Pirate Power in Action!

No Shortage of Pirate Power

"Pop Tom, how about you go back to Florida again before the Lake Placid Tournament" suggested a smiling Dillon Krok upon completion of today's resounding thumping of the Jersey Devils at Sport-o-Rama. Our redoubtable Squirts had just completed a weekend sweep with their (7-1) thrashing of an arch-rival, following their (3-2) defeat of the New Jersey Colonials the previous day. The 'hooter' and Nana Lucy arrived home from their 1290 mile car ride just in time to witness a superior display of unanticipated Pirate Power. Working with a short bench Coach Kern's Bucs made the most of their opportunities. The line of Welch, Javier, and James was on fire accounting for five of the goals. Play-making and passing among the three lads was exceptional as they buzzed the net and cycled in the offensive end. The Devils found no respite against the Pirates only other line of the day as CJ Greco chipped in the other two goals with strong support from line mates Krok and McCavitt. Not to be minimized was the work of the always mobile Ryan McLinskey and steady Liam McCormack on 'D.' These defensive stalwarts were complimented on the backline by regular wingers Luke Myers and Nick Taskalos who defended a near flawless Sammy Coughlin in net. As the Krok family parted ways leaving Sport-o-Rama Dillon shouted, "And make sure you come back to New York the night before the Tournament!" Ray Krok's hand was seen covering Kaylee's mouth as she uttered, "Yeah, Pop Tom, my daddy will pick you up at the Albany airp..."

Pressing the Attack

"Bucs nearly scored late in the third period."

Their Effort was far from Zero

"A true Team Point in the standings"

The Owl and the Pussycat

"Hey, did you want a picture of the ICE Cat in the Hat?"

Pedal to the METTLE?

"Pop Tom, don't you mean 'pedal to the metal' queried' Nana Lucy as they left Sport-o-Rama following the conclusion of today's Pearl River Pirate game. The geriatric journeyman was lauding the efforts of the scrappy Bucs who battled the Green Machine Ice Cats to a (0-0) tie. The squad played without two of their best skating forwards and managed to carry the play to the Long Island visitors for the bulk of the first and third periods in this tightly contested affair. Smooth skating Ryan McLinskey and a tenacious Luke Myers led the charge that entertained the crowd of parents and friends from the first drop of the puck to the last whistle. But all in all, this was a total team effort. Indeed, Sam (Slam the Door) Coughlin came up big in key moments to match his counterpart in the Ice Cats nets. Coach Kern mixed and matched his skaters especially well and used his time out effectively in the closing minutes of the game to negate an Ice Cats man advantage. At the post game recap Kaylee Krok opined, "But Pop Tom, we didn't get to hear you 'hoot'!" To wit the old man howled with delight, "Sweetie, this wise owl's voice needed a rest anyway. Our team proved its mettle with a gut-check perfomance this morning." Dillon Krok chipped in, "Who gives a hoot about that. We wanted to win!"

Melanie, Kaylee, Catherine

Nana, we're going to be Cheerleaders in Lake Placid."

"Ice over Sand any day!"

"Nana Lucy, now this is what I call 'a nice welcome home."

When Opportunity Knocks...

"Pop Tom, I knew that you liked ICE more than SAND" quipped a smiling Kaylee Krok as the 'Hooter' walked into Sport-o-Rama upon his return from Florida. The Pearl River Pirates did not disappoint the wandering vagabond who had to get his hockey fix this past month at Lightning Games and with the ECHL's Florida Everblades rather than rooting for his favorite Squirt Team. Coach Kern's Band of Buccaneers appears to have hit its stride this past few weeks after having been eliminated from League playoff contention. The lads determined work ethic paid off in the second period against the Monclaire Blues when C.J. Greco converted a rebound off a Dillon Krok shot to open the scoring at the four minute mark. As the period drew to a close the opportunistic Greco forced a turn over on a penalty kill to end the period with the Pirates up 2-0 with a deft deke on his breakaway. Sammy Coughlin lost his shut out at the two and one-half minute mark of the the third period in a goal mouth scramble. With the Blues applying late third period pressure the fluid skating Ryan McLinskey had this 'Hooter' howling "this is 1957 vintage Bobby Orr" as #2 top-shelfed the insurance goal. The spunky Blues managed to draw within one with 38 seconds left when they pulled the goalie only to fall (3-2) to the gritty Pearl River bunch. Kudos all around to the dominating line of Griffin Welch, Ronan James and Kyle Javier. To the solid work from the sometimes under appreciated back liners Sean White, Liam McCormack; the versatility of Brian Quinn, Dylan McCavitt and Luke Myers and Dolan Ocasal. "They did us proud!" But will the New York Giants?!?