"Thanks for a great season boys"
Sunday, March 18, 2007
We Are The Champions
A scant four hours later the Pirate contingent was back at Twin Ponds, for the final game of this wonderful season. Queen singing their signature song could not top the heartwarming season-ending speech given by Head Coach Chris McGee at our pizza party or Assistant Coach Sean Quinn demanding one more 'hoooot, hoooot' from the gallery. "How would it end? Who would we play? Could we handle a loss? To the classless Bears? To the brutish Sharks?" These were the pre-game ruminations between Nana Lucy and Pop Tom as they pondered their soon-to-be 3 hour trek home with Dillon and Kaylee. Our concern for the mood in the car with their parents suddenly called away was quickly disspelled early in the first period as our own little Mighty Mite, Dillon Raymond Krok, came up big time. Known more for his shot than his foot work on the ice, Dillon scored two goals in Pop Tom fashion. Our feisty firebrand deftly took his time in gathering a rebound in front of the crease and backhanded the biscuit over a strewn, defenseless goalie. For good measure, he similarly popped a forehand over a fallen net minder in a goal mouth scramble a few minutes later to send the redoubtable band of Pirates on to a season ending, tournament clinching 5-2 triumph over the Atlantic City Sharks. Supperb net minding by Owen McGee and Liam McCullough marked this tournament. The line of CJ Greco, Dolan Ocasal, Brian Quinn and the trio of Ryan McLinskey, CJ McGee and Dillon 'Rockin' Krok were awesome throughout. Tandems of Luke Myers and Ciaran McEnroe and Matt McGivney and Anthony Margiotta sparkled when called upon at the back line. And the fan base ain't too bad either. "Dillon, only for one more goal. I was itching to throw my lucky tam on the ice." So until next year...
On The Big Stage
Our boys were game-ready bright and early on the final day of the tournament. The Pirates had assured themselves a berth in the championship game to be played later in the day with their two earlier victories. The team and parents came out firing for the scheduled 6:50am contest at the cavernous Hershey Center Arena, the former home of the prestigious Hershey Bears, an elite AHL franchise. Our group needed no wake up call for the first drop of the puck against the hated in-league opponent, the Bedford Bears. The same could not be said for a certain older fan who needed a 4am wake up call to be able to function at this ungodly hour! Hoarse voiced fans were ready to counter any obscene Bear chants with "Who cares for the Bedford Bears" as a chorus of their own. With Liam McCullough back between the pipes our Pirate troop was able to turn back every onslaught made by a gritty group of nine Bears who did all in their power to reverse their two earlier in-league losses to the Pirates. With Anthony Margiotta giving up his body and pinching on the boards, with Ciaran McEnroe supporting Liam effectively in the crease, it was only a matter of time before a Pirate break through against their under manned, leg weary opponents. The Pirates earned a hard fought 3-0 shutout on the strength of the mucking in the corners by Dillon Krok and Brian Quinn. The skating efforts of Ryan McLinskey, Dolan Ocasal, and CJ Greco dominated the second and third periods. Assistant Coach Ray Krok summed it up best in his post game comment to the news media. "Our boys spent more energy with this morning's super effort than I spent in cash at the chocolate factory yesterday. And damn, at least I will get to enjoy this one!"
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Shark Hunting
Our energetic warriors showed no ill effects of their late night frollicking in the halls of the Sheraton as they hit the ice on Saturday for game two of this three day tournament. This could not be said of the parents of the lads who were paying the price for having 'hit the ice' in their beer chests and mixed drinks the previous evening. The Pirates were up against an unfamiliar opponent, the Atlantic City Sharks. The Sharks had fought the Bedford Bears to a four-all draw in their opener. As a fitting St. Patrick's Day tribute our lads were led on the ice by the bagpiping of Tom McEnroe to the raucous delight of the Pirate parents in various states of recovery. Our group of eleven was significantly out manned and out weighed by the Shark contingent but were never out played in what was a particularly well played game. The spunky Pirates perservered and opened up a four goal lead late in the third period that bewildered and annoyed the AC coaching staff. Strong play from Dolan Ocasal and CJ McGee up front and Luke Myers and Matt McGivney on the back line were the difference makers in this Pirates 5-2 victory. Owen McGee's net minding matched the brillance of his counterpart of a day earlier. "Here we go Pirates, here we go" resonated in the stands as Pirate fans refused to be out chanted.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Pizza Party Celebration
"Boys, a great season, a great opening win but there is more work to be done"
The Ice Breaker
The Pearl River Pirates opened their final weekend of play this date with a remarkable effort against the Hudson Valley Polar Bears at the Twin Ponds Mite A Tornament In Harrisburg Pa. Just one hour after a caravan of parents and eleven truant youngsters had made the 190 mile journey from Rockland County, NY. In what turned out to be an 8 inch snow and ice storm that covered the northeast, our feisty lads hit the ice with plenty of vigor in their legs. The boys opened up a 2-0 lead after one period on the strength of CJ Greco's strong play against the Hudson Valley Polar Bears who gamely (pun intended) fought back to equalize the score at two entering the third period of play. The PR Pirates were not to be denied as Ryan McLinskey and CJ McGee scored early in the third to assure a 5-2 victory. Liam McCollough was outstanding in the nets for the Pirates and came up big with his deft catching hand and his ability to smother the puck at his feet and not yield rebounds. Pirates and their parents celebrated their maiden victory with a pizza party in the hotel banquet room and an endless knee hockey game in the corridors of the Sheraton Hotel in Harrisburg that had management question the discounted rack rate given to the team.
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