Miss January

SNH: Well, Mel, you certainly are a busy woman, between our schedules I didn't know if this would ever happen!

Mel: What do you mean between our busy schedules? Do you mean the schedule where at least 1 time during a Saturday night I look over and there is your FULL MOON or I walk into the bathroom as you are walking out WITH ONLY an Old Spice soap container in front of you? Our schedules have matched up pretty well, just not in the desired format…. (HE HE HE)

SNH: Not desired? Coulda fooled me. . . To get on topic, I guess the first thing that everyone would like to know is where did you get this name "Super Girl"?

Mel: The Komets where looking to have fun names on their jerseys, versus last names. At first everyone was thinking Smurfette (given my former blond hair), but then I had a scuffle with this guy at Grapevine and the name just came. It was going to be Super Girl or Mohammed Ali…

SNH: Wow. . . who would've guessed!
So then, what would you say is your kryptonite? Besides me in net, of course.

Mel: I can’t wait to score a goal on you, I will stop and do push ups right in front of you…. HE HE HE… Seriously, right now, my kryptonite seems to be myself and lack of confidence. I have missed so many wide open nets in the last 3 months that it is almost like I have a jinx on me... Oh well, it’s hockey and I pay to play, I love it!!!


SNH: Now, obviously you're not from the planet Krypton, where does our Super Girl hail from?

Mel: Ummm, My mother’s womb… !!!! I was born and raised in Southern California until I turned 14 then my family moved to Texas. I went back to California (Miramar) in 1997 when I was in the Marine Corps, but eventually came back to DFW in 2001. Texas is where I consider home.

SNH: SoCal, heh-heh, yeah! Okay. Hockey by most accounts is a pretty masculine game, I know that doesn't always come across in I-league. You are very feminine, if you don't mind my saying so. How is that these two have become so beautifully juxtaposed?

Mel: HA!!!! Me feminine????? I like being that girl that is a guy’s type of girl. I golf, fish, hunt, scuba dive, play hockey, work out, love sports and yet can still pull off wearing a dress. I get a pedicure done every 2 weeks, only because I go barefoot in my hockey skates which can lead to nasty ingrown toenails. (Ok, Ok, maybe I like the cute little flowers they put on my toes and the nice, red toe nail polish, after all I am a girl!!!!) I know I'm not the only girl in the league that feels this way, but I like being that girl that when you say, “ I play hockey” people just look at you and think no way!!! You only live once, why not try to push the limits.

SNH: So, how long ago did you get into hockey?

Mel: I started skating, aka attempting to play hockey, in October of 2005! I watched a few games of a former friend and thought, heck I can do that. I put on skates and could actually skate! I couldn’t stop though, or carry the puck (HE HE HE not much has changed, now has it) but eventually I become comfortable and found my place on a hockey team.

I am the skater that tries to break up the plays and the forward that stays back when D carries the puck. I hope one day to become the goal scorer, but for now I am happy with my role. I am going to attempt my hand at playing D this session with the Silverwings.

SNH: So, other than at the rink, the work-out room, on the links, in the field or stream, or being a Marine. . . you must be the picture of femininity, right?

Yeah, I am a girl but in the words of Bryan Brookman, “Mel if you start looking like “China” from Gladiators I am going to shoot you." I enjoy working out and do this form of extreme work outs called CrossFit. Back in August I participated in a competition and came in 2nd place in the elite division. One of my goals when I started was I wanted to do 1 pull up. Given my rebuilt shoulder, the doctors told me I would never be able to. Well back in December I did 130 pull ups and beat every guy at our gym. To me working out is a necessity to a healthy life.

There are about 3 versions of Mel that happen every week:
Career Mel – super professional, and even wears high heel shoes

Work Out Mel – wants nothing more than to just be able to run and have a good deadlift

Hockey Mel – loves to play the game, even though not the best


SNH: Okay, so are you ever just a girl?

Mel: Well, there was this one time at band camp… Seriously, I wore a dress and had my hair and makeup all girly’d up in November. Bobby and I went to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Black Tie Ball – yeah it was a “FORMAL” event! In the words of Chilly Willy who saw me before I left to the event - “Mel you look like a girl - Holly heck, let me take a picture of this so I have proof!!!" I like to dress up every now and then; I am starting to get some killer looking legs that look good in a dress.

SNH: That's what I'm talkin' about! Got any pics? Uh, purely for journalistic research, I assure you.

Mel: Take a look, but please, keep your tongue in your mouth. I still can’t believe that is really me… ! I guess I can be a girl!

SNH: A girl like you must be hounded by the guys all the time, seeing anyone these days? (I move in a little closer)

Mel: Sorry dude, married guys are not my thing. Besides, why would I jeopardize the permission slip you have been given to finally come back to Saturday night hockey!!!! I just “might” have a thing with this guy I know. I think we have been dating for a week or something like that!

SNH: Oh. . . yeah, well, I'm spoken for, too. How did you two meet?

Mel: I had known of Bobby for a while but had never really spoken to him until December 2006. We had a D League Phantoms game vs. the former Wolverines (Now VBB) and the Phantoms were about to finally get a point by going to overtime. Well, that was until Bobby scored in the last 14 seconds of the game… So we went to the face off and he says, "I am handing out autographs at the end of the game…" I said “Fudge You!", only I used the real word, and the thing is I don’t use curse words. I used to love to hate him! LOL!

SNH: Yeah, what a prince, I still love to hate him.

Speaking of bastards, what do you think of the Nate Hodges retirement?

Mel: Little Ball of Hate… HE HE HE. That was my first nickname for Hodges. I love that guy to death. I am happy for him that he is retiring as a coach by having more Keg wins under him then Bobby does… LOL!

SNH: That guy is so full of himself, I guarantee, he will never beat me again!

Mel: Ellis, you are a total rock star, but even rock stars have off days!!!!

SNH: Right, I'm sorry. You're right, this is your interview, sorry, sorry. . . Uh, I uh, how many teams have you played for on a regular basis? And, which one is or was your favorite?

Mel: I play D League with the Phantoms and I league for Komets, Silverwings, and Grave Diggers. There is no way to pick a favorite team. Each team is filled with different aspects of the game and camaraderie; each team is a wonderful adventure I look forward to every week. The people I am blessed to play hockey with are part of my family and I look forward to many more years of this adventure.


SNH: Sure, like choosing between children. . . Whatever! Riddle me this, Super Girl. . . All of us macho men loves us a cat fight, have you ever thrown down with some other hottie on the ice?

Mel: Nope not a cat fight, but a pure "girl-whoopin'-up-on-a-guy" fight. I wish we had it on video tape. During a Komets vs. Grapevine game a few years back I did in fact throw down!!! One of their D guys kept jabbing his stick into my side I kept saying please stop, that really hurts. Then he started laughing and kept doing it. I told him do it again and see what happens. So he did and I dropped my stick, kept on my gloves, and just turned around and beat his butt down to the ground. While he is laying on the ground, I standing over top of him using all kinds of curse words telling him to never F’ing do that again or I will beat his little A$$. Before the ref could get the guy off the ground I skated myself to the penalty box. My entire team was laughing and in disbelief… Ref came to the penalty box as I was lifting up my jersey to observe my side, which was already bruising, and the he apologized to me for not seeing what was happening. He only gave me 2 mins….. HE HE HE… That was fun, but completely out of character for me.

SNH: Who would you most like to go toe to toe with?

Mel: Nah, I don’t think I would ever fight a girl player, there are so few of us that we need to stay tight. But maybe Stone Cold or Big Joe!!!

SNH: You would so kick their a$$es!

Mel: When I play against either Stone Cold or Big Joe, we always play fight, it's fun. But I am afraid that either of them might fall on me in the crease and I would be a Melly pancake!

SNH: This has been a very enlightening experience, Mel. Tell me, what else should I know about Melissa Knourek? What do you need to set straight?

Mel: Nothing much, what you see is what you get. I try to live my life so that if I were to die today people would actually come to my funeral and say nice things…

SNH: Can I ask you one more thing?

Mel: It is Sunday, and I am trying to watch the Eagles vs. Giants!!! But if you must you must… ask away. But, if I miss a first down conversion or a key play I am going to kick your butt!

SNH: Thank you, I'll be quick. What's up with all this pink tape, and laces, and stuff? Why do so many of you chicks go out of your way to plaster this stuff all over your gear?

Mel: Well, obviously you haven’t been paying attention. I took the pink laces out of my skates back in October. Jeez, get some new glasses!!!! Back in the day, because I am not very girly-girl, I was dared to wear something pink with my hockey gear. I think most of the guys thought I would get the pink gloves. But instead I went with the pink laces. Well then I started noticing a lot of other girls with the baby pink laces and I didn’t want to be part of a crowd, so I upgraded to the neon pink laces just to be obnoxious. Back in September, I had a great conversation with a fellow female hockey player who asked me why I would tarnish my good skating skills with my "look at me" pink laces. It was then that I realized I didn’t want anyone to judge me by my laces or anything else girly, I wanted them to judge me by my skating/hockey skills.

I will say I think the little girls in youth hockey are super cute wearing their pink laces amongst all those boys!!!!

SNH: Excellent! Thanks, again for helping me out with this, and the cute pics. By the way, I don't really follow your American Football very much, but I have a suspicion the G-men are goin' down. . .

Welcome to the Majors

The minor I-league sticks with the "instruction" part of I-league and holds the first of two practices, but the Majors (too good for practice, right?) jumped right into the fray. The Majors have added a few teams and the Snipers are not in the division anymore, bringing the total from eight to ten teams. Those who were here last session will be somewhat familiar with the Lone Star Imports (LSI) and the Whalers, both have graduated from the minors. If you've played here for a bit longer than that, you might remember the Spiders, back from hockey limbo, with much the same roster. Tonight there were games of all types. Do you like tight, defensive, low-scoring affairs; high-scoring, lights-out offensive games; dominating juggernauts; or perhaps you prefer the elegant art of the shut-out (ahem)? What's not to like?

Major League opening night:

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

The Devils return with a touch of Keg hangover, the expansion Imports take advantage of all the opportunities that the Pats could not, last week. In the first, "Big Billy" William Kuo, buries the puck behind Blubaugh off the sweet feed from Catherine Levesque. In the second, the Devils put the Imports on the power play on three occasions, but kill them all off, it takes a mental hic-cup on the one Blue Devil power play to put LSI up by two. Who should be the impetus for this development but the all seeing Catherine Levesque. She springs Gabe Rivera for the shorty. The Imports hold down the Devils offense for what would have been a shut-out, last session, but with the extra six minutes of play, Charlie Heine finally spoils the night for David Jackson, with a Blue Devil's consolation goal.

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

There may have been some dispute about the addition of Chris Gallagher to the Komets roster at the beginning of the game but a late roster addition by the Bats proves to be the real story of the game. A.J. DiBenedetto fills the net for Komets and turns away all the shots in the first period, Rodney Forehand secures the early lead with a Komet goal, scored strangely enough on the forehand. In the second, the Bats apply the pressure and tie the game with a goal from Scott Hunton. A few minutes later, Mike Bierwiler retakes the Komet lead, but sees it vanish when Danny Grimes scores with only twenty-seven seconds left in the middle frame. In the final period, neither team can come up with the winner, the Komet defense puts the clamp on the Bats limiting them to single digit shots for regulation but in overtime, the Bats find their way through the coverage and it's Catherine Levesque, apparently unhappy with her two assists for the Imports, who scores the winner for the Bats, no doubt she burned Gallagher in the slot.

Whalers (0-1-0) 1
Spiders (1-0-0) 6

Tony Marra, got his win for the night in net for the Ice Bats, but when he takes the ice against Josh Ayala (fresh up from the Chiefs in the minors) and the Spiders, he takes a whoopin' of the highest order. The Spiders have been out for a while but they waste no time in their return game, just twenty-six seconds into the game, Pete Clarke puts his arachnid teammates up on the board, by the time the first was over the Spiders had a three to nothing lead with the fine work of Bill Wessel and Evan Callahan. For some reason the Spider's forwards decided to take a nap in the second period, resulting in a scoreless thirteen minutes, but they got back into it in the third. Andrew Patti tallies the fourth unanswered Spider goal and Brian Couture lengthens the lead to five, from the point. In the closing of the game, Pete Clark scores again. At this point the conditioning of the Spiders then comes into question, with only eleven seconds left in the game, the Whalers come up with the pride point, a goal from Richard Walter. Josh, you suck!

Brewzers (0-1-0) 0
Patriots (1-0-0) 3

The Pats had their only multi-goal lead against the Brewzers last session, but Mike Moore hadn't forgotten. Shots for the Brewzers were few and far between, only six shots on the board through two periods. While at the other end the Pats piled-on shot after shot without reward. Mike makes save after save, until late in the second when stretching across the goal line to cover a rebound, he pulls his quad. He manages to hold-off the onslaught for the remainder of the period, but can't make it through the third, Jeff Eagle scores the first Patriot goal, and Travis Lehr follows suit. The Brewzers double their efforts on offense, inspired by their netminder, but the twine eludes them. The Brewzer spirit was broken, when a pass from behind the net bounces off Mac Miller under Moore for the third goal.

DFW Titans (1-0-0) 5
Stickmen (0-1-0) 3

The Titans scrape together a roster, just before the Zam leaves the ice, and they choose wisely. Pete Clarke and Mike Kirkland score the only goals of the opening period, both for the Titans. In the second, the Titans start it up again, with a goal from Jamil Jabri, but the Stickmen wouldn't lay down and die, clutch striker, Alex Eysermanns collects the first Stickmen goal, Mike Kirkland erases it before the buzzer ends the second. It take half the third period to get to the next goal, but Kirkland makes it worth the wait, and the hat trick is his. The Sticks make a push for overtime: a goal from Brian Listman, and a power play goal from Ken Halford pull the Sticks to within two, but even with the new longer periods, time runs out. Steve, did I say "clutch", what was I thinking?

Good times, only one more week of practices and the minors will be underway.

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.

Patriots, Winning on Thin Ice

After faltering in the play-offs, settling for a third place finish after a first round loss to the Blue Devils, Les York stepped back to look at his Patriots. Spirits were broken and the team needed a spark, but instead they got a wildfire. Nearly half the roster parted ways with the Pats, leaving for higher play in other venues, including his stalwart captain, Butch Hutchinson. With some last minute roster juggling, Mr. York was able to just fill the bench by the time the puck dropped for the first game.

In that first game the Patriots defined their m.o. for the season, the scoring was lead by the Stickmen, but the late game rally leaves a one goal victory. That one goal falls for the Pats in the opener, the first of seven one goal games. The second game was a rare four-one blowout against the misplaced Snipers, but in week three they fell in the shoot-out to the Ice Bats, a team with only one scorer that night, Eric Petty, Les wouldn't forget that name. In week four there were more roster problems and the champion Blue Devils come up with a two-one win. The following week the Pats defeat the Komets by one goal, and though they lost to the DFW Titans the week after, they pulled a point out by pushing it to overtime. In week seven, the Patriots go to overtime again, this time they beat the Brewzers, but to close the regular season they lose in their second meeting with the Komets, failing to overcome a three goal lead. With only four victories on their record for the regular season, the extra points of taking those games to overtime would be the thin edge that would secure the Pats a spot in the play-offs.

As the fourth seed in the tournament they would face the favorite Ice Bats who had skated to a one loss record. Returning to the ice after a win over the Blue Devils, and regaining their star player, Eric Petty, who could have guessed that the Patriots would upset. Les York had risen to the occasion, assuming the role of captain so ably held by Butch, he made it his task to prevent Petty from having any opportunities to repeat his performance. New Bats jumped into the openings created by this strategy, but the Patriots muster enough to, in true Patriot fashion, send it to overtime. Without Petty getting to the net unmolested, the Patriots needed little time to claim their spot in the Keg game.

Destiny has intervened, allowing the Patriots to emerge victorious, despite records or phantom goals, the winds are changing. Only one win (and likely, one goal) separates the Patriots from I-league history, and with the venom held for former coach Nate Hodges, can the Blue Devils possibly make the three-peat?

Les has engineered an unlikely contender, after knocking-off the best in the regular season and a match-up set for the defending champs, he could have an undisputed title holder.

Opening Round Closed-out

MAJOR

Patriots (5-2-2) 4
Ice Bats (7-2-0) 3

The number one ranked team in the Majors looked to roll over the Pats on their way to the Keg, but the Patriots had a plan. Travis Lehr puts the Pats up first, Joel Blix ties it up. The Bats take the lead in the second, goals from David Tratham and Blix cancel out the early lead from Brad Allen's goal. The Pats regain the lead with Allen and Lehr again leaving a minute for the Bats to tie it-up. Did Danny's shot ring off both posts or the pad in the back of the net? The officials say no goal. The Patriots look forward to the match-up with former coach, Nate Hodges. Nate believes it is his destiny to play for the Keg every year. Perhaps, but he certainly hasn't won every year. . .

Brewzers (3-4-2) 4
DFW Titans (3-5-1) 3

Dead even in shots and goals after three periods, and an overtime, Josh Sutton proves to be the difference maker for the Brewzers. Not only did the controversial young player open the scoring for the game and then send it to overtime with a shorty, but he ends the fourteen player shoot-out. Titans lose despite goals from Tyler Klunder, Lincoln Foster, and Justin Mason. The Brewzers collect one goal from Matt Walker, in addition to the Sutton tallies.

Blue Devils (6-2-1) 6
Komets (5-3-1) 1

Oh the humanity! In what looked to be a tight match on paper the game falls apart almost immediately. The Blue Devils score two goals in the first: Charlie Heine, Danny Flinn. In the second, the Komets finally pierce the Devil front with Dustin Nation's goal making it two to one, no one believed it was close, despite the score. The Devils roar back with goals from Flinn, Billy Trull, Heine, and Scott Speelman. Was coach Al too concerned with the Cowboy's game? The Devils are dissecting the Patriot's game at this very moment.

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

The Stickmen debut Jesse "Lunchbox" Henderson in net, the Snipers respond with a call to local celebrity Mike Moore. And, it's Moore who is exposed first when the Sticks take the early lead with Lynne Young's goal. But the Snipers regroup and limit the shots on net to ten, while firing back with a goal from Chris Davis. The Snipers get the win with a late third period goal from sometimes I-leaguer, Lee Miller.

minor

Puckers (6-3-0) 2
LSI (7-2-0) 0

The Puckers have made their climb from the I-league doldrums to the pinnacle of I-league (minor), with the second period goals of Rick Gregory and Jon Padilla, and the play of Turtle in the net, number one ranked LSI could find no path to the championship. Gabe Rivera and Katherine Levesque see their combined pointstreak, that lasted the entire session end in the first round. Is it for better or worse that the Puckers made their impact this session instead of last session, leaving me off the hook for cheerleading duty? Next up, the Whalers in the anti-Keg game.


Whalers (6-3-0) 2
Privateers (6-3-0) 1

The Whalers again triumph over the Privateers, due in large part to the play of Gregg Mata in net. The first period was the site for all of the Whaler's offense, a goal to Andy Thomas and then to Paul Thurston "Howell III" Mata turns away thirty Privateer shots, the lone goal against comes from Bob-O. You can't really call it a grand defensive effort, the play concentrated itself in the Whaler end, the Whalers only managed eight shots on net. What sort of drama and excitement awaits in the anti-Keg match-up of these two powerhouses?

Silverwings (2-6-1) 1
Grave Diggers (4-5-0) 5

In the first the Wings kept it close, Jason Neal's goal is sandwiched between the Digger's Billy Quinn and Randy Chappel. The Diggers make the most of the openings provided by the so-called Silverwing defense with three more goals: Bruce Davis, Bobby Sirkis, and Quinn again. Bobby's goal is met with a chorus of boos from the Wing bench, and taints the performance of the Diggers in the eyes of the media and the fans.

Team Euless (1-8-0) 1
Chiefs (4-5-0) 0

Euless finally gets a win. The score was actually seven or eight to one, all but one of those goals come on my watch. I gave-up a lot of chances to the Privateers and their personal vendetta against me, they made me pay. I still don't know the nature of the fights that caused the removal of four players from the rink. It was inspiring to watch the first pair of fighters leave the rink simultaneously (a mistake not repeated by the solitary ref), through the glass no one could hear what they were saying to each other, then you could feel the dread and helplessness of everyone on the rink watched them walk toward each other. . . they bumped knuckles and went to their respective lockers. The second fight did not offer any such redemptive conclusion.