out runs through eight shooters, four from each team, that all score- before the first stop is finally made. The last shooter is Dallas Lehr and he wins the game for the Pats, the Kelley's may have another chance next week as it seems inevitable that the two teams left in the post-season cold will have to play one another by default.

Blue Devils (6-5-1) 0
Komets (9-2-1) 5

With a win against the long reigning Blue Devils, is the Komets rebuilding process complete? Only one game remains. . . Terry Redmon is quickly assuming the role of goalie for hire, abandoned by yours truly, as he takes the place of the vacationing Blubaugh (commitment issues?). The Devils claimed to be shorthanded in post game interviews but the recorded rosters show the Komets to have only one more player than the Blue Devils, nonetheless, the Komets played like there was no one between them and the back of the net. After eleven minutes of skating in circles, practicing break-outs, and cycling in the corners- they turned it on with four goals in five minutes. The first was Graham Dunlap, then Ram Lavani and Billy Ashman, then the diminutive Lavani strikes again on the power play. The Green Giant delivers the Devil humbler.