The Second Greatest Fortnight in All of Sport!

First Round:

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Brewzers (5-5-1) 3
Mutineers (8-4-0) 6

In the opening minor i game the Brewzers turned the Mutineer power play on end starting the game with a shorthanded goal. The shots would be dead even all night and the Mutineer's power play would be the force that gained the victory over the Brew crew. The talented shooters on the Mutineer lines would carry their favorite status onto week two.

Snipers (7-5-0) 0
Blue Devils (6-5-1) 1

The Cinderella Snipers, the darling of the regular season, see their hopes dashed in the first round against the stumbling Blue Devils. A power play goal in the first period is the only shot that defies the outstanding Matt Walker and the Snipers fail to get into the red light district even once, handing a shut-out to Blue Devil net minder Richard Hall. The Snipers were no doubt in poor spirits but the Devils did not look prepared for a meeting with the Mutes.

Silverwings (4-7-1) 7
Grave Diggers (5-6-0) 2

The Diggers and Silverwings have two of the best locker rooms in the league but apparently the best roster is the Wings. The game was never in doubt for the Silverthings as they build a five goal wall before the Diggers can even get on the board. Kellen Kaufman and Cody Patten both score a pair for the Wings, while The Digger stand-out must be Ryan Smith with four minutes in penalties.

Major I

Shockers (6-6-0) 1
Warriors Major (7-4-1) 4

In the Major first round the second place Warriors start the night off with a Shocking victory over the Shockers. As the slim favorite in the game it was surprising the total domination of the orange men over their rivals. They almost double shots on net, and time of possession, even tripling the shockers in penalty minutes. The only place the lost to the Shockers was on the roster.

Patriots (5-7-0) 3
Spiders (4-6-2) 5

In the final week of the regular season, the Pats had shut-out the Spiders but in the second season the hardy arachnids knuckle down for a brawl. It was back and forth throughout the game, most of the action in the neutral zone and on the boards. Two players in particular stand above the rest, Jeff Eagle for the Pats who scored the first goal of the game and brought the Pats within one at the end, and Freddy Gilbert who's second goal on the power play iced the game for the Spiders.

Stickmen (4-6-1) -
Puckers (2-7-0) -

The Sticks and Puckers saw nothing in their futures for the play-offs and decided to stay home and plan their Pro-Bowl parties, Yipee!

Soul Patch (10-1-1) 5
LSI (5-3-0) 2

The eternal Bride's maids, the Soul Patch enter the post season again as the favorite, against the sneaky Lone Star Imports. It seemed the question of which LSI team would show up was answered in the first period, the only goals are a pair for the Imports. The lead holds until the third when the Patches roar back with goals from power play squads and even the penalty killers, ending the LSI playoff hopes with an empty netter.

Championship Round:

minor i (the True Keg)-

The early game went unplayed, the Diggers and Brewzers refuse to play for last place but instead stay home and lick their wounds. The second game was surprisingly tasty.


Mutineers (8-4-0) 5
Blue Devils (6-5-1) 2

The Mutineers were expected to have a cake walk to the Keg but the Devils hearkened back to some of their halcyon ways. Mickey Syrquin put the Mutineers up early and the Devils were quick to tie it up with a Jake Reynolds goal. The Mutes fire back with two goals: Nathan Hamilton and Erick Ahlstedt. But the Blue Devils refuse to give-up keeping the Mutineers in sight with a Scott Speelman goal. The Blue Devils stood one point behind with thirteen minutes left and the fiery speech from Gloria Buell in the intermission the play on the ice escalated toward the box and the power play would end-up making the game for the Mutes, a power play goal first from Ahlstedt then later from Syrquin and the Devils dreams had ended with a shameful stain.

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

The battle for third in the minors was a thinly veiled thrashing. In the first period the Wings held back trying to hold the Vegas line but in the second once the Snipers had scored their first goal a la Sean Beeman, the Wings released the hounds. The first Wing goal fell to Ian Hellbusch. The next to Jason Neal. Cody Patten claimed the third at even strength and the fourth on the power play, Neal ends the five goal run with his second. Spivey turns out a stellar game allowing one goal on seventeen shots.

MAJOR I-

Spiders (4-6-2) 1
Puckers (2-7-0) 0

The spectators were on the edge of their seats for the entire 39 minutes. The Spider neutral zone was almost impenetrable and Patrick Donaghue snuffed out every hopeful Spider shot. The scoreless tie loomed over the third period until the fifth minute when the Spiders thanked their lucky stars for the return of Bryan Couture to the roster- it couldn't have happened at a more crucial moment. Donaghue is relegated once again to be the great net minder behind an impotent team, he stops 29 of 30. Third place is the Spiders.

LSI (5-3-0) 2
Shockers (6-6-0) 5

Scott McMacken and Chris Ensor put two goals in for the Shockers in the first period and the Imports never could keep that sort of frequency, they halve the lead with a James Macha goal when given a power play opportunity. At even strength the Shockers roll-out two more: Matt Russell and Ensor, then score their fifth goal from Josh Rooker. It would take another power play to get the Imports on the board again, Macha would be their only offensive threat as they drag their bodies over the finish line.

Soul Patch (10-1-1) 2
Warriors Major (7-4-1) 5

Warriors take the ice as the under dogs, but the weight was heavy on the Patches as they return to the Championship game once again with the ghost of the still living Jim Kelly haunting their locker room. Almost immediately the Warriors took their cue with a couple goals from Chris Dolbee sandwiching a Bobby Michaelides tally, a little goalie on goalie action. The Patches try to awaken their roster with strikes from Ron Demers and Bruce "Almighty" Davis, but no matter, the curse could not be lifted. Derek Tillemans runs the Patch power play into a shorty for the Warriors and Dolbee celebrates the impending victory with a hat trick. Congratulations Warriors, now listen here Lehr, stop sending your text messages to my home phone! I have a cell phone for that crap.

Patriots (5-7-0) 5
Stickmen (4-6-1) 4

The Patriots rise-up to the challenge of the consolation game. A. J. Baker, Jeff Eagle, and Butch Hutchinson combine to build a three goal mountain in the first period. The Sticks end the first with just one step up that hill, a goal from Mark Millard, but they start the second with a Rich Wojcio goal to get within one of the tie. The Pats respond with a goal from John Newell, keeping things cool. But, the Sticks turn the game with a power play goal from Charlie Heine and another from the captain at even strength, a tie game into the third. The pair of also-rans hit each other in the mouth for ten minutes, unable to gain an advantage until Brad Allen puts an end to the mediocrity in the favor of the Patriots.

Great Intro Video....

All hockey intro videos should be this awesome.
I miss you all.

I Have Returned. . . Didja' Miss Me?

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Mutineers (6-4-0) 5
Blue Devils (5-4-1) 4







It looks like the offense doesn't mind the early games, the Defense could use a little extra nap time before the game. This one started with a three goal first, Nathan Hamilton fires two for the Mutes and John Lloyd saves Devil face with the last of the frame. The Devils tie the game in the second with a Scottie Speelman power play goal, but the Mutes right the ship with a Patrick Haley goal. Unable to keep their attitudes in check, the Mutineers surrender another power play, Neal Wacker ties the game, followed by another power play where Aaron Hawley takes the first BDI lead early in the third. The Mutineers have no sympathy for the Devils, they tie the game in regulation with a Mickey Syrquin goal and Chris Kirton strikes for the win in the extra period. Fifty-eight minutes in penalties, total! Thirty-four go to Brooks Willhoite, alone!

Snipers (7-3-0) 4
Silverwings (2-7-1) 2






The Snipers continue their unheralded race for history with another stupendous outing. In the first Jeff Vaughan stands alone with a slim Sniper lead, the second had a little more action. The Wings tie the game with a Kellen Kaufman goal, Vaughan restores the Sniper lead, Mika Hyytiainen and Kyle Rybak turn that lead into a mountain. Kaufman leads the expedition up the mountain but the Wings succumb to exposure just out of base camp. Matt Walker is strong in the Sniper net, again.

Is this inter-league play?

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





The Brewzers were in rare form tonight. An early Brewzer power play doesn't go to waste and David Counce sets the tone with the special teams goal, Brian Flashbart seals the first with another Brew crew goal. Andrew Radic adds another to the pile and the lead goes four-nil with Scott Edwards' goalie puzzler. Radic scores again sending the Brewzers into a goal induced hangover, allowing Kirk Seiter to spoil Mike Moore's shut-out- just one goal allowed on twenty-two shots.


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




I'm not sure why these two are playing against each other, but nonetheless the Warriors, Major, started off in their just place with a Mindo goal. The Diggers fly in the face of the Major I team with first the tying goal from Jason Neal then after a brief hiccup resulting in a Warrior goal from Gijsbert Debruijn, they re introduce Bobby Michaelides to the wrist shot, with goals from Ryan Kelley, Jason Neal (again), and Tiffany Hauck. Maybe these guys should rename the franchise: Warriors Minor.

MAJOR I

Puckers (2-6-0) 0
Shockers (5-5-0) 7

Matt Walker agreed to collect the check for his time in goal for the desperate Puckers, unfortunately he was there in body only. . . The Shockers hit 'em hard with a vulcanized deluge starting with Chris Ensor, Eric Yepez on the pp, and Thomas Mathias- that was just the first period. Matt Russell knocks in the next two consecutively, Ensor doubles his total for the game, and finally Scott McMacken nails the Pucker coffin with the seventh Shocker goal. Shocker netminder, Topher McPherson had this to say, "I don't want to rub it in, but I had to stop a 3-on-0 to preserve the shut-out".

Patriots (4-6-0) 3
Spiders (2-6-2) 0

In my humble opinion, the marquee game of the night was the Pats/Spiders match. Two Goalies filling in after long hiatuses: Matt "Sexy Town" Sexton for the Spiders and myself for the Pats. The first period ended in a dead knot, and it looked as if the second would be the same. Sexton stifled the persistent Patriots with his quick glove and all of Andrew Patti's dogged drives to the net ended with a rebound into the corner for the Spiders. But the contraversial pile-up in the Spider crease ends with a hog-tied Sexton watching the puck creep across the line for Butch Hutchinson and the Pats. The third period saw the eventual wearing down of Sexton for two more goals: John Newell and Andrea Cortinas, while almost nothing could penetrate the Patriot defense at the opposite end. Linda Mason comes closest to killing the shut-out, with two late game rushes, but luck was with yours truly. YES! 2010 is my year!

Soul Patch (9-0-1) 2
Stickmen (4-5-1) 3

The Patches run the table for much of the regulation game with the C train leaving the station and scoring the first goal, Sergio Castillo at 3:02. The Sticks tie it up with a goal from Damon Flores but the Patches take it back with a Josh Jones tuck of the puck. All was going well for the Patches as they cruised through the third, even enjoying two power plays, well, perhaps enjoying is too strong a word- Rich "Oven Chicken" Wojcio escapes the extra man pressure and sinks the tying goal with less than thirty seconds left in regulation, and no gas left in the Soul Patch tank. Overtime ends in a draw, and the skills competition would decide the game. The first Stick to skate with the puck was Jesse "Lunchbox" Henderson and that would be all they would need to save the game.

The iKeg, Soon. . .

MINOR-I (sorta original six)







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

The Brewzers defense let's their net minder down- yet again. The forwards fling a mere nine shots at the Devil net and allow nineteen to reach Mike Moore. Moore responds heroically, turning aside everything except for Scottie Speelman's shot, a pick on another defensive zone turn over. Can the Brewzers hold together if they can't dispatch the lowly Blue Devils? And, how much longer will the Blue Zombies continue to walk the earth?







Snipers (6-3-0) 4
Mutineers (5-4-0) 2


The surprising Snipers stand poised to claim their first ever I-championship. A drowsy first period leads to a tight second: goal swapping starts with a Sniper lead off a Jamil Jabri shot, Mike Redmon cancels, Steven Collyard reclaims the Sniper lead and Steve Haley ends the frame in a tie. In the third, the Snipers continued their assault on the Mute net with goals from Manny Zamora, and Jabri gets his second, while in their net the returning Matt Walker answers every shot with spectacular saves. Things are warming up on the Sniper roster.









Grave Diggers (4-5-0) 4
Silverwings (2-6-1) 7

The Diggers were having a little trouble getting the engine turning on this cold Texas night, the Wings lead-off with a pair from Brian Panice. Bruce Davis tries to curtail the hemorrhaging but the Silverwing two-for-one continues with goals from Sergio Castillo and Jason Neal. Davis tries again to ignite the bench and succeeds in sparking Danny Grimes to bring the Diggers within one, Brian Brookman scores to rebuild the Wing cushion. Brookman's former teammate Ryan Smith, strikes one more for the Diggers and rubs Brian's nose all in it, but the Wings get the final laugh as Panice completes the hat trick and Ian Hellbusch sends the Digger's goalie to the locker room with a .741 save percentage.

MAJOR-I














Puckers (2-5-0) 6
Stickmen (3-5-1) 0

The Puckers show their mettle when battling to avoid last place. The calm of the first period gives no hint of the coming Pucker storm. Jason Adams starts things up and Andrew Davis continues on the power play. Guy Riggs gets his first of the night to close the second frame. Dusty Smith dusts-off his stick in the third, Riggs takes another swipe, and to end the Pucker roll Todd Smith puts the final puck behind turn-coat goalie Casey Jenkins.

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

The Spiders have trouble, again, with charter team mate Carina Manalo, she goes to the box early but is redeemed by the aggressive PK, so aggressive they start the game with a short handed goal from Lester Barrera. The Imports erase the lead with a Phil Pratt goal and build their own with a pair from James Macha. Cameron Bogle riles-up the Spider bench with another LSI goal but the Spiders respond with penalties. Macha claims his hat trick and Manalo her second minor. The Spiders never threatened and likely won't anytime soon without clearer heads.

Shockers (4-5-0) 2
Soul Patch (9-0-0) 5

Bruce Davis hits the ice again, determined to bring a victory to at least one team, he establishes an early lead for the Patches. Scott McMacken evens the score but the Patches fire back with goals from Ron Demers and Jon Shannon for a pudgy two goal lead. Stephen Dowling brings the Shockers within one at which time the Patches silence the rally with seconds from Shannon and Demers. The Patches easily hold-on to their winning streak.

Warriors Major (5-3-1) 4
Patriots (3-6-0) 3

The hard luck Pats come up short again. Mindo scores first for the Warriors but the crease hunting John Newell ties the game soon after. Danny Grimes carries a tentative Warrior lead into the third where the weight is lightened on goal Randall Piatowski with a Chris Dolbee goal. The Warriors lose the healthy lead on special teams: Aaron Smith scores a Patriot goal on the power play, and the dramatic penalty shot falls to Patriot defenseman Raul Gilbreath, to tie the game. The Patriots get a taste of their own poison when Brad Allen puts the squad down a man and the Warriors capitalize for the win on the ensuing power play, a la Chuck Dolbee. Look for a shake-up in the Patriot roster this off season.

A New Year

The third year of bciii begins this week with SNH readership at an all-time low. The play on the ice however is only building in drama.

minor i

Snipers (5-3-0) 1
LSI (3-0-0) 3

The Snipers make the switch from hot hand goalie Matt Walker to Mike Moore in hopes that the veteran will better weather the Import competition, LSI responds with two first period goals from Matt Dever and Ken Lentz. Stone Cold starts-off his new image year with a two minute break allowing the Snipers a power play to close the period, but Welch's team mates bail him out. The Snipers enter the second controlling the flow and scoring an Ernesto Moreno goal almost immediately. Jeff Vaughan kills Sniper momentum with a hooking penalty and the Imports come up with one more tally in the third, this one from Phil Pratt. The Snipers may have partied a little too hardy a couple of days ago, things should be back on track next week.

Mutineers (5-3-0) 6
Grave Diggers (4-4-0) 2

The Digger fall to .500 in this bitter match. Tiffant Hauk closes the deal on the first team effort goal from the Diggers but the lead is surrendered just two minutes later with a Jonathan Horton goal. The Mutes take the second period early with goals from Nathan Hamilton and Mickey Syrquin, the Diggers can only muster a special teams goal, late, from Ryan Kelley. The third starts off much the same as the second with goals from Hamilton and Syrquin, but rather than allow a Digger goal at the end, the follow through with their puck pressure and close the game in dominating fashion on a Patrick Haley goal.

Patriots (3-5-0) 3
Blue Devils (4-4-0) 1

The once mighty Devils falter again, this week to the hungry Patriots- ya' know when these two teams meet, the records are out the window. Andrea Cortinas starts the Patriot tide and her score holds until the faceoff of the second, where the Devils gain possession and work the Patriot D into a long shift that yields a Scott Zahner goal. The Pats keep their chins up and wait for their opportunity, it would come on an Aaron Smith steal and end with the puck in the net. The one goal lead finally receives some support with a third period goal from Peter Fulgham and the Devils tuck their tails.

Puckers (1-5-0) 3
Silverwings (1-6-1) 5

Two old school net minders square-off, Donaghue for the Puckers (where has he been?) and Blubaugh for the Silverwings (strange pairing) but the result is anything but a defensive war of attrition. The first period ends in a tie with Todd Smith scoring for the Puckers and Jason Neal for the Wings. Brian Cudaback delivers a Pucker lead in the second but the Wings unleash a torrent in the third, with Jason Rogers' goal and a pair from the relentless Sergio Castillo, the lead was insurmountable. Casey Jenkins gives his best on defense and even a Pucker goal but the Wings stomp out their hopes filling the empty net with a Brian Panice goal.

MAJOR I

Brewzers (4-3-1) 4
Warriors Major (4-3-1) 3

The Brewzers hit the ice running, scoring a Steven Collyard goal followed with a John Mammen stroke. The Warriors keep it close with Travis Lehr's tally, but the Brewzers counter with another Collyard goal. Danny Grimes brings the Warriors back within one, but the empty net offense results in a goal against, from Brewzer Bryan Smith (shouldn't that be Ryan?). Tim Marra collects the garbage with the final Warrior goal as the buzzer sounds, Mike Moore escapes the night with a .500 record.

Soul Patch (8-0-0) 3
Stickmen (3-4-1) 2

The Stickmen get a great showing from their defense and goalie but the balanced Patch squad cannot be contained. An early Stick lead from Mark Millard is quickly shifted with Patch goals from Brad Aho and Sergio Castillo. The first period drags into a stagnant second that is thankfully put to rest with a Charlie Heine goal, putting the Sticks in a late game tie. The Patches stick to their game gaining a Jon Shannon goal in short order and staving-off all Stick attempts with the net minding of Jason Hollaway and ultimately maintaining their perfect record.

Spiders (2-4-2) 2
Shockers (4-4-0) 3

William Wessel starts things right for the Spiders but the first falls to the Shockers with goals from Greg Myers and Chris Ensor (any relation to James?). Shawn Haley sets the stage for a dramatic third with a tying goal for the Spiders, but Carina Manalo goes on a rampage she leaves the penalty box just long enough to rack her second penalty. The Spiders expend all of their energy killing her penalties and are exposed when they go on the power play- Joe King is sprung for a long pass and takes the short handed goal for the Shocker win.

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.