What is That Guy's Problem?

We've all seen that guy who always seems to be at the center of every melee. I always find myself throwing up my hands, trying to figure out how these guys get so wound up about a stupid game. But, the truth is, the same passion that tears me away from my family every Saturday night is what drives most of these guys too. The ice is their domain, and they must enforce a balance there. Jon Hale says,"I wouldn't say I am a hot-head as much as I am just passionate about the game of hockey" and, "This being I-league, coming up making a play you're going to have people running into each other, sticks going high, it's expected but I'm not going to go out and purposely try to hurt somebody." Robert Sirkis tries to restrict his actions to reactions,"I play defense, there is a certain amount of contact in front of the net. I only react when hit from behind into the boards or above the shoulders with the stick." So, are we to believe that every time these guys let loose on somebody it's because that player was asking for it? I can't watch every minute of every game from every angle but,"the refs usually tell the both of us to settledown. Believe it or not they do notice this stuff and give you fair warning." I have heard Sirkis complain about the refing and if he thinks that they notice most of this stuff then maybe there really is some justification for their incidents, there usually are two people in the box after all.

What about when that guy wrongs you, or your teammates and you can't get your pounding of flesh? Do you ever carry that over to the next meeting? Stone Cold says yes, sometimes "I have been known to hold grudges. Usually for a couple of months before letting go." Hale admits, "There have been a few occassions where people have done things that can't go unanswered. And I have done some things to get under their skin and rattle their cage a little bit, but I'm not going head hunting." I do respect this attitude to a point, but it does suck to see an opportunity for a powerplay lost to this vigilantism.

Of the people who responded to my interview only one reported having problems controlling himself off of the ice, that troubled soul is Stone Cold, "Both on and off the ice I have a tendency to react before I can think." Unlike Hale, Stone Cold has not been able to stay with one team for any period of time, he knows that it's because of his temper, which has plagued him for his whole life. He feels he has turned a corner, "I used to lose control on the ice all the time. I've argued with Refs, butted heads with teammates, coaches and team coordinators. Now I've learned to control my temper, cause I'm tired of burning bridges. The last two or three seasons my penalty minutes have gone down." I didn't have a way to contact another person, Tom Buckner, that I feel has also made a huge adjustment to his game. A big congratulations and keep it up to both of these guys, and anyone else fighting the battle.

Most everyone agrees that the ice and the real world are two different places, They all enjoy spending time in the crossbar after the game, Sirkis, "Once the game is over, it's over." And Hale says, "I almost always go up to the crossbar for some beers afterwards. So you know where to find me. J/K." I know that all of the people I singled out as hot-heads do go upstairs and I think that it is a very stand-up thing to do. Jon Hale might be just kidding but it is very important to show your face even when you have something happen on the ice that someone might take the wrong way. It, to me, lends a lot of creedance to the belief these guys have that their actions on the ice are justified.

Hale left me with one more comment,"Everyone does it, no one in our league has not ever hooked, tripped, slashed someone in some fashion." And it's true, or if it isn't just give it time. Having an injury that you caused hanging over your head would certainly affect any of these guys, but for the players I surveyed, this just doesn't happen very much, Hale did knock a guy out in another league after the guy had been playing an entire game of jackassery, without regard for anyone else, but most of the injuries that occur in this league are accidents. It's a shame but the real terrors out there aren't the "goons", but the "goofs".

I still don't really know where I stand on this whole issue, but I do believe that if everyone would learn to control there own play a little more, then these guys wouldn't be out there escalating things. It might not be their problem, but yours.

David Blubaugh hasn't yet responded to my survey, and I really wanted to get his take on things. He did tell me that the incident last week at the end of the Grave Digger's game was orchestrated to liven up a game that was practically over anyway. I found this more than a little disturbing since no one can read the mind of someone throwing a blocker in their face. Things like that can turn what was meant to be a joke into a bench clearing brawl. There really is a passion in everyone that plays in our little league, but in my opinion, this is just irresponsible.

Now before you start to indict me of being high and mighty and all, let me tell you a story. A few years ago I was playing net for a team that Knute was coaching, and from the first shift this one wing was just pushing all my buttons, messing with my stick, bumping me around, even tripping me at one point. None of the refs were seeing it, I was yelling at him and he knew he was winning. The switch flipped. I knew I was going to get this guy one way or another. I was watching and waiting but I never got my chance, his last shift ended on a whistle. I left my net while the play was stopped, came up behind him and pulled his legs out from under him. The whistles were blowing and stripes were swirling all around me, Knute stepped in to talk with the refs. And that's how I ended up serving my own penalty, watching the final minute of the game from the box, with an empty net. I'm not really proud of this, but it happened.

Good luck to everyone, I will not be at the rink this weekend. My first (maybe last) marathon is this Sunday in Austin. So I won't be watching you, but all of the enforcers will be, be safe, and keep your stick on the ice!

bcIII

Finally the I-league Delivers

So many great games this week. Four teams are starting to assert their dominance. A couple of the teams may be turning the corner. Hope you had as much fun as me.

players of the week:
Travis Lehr 3 goals (questionable tactics)
Eric Johnson 2 goals
and a tie for third...
Nicholle Palomar 1 goal, game winner, shoot out
Lynn Kresta 1 goal, game winner, regulation

goalie of the week:
David Blubaugh shut out on 26 shots

And here's they way it went down*


The Warriors 4, The Puckers 0

The evening started off with a huge effort by at least one Pucker, the backstopping of Patrick Donaghue was inspirational to everyone but his offense. For shot after shot he stood his ground, turning away breakaways and long Warrior offensive possesions, even effortlessly dismantling a well managed three on one. But this one man team eventually did lose steam, a low shot from Mindo on the point gives up a tasty rebound and with that Eric Johnson breaks the dam early in the third. The onslaught continued eventually stacking up four goals against on a night where he saw FORTY THREE total shots. Ginger had probably the only Pucker goal on her stick early in the first but couldn't capitalize, the Puckers can't let this fine goaltending go to waste. The Warriors are still winning. Our condolences to Bobby Michaelides, and his family.

The Army of the Twelve Monkeys 8, The Snipers 0

A stat padding jaunt from ATM, the first period sees five goals from four different Monkeys. They let off the gas (a little) scoring just two more in the second, pointstreak attributes one to netminder Phil Talley, who otherwise saw little activity. Nick Murphee goes into the third with seven goals against and all of the Monkeys hear his call for uncle except one: Travis Lehr. The temptation for the hat trick was too great for him, no more scoring took place for the remaining 10 and a half minutes of the last period. Travis also has the only penalty of the game. I hate to sound like an ass, but this is the kind of game that makes for real animosity toward "the ringer" and sportsmanship in general. I didn't see this game personally and I have no doubt jumped to some conclusions (after all, I'm going off of pointstreak's info, from a lackluster group of data entry scorekeepers) but I hope that the Army of the Twelve Monkeys feel good about this display. I know you guys are getting hot under the collar, so let me have it.

Spider 2, Blue Devils 1

Why did I fall into the seduction of handheld youtube? I missed the only goal, on the first shot the the Blue Devils fired at Nina Bonifaz. Other than that I watched this one wire to wire. An intense game thick with drama. After Todd Smith opened the game for the Blue Devils the constricting defenses really started the tussle. The shots that did make it through were nothing to snivel at, demanding all of the focus of both netminders. Blue Devils goalie, Jim DeBaro, eventually gives up the tieing score on the Spider's power play to Evan Callahan. Ryan Wacker, was the man responsible for the roughing penalty, a player who has scored, and scored often in both of the Blue Devil games so far. Unfortunately for him the scoring streak would come to an end this week. With the game tied at the start of the third the penalties started immediately (a holding to Ryan's Dad, Clint). One face-off in particular sees Scotty Olsen (who should have been called for illegal use of hands, taking every opportunity to touch every female player) get knocked ass over tea kettle, along with several of the nearby players. In the end, it was Lynn "the aggressor" Kresta, who lifts a crease-crossing rebound over the glove of the outstanding DeBaro. A final penalty kill from the Spiders and they seal the hard fought victory. Unanimously a great game from both of the spectators present.

Stickmen 2, Brewzers 0

12 minutes of penalties, 55 total shots, Mike Moore gives up the first in the first to Alex "Steve" Eysermans. Then in the second Sarah Buckner serves the two minutes for a bad change that results in too many men. Another Stickmen goal (Timothy Schmidt) gives them a less than comfortable lead on the power play. With Jamil Jabri around the net there would be no rest for the Sticks until the final buzzer sounded, but David Blubaugh answers the call and staves off all seekers for his first shut-out this session. The heartbroken Brewzers suffer another defeat despite stellar play all around, maybe it was just too many penalties to overcome. The Stickmen remain one of four undefeated teams, a trend to be put to the test in next week's battle royale against the Blue Devils. Look for corrections from Blubaugh on the comment board.

The Patriots 6, Grave Diggers 2

The score would give you no idea of just how close this one was. Rahul Sharma, growing bored with trying to create plays, goes coast to coast and puts it behind David Blubaugh (his second game) in the meat of the first period, a slow moving frame. The second period starts with a sloppy change for the Grave Diggers to put the Patriots on the power play. Eager to stomp on the throat, they... go ahead and give-up a shorty allowing the Grave Diggers a clean start for the third. With it notted at one, Blubaugh begins to feel the affects of back to back play. A rebound on his stickside is flipped in before he can pick up his narcoleptic carcass. But it's Sergio Castillo who comes up big for the Grave Diggers. He connects on an awkwardly placed onetimer catching goalie Jon Ellis (his second game) cheating to the right, over the glove. A beauty. The tie did not last long as Blubaugh fell into hypnosis and watched four more goals go in until he decided he couldn't take it anymore. Spotting one, Robert Sirkis, rolling around with Troy Ramsey (I think) in the corner, he lowers his head and bull rushes the Patriot throwing a few nominal swipes with his blocker, then is pulled back by the refs, sprays his waterbottle over the shocked onlookers and is escorted off of the ice. A signature Blubaugh exit! Not much happened for the remainder of the game.

Iceholes 2, Komets 1 OT, Shoot-out!

A typical Iceholes victory. Ryan Smith returns from sick bay and puts up a goal unassisted, early in the first. The Iceholes proceed to lay shot after shot onto Komet's goalie Tom Cox. But he refuses to give-in, despite facing three straight powerplays (the first is Ryan's). Jason Jones does his part keeping the slightly less agressive Komets back until Scottie Baldree takes his second cross checking penalty, two seconds later Greg Durante carries the Iceholes into overtime. Jones receives a new, well deserved, lease on the game and keeps it tied throughout the fourth period. The shoot-out puts the Iceholes behind again as Rich Duval nets the first shot of the exhibition. In Icehole fashion, Joe Picardo saves his platoon from defeat, scoring as the last of the three original shooters. Then shooter after shooter, ten total, leave the ice without the triumph they seek. Who was it that resolved this mighty battle? As midnight loomed over the rink, Nicholle Palomar finally ends the contest. The Komets give the Iceholes their first win of the session, the Iceholes have allowed only 3 regulation goals in their three games.

What a weekend it was!
bcIII

P.S. I will try for the special effects next week, Rahul, no time right now.


*Not all facts are factual, in fact many may be completely made-up since pointstreak and our scorekeepers are less than ideal at delivering the correct statistics to your humble blogger, please keep this in mind before blaming me for inconsistencies reported here.

Is That Your Age or Your Skate Size?

In the crossbar the other night, acting the part of the social butterfly, I began to realize what a ridiculous thing we have going here. There was a highschool game in the midst of our little dress-up session, I was lucky enough to talk to one of the players in that game. His team had won against the team from Tulsa, one of the top rated teams in their league and as his season nears an end he has prospects for a career in juniors (this is professional hockey for young'uns) and who knows what beyond that. This kid is having fun, growing as a player, and accomplishing something. I am soon to be Thirty-two and clinging desperately to something I was never even close to having in the first place. Like many of you, I spend alot of money on this habit of mine and I can't even get that same fix that I used to, I just do it to feel normal.

When I grow-up I want to be... a grown-up. Admit it, you're a manchild too (or womanchild?), refusing to act your age and spend your Saturday night watching 48 Hours Mystery with the kids tucked in their beds. Instead you show up here for four or more hours playing a kid's game. We play at it like ten year olds, then move upstairs and act like we're 23, usually by Sunday mid-day we feel like we're 80. Some of us even take it to the extreme of tracking our stats and, get this, some of us write about it like it were some kind of legitimate sporting event. This is a sickness, and I don't want to get better.

I know that I am not alone, I am right in the middle of our demographic. This thing will be a draw on my life until I am the oldest one in the rink, when they carry me away. Many of you have been through marriages and careers with only this one constant in your life. I can't believe that they let a bunch of chronics like us hang-out together, we're just enabling eachother, right? What are the side effects? You know, I tell people it's my work out routine.

And it is, I do stay in pretty decent shape because of this hockey thing. And it does build a comradery, not just among those of us here on Saturday nights. You see many wives and girlfriends (and reverse the gender), and occasionally kids. I know that some of you have taken up coaching or skateguarding or some other method of sharing it with the people around us. Being a part of something like that, building relationships with people of all ages and backgrounds, could be a good thing. Then again it might be an epidemic.

bcIII

It's late and for some reason my spellcheck has been disabled, so deal with it!

This is it? Weak Too

And what a weekend it was. Underdogs were vindicated, amazing playmaking, new heroes were born, and dynasties were quashed... and we got to play some hockey on Saturday. The games were mostly exciting and certainly unpredictable (none of mine panned out). Let's see what happened.

My three stars:

Ryan (insert last name before posting) 2 goals, 2 assists

Eric Johnson 2 goals

Patty Greco 1 goal, 1 assist

Goalie of the week:

Patrick Donaghue .968 save percentage, 31 shots

ATM 2, Pats 1

Listen, do you hear? That is the sound of ultimate suffering. My heart made that sound when Ryan Smith buried the keg winner, Sabrina makes it now.

Before the game Dallas said he saw Ellis tapping the net with a chicken foot and muttering. The Monkeys just couldn't get a break, the puck just wouldn't go in. A.J. finally netted one in the second but the Patriots nuetralized it before the end of the period. The third was a deadlock, the tension building into a deluge of penalties. The resulting five on three Pat's powerplay was the turning of the game. On a cleared puck, Sean Griffin scores the shorty off of back checking Sabrina York's stick. The Patriots never recovered.

Warriors 5, Snipers 0

What a display of dominance. The Warriors are on a quest for perfection, looking to repeat, and running up the score on everyone in the way. Michaelides logs an unimpressive shutout, while Nick Murphee and the rest of the Snipe are assaulted in a Discovery Channel fashion. Two goals in the first, two more in the second (both to Eric Johnson), and one final score to rub the nose in it. Frank Casperson is the playmaker tonight as he dishes out three assists. The only catagorey the fiesty Snipers lead is penalties, you can't score from the box. This motley crew needs to do some serious soul searching (that is quite an alliteration!) before next week.

Spiders 2, Brewzers 1

On a night when Nina was dragging (cough medicine?), almost allowing a clearing attempt into the net she still manages to eek out a win. A very tight game until the third, when the almost forgotten Patty Greco makes her impression on Mike "Snakebit" Moore. She throws a shot into his stick and Lynn Kresta drives the rebound home, high, stickside. Then Patty, still hungry, takes advantage of the same hole herself, a shot that crawls right up his stick and over the blocker. I knew that the Spiders would win but I didn't see it this way. Great Caesar's Ghost, Mike, it's Patty Greco! The scorer for the Brewzers is Nadil "not Jamil" Jabri.

Blue Devils 5, Gravediggers 2

What the douche? The Diggers dig a hole starting with the first shot. Then Ryan (I can't remember your surname) scores two more, interupted by Sergio Castillo's goal. The second period saw the Diggers bring it within one but the momentum could not be wrestled back, and the Blue Devils make a mockery of the GD goalie (Jon Ellis, guess that chicken foot wore out) with two more tallies. That brings the grand total of 9 goals against for the Gravediggers in the first two games. Is there a league below I?

Stickmen 2, Iceholes 1

Blubaugh turns out another spectacular performance with a .960 save percentage. And the Sticks are putting in some timely goals. The Iceholes cannot expect to win many games scoring a goal every other week. It all started with missed defensive assignments allowing Stickman Brad "Spaz" Bynum to pop it in uncontested on Jayson Jones' back door. A hooking call by Stickmen bad girl Val Kuntz allows the Iceholes to even it up. Now pointstreak claims that Raul "bad" Galbreath netted this one but Blubaugh says it was on a screen and tipped by his own defense (I gotta agree with my fellow netminder since I can't remember the last time this guy scored). The game goes to the Sticks when Larry "Old Canuck" Wade picks up the savory rebound in the closing throws of the game.

Puckers 4, Komets 2

This game was not as exciting as I had hoped it would be. The Mother Puckers put out a fantastic scoring performance and are backed up by a monumental Donaghue, boasting a .968 on 31 shots. The Komets never even got close. The penalties were even tame, the two game suspension for Casey Jenkins was from a dispute over face-off etiquette between he and the linesman, I can't believe it, where has all of that Pucker attitude gone? I thought their would be bodies on the ice. No repeat scorers in the game and it looks like Ginger is on the scoresheet again this week, I can't say if she actually scored this goal or not but I am not going to dispute it, I would like to stay on her good side. The Komets faced a monster here but still have a lot more potential than they are exhibiting so far this session.

Put it behind you, two games, it means nothing. The prize comes to those who can make the long run, unless you lose it all in the playoffs. Whatever...

bcIII

By Popular Demand Here is the Weekend in Preview

This is how it looks to shape-up:

Army of the Twelve Monkeys vs. Pats 6:15 Gold
Warriors vs. Snipers 7:30 Gold
Brewzers vs. Spiders 7:45 Green
Diggers vs. Blue Devils 9:00 Green
Iceholes vs. Stickmen 10:15 Green
Komets vs. Puckers 10:30 Gold


As a bonus to the schedule, all of the games feature one winner and one loser from last week, giving everyone the opportunity to level the field. Of course that would be a boring prediction, and way too easy. So try this on for size.

FROM THE DESK OF... jo-jo

The Monkeys will be ready (even at 6:15!) this week, not just in the final period, but even before the puck drops. During warm-ups they look to score a couple from the opposite end on a daydreaming Ellis, and will keep throwing them at him for the duration. The Pats are not clicking on offense just yet but, will give-up very little ice to the "rookie" team. Can the ATM Goalie Phil the net against his former team? With all of those shoot-arounds they might know all of his weaknesses...

sorry Pats, ATM wins this one, 3 to 2


The Warriors will be Snipe hunting and with this line-up how can they come away without bagging the limit? The intrepid Snipers will throw all they have at this machine but if they don't get a big performance from every one of their players they just won't stand a chance. I think big Joe will shine in this...

second Sniper loss, Warriors on top, 4 to 2

The beautiful Brewzers look to take revenge for the opening loss on the sputtering offense of the Spiders. Well, the scores may be few and far between this session for these Spiders but they may only need one with The Roach in net. Mike will have to look one more week to surpass his OT mistake as...

The Spiders win, 1 to _ (to say it is to jinx it)

Blue Devils are feeling the confidence returning to the once proud franchise. The Grave Diggers were all set to suffer a terrible session but had a strong start last week. So the stage is set for two optimistic, gutty teams to tear each other up. The power plays will be on display and the kill will come up short for...

The Blue Devils, The Grave Diggers win, 5 to 3

The Stickmen line-up to be counted with the few, the undefeated (so half the league is undefeated at this point, it still counts). The Iceholes will be leaning heavily on there defense, but you have to score to win. The consistent Blubaugh will be on fire turning away 30 shots, and earning 4 minutes of penalties. This one will go all night with seven shooters needed to decide the game. But the streak will end for the Sticks...

The Iceholes win, 2 to 1 OT, shoot-out!

Komets and Puckers, I stand by my post: This will be a brawl. The Puckers are going to the darkside. When the Komets show up, they will be looking to cruise to another victory, and this halfhearted attempt will find them trailing by two goals at the end of the first. The Puckers will start off the second demonstarting there physical game, allowing 6+ minutes of Komet power play and allowing the Komets to come within one. The third will find both of these parties at their very best, and everyone will no doubt be glued to the glass in the crossbar. I can see in my crystal ball, the face of Ryan Smith frozen in a terrific scream but the score, I can't be sure, the ghost of Casey J clouds my vision, The winner?

I cannot reveal the winner, but here's the score: 6 to 3, to be decided inthe final three minutes. It will be GLORIOUS!

Okay, you heard it here. I'm sure the lines in Vegas are jumping all over the place now.
Go get 'em tigers.
bcIII

It's in the Books, Weak One

Another session underway and if your not enjoying it then maybe you should retire. Outstanding play all around some surprises, some disappointments. This is how I saw it.

This week's players:
Jamil Jabri 2 goals
Wil Dobson 2 goals (for 2 teams)
Dustin Nation 2 goals

Honorable mention to Travis Lehr

Goalie of the week:
Nina Bonifaz Shut-out on 27 shots


ATM 4
Grave Diggers 0

The evening got started with the debut of the Army of the Twelve Monkeys who looked very underwhelming throughout 32 minutes of play managing only one goal against the humble Grave Diggers, then all hell broke loose. In the final minute of play the monkeys went crazy for three more goals, one just before the final buzzer as Ellis (out of the net again) loses possession of the puck and Stephen Culps slips it in, uncontested. the other goals go to the Lehr boys and hockey newby, Wil Dobson. If this team wants to live-up to the hype they had better get their game together.

Warriors 4
Patriots 2

Returning champs the Warriors in the rematch against the Patriots. A contest ripe with drama and for the first two periods, a low scoring affair. In the third the Warriors begin to assert themselves. Geoffrey Goodson makes good on a breakaway and Eric Johnson makes it three nothing on the powerplay. The Patriots then turn the tables scoring two quick goals including a sweet deke on the Bryan Brookman breakaway. But Travis Lehr allays all the Warriors fears with the final score of the game (his second of the night). The Patriots will have no rest next week either as they face the Warriors again next week, er, um, I mean the Army of the Twelve Monkeys.

Blue Devils 3 OT
Brewzers 2

Jeron Gibson starts the scoring with an assist from Gloria Buell for the Blue Devils. Then Jamil Jabri puts the Brewzers on his back with a return volley just 24 seconds later. Buell ups the Blue Devils total with a goal of her own in the second, and Jabri answers once more to send it to overtime. Just short of halfway through the extra period, a communication meltdown of the highest order sees, otherwise blameless, goalie Mike Moore step out of his comfort zone to whip a pass up the boards. The pass becomes a turnover and then Danny Flynn makes him pay for leaving the net open. Hey Mike, it's only a game, I feel your pain.

Komets 3
Snipers 2

Wil Dobson makes it on the scoresheet again (how can this guy call himself a newby?) with the opening goal. Dustin Nation scores two more in the second at which time the Komets lean back on their heels. Now, somehow, goalie Nicolas Murphee scores with an assist to absentee Jen Leonard. Then Eysermans puts in another one... but Murphee's valiant .940 save percentage is all for naught. Two periods of play proves to be enough for the Komets to hold on for the win.

Stickmen 2 OT
Puckers 1

The Puckers reportedly have my prediction on their bulletin board. Ginger Parker has taken it personally and is looking to make a mockery of my fine investigative journalism. And in the first period she takes her first step down that path, drawing all the defense away she sends the assist to Steve Niekamp for the only goal they would score. Superior goaltending was on display in this game. Blubaugh makes twenty saves, allowing only that one Pucker goal. While Pucker netminder Patrick Donaghue stumps all of the Sticks, except one. Jeff Thomas finally finds a hole in the third to send it to overtime, where he does it again. Ginger may have me in her crosshairs but the focus should be on the underachieving Komets. Next week promises to be a brawl.

Spiders 1
Iceholes 0

This was amazing. The return of giant goaler Jayson Jones. The arrival of the pint sized Nina Bonifaz. With a total of 49 shots only one goal, someone had to blink. Sorry Mr. Jones. I told you to beware of the Roach, did you listen? Nina constipates the Iceholes offense stopping all 27 of the shots thrown her way. Pete Clarke gets the game winner in the second.

Thanks to Brian for the dolphin story, unfortunately I will not be relating it here. See you next week in the crossbar.

bcIII