"We'll Take It

but we don't necessarily have to like it."

"I'm trying, I'm trying...

"but Ray thinks 'Anger Management' is a Triple A Aggressive Growth Stock Fund."

The Softer Side...

"Abigail, you don't believe those things about daddy, do you?"

The 'Trap' Game

The Pearl River Pirates returned to the ice this evening to face the Glacier. The Pirates were playing a team already eliminated from championship round contention and no doubt might have been looking ahead to their Sunday morning contest against undefeated Millbrook. That said, the 'Hooter' can't be too disappointed with our lads on ice performance in their (7-3) trimming of the squad from Pennsylvania. A three goal outburst within 90 seconds three minutes into the first period clearly established which team had the more skilled players. Leading three nothing after one period the teams exchanged goals during the balance of play. But it would take all three periods plus overtime to establish the Glacier as a 'dirty' team. Their chippy play was more than condoned by lax refereeing and unsportsman-like coaching.
The Hooter delighted in seeing six different players put the puck behind Glacier Goalie Breen. 'Rushing Ryan' McLinskey's goal was the highlight effort of the night with him neatly tucking the puck in at the near post after a mad dash up ice through and around four defenders. The price Ryan paid was a post game trip by a sore losing opponent as the players headed to the locker room. Irate Buc fans and family took no solace in the self imposed restraint shown by Steve McCullough and Ray Krok as harsh words were hurled at on ice officials and between opposing parents. Lucy Krok opined to the Hooter, "Thank God, my son didn't use his usual four-letter-word vocabulary with Kaylee standing there." Hooter chortled, "Yeah, he's using two syllable words now. Let's get him a thesaurus for his birthday!"

A Title-Worthy Game

"From the opening face off against the Conquistadors...

Pirate Pride Held Sway

"to the tying goal."

Conquer who?

The 'Hooter' turned wryly to the group of Conquistador dads standing next to him and calmly said, "this ain't Toronto" as the group appealed for a ruling that Luke Myers' tying goal late in the third period should be disallowed. The shot from the point was deflected by #55 near shoulder height but if there were replays in youth hockey games Obama hasn't mentioned it yet. It was fitting that this game end in the 5-5 tie based on the complete and exhausting efforts put forth by both 13 man units. Liam McCullough, standing in for Sean Gordon in goal, was at his all time best. He thwarted at least a dozen scoring chances by an opportunistic Marlborough squad during the contest. Our Band of Pirates showed enormous character in this cliff hanger. Down 1-0 after 30 seconds and two nil midway through the opening stanza their resiliency came to the forefront. The two late first period goals by Dillon Krok were negated by the aggressive forecheck of the Conquistadors as the Bucs fell behind 4-2 early in second period. Another Krok 'rock' made it 4-3 at the close of the second period. The lads refused to be deflated, even when Dolan Ocasal's rebound knotted the score at four, was answered by the Conquistadors, who coming off a penalty kill midway through the third period, tallied on a defensive lapse. Trailing 5-4 with 70 seconds remaining in this barn burner Coach McGee pulled Liam as the Bucs swarmed the attacking zone for one final flurry. "Toronto, we have a problem" giggled the 'Hooter' to the opposing goalie's dad as Lucky Luke made the marvelous deflection to send one set of parents back to the hotel very happy.