My December Swoon

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Snipers (5-2-0) 5
Silverwings (0-6-1) 2

A lively first period begins with an early power play goal for the Snipers a la Jeff Vaughan, Sergio Castillo makes a push for the Wings, but his tying goal is quickly erased by another Sniper goal, this one from Terry Redmon. Sean Beeman tries to get the last word in the first with the third Sniper goal but Redmon strikes again a few seconds later, burying Eric Spivey in the Wing net. The Snipers lay off the throttle until the third period goal from David Counce and Cody Patten takes out the garbage for the dragging Wings with a late power play goal. I can't remember a time, in the history of ever, when the Snipers were so dominant. Matt Walker looks solid as the end of the session approaches.

Grave Diggers (4-3-0) 9
Blue Devils (4-3-0) 3

The lone spear carrier for the once proud Blue Devil brand (don't correct me with the D-leaguers, I'm rollin')suffers a humiliating defeat to the Diggers. The Grave Diggers have a strong presence from whistle to buzzer, and it may be that no team can stand between them and their destiny. Six unanswered goals rattle-off of Digger sticks passing through all three periods: Tim Rivers, Randy Chappel, Chris Norris (2X), Rivers again, and Chappel again. Finally in the third the Devils find the back of the net, David Ogle delivers two consecutive Devil goals. Ryan Kelley befuddles the Devil net minder next, followed by Digger team mate Melissa "Supergirl" Knourek. Scott Zahner scores the final Devil goal and Brian Andrews caps-off the game with a Digger punctuator.

Brewzers (3-3-1) 5
Mutineers (4-3-0) 3

The Mutineer's last minute goalie substitution ends in tragedy, the Brewzers hold an unchallenged lead throughout the first and most of the second on goals from Steven Collyard, Andrew Radic, and Kevin Cook. Papa Haley breaks the seal on the Brewzer net hoping to rev the Mutineer engines but the only response is the conclusion of Radic's hat trick. The Mutineer push in the third comes up short as goals from Jonathan Horton and Patrick Haley close the third period. Matt Walker shows signs of fatigue but holds on for the Brewzer victory, the Snipers are hoping he doesn't burn-out before the regular season ends.

MAJOR I

Warriors Major (4-2-1) 0
Puckers (1-4-0) 1

The Pucker offense could barely get out of their own end, they can't convert on the power play and barely survive back to back delay of game penalties, leaving many spectators questioning the mental fortitude of the squad. The second period sees many more Warrior shots and another wasted Pucker power play, but finally in the third the persistent defense and goaltending receives its reward with a Pucker goal from Rob Constantine. The Puckers maintain their composure and carry the second minute goal through to the final buzzer and their first win of the session. Pucker nation is demanding a long term contract for goalie Tony Saade.

Spiders (2-3-2) 3
Soul Patch (7-0-0) 4

The Spiders gain the first goal and by the second period, that tenuous lead would spark a battle with the whistle, as penalties from both teams piled-up. The Patches start to turn the worm with a Ron Demers goal, the Spiders answer with another Wessel goal but the Patches gain the lead with goals from Kenneth Watkins and Steven McNamara. Things appeared on a Soul Patch trend until Evan Callahan tied the game on a power play. The Patches have a bench meeting before heading to overtime and wait for the Spiders to show their weakness, Watkins finds the slow line and skates end to end for the sudden death Soul Patch goal.

Patriots (2-5-0) 2
LSI (4-1-0) 5

The Patriots continue their hot and cold march to mediocrity with an early goal against, Catherine "Wild Cat" Levesque claims the LSI lead. Cody Woodward doubles the Import offense allowing the cushion necessary to hold-off Steve Benefield and the Pats. The Patriot emotion yields a penalty and Gabe Rivera leads the special teams to another LSI goal. Aaron Smith brings the Pats within one goal, once again, and once again the Imports quash any rally with more goals of their own. Peter Case fills the empty net, and Woodward gets the last one of the night just one second before the clock runs-out.

Stickmen (3-3-1) 2
Shockers (3-4-0) 0

The Sticks look like an I-league all star roster, yet they barely eek this one out. After a long first period of cycling, and no contact, and no scoring- Charlie Heine somehow finds a way into the net in the middle of the second. The plodding Shockers refuse to dispute the Stickmen goal and the few observers left in the building are put out of their misery with the final goal from David Ogle.

Hockey is Still Being Played, Without Me

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Snipers (3-1-0) 6
Brewzers (1-2-1) 3

An I-league tradition, the sibling rivalry of Sniper v Brewzer. . . usually. The Snipers control the first period with their first goal originating from Raul Gilbreath and the follow-up from John Parker, not a sound from the Brewzers. Until the second, Jamil Jabri puts the B's on the board. Terry Redmon cancels the Jabri check but Brad Watson re-imburses with another Brewzer goal. Chris Davis ends the period with a Sniper tally, washing the whole period. The third starts with a Sniper score from Darwin Sanchez, and the sixth goal from Jeff Vaughan. The Brewzers' half-arsed effort is capped with the goal from Ken Thomas.

Mutineers (3-1-0) 7
Blue Devils (2-2-0) 1

A match made in heaven, these two couldn't keep their hands to theirselves all night. Unfortunately for the walking dead formerly known as the Blue Devils the only place they could compete was in the penalty box. The Mutes start strong with goals from Mickey Syrquin and Chris Kirton and are only briefly interrupted by the Scott Speelman goal for the Devils. Back at work, the Mutineers roll-out goalie puzzlers from Patrick Haley to close the first and a couple from Nathan Hamilton to fill the second. More Mutineers in the third generate more goals: Jonathan Horton and a shorty from Nathan Hamilton. How did these Mutineers lose a game at all?

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

The Diggers do their damage in the first period, a team overflowing with old men has realized their strategy to avoid late game fatigue. The first goal belongs to Tom Schrage, the Wings contribute with a Bryan Brookman goal leading some to suspect a tight game in store. The Diggers quickly put that to bed with Ryan Kelley and Jason Neal goals. Before the naptime pallets were unfurled, the Diggers get their final score from Schrage, this time on the power play. The bench coach called for a timeout sending a pillow in to net minder A. J. DiBenedetto while the remaining players counted pucks bouncing off his supine body, slipping into dreamland for a few minutes before changing back into their bar room attire. No scoring in the third. . .


MAJOR I

Warriors Major (2-1-1) 3
Shockers (2-2-0) 0

The Warriors give a solid effort in all phases: offense, defense, and pouring. Dallas Lehr scores first, in the first but the obstinate defense shows their mettle propping-up that tally until the third period relief provided by Mitch Gnatowsky. The Shockers flail about for the remainder of the period, their desperation results in the final goal against from Warrior cornerstone Chris Dolbee.

Soul Patch (4-0-0) 6
Patriots (1-3-0) 1

The Patriots one game run comes to an end despite the early goal from Steve Benefield. The Patches stomp-out the rest of the Patriots' drives while building a sizable lead to improve their BCS standings. Kenneth Watkins ties the game and James McClelland takes the winner, the piling-on commences with a Bruce Davis goal. The Patches finish the exhibition with a third period hat trick from Jon Shannon.

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

When I awoke near the half way point of the third period I observed a one goal lead by the Spiders, in a game where only one goal had been scored, apparently I didn't miss much. Roger Gray is credited with the game winner. Late in the game another shot somehow finds its way into the back of the net, this one is Evan Callahan's. Is that it?

Puckers (0-2-0) 1
LSI (1-1-0) 7

The Puckers are coming to grips with the loss of their stupendous goaltender Patrick Donaghue. The Imports construct an impressive goal sandwich, a delicious melding of Catherine Levesque and Dylan Whitehead between a couple whole grain Josh Johnsons. In the second the momentum nearly stalls, but Peter Case ends it in an LSI goal and starts the third the same way. The lone Pucker goal from Guy Riggs is quickly forgotten when Levesque claims her second.

Yeah, and I Wasn't Even in Austin

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Mutineers (2-1-0) 6
Silverwings (0-3-0) 2

The Mutes look out of place in this contest, Patrick Haley nets their first goal late in the first period, then he wisely vanishes from the scoresheet. The remaining Mutineers make a four goal run out of the early lead: Bill Turner, John Swartzbaugh, and Mickey Syrquin. Chris Arendall ends the shut-out with the first Wing goal, but the Mutineers fire back a Brooks Willhoite goal and Syrquin's second brings the total to six. Brian Panice hits the ice while the Mutes toast themselves on the bench and grabs the final Silverwing goal. The Mutineers win easily.

Brewzers (1-1-1) 4
Blue Devils (2-1-0) 5

Jake Reynolds takes the Devils to the early lead but they quickly fall to Brewzer goals from Brian Flashbart and Jamil Jabri. Fiesty Gloria Buell ties the game and Randy Perry regains the Devil lead. The Brewzers push again on the teeter-totter with a Scott Edwards goal but fail to flip the lead. The Devils seize the opportunity and Aaron Hawley puts the Devils atop again. Brad Watson tries to re-establish the Brewzers, tying the game but the Devils have the final goal, and Perry's second opus is enough for a win tonight.

Snipers (2-1-0) 2
Grave Diggers (1-2-0) 5

Big Joe Tomme tries to intimidate the sweet little Diggers with the first goal of the game, but the Diggers are a battle tested, fearless bunch, long removed from their inaugural season when they were ridiculed for petitioning a spot on a sub-I-league- Hmm, looks like very few are laughing now, most are just paying for their spot. The Diggers strike back with a Randy Chappel goal followed by twine-ticklers from A. J. DiBenedetto, Ryan Kelley, and another Chappel goal. Tomme tries to inspire the Snipers with his second tally but the response comes from the Digger bench- a Bob Barr goal ends the game with a healthy Digger lead.

Major I

Puckers (0-1-0) 0
Spiders (1-1-1) 2

The Puckers starring Casey Jenkins in net put forth a valiant effort in the first but neither team can find the back of the net. Finally in the second Freddy Gilbert arrests the stalemate with a Spider goal. Jenkins allows one more to Malissa Daniels but recovers his composure and holds fast, waiting for the forwards to bail him out. The tension in the third was building, the temperature high until the final minute when everything erupted, like a massage parlor. Spider anchor Bryan Couture took offense to the Pucker enthusiasm- specifically Guy Riggs, who is called for roughing. Jon Padilla defends his team mate to the point of dropping the gloves with Couture. The final minute was played in a stupor as the teams revel in their recently fulfilled homo-erotic fantasies, Spiders win!

Shockers (2-1-0) 7
LSI (0-1-0) 2

After scraping the blood from the ice, a late start yields an early lead for the Shockers: first goal to Josh Rooker, followed by Nick McMacken. The Imports try to soothe their Austin hangover with a Cody Woodward goal but the Shockers shave the hair from the dog with the completion of the Rooker hat trick. The Imports struggle to stay on for the ride Dylan Whitehead pops the final LSI puck. The Shockers maintain a calm air and close-out the game with gals from Eric Yepez, Nick McMacken, and Scott McMacken.

Patriots (1-2-0) 2
Stickmen (2-0-1) 1

The Pats needed a veteran voice on the bench, and Butch Hutchinson looked perfect for the role tonight, he scores the first goal and the lead holds for the remainder of the period, but only just. A few seconds into the middle frame a shot from Stickman Damon Flores finds its way beneath the pads of Jake Fulgham. The dead knot carries both squads through to the shoot-out, where a measure of redemption awaited the Patriot's net minder. The first six shooters aren't enough to decide the winner and the call at center ice falls to Butch. Jake having held-up his end looked across the ice to his Captain, with pleading eyes, and with a single stroke of his mighty stick the Butcher cuts down the Sticks for the overdue Patriot win.

Soul Patch (3-0-0) 5
Warriors Major (1-1-1) 4

The hungry Warriors watch as the Patches fall before them, Mindo has the honor of the first goal and Dallas Lehr establishes the healthy lead, all was right in Warrior land until Jon Shannon Patched together a plan of attack. With Shannon's goal and one from Steven McNamara the game was tied. The Warriors regroup with a brief Damon Lacey sponsored lead but the Warriors end the second with another Shannon goal and an even score. Brad Aho opens the third with the first Patch lead of the game and the defense and often tested goaltending looked strong enough to hold, but not on the kill. When James McClelland leaves the surface for interference (ticky-tack?) his team mates watch as their hard fought lead is unravelled by a lone Warrior- Chris Dolbee. The Patches refuse to surrender, fighting through the overtime to the shoot-out, they don't even need the third shooter- both Shannon and Lochkos beat the tired Warrior goalie while nothing can penetrate the Soul Patch net. 70 shots total for the game, what a way to end the night.

Fright Night

We bid a fond farewell to the SND and gladly accept our prodigal teams, it's only one more game to write-up, right?

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Puckers (1-0-0) 4
Silverwings (0-1-0) 2

The Puckers have launched an investigation, is this Jason Neal really just a thinly veiled James Neal moonlighting in Euless I-league? He starts his stats off strong this season with the opening goal for the Wings. Unfortunately there isn't much else to account for in the Silverwing line-up and soon the Puckers were headed back to the front with a goal from Jesse Henderson and one from Danny Grimes the first would end in their favor. They lead the second off with a Tom Harnitchek goal, just nineteen seconds in. The Puckers let their tempers take over and give-up the only penalties of the game in the middle frame- eight minutes worth, 1:10 of two man adavntage. The Puckers find a way to capitalize on only one. Ian "Hellboy" Hellbusch cuts the Pucker lead to one with more than a period left to play. The Puckers take the hint and step-up their defense, they march down for the cushion goal from Mark Millard then set-up the prevent in the neutral zone for the remainder of the game. Where was Donaghue? Is Blubaugh dumping the Blue Devils since they have hit tough times? Dispicable!

Grave Diggers (0-1-0) 4
Brewzers (1-0-0) 7

The Diggers once again save their energy for the later part of the season, I hope they don't wait too long, again. Steve Daniels and Mallissa Daniels get the Brewzers going with their soul mate scoring. Jason Neal throws-in the first Digger goal, who is this guy? Steve Daniels staves-off the Digger uprising and the Digger power play is stymied with a Brian Flashbart shorthanded goal. Neal hits again for the Brewzers, followed by another Digger goal for Neal, another from Flashbart, and another from Neal. . . Is any one else playing during these minutes? David Counce ends the contest with the seventh Brewzer goal just sixteen seconds before the buzzer.

Blue Devils (0-1-0) 2
LSI (1-0-0) 9

The Blubaugh-less Blue Devils hit the rink for a historic whoopin'- heck I could just list the Import roster. Long exiled I-leaguer, Eric Brundage announces his homecoming with the first Import goal, it is followed by a power play tally from Catherine Levesque. Jake Reynolds briefly interrupts the Import lines with a Blue Devil goal then Phil Pratt and Josh Johnson close the period with a four to one Import lead. Peter Case revs-up the second and the Imports keep rollin' with a Dylan Whitehead goal and another from Case. A power play opportunity for the Devils allows the encroaching Gloria Buell to spank the puck in for their last goal of the night, could I be next Gloria? The next Devil power play doesn't end as well, Cody Woodward gets a shorty. In the third Buell finds herself serving time for bad behavior and watches as Josh Johnson scores his second at her expense. The Devils took out their frustration on the locker room, tearing every square of toilet paper in half!

Mutineers (0-1-0) 2
Snipers (1-0-0) 8

The Mutes hope to open the season with a win and John Swartzbaugh bolsters his compadres with the first goal, spirits soon sink when the Snipers roll-off five in a row: Mika Hyytiainen, Steven Collyard (2X), and Terry Redmon (2X). The long awaited Mutineer response comes from Nathan Hamilton. . . and that would be it. Redmon hits for two more and Hyytiainen closes the game out with his second. Mike Moore looks solid in net and ready to carry his Snipers to the Championship! Can he carry the Brewzers along also, how would he play the final game?

MAJOR I

Warriors Major (0-1-0) 0
Stickmen (1-0-0) 0

What a tragic opening for these two teams, the Sticks are awarded with a win at the rink as Chris Dolbee wins the costume contest back at the ranch. Hope this thing doesn't come down to one loss at the end of the season. Will that party still be worth it?

Spiders (0-1-0) 2
Shockers (1-0-0) 5

The season ending match-up repeats with a near opposite result. The first period was all scrambling Spiders trying to protect their open net they succeed but fail to generate any quality scoring chances of their own. In the second with a few minutes between the pipes Macky Hermosillo allows the Spiders the confidence to crash the Shocker net, Roger Gray sends the puck home for the lead. With so much energy spent the Shockers take their cue to skate between the defensemen and drain goal after goal: Nick McMacken, Scott McMacken, Greg Myers, and Josh Rooker. The Shockers take a breath giving the Spiders a chance to sneak one more vias William Wessell, before Nick ends the act of vengeance with his second of the young season. Dang it, why couldn't Hermosillo have got a shut-out? I could have worked-in a "hermetic seal" in there, it was begging for me to smack it down the fairway.

Soul Patch (1-0-0) 6
Patriots (0-1-0) 1

The Patches are wincing from their second Keg loss in two seasons, and Pete Fulgham takes advantage of their mood launching the Patriot offense just past the first minute mark. The Patches awaken with his slap to the face and tie the game on the very next face-off, James Paxton gets the credit. The winning goal would occur about ninety seconds later when Bruce Davis finds his spot over the blocker, the Pats slipped into a coma as the Patches ended the first with two more goals- Steven McNamara and Brian Lochkos. The second was about pacing, the Patches didn't want to be too winded in the third so they scored only twice, seconds from Davis and McNamara. In the final frame the rope-a-dope pays off with a tired Patriot squad coasting from zone to zone, impotent shots being collected in the Patch corners for a break-out. BORING!

Ah the Milagro bottle is empty, guess it's time for bed. . .

Keg Night, and I Wasn't There. . .

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Brewzers (6-6-0) 4
Stickmen (6-3-1) 3

Mike "More" Moore is back. And, he barely survives. After a period of punching eachother in the face Joe Tomme opens the scoring in the second with a Stick lead. Brian Hamstra's line produces the first Brewzer goal- a juicy rebound buried by Steven Collyard, Hamstra ends the period himself making a tentative Brewzer lead. Tomme powers one through Moore to tie the game again but Hamstra finds Jenkins' ample five hole and the Brewzer lead in short order. Jesse Henderson picks up the Stick mantle next sending the game to overtime, things looked dark for the Brewzers when Collyard was sent to the box for tripping, but Mike Moore flexes his goalie muscles on the ensuing kill and Hamstra drives home the winner before the penalty expires. How sweet it is!

Snipers (4-5-1) 9
Silverwings (2-7-0) 2

The Snipers? 9? Is this right? The wiry Kevin Cook supplies the spark for this wildfire and before the third minute of the second period he would own every goal in the game- a hat trick. More Sniper firepower would come from Steven Collyard and Terry Redmon with a pair. Bryan Brookman ends the six goal streak with the first Silverwing goal and Sergio Castillo gets the train out of the station with their second. They quickly lose steam and the Sniper control the third with a goal from Sean Beeman and more from Collyard and Cook.

The anti-keg (or is it the "True Keg"?)

Warriors (6-5-0) 3
LSI (7-3-0) 5

Sadly this game was never as close as the score might indicate, the Imports ran the table start to eventless finish. Tony Digiovanni makes the Warriors pay for sloppy puckhandling with an unassisted LSI goal. Robert Burns executes for the two goal lead. In the second the Warriors hold back the import offense and secure the only goal on a Mike Kuntz forecheck that pays off. Matt Dever tries to nip things in the bud with an LSI goal but Derek Tillemans does his best to erase his momentum and breathe some life into the Warrior bench. The Warriors respond with complete renal failure allowing goals to Ryan Kelley and Gabe Rivera. Kuntz pads his stats in the Warriors' death throes. LSI take the trophy back home, North of the border.

MAJOR I

Shockers (7-5-0) 3
Spiders (6-5-1) 6

The Shockers continue to crater in the last few weeks of their schedule, they step off the ledge at the drop of the puck. Bill Wessell gives the initial Spider push but things are kept in check with a Scott McMacken goal for the Shockers. The Shockers create a mirage of a lead at the beginning of the second when Wil Dobson manages to put in a puck with a man advantage. The Spiders roar back with goals from Mike Ginnard and another from Wessell, when Ginnard scored his second the Shockers lost all hope. The Shockers had two more power play opportunities but they sit helpless as the Spiders add goals from Andrew Patti and Carina Manalo. In the end the Shockers supply a half-arsed effort with their third goal coming from McMacken.

Blue Devils I (3-8-1) 1
Patriots (6-5-1) 9

Two major factors in this game: Pats forward Aaron Smith, and BDI goalie Casey Jenkins. In the first six minutes of the first period Smith already had a hat trick and Les York got one for himself mixed in there. Somehow Phil Pratt sneaks one into the Pat's net for the only BDI goal of the game. The Patriots finish the opening frame with a goal from David Purkiss and one from Pete Fulgham, scored no doubt from the right. . . Smith claims his fourth in the opening of the second and center Butch Hutchinson follows with the eighth Pat goal. Fulgham gets his second before the second intermission. The third was in run time, so the Devils ran to the locker room. Jenkins has a difficult night in the BDI net facing only twenty-nine shots, allowing NINE goals- it reminds me of some games with the Puck Hoggs. It is incredible that this once historic grudge match-up passes without a penalty, in a blow-out no less. How far we've come!

The Keg Match:

Smashed Pumpkins (9-1-0) 6
Soul Patch (7-3-0) 5

The Patches make their return to the Keg game, reminding many of the Buffalo Bills. . . A tight first period cracks open with a shot from Chis Gallagher and soon the Pumpkins were up by two with a Robert Burns shorty. That penalty turns into a wash when the Patches finally score their first goal of the game, courtesy of Rich Weller. The Pumpkins feel the Halloween spirit and Cody Woodward makes the most of the Pumpkin power play. The Patches lash back in the third with a goal from Sergio Castillo and tie the game before the second minute with John Shannon's stick. Woodward breaks the tie briefly and Weller levels the field again. Gabe Rivera fights through the Patch defense that had frustrated him all night to deliver the Pumpkin lead, Burns adds a power play goal. Brad Aho brings the Patches within one goal of their prize with a minute and a half to play but Gallagher demands his tenth ring and the team collapses to the goal mouth leaving not an inch exposed, the Patches fall short yet again.

SND with guest host jon ellis, from WhereHockeyHappens.com

Saturday Night D-league gets its start on Thursday in the bizarro world we call Euless.

Blue Devils (6-6-2) 3
Canadiens (5-8-0) 2

The Devil defense was hardly living up to its name as they allow forty-six shots on the night, the lead fell quickly to the Can-do offense, specifically Chris Gallagher and Gabe Rivera. Jared Junker collects the sole Devil goal in the first period, but no one could feel the ground swell that he generated with that shot until a few minutes later. The second started calmly enough but by the half way point the game was tied thanks to Blue Devil Chase Hannah. Later, the Devils take the lead with a shot from Randen Barajas, with stand-out play from Dan Pittman in the net the Devils weather the storm and earn the win.

Friday was filled with Saturday night action, too.

Ice Bats (7-7-0) 5
Komets (3-9-1) 2

The Komets fall apart without their star center Wil Dobson. Jacqueline Zee uses her contacts with MHOA to swing an early Ice Bat goal for herself and Mike Kirkland puts a fork in the opening period. The Bats open the first keeping on pace with a goal from Hong Kong Kim but drop their sticks in shock when the Komets pierce the smothering defense and hang-up their first goal on a shot from the hammering John Thompson. Zee spends the intermission hangin' with her homeys in the ref's crease and starts the third period with a hat trick, making the Glen "Mr." Whipple Komet goal meaningless and squeezably soft. Come on Lanny, why would you allow that?

Privateers (9-3-1) 9
Warriors D (10-3-0) 4

Warriors D? Looks like Warriors I to me. . . Chris Skupien, another guy with MHOA ties, manages to put a puck in the net for the Warriors. The Privateers let loose a hearty laugh and go on a run: Bob-O goes first then the second period brings his mates Andrew Latham, Matt Taylor, and Joel Bush for a shorty- oh, and Bob-O get s another in there also. Skupien breaks things up with a random Warrior goal, then Taylor and Bush put things back in order with a couple 'Teer goals. Suddenly a real wrench gets thrown into things when the Privateer power play surrenders a short handed goal to Eric Johnson. Latham returns to the well but Ryan Morris won't let the Warriors die. . . Matt Taylor doesn't mind killing them, however, he scores the final goal. Plenty of penalties but fortunately none of the goalies were injured by the pucks.

Saturday finally arrives.

Ice Bats (7-7-0) 1
Privateers (9-3-1) 8

The 'Teers continue their weekly throttling of the league, maybe Lanny could have skated it up a couple of times? The Bats were out of the game in the first period with goals coming in from Steven Sollyard followed by Joel "Burnin'" Bush and then Randy Perry, even with this start it was hard to believe that Joel would own the game winner. Andrew Latham scores a Privateer goal to open the middle frame and Bob-O scores the last-o-the period. Bush scores again in the third making six unanswered 'Teer tallies and as they ponder their greatness the Bats sneak in for a Mark Smith goal. Wiping the clouds from their own eyes the Privateers load the Bat net with a couple more from Sollyard and Latham.

Blue Devils (6-6-2) 5
Warriors D (10-3-0) 6

Skupien and the Warriors pull one out in this nail-biter. Eric Johnson puts the Warriors out front but Randen Barajas ties things up. Skupien settles things for a while until Charlie Heine ties it again. Skupien needs his Warrior win for the week and he rattles-off two toward that end. Brian Hamstra brings the Devils within one but Johnson cancels the goal. Hamstra hits again and inspires Barajas to do the same tying the game in the third. Things were looking good when the Warriors lose a man in the final ten seconds of the game but an uncovered man escapes to the clearing shot and that man, being Skupien, scores the game winner, shorthanded, with only a second left on the clock. His fourth goal of the game, that's precisely, about 66.6% of the Warrior offense- can we read anything into these statistics? Well, I can't help but conclude that Skupien scores a lot.

KEG Prelude

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Warriors (6-4-0) 4
Brewzers (5-6-0) 0

Needless to say the ice was clean when the Warriors skated off the rink. The Brewzers can't collect a single goal, not even a penalty- they follow the Warrior offense back into their zone and watch first Chris Dolbee score on Matt then Eric Johnson follows suit. The Warriors add to their unchallenged lead with goals in the final frame from Rudy Berkvins and Scott "Mindo" Dolbee. Mike Moore is rolling over in his still living grave.

LSI (6-3-0) 4
Stickmen (6-3-0) 3

The Sticks curse their slow offense as they watch Topher massacre the art of goaltending in their end. The Imports build a mountain early with goals from Ryan Kelley, Rabert Burns, and Peter Case. They skate untouched almost to the third period but Lynne Young manages to get the Sticks on the board and set-up a great third. The Sticks allow a power play goal to Burns but get back on the horse with a goal from Ken Halford. The inspiring, behemoth corpus of Joe Tomme brings the Sticks within one with almost four and a half minutes left but the Imports dig in and A. J. DiBenedetto escapes his return to the Import net with a win. Don't bother correcting me on the facts- I'M ROLLIN'!

Grave Diggers v. Mutineers pending


Major I

Soul Patch (7-2-0) 6
Shockers (7-4-0) 0

The Patches easily dispatch the headless Shockers (Wil is soaking up the sun in Carribean). Jessie Gonzales is overwhelmed by the Soul-less shooters giving-up three in the first: Josh Jones, Todd Lawson, and Jason Le Fave. Gonzales tries to hold it together in the second but with 37 shots against he falters late allowing a goal to Patch defenseman Danny Grimes followed by Le Fave. Le Fave makes the only third period goal for the hat trick. Thirty-six minutes of penalties with offenses pretty even between the two teams!

Spiders (5-5-1) 2
Smashed Pumpkins (8-1-0) 4

I ran into Taz and Heather down here in Burleson this weekend- unusual to say the least, I'm sure they had a better time at Sea World than they would have had on the Spiders bench. Things certainly looked promising at first as Andre Patti lead the way and in the second, Lester Barrerra made it a two nothing Spider lead. But we all know How much Chris Gallagher hates to lose, he breaks the seal on the Arachnid net then Robert Burns ties the game. Gallagher claims the game winner in this I-league contest and Gabe Rivera stomps the life out of the Spider bench.

Whalers v. Puckers- pending

Here Comes the Keg

Here it is incomplete, there are still games pending, but I will deliver the commentary on the remaining scores that I have before the sun rises.

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Brewzers (5-5-0) 7
Mutineers (5-3-0) 2

A theme for the weekend- the first team to score has no better chance to win than the other team. The Mutes scored first with a Dan Lowery shot, the Brewzers interject a Brian Flashbart goal but relinquish the lead again to a Nathan Hamilton goal. That was the cue to open the can, and the Brewzers tie with a goal from Dennis Sutton, get a Flashbart hat trick, Scott Edwards adds to the Brewzer mountain and Steve Daniels makes it six to two. In the final minutes of the second Flashbart gets his fourth goal. The Refs were spotted at the Mutineer bench in the intermission, checking for a pulse. The game was called early as the Mutes were declared dead at 10:07 PM.

Stickmen (6-2-0) 2
Snipers (2-5-1) 4

Snipers pull the upset against the most dominating I-league team of perhaps all time. Alex Eysermans builds the false confidence of the Sticks and Lee Miller begins the task of knocking them down a few pegs. John Parker puts the Snipers on top but Kyle Boltz puts on the kibosh on the upstart Snipers with a Stickmen slapper. Apparently the rust was easily removed from those skates because Miller breaks the tie with his second goal of the contest. Ernesto Moreno has the sole goal in the third for a Stick-breaking two goal victory.

Silverwings (2-6-0) 8
Grave Diggers (3-4-1) 2

The Silverwings have found a new strategy, give the puck to Cody Patten. He scores first but Randy Chappel makes it a tie game. Patten says no and re-establishes the Wing lead. Jonathan Navarro contributes another goal to the Wing lead and Patten follows it up with the medicine hat trick. The Diggers go for broke letting Ryan Kelley off his leash but the Wings only allow him one goal. The Diggers do the Thriller Zombie dance in the third while the Wings score four more unanswered goals: Ian "Von" Hellbusch, Steve "coast to coast" Benefield, Navarro, and Terry "can't cut it in the net" Redmon.

Silverwings (2-6-0) -
Mutineers (5-3-0) -

I am not sure what's going on with this game.

Snipers (2-5-1) 5
Grave Diggers (3-4-1) 0

This one just wrapped-up a little while ago and the Snipers have doubled there fun for this weekend. The Diggers hung with the Snipers through the first period which ended in a 0-0 tie. The Snipers figured things out in the second a goal from Mika Hyytiainen would be all they needed to win but Jeff Vaughan contributes, as does Tom Buckner and Ernest Moreno. The night was still young for Tom who finishes the third with his second. The Diggers finish the weekend with two losses, they only generate six shots on net tonight.

MAJOR I

Whalers (3-7-0) 3
Blue Devils I (2-7-1) 2

The Whalers and Devils all showed up late for their game as they were stuck in Southlake watching the wiener dog races. The Whaler goalie missed the game entirely allowing Matt Weinrich to establishes the Devil lead, lose it to a Mike Canzoneri goal, then reclaim it at the end of the second. The Whalers get to the final minute and save their time-out because the empty net offense is already in, Canzoneri finds the tying tally and in over time, Dave Svoboda wins the game for the lucky Whalers, I'm sure video will surface of this incredible match.

Soul Patch (6-2-0) 3
Puckers (4-5-1) 1

The Puckers didn't make much of an impression allowing the game to slip away in the first period. John Shannon produces the first Patch goal and it is quickly followed by another Patch tally from Ron Demens. The first period is capped with a goal from Rich Weller, a three-nil lead. Kevin Gosselin in the opening of the middle frame grabs the singular Pucker goal and that would be it for both offenses. Patrick Donaghue again demonstrates his mastery of the net facing thirty-nine shots, but his Puckers cannot bail him out.

Patriots (4-5-1) 3
Spiders (5-4-1) 2

The Patriots are building some chemistry this session and soon this squad could be the runner-up it used to be. They stumble out of the gate allowing a goal to Evan Callahan, but Jeff Eagle balances the board with a Patriot goal on the same shift. Bill Wessell puts the Pats on the ropes with a Spider goal to end the second. As the third drew to a close, Butch Hutchinson wins an offensive face-off and moves to the net sweeping in the rebound to tie the game. The Patriots spend most of the game on the offensive and after twenty-nine shots Jeremy Brown had reached his limit, the thirtieth shot came from Greg Durante- Pats win.

Shockers (7-3-0) 2
Smashed Pumpkins (7-1-0) 4

The Pumpkins were on fire early, Gabe Rivera sinks the only goal of the first but they roll-out three more in the second before the Shockers can lace-up their skates: Peter Case, Robert Burns, and Tom Burns. The Shockers finally find the twine with a shot from Joe "once and future" King, late in the second and though none of the Pumpkins could score in the third, only Matt Russell could execute for the Shocker rally- that left them a little shy of a win. If this team wants to make an impact in the Keg run, they had better get out of their funk- maybe they should wash that gear. This could be a sneak peek at the Keg game itself. . .

Whalers (3-7-0) 2
Patriots (4-5-1) 4

The Pats keep on rollin', they bookend an otherwise eventless opening period with goals from David Purkiss, and Greg Durante. Pete Fulgham puts the Pats out front with their third unanswered goal, but then the answers started. Dan Watzke puts the Whalers on the scoreboard, Jeff Eagle erases his tally. The three goal lead looked like it would bear-out but a last minute flurry in front of the Pat net ends in a last second Whaler goal. Not enough time to score two more. Not exactly intimidating anyone with those goal responses.

Blue Devils I (2-7-1) -
Puckers (4-5-1) -

This one is scheduled for tomorrow at 9:15, I'm predicting Puckers 3, BDI 1- MARK IT DOWN!

Well, We Didn't Get Dressed Up for Nothing.

minor i

Brewzers (4-5-0) 5
Grave Diggers (3-3-1) 6

Th netminders appeared overmatched at both ends of this match, the only limit to the scoring was the clock on the wall. The Brewzers went up by two in the first with a goal by Kevin Cook and the next from Scott Edwards. In short order the Diggers' Ryan Kelley sparked the opposition and with his goal and following assist to Stephen Smith the score was tied. Steven Collyard momentarily restores the Brewzer lead, but the Diggers rolled-off four unanswered goalie puzzlers: Alex Atkins, Chris Norris, Randy Chappel (pp), and Atkins again, this time on the power play. With their penalties in check the Brewzers made a sincere effort at the sizable Digger lead, Brian Flashbart drops the disparity to two early in the third and with a little less than three minutes left Scott Edwards gives an encore, but the tying goal never comes and the Diggers collect another victory, these guys can win any style of game.

Mutineers (5-2-0) 4
Snipers (2-4-1) 3

The Brewzers changed their jerseys for another shot at maybe escaping the weekend with one win, Mika Hyyatiainen sets the tone with a Sniper lead right off the face-off. Unfortunately for Mika, John Parker paid no attention and leaves the ice twice resulting in Mutineer power play goals from Bob-O and Nathan Hamilton, a third power play opportunity allows Hamilton another goal and soon Neal Wacker had added the fourth Mute goal. Mika attempts to re-rack for the third period with a late middle frame tally and Kevin Cook obliges him in the final period, but again the Brewzers fail to raise the tying strike before the regulation buzzer sends them home for the weekend. . . er, I mean, Snipers.

Silverwings (1-6-0) 3
LSI (4-4-0) 7

The Silverwings have a lot of fun, just not a lot of wins. Import hockey makes a mockery of the Wing defense and goaltending right from the drop of the puck, Peter Case and Tom Burns both dodge the pylons on their way into the net for a two goal LSI lead. The Wings eek-out a tentative tie with goals from Jason Neal and Cody Patten before they are brushed aside by the hat trick of Tom Burns. Cody Patten makes his second but the Silverwings slump over on the bench as Mike Bierwiler puts the meaty goal in a Robert Burns sandwich- eww. The Wings head for the Crossbar and their free pitcher leaving the Imports to skate around practicing their cycling in the corners for thirteen minutes. Wait I think that's wrong, the pitchers aren't free anymore.

Stickmen (6-1-0) 3
Warriors (5-4-0) 0

Is this what I-league hockey has become? I wouldn't be caught watching this kind of crap! How would the Warriors allow TOPHER MCPHERSON a shut-out? The Sticks continue their march to the repeat championship with goals from Julian Castillo and Clint Tippett. That takes care of the first minute and a half. At the end of the game one of the few players still awake, Jesse "Lunchbox" Henderson, sinks that third and final goal. Good God!

Major I

Soul Patch (5-2-0) 6
Patriots (3-5-1) 4

The Pats fall flat this week, Ron Demers puts away the first Patch goal, it takes nearly seven minutes before John Newell finally ties the game. John Shannon returns the Patches to the top of the scoreboard in short order but the start of the second period was a new game for the Pats. Andrea Cortinas ties it up and Aaron Smith gains a Patriot lead. The ensuing Patriot emotions result in a Patch lead change as Brian Lochkos and Brad Aho both score. Cortinas adds his second tally to the Patriot effort, but Demers and Shannon go for two also leaving the Pats sitting in the dust.

Shockers (7-2-0) 3
Blue Devils I (2-7-0) 0

The Rematch! The last time these two teams met an MMA match broke-out in front of the Blue net, many people (pronounced: Susie) were still upset that Blubaugh hadn't received the due punishment for the arm bars he was handing out in that dogpile. The first period was all Devils as Matt Weinrich goes for hooking and Jim DeBaro claims a roughing. In the second the Devils keep their pace with a hooking for Clint Tippett and another roughing for DeBaro, incidentally, Scott McMacken scores one the advantage. The Shockers finally get into the action when McMacken and Matt Russell collect simultaneous roughing minors, David Blubaugh offsets with a roughing of his own. A Shocker player named Jared Holt scores then Thomas Mathias cross checks a Devil player. Gloria Buell shows her dark side with a cross check and then commits an unsportsmanlike conduct. . . FROM THE BOX! Eric Yepez had just scored for the Shockers. In the final intense minute, Kirk Graham takes a roughing, Justin Driscoll a high-sticking, and Aaron Hawley a tripping- all the jersey's were blending too soaked in blood to determine which team committed these fouls.

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

The Puckers are pushing for a spot in the play-offs and Monte Smith contributes a goal toward that purpose, but the Whalers' Brad Watson erases his tally and ties the game. Dusty Smith picks-up the once proud Pucker mantle driving home the lead with a goal in the very middle of the game. The teary-eyed Whalers stare into each other's faces with only one question: Where is the Hamster? Then, on the horizon a figure emerged from a blinding light, wielding a flaming stick. The man strode across the ice, blue line to blue line in a single stride, the puck cringing at the approach of his mighty stick. When the smoke cleared, the Puckers lay in a heap down a goal and not a one of them daring to return to their feet. Just like that, the Whalers had doubled their wins for the session. Oh, and Matt Walker gets a win- third times the charm.

Spiders (5-4-0) 4
Smashed Pumpkins (6-1-0) 3

The Spiders entered the rink for the shoot around, the Pumpkin bench was twice as long, Andrew Patti gathered his team mates about him vowing, "I *am* Andrew Patti! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men... and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?" With that he crashed the Pumpkin net emerging with his goal. Joelle Couture follows his lead putting the Spiders up by two. Patti attacks again but the Pumpkins shake it off with goals from Robert Burns and Gabe Rivera. With a fragile one goal lead, Patti returns to the Pumpkin net setting-up the goal for Evan Callahan. The Pumpkins heave another Robert Burns goal into the net but recoil in fear as Patti calls out, "they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!"

Three Day Weekend!

minor i

Warriors (5-3-0) 3
Grave Diggers (2-3-1) 4

The Diggers give their signature late session push, but this time it may be too late. Danny Grimes takes an early Warrior lead and Bruce Davis takes it away. Kent Taub tries to establish the Warrior dominance next, but again it's Davis leveling the field. Damon Lacey heaves the third Warrior lead into the twine in the final seconds of the second, hoping to swing the momentum for the final period but the Diggers surge back with a third period shut-out and two goals: Ryan Kelley for the tie, Stephen Smith for the win- it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Silverwings (1-5-0) 2
LSI (3-3-0) 9

The hot and cold Imports rebound from last weeks debacle with a positively stunning demonstration of puck pounding. After losing a man in the first the Imports respond with Cody Woodward's shorthanded goal, kill the penalty, and double-up with a goal from J. T. Macha. Cody Patten interjects a Wing goal and watches Ken Lentz erase it, narrowly avoiding a minus on his stat sheet. Woodward opens the second and is followed by a power play goal from team mate Peter Case, Woodward gains the hat trick shortly after, then goes for his fourth after that. Marc Warner sends-off the Imports' eighth goal of the contest and Brett Campbell releases the Wings' death rattle before Peter Case puts a fork in it, with his second.

Mutineers (4-2-0) 3
Snipers (1-3-1) 2

Chris Kirton has found another gear, after toiling away in I-league for only six or more years, he launches the Mute offensive, but former goal tender Terry Redmon cancels the initial effort, so Kirton delivers the lead yet again with his second goal. Ernest Moreno snuffs the Mutineer lead once more with his tying tally, but in the game that they never lead, the Snipers fall victim to Nathan Hamilton and the ending buzzer.

Stickmen (5-1-0) 6
Brewzers (4-4-0) 3

The Brewzers were suffering from a slow start and they got no sympathy from the Sticks. Jeff Thomas and Alex Eysermans established a comfortable Stickmen lead before Steven Collyard could give his best at a Brewzer run- one goal. The Brewzers get a power play opportunity but instead allow two short handed goals to the Lunch Box. Jeff Thomas heaps-on another Stick goal and finally a fire is lit beneath the collective Brewzer arse, Josh Sutton scores two back-to-back. Eysermans stomps out the Brewzer spark with the final goal of the game.


Major I

Whalers (1-7-0) 1
Smashed Pumpkins (6-0-0) 7

Have you ever heard of this Jimmy Welch guy? Well, he tips the first Pumpkin domino tonight, Cody Woodward gets second. The Whalers still looked fresh when James Penney scored, cutting the lead in twain. The ensuing power play goal from Ken Lentz sealed the Whalers' fate. with a brief respite in the middle frame the Pumpkins struck down upon the Whalers with great vengeance and furious anger, lining-up goals from Phil Pratt, Cody Patten, Lentz (on the PP, again), and finally Matt Dever. The once proud nave fallen.

Spiders (4-4-0) 3
Blue Devils I (2-6-0) 0

The Blue Devils' implosion is in full effect. In the first period Andrew Patti delivers what would prove to be the game winner, on the power play, in the first period. The Devils survive their second penalty but give-up another goal soon after to Lester Barrera. Heather Gray scores the final Spider goal in the opening of the third period just before the Devils lose a man again, the power play falls short and the Spiders equal the Devils in penalties in short order, but the Devils fail to utilize the advantage and leave the ice with one more frustrated penalty. Devils allow forty shots against, is this Bizarro world?

Puckers (4-3-1) 2
Patriots (3-4-1) 3

The Patriots are hungry for a play-off spot. John Newell sets the tone with the first Patriot goal, but Topher tries to give it away allowing Pucker goals to Brooks Willhoite and Steven Niekamp. Steve Benefield buoys his feisty netminder with the tying goal and the defense holds until the first minute of the overtime period when Andrea Cortinas vaults the Pats to one game away from .500.

Soul Patch (4-2-0) 3
Shockers (6-2-0) 1

Last sessions runners-up put the new look Shockers in their place, is this a Cowboy-esque late season swoon from the Shockers? The Shockers start the game on the kill and fall victim to the slapshot of Patch Jerry Woods, the score would remain the same through out the period and the next. . . But, in the third the Patches find their groove with a goal from Kenneth Watkins and another John Shannon. The Soul Patch goalie, Jason Hollaway narrowly misses the shut-out when Bruce Davis finds the back of the net late in the final frame: hollow numbers, Bruce, hollow.

Gimme a Break, I've Been Under the Weather

minor I

Silverwings (1-4-0) 1
Brewzers (4-3-0) 5

The Brewzers and Silverwings had a 3 goal line set just as the bets were closing but the first period had all of the bookies in a tizzy. The wiry Kevin Cooke delivered the first goal of the game and the expected Brewzer lead, but none of the rest of his crew could match the task and soon the match was tied when Kevin McCullough closed the period for the Silverwings. When the Brewzer's Steven Collyard was sent to the box in the second, Mike Moore was escorted from his house and outfitted with a pair of cement skates, the shorthanded goal from Dennis Sutton may have come too late as no one has heard anything from Moore in the past few days. Regardless, the Brewzers charged on with a third period shut-out of the Wings and three goals besides, Sutton scores again ( this one on the PP), followed by Steve Daniels, and then- so caught up in the emotion of the game Collyard forgets about the dirty money he had riding on the shaving and scores the last one. Here's to you Mike, I dedicate this one to your memory!

Warriors (5-2-0) 1
Snipers (1-2-1) 0

The Snipers fought valiantly, but the Warriors fought more valiantly. The tale of this game has to be the goal tending, The two Matts were stellar between the pipes: Reid stops all 21 for the shut-out, Walker allows the one in the second to Derek Tillemans amidst the hub-bub generated by one man in particular. Maybe that's the story of this game. . . in the second the stalemate was broken when Tom Buckner ignites the powder keg with a cross check. The dominoes continued to fall, the firemarshall was even called to check that the penalty boxes weren't filled beyond their safe capacity. Buckner himself collects six minutes, narrowly avoiding an early dismissal. Even Tillemans makes a two minute pit stop in the third. After the dust settled the Warriors were still breathing, Snipers almost gained a serious upset.

Stickmen (4-1-0) 5
LSI (2-3-0) 2

The capacity crowd was prepared to watch a grudge match between the reigning I-league champs and the Canadian invaders. Everyone filed-out of the arena before the end of the first period as the Imports are overwhelmed with the Stick assault. Clint Tippett pounds home the first puck and Big Joe Tomme sends in the second. With a goal from Dave Williams and Ken Halford's shortly thereafter, the Sticks had a pudgy lead. Ryan Kelley wouldn't let himself be embarrassed like that so he puts two ticks by his name, not enough. Williams returns to the net for his second to make light of Kelley's best and the Imports return to the locker room.

Grave Diggers (1-3-1) 2
Mutineers (3-2-0) 3

They say the winners write the history books, well here's the story according to one Mutineer:

In an evenly matched and exciting I-League game The Mutineers defeated the Grave Diggers 3-2 in a shootout last night in 8 year old Jake Sirkis’ debut as head coach. In an defensive struggle that saw the Grave Diggers take a 2-0 lead on two goals by Tim Rivers, the first off a fine feed by Steve Culps at 11:57 of the first period, and the second unassisted as Sirkis Sr. fumbled the face off @ 6:29 of the third. With head hanging low Sirkis Sr. headed to the bench to receive a withering lecture from Coach Jake about how to properly receive the puck at a face off closing with “That was a dumb play! You need to help your goalie!”, of course Coach Jake is a goalie in real life. With 1:19 left in the third and a face off in the neutral zone Coach Jake called the timeout to discuss strategy, his advice “Keep your head on a swivel and score a goal!”. On the ensuing face off, Sirkis Sr. skated the puck across the blue line and passed the puck to Chris Kirton who miraculously got the puck past the Grave Diggers’ Nick Murphy @ 12:22 of the third. The Mutineers shutout averted, the Mutineers Nick Archer broke through and scored the game tying goal at 12:31 of the third. After a defensive OT in which no shots were registered by either side, the Mutineers Nathan Hamilton’s scored the lone tally and Mutineers Ryan Haley’s Iron Person performance in the shootout. In Coach Jake’s post game press conference commented “What a game! I can’t wait to tell my Mom I actually coached a game!”.


Major I

Whalers (1-6-0) 2
Spiders (3-4-0) 1

The Whalers haven't been doing so well lately and all the losses have been gut-wrenching. The building shuddered in sympathy when Spider quarterback Bryan Couture drove home the opening tally. But Greg Mata never lost his cool, retrieving the puck from his net he vowed, "Never again". In the second he would be bolstered by the tying goal from Thomas Aarons. Mata dismantled Spider chances, wiping the sweat from his brow, looking for his salvation on the scoreboard and in the early third Ken Thomas redeems him with the Whaler lead. The remaining ten and a half minutes Greg toed the line eventually stopping twenty-five shots. Where was the Hamster?

Blue Devils I (2-5-0) 1
Smashed Pumpkins (5-0-0) 5

The BDI's stormed onto the ice, Mark Millard scores their first goal at twenty-seven seconds. . . Cody Patten ties it just eleven seconds later. Gabe Rivera is taking-up the mantle for resident hockey whore, scoring the game winner for the Pumpkins. Peter Case tickles the twine for the Pumpkin benefit and then Patten draws the hats from the crowd, all both of them (no confirmation that those two Smashed Pumpkin fans were Mr. and Mrs. Patten), for the decisive Pumpkin victory. Devil goalie David Blubaugh has abandoned his team, again.

Patriots (2-4-1) 4
Soul Patch (3-2-0) 1

Jacob Flughan appears to have found something that works in the Patriot net with an impressive 18 of 19, he surrenders his only goal to Patchy Josh Jones in the first period. The Pats, however didn't leave it all on their net minder's shoulders as they shell the Soul Patch net with 32 shots (I don't recall getting that kind of support, ever!). John Newell ties the game on the man advantage, Aaron Smith tries to one up him with a shorty but Newell responds in the same fashion. Then to demonstrate his prowess in all phases of the game, he completes the hat trick at even strength. The most amazing part is that he managed to find a moment in the third when the Pats were actually out of the box.

Shockers (6-1-0) 1
Puckers (4-3-0) 5

The Puckers and Shockers mix it up a bit in the first with the Shockers coming-up short on the penalty list (Matt Russell leaves the game with a 10) and though they score the first goal with a Josh Rooker shot, they loose on the board as the hungry, hungry Puckers fire back with a goal from Guy Riggs and one from Jason Arias. Arias couldn't be stopped, he acquires the hat trick, and to put a bow on it all, Monte Smith taunts the Shocker power play with his short handed goal. The first Shocker loss is a doozy, how will they respond? Will they gain a sense of urgency, or lose faith in their abilities? Likely, it will be one or the other.

OMG, Did You See David's Butt?

minor I-league

Snipers (2-1-1) 0
Grave Diggers (1-4-0) 0

Pointstreak is again, very difficult to follow. I am assuming that this game was a casualty of the aforementioned schedule change. According to what I see here one team was out of the loop, along with me, as only the Snipers showed-up. Both teams played later in the night, the Diggers more specifically early Sunday morning, I'm not sure though if the Snipers got any credit for their punctuality.

LSI (2-2-0) 2
Smashed Pumpkins (1-0-0) 6

Karen Powell makes her first I-league goal in months, since she finally found a baby sitter, putting her LSI team in front. Peter Case scores late in the first for the two-nothing lead, but turncoat ringer Gabe Rivera leads the Pumpkin counter assault cutting the lead in half before the period ends. James Macha manages to find the back of the net and Cody Patten makes the third Pumpkin goal seizing the lead in this civil war. Rivera strikes again in the final minute of the second and opens the third with his hat trick. Patten ends the evening with another tally leaving Gallagher wondering how he lost his prospects to an upstart organization like the Pumpkins.

Stickmen (3-1-0) 5
Mutineers (2-2-0) 2

Jesse Henderson has been back from his knee injury for a while now, but tonight he shows the leadership that the Sticks have lacked in his absence, the first goal is his. It takes until the middle of the second period before the Mutes can surmount his lead and John Swartzbaugh takes the mantle. The Sticks however, regain the lead with a Lynne Young goal and add to it with the bold stroke from Ken Halford. The Mutes refuse to go quietly and deliver a goal from Erick Ahlstedt to close the period down by one. In the final frame, the Sticks stymie the Mutineers, even while on the kill, with smothering presence at the offensive blue line, out shooting the Mutes 32-21, and gaining two more goals: Jeff Thomas, Julian Castillo. The Sticks look ripe for the repeat.

Brewzers (3-3-0) 1
Snipers (2-1-1) 4

Vanessa Walkerton guards the net for the Brewzers in this display of sibling rivalry, but she surrenders Lee Miller's shot for the early Sniper lead claiming it as a birthday gift for the opposing center. Jeff Vaughn finds a lucky screen from the point to make a two goal lead, then he opens the second with a drive to the net cleaning-up the rebound of Raul Gilbreath's shot. Mika Hyytiainen puffs out his chest with a four to nothing Sniper lead after popping the rebound overtop of the sprawling Vanessa. In his first game back from knee injury, Jamil Jabri gains the sole Brewzer goal, I am not sure how to interpret this nugget- Brewzers still lose.

Grave Diggers (1-4-0) 2
LSI (2-2-0) 9

For their second game of the night, Gallagher kicks A. J. out of the net, installing himself instead. The Burns boys take their cue that no one's position on the team is safe and combine for four goals in the opening period. Phil Pratt does his best to fulfill the incentive-based contract and scores a second period goal for his fearless leader. Robert Burns scores his fourth of the game and sets-up Ken Lentz a few seconds later. Cody Woodward makes the eighth unanswered goal, and the mountain before the Diggers was immense, but Tim Rivers takes the first step in that climb, hoping to inspire the Digger bench to greatness. Peter Case is inspired to score another LSI goal. In the third, the Diggers struggle to keep their tempers under control, killing one penalty and winning the period with the only goal- a la Randy Chappel. The game goes easily to the Imports leaving them at .500 for the night, or I should say, weekend.

EU MAJOR I

Spiders (3-3-0) 4
Patriots (1-4-1) 3

The Pats are just snake bit- or in the case of this contest Spider bit. They can't seem to find a winning rhythm despite goalie changes, defensive line instability, and league swapping. Steve "Coast-to-coast" Benefield, creates his own opportunity and a Patriot lead. Bryan Couture cancels it in short order. Jeff Eagle reclaims the Pat lead, but Evan Callahan erases it this time. The Pats escape the first with the lead when Greg Durante makes someone happy. The fragile lead holds through the third period when Andrew Patti sends it to overtime, and the ensuing shoot-out. Ice rookie netminder Jacob Fulghan stands tall for his Pats dispatching the first three shooters, but so does his counterpart, veteran Jeremy Brown. The fourth shooter was too much for Jacob- Heather Gray gains the victory for her Spiders.

Blue Devils I (2-4-0) 0
Shockers (6-0-0) 1

The main event: in this corner in the black trunks the undefeated Shockers and in the opposing corner, wearing very low-slung trunks, the aging champs, the Blue Devils. The two teams pace about the ice for two periods, sizing eachother up, looking for weaknesses. And, in the third the Shockers find it, Danny Arnold scores the only goal in the first minute. The game would get very tense in the closing minutes. Shocker Nick McMacken had already been in trouble in front of the net with a goalie interference call in the first period, but after Gloria Buell of the Devils turned things up a notch, he turns loose his anger with abandon while crashing the net. The incident at 11:41 of the third amasses twenty-two minutes of penalties among four men. And, it was captured on video, subjecting us all to the horrors of David Blubaugh's butt cleavage. The game does play-out and the Shockers maintain their undefeated status. Saturday night fever?

Soul Patch (3-1-0) 6
Puckers (3-3-0) 4

Last session's runners-up are looking better than ever, dismantling the agile Patrick Donaghue and the Pucker defense, right from the beginning- Soul Patch scores first with a Ron Demers goal. Ginger Parker, haven't heard much from her in a while, ties the game, David James takes the Pucker power play lead. The Patches wrestle back to the top in the first period with goals from Brad Aho and James McClelland. The Puckers control the middle frame with Guy Riggs, unassisted and Chris Kirton starting a point streak. But the Puckers lacked the wind to survive the third as the Patches lay it on with John Shannon's back-to-back goals, they take the lead and build on it with a Brian Lochkos tally- a three goal period with none against.


Whalers (0-5-0) 2
Smashed Pumpkins (3-0-0) 6

This game just finishing now, the Whalers looked to be in control, Richard Walter scores the first Whaler goal shorthanded and the puck possession Whalers take the two goal lead in the first minute of the second with a shot from Paul Thurston. But the momentum shift was looming and dramatic- James Macha ends the middle frame with the Pumpkin's first goal and Tom Burns evens it up in the third. Macha strikes again for the lead just seventeen seconds after the Burns goal and Robert Burns follows that on the power play. Cody Patten collects the fifth Pumpkin goal and Kate Levesque brings-in the sixth before the buzzer sounds, while Matt Walker gently weeps.

Laborious Pointstreak

Well we survived a weekend without hockey, at least you did, I picked-up a cool little gig in Grapevine on Saturday afternoon. Tom Yockey has updated your schedule for this weekend on Pointstreak,, so check your game time, now!

Also, if you want an angst ridden rambling on the hockey season ramping-up, feel free to visit WhereHockeyHappens.com

Thank you for your courage!
jon-jon

I'm late, Don't Worry, It's Not Yours

Eu minor I

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

Are the Diggers feeling the effects of the Bob Sirkis hex. . . or is it just the typical slow start? The Silverwings knock-in two late in the first- Will Hinton squeezes in the first and Troy Ramsey follows-up. A. J. DiBenetto spends the intermission trying to cut the net out of the back of the goal, but mistakenly attacks the wrong end of the rink. The Wings get a free pass on goals against and score one more for, this one belongs to Wing charter member Bryan Brookman. After much complaining by DiBenedetto during the next intermission, the Ref's restore the net in the back of the goal that A. J. would now occupy for the next thirteen minutes. Cody Patten snipes one from the corner for the Wings and Sergio Castillo arrives late on the scoresheet for the floundering Diggers.

Stickmen (2-1-0) 4
Snipers (0-1-1) 0

The minor champs are on track to repeat, leaving many to ask, "What is the spirit of I-league, minor?". Karyne Prevatil scores the game winner in the fourth minute of the game, but the scoring was far from over. The Sticks' Steph Trapp launches the next Donaghue befuddler, Ken Halford joins the frenzy in the third. "Big" Joe Tomme, shows his frustration getting the Snipers on the record with an interference call, a few minutes later Prevatil shows him up with her second tally of the contest. The Snipers get shut-out, out shot by 150%. It's a tough thing.

Mutineers (2-1-0) 4
Brewzers (3-2-0) 3

Finally, the "true" I-league offers-up a competitive match, not that the score matters in "true" I-league, right? Brewzers stomp onto the ice first with a goal from Steve Daniels, but Donaghue loses the lead for the second time on the night when the Mutineers send Nathan Hamilton to the net. Early in the second, Nathan Swartzbaugh reverses the Brewzers' fortune taking the lead for the Mutes. Steve #2 (Collyard) will have none of it and re-ties the game. In the meat of the third period, the Mutineers fire two across the bow- the first goal from the finesse-power-forward Chris Kirton, the cushion from Doug Hackett. The Brew crue get a little help from the Mutineers with a power play opportunity and Collyard executes, cutting the lead to one. . . Five minutes rolled-off the clock. Donaghue suffers his second loss, only this time he is on the weak side of the shooting differential- four goals on fifteen shots! Time for some cardio, old man.

EU MAJOR I

Blue Devils I (2-3-0) 1
Shockers (5-0-0) 5

The Devils started the game in their typical measured fashion, feeling-out the opposition looking for weaknesses, then the second period. Shocking! Eric Yepez breaks the Blue Devil method over his knee with a Shocker goal, before the period ends, Nick McMacken joins him for the two-nil lead. Martin Berryman, finally fires-up the Devil offense but the Shockers snuff-it out with their repeat offenders- Yepez (1X), McMacken (2X). Blubaugh attempts to break his stick over the crossbar, only to realize the McMacken has already obliged him with his last shot. The BD locker room was reported to FEMA.

Spiders (2-3-0) 0
Smashed Pumpkins (3-0-0) 5

Today is the greatest, the Smashed Pumpkins deliver a wallop to the Spiders. Searching for some stability in net the Spiders roll-out Jeremy Brown this week, Cody Patten figures him out in the third minute of the game. The second was worse, Phil Pratt gains the second Pumpkin goal and Patten collects hats from the ice before the intermission. In the first minute of the final frame Cody Woodward delivers the final blow, the Spiders collect their pucks and go home, don't heap it all on the net minder, the Arachnid offense only generates sixteen shots. David Jackson gets the pedestrian shut-out.

Whalers (0-5-0) 2
Puckers (3-2-0) 3

The Hamster, again, leads the way for the Whalers, but just as the crowd settles down- Chris Kirton strikes again! A rare two goal outing for the gentle giant. Rob Constantine contributes his goal to the Pucker efforts, gaining the lead, and Steven Niekamp sends in another for what would prove the insurmountable two goal lead. The Whalers bring the emotion, but expend much of it in the penalty box spending six minutes of the third down a man. They manage to overcome with a shorty from Mike Canzoneri, but can't get to the top. Third times the charm for Patrick Donaghue, his heart lies with the Pucker Nation.

Guess Who's Back? Back, Again.

Your weekend. . .

I-league Major

Whalers (0-4-0) 1
Patriots (1-3-0) 4

The Whalers hoped to turn their season against the flailing Pats and Hamstra obliges with the first goal of the contest. But, the Pats had this one marked on their calendar also and twenty seconds later Butch Hutchinson ties the game. With a power play opportunity the Pats take the lead with Jeff Eagle's swift stick. Another Eagle goal and a dominant penalty kill for a shorty from John Newell, the Pats have found someone they can play with.

Soul Patch (1-1-0) 0
Smashed Pumpkins (2-0-0) 3

The Punkins show up with an army of blade-footed Smashers, and the play on the ice was demonstrative of it. Gabe Rivera leads the charge for the Pumpkins and Cody Patten drives in the second assault. A shift toward the defensive end allows Will Hinton to extend his save percentage to seven for seven, then the final goal from Tom Burns sinks the Soul Patch's battleship, is this the same team that played for runner-up in the Keg?

Puckers (2-2-0) 0
Blue Devils I (2-2-0) 5

What looked to be a good match-up devolved quickly into an unwatchable mess- this of course implies that Euless I-league is generally a watchable mess. . . That may be a bit much to assume, anyway. Poppa Neal Wacker drills the game winner just past the five minute mark, setting the table fora Mark Millard goal and Val Kuntz on the power play- that was just the first period. Martin Berryman strikes next and Wacker claims his second then convinces the officials to call the game so that he can get to bed on time.

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

Netminders were in high demand for this all-nighter. The Spiders drew the short straw. The Shockers never gave the Spiders a glimpse starting the night off with a goal from Nick McMacken and concluding the period with a goal from Eric Yepez. A game of freeze tag erupts in the second and McMacken ends it in the third with another Shocker goal in the third. Stephen Dowling caps the Shocker offense. To dash Jesse Gonzales' hopes of a shut-out, Spider Mike Reeves gets the late goal. It coulda been worse, Jesse- the Spiders could've drew you.

I-league minor

Stickmen (0-1-0) -
Silverwings (0-1-0) -

I don't know if this was a practice or if we have decided to play minor games without keeping score- is this the true spirit of I-league. The way I see it both the Sticks and the Wings are winners! And, me too- I didn't have to watch it. . .



If you like golf, hockey and charity, be sure to check-out: http://www.hoffenfoundation.org/golf/golfRego.html

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