Pond Hockey and Free Market Capitalism

Since Knute Anderson left our presence in Euless for greener pastures in North Richland Hills, there's been a question about whether summer pond hockey is dead. Alas, pond hockey lives.

Mrs. Knute, aka Jennifer Anderson, emailed a number of Euless team coordinators and others Monday with the summer schedule for Texas Pond Hockey Association. The note answers a number of lingering questions about the former Blue Line rink.

Question: When will the rink open?
Answer: Apparently, in about two weeks. The TPHA registration form says pond hockey starts June 3 and runs for 10 Sundays.

Question: What's the new rink name?
Answer: North Richland Ice Complex.

Question: Who's running TPHA?
Answer: Jennifer is listed as the TPHA president.

Question: How much is it?
Answer: $189 for the session. There is a Gold Division for ages 16-25 and an Adult Division for ages 25-up. Adult Division games are from 12:15-1:30 p.m. Gold Division games are from 1:45-3 p.m.

Question: What's the deadline for signing up?
Answer: Um, strangely, the deadline has passed: May 11. That was last Friday. Surely, they're taking late sign-ups since the email arrived only today.

Question: What the heck is pond hockey?
Answer: According to last year's flyer ... "It’s 75 minutes of non-checking, supervised 5-on-5 play, using a drop-in format. The clock runs, and as soon as a goal is scored, the puck gets pulled out and play keeps on going. Pond Hockey is a unique opportunity to try new things without having to worry about what the coaches will say when you get to the bench." The skill levels are mixed, so you have newer players paired with experienced ones to even things out.

Question: Who to contact?
Answer: jenknute@sbcglobal.net ... The phone number is 817-428-5369.

And so, let the competition begin for hockey dollars in Northeast Tarrant County. Long live the free market.
I've asked about summer leagues at NRIC, but no response yet. Word on the street is that league fees will be dirt cheap to draw teams. We'll see about that.

-- BC

I league Week 2

3 Stars
1. Josh Briscoe: Stingers- 2 Goals (1 GWG)- Stingers 2-1 win
2. Conner Brothers: Mayhem-3 Goals, 2 Assists- Mayhem 6-2 win
3. Chirs Gallagher: Spiders- 1 Goal, 1 Assist (1 GWG)- Spiders 3-2 win

Honorable Mention: Rick Gregory: Puckers- 2 Goals (1 GWG)- Puckers 5-0 win

Goalie of the week: Matt Sexton: Spiders- 26 saves on 28 shots. Spiders 3-2 win.
(Honrable mention given to Doug Blubugh: Stickmen: stops 18 of 19, but takes the 1-0 loss, rock on dude)

Stingers 2 Borrachos 1
Josh Briscoe was silent before this game, we don’t know why. Apparently he was saving his words for the ice as he scores both Stingers goals in a 2-1 win. The Borrachos made it interesting in the 3rd when the Stuckeman, Strother, Haley line put one in. But the total eclipse was almost near perfect on the night as the stickmen remain “undefeated” on the year. Dana Fenili kicks aside 27 of 28 on the night, very impressive. Briscoe after the game, “I’m pretty much the greatest I league player of all time.”

Blue Devils 2 Spiders-Platinum 1
The Evil Empire take this one in a game they could have easily won by a larger margin, but also could have dropped this one. For the first 5 five minutes of the game, Spiders net was tended not by a goalie, but by Defenseman Nate Hodges, who stops all four shots thrown at him. Eventualy, Spiders goalie Nina “Roach” Bonifaz arrives to guard the net. Blue devils threw everything including the kitchen sink at Bonifaz who stops 20 of 22. Diable Azul was able to get goals from Mark Cameron and Terry Newman. The spiders continued to throw coast to coast runs by Whitney Freeman, however Devils D denied every attempt. Hodges was able to find the new with under a minute left in regulation to make it close. But a lack of shots hurt the spiders over all: 8 Shots compared to 26. Todd Smith is still a Goon. Blue Devils may just win the whole thing this season.

Ice Holes 1 Stickmen 0
Ice Holes score their first goal of the season and keep the stickmen from scoring yet this season. Jason Junker gets the tally early in the 1st off an Andrea Cortinas feed for the winner. Goaltending was excellent in this one: Doug Taylor for the Ice Holes stops 17 of 17, while David Blubugh stops 18 of 19. We fear both these goalies. Alex Eyserman challenged Jesse Henderson to a drinking match upstairs afterwards and was victorious. HIGH FIVE!

Brewzers 4 Snipers 2
Brewzers remain undefeated on the season with a hard fought win over the snipers. Rob Walker and Steve Daniels score early in the first for a 2-0 brewzers advantage. Snipers answer right back getting one toward the end of the 1st off Greg Martinez then a second one in the 2nd from Joe Tomme to make the game 2-2. The 3rd period belonged to the Bewzers who had an offensive explosion, thowing 13 shots on net and scoring twice. Matt Walker and Steven Sepeda scored the two third period goals for the Brewzers. Bewzers cranked out a total of 31 shots at Snipers goalie Patrick Donaghue while Brewzers Keeper Mike Moore had a pretty easy night only facing 14 shots.

Spiders 3 Patriots 2
In the upset of the night, we saw one of the most underrated teams ascend to the top of the Gold Division. Spiders came out swinging and immedialtly had the pats on their heels. Alex Adkins and Chris Nicolleta gave the Spiders a 2-0 lead in the first and had the Patriots baffled. The patriots for the first two periods looked like they were sleepwalking as errant passes and poor breakouts occurred. However in the 3rd, the patriots awoke and started playing like the Patriots of last season. Nate Hodges one timer goal from the point began a furious Patriots 3rd, however shot after shot was denied by Spiders goalie Matt Sexdon. The always dangerous Chris Gallagher for the spiders then broke the Patriots back with a goal late in the 3rd for a 3-1 advantage. Patriots would make it close again with a goal from Jesse Moorse to make the deficit one. Spiders held on for the rest of the game and remain undefeated while the Pats even out at 1-1. Jeff Vaughan killed a basket of puppies in rage after the loss.

Puckers 5 Fugaweez 0
Apparently there are two Puckers teams. The team that got beat 5-0 last week and the team that won 5-0 this week. Which one will we see next week? Apparently, in conflicting reports, Jason Isham was not named to Puckers Head Coach position. The Puckers started scoring midway through the first on a “courtesy goal” from Fugs’ own Sandy Parker. (Rick Gregory credited with goal for those of you keeping score at home). Kara Godsey, Ken Luchenhoff and Ryan Rintala would also score while Gregory would get his second of the night in the winning cause.

Komets 7 Leftovers 3
This was a damned rout. Leftovers’ season opener didn’t work out so well as they are shelled in a 7-3 loss to Los Komets. Sergio Castillo, Chris Gallagher, Sean Kerr, Mike Gallagher, Andrew Davis, Melissa Ross, and Alex Adkins all light the lamp, while the Leftovers had two from David Monfroy and one from the great Chuck Dolbee. (Our boy scott “Mindo” dolbee had two assists. WE SEE YA SON!) Komets look to continue their offensive explosion against the shockers next week. Oh no.

Mayhem 6 Warriors 2
Mayhem found their game this week as they simply obliterate the warriors squad. It was the tremendous return of John “Arch Enemy of Sharma/Hodges” Pinnard who gets a goal and an assist. The Conner Brothers combined for a total of 3 goals and 2 assists while Tom Harnitchek and Greg Mersberger both scored. Penalties were rampant for the warriors who had a total of 14 PIM on the night….Dallas “T.O.” Lehr had four of those. What a goon. Warriors weren’t without scoring as Eric Johnson continues his point streak as he gets both goals while Lehr notched an assist. Head Coach Bobby Sirkis after the game said, “Should have been 12-0”.

*Jamil Jabri is credited with having 3 assists on saturday, will be added to the list next week*

also.....from the DPSC website....

2007 Memorial Daze I-League Invitational Hockey Tournament
Registered I-League Players Only
All games to be played at the Dr Pepper StarCenter FRISCO
3 Game Guarantee
BEER GARDEN
15 Minute Stop-Time Periods
Games will begin Friday night May 25th

Tournament will conclude Sunday early evening to give players Memorial Day with the family
Team trophy’s and individual trophies awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finish
Whole and combined teams are welcome

MANAGERS: Sign your team up today!

Registration: Only $595.00 per team Based on a 15-man roster, with a 3 game guarantee.

SPARTA!

I League Week 2: Preview

Leftovers vs Komets: 6:30 (Gold)
Komets took a tough loss last week at the hands of the brewzers. They look to bounce back in the Leftover’s season opener. The Leftovers didn’t have the best season last fall, but their one win did come against the komets.

Fugaweez vs Puckers: 7:30 (Green)
Puckers led by their new Skipper Jason Isham, hope to bounce back from their shut out last week. They will have to try and overcome a solid Fugaweez team who is trying to make it back to back wins. Jeff Vaughan says Jason Isham will do nothing for the Puckers, unless he plays for them.

Patriots vs Spiders-Gold: 7:45 (Gold)
Patriots look to make it 2-0 on the season by going against a solid spiders squad. Both teams pitched shutouts last game. Patriots are on a high of knocking off arch rival Mayhem, while the spiders knocked off the ice holes. Chris Gallagher vs Rahul Sharma in this one.

Brewzers vs Snipers: 8:45 (Green)
Brewzers try and stay undefeated as they go against the defending Stanley Keg Champions. If Mike Moore can make some saves like he did last game, Snipers could be in trouble. Henderson, Eysermans, and Halford look to win another game for Buckeye Nation.

Ice Holes vs Stickmen: 9pm (Gold)
Both Teams came off shutout losses last week. A must win is in order if any of these teams are going have a shot at the keg playoffs. Ice Holes are a 2-1 favorite in this one.

Spiders-Platinum vs Blue Devils: 10pm (Green)
Spiders Platinum had a dominating win against the puckers last week, but will face a slightly better team in the Blue Devils. A battle of young guns as Whitney Freeman goes against Mark Cameron. Spiders Platinum have the talent, but it may be the deep blue devils bench that wins the day.

Borrachos vs Stingers: 10:15 (Gold) I league game of the night
Stingers are still fuming from their shootout loss last weekend, while the MVP Sean Haley has promised victory and a hat trick. We’ll see if total eclipse will allow this prophesy to come to pass.

Warriors vs Mayhem: 11:15 (Green)
Coach Bobby Sirkis will try and rally his Soviet Mayhem squad as they try to even up at 1-1 on the season. However, the Warriors resemble the fugaweez team that made the keg a couple seasons ago. Should be a good one. Dallas Lehr will be signing autographs before the game.

Shockers: Practice-11:30 (Gold)

A Switcheroo on the D-League Playoff Format

The Stars' Ed Reusch issued a revised schedule for the last few weeks of the D-League season today. Two games were deleted and five added to ensure everyone had the same number of games, etc.

I can't claim to understand all the science that went into this part, but they also deleted a few completed games from the results, including a pair of Wolverines victories in games that shouldn't have been played. (Editorial opinion: Reusch must be pissed about how screwed up things apparently got.) And he deleted games between the Hitmen and the dearly departed Panthers (may they rest in peace).

Reusch also issued an updated format for the playoffs, which will be expanded to eight teams instead of six. All eight teams will play in one single-elimination bracket for two rounds (1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, etc.) until there are only two. Then, there's a three-game series for the title.

Teams 9-12 will compete in another four-team bracket for the best-of-the-rest title.

Click on this image for the bracket:


BC

I League: Week 1

First week is in the books. This season is shaping up to be a battle in both divisions as teams are already going at each other…

Three Stars
1. Chris Zolle: Blue Devils- 3 Goals, 1 Assist (4 pts, 1 GWG)
2. Mark Cameron: Blue Devils- 2 Goals, 2 Assists (4 pts)
3. Daniel Barr: Patriots- 2 Goals (2pts, 1GWG)

Honorable Mention: Jim Stukeman: Borrachos- 2 Goals (2 Pts, 1GWG)

Goalie of the week: Jesse Gonzales: Patriots/Borrachos- 2 Shutouts/8-8, 11-11 on saves

Patriots 3 Mayhem 0
The Patriots get their revenge from last season’s losses with a crushing 3-0 over soviet mayhem. The great Daniel “Rick Vaughn” Barr was amazing on the night as he lit the lamp twice, Steve Benefield also added a goal. Patriots played solidly at both ends of the rink and when there was any breakdown at all, Pats netminder Jesse Gonzales shut the door. The Patriots/Mayhem rivalry has now become the biggest in the league. Head Coach Bobby Sirkis still maintains an 8-1-1 record against BAC. Bloody hell….
Jeff Vaughan got an assist. GLORY!

Warriors 3 Stingers 2 (Shootout)
A game shrouded in controversy. At the behest of most of the Stingers team, poor officiating was the cry, as one sided penalties seemed to be called on the stingers late in the game on a random referee change. To make matters worse, much confusion occurred in the shootout on what looked to be stopping of forward progress was allowed to carry on. At the same time, the Warriors protest that the shootout goal from one of the stingers should have been voided because of an equipment violation.
We didn’t see it, we’re just relaying info here.
Scoring wise, the Warriors struck twice late in the first off Travis Lehr goals, however the Stingers would tie it up in the third on goals from Greg Carter and Rick White. In the shootout though it Eric Johnson who had the spin-o-rama shot which beat Total Eclipse. (again, insert controversy comments here) Josh Briscoe had nothing to say after this one.
Props to Total Eclipse to for buying us Drinks at the cross bar. Champion!


Blue Devils 8 Shockers 0
The Ray Workman Prophesy has begun to unfold. Blue devils scored their only needed goal of the night from Chris Zolle, who would go on to later score a hat trick. But the “The Evil Empire” decided to make it a massacre and put in seven more. Young gun Mark Cameron lit the lamp twice, plus had two helpers, Terry Newman scored twice, and Clint Wacker had a goal. The Great Todd Smith had two helpers and there was rejoicing in Espoo, Finland. Can anyone stop this force of darkness?

Brewzers 2 Komets 1
This rematch of last season’s 3rd place silver game was a thriller to the end. Much credit is given to Mike “Roberto Luango” Moore who made some saves he had no business making. Excellent job sir. Brewzers took an early lead on a Paul Thurston goal. The lead was almost extended to 3-0 and 4-0, however Bruce Frankel’s re-signing of Nate Hodges proved to be epic genius as Hodges goes Willie Mitchell Style and swats two away on the goal line. The Komets would rally and throw everything at the Brewzers net. The Capers, Nation, Baldree Line of God had the brunt of the work and finally paid off as they edged a goal with 30 seconds left. But not enough as the Brewzers win the day. Jen Leonard puts the Crappy in Scrappy, as dictated originally by our leader.

Snipers 4 Fugaweez 3 (Shootout)
Another game went to the final leg of play as the GREAT Ken Halford hits the shootout winner to lift Buckeye, er, Snipers Nation into great rejoicing. Snipers had started the game with a goal from David Counke for the 1-0 lead. But the Fugaweez stormed back with a goal from Mark Gragg and a pair of goals from Glenn Englehart for a 3-1 lead. Snipers retaliated with Brandon Armstrong and Greg Martinez scoring to tie it at 3-3. The shootout went fairly long as both sides sent 8 shooters to center ice, before Halford beat Fugs goalie Crieghton Bolisler. Alex “Ice Water in His Veins” Eysermans > Jesse Henderson.

Spiders Platinum 5 Puckers 0
This was absolute domination and a royal thrashing. The Spiders Platinum (does anyone have a shorter name for this team?!?!) throw 47 Shots at goalie Casey Jenkins, remarkable he kicked all but five away. Puckers had a couple opportunites, but no real scoring chances ensued. Mike Reeves scored twice while Nate Hodges, Pete Clark, and Lori Wolf also had goals on the night.

Spiders 1 Ice Holes 0
Very tight game here had the Spiders getting off to a good start with a shutout of the stingy Ice Holes. The always dangerous Chris Gallagher scores early in the first off a Mike Ginard assist. Penalties were pretty even with only one double minor to the Spiders and three minors to the Ice Holes. Spiders take on the dangerous Patriots team next week while the Ice Holes travel to Euless, Tx to take on the Stickmen.

Borrachos 2 Stickmen 0
Borrachos led by Goalie Jesse Gonzales blank the stickmen to win a much needed season opener. Jim Stukeman had both tallies, one of which was a shorthanded goal. The other was assisted by Jason “Hot Blooded” Strother and Sean “Super Ringer Extraordinaire” Haley. Borrachos threw 22 shots on the Stickmen net. Some of the saves made were pure robbery. We would like to congratulate David Blaubaugh for epic robbery on several prime borracho opportunities. Borrachos go up against a hacked off Stingers team next week. Should be good.


Point Sheet.....

Hockey Video of the Week...

while we are workin on this weekends recaps, here's a little something to watch.
BEHOLD RUSSIAN HOCKEY with music complements of IRON MADIEN!!!!11