Not the result we wanted but...

It hurt more than the loss itself. "Pop Tom, you're old. You'll forget this loss as easily as you forget to bring your cell on the boat down in Florida. I can't," was Dill's first salvo in the anteroom of Sport-O-Rama. True, The Pirates dropped another heart breaker (6-5) to the Ramapo Saints with some shoddy play early in the third period as they let a 5-4 lead after two periods slip away. A scramble in front of the net and a flutterer from 30 feet four minutes into the third period determined the outcome. In a very entertaining game that had the Pirates up two-nil after one period, and rally late in the second period to recapture the lead after four unanswered goals by a gritty Saints team, there were many positives to take away from the rink. Our boys buzzed Saints goalie Sean Gordon throughout the contest and peppered him with shots with net minder Romoff pulled. The lads showed an ability to cycle effectively and fore check in the offensive zone. Yet miscues at the defensive blue line and weary legs on the back check was the ultimate deciding factor. As the Hooter slipped into his car Dillon quipped, "I only want you losing your voice in a winning effort. And don't forget to call me and Nana if you catch a fish bigger than the family record holder she caught in '03!"