Ham or Hamlet

The Grumpy Geriatric turned to Nana Lucy as they headed back across the Tappan Zee Bridge and quietly said, "I've got to change the blog." The Hooter was all set to go with the theme that epitomized this dates Championship game at the Westchester Skating Academy. "To be or not to be, that was the question" that would determine the Hudson Valley League Champion. Who wanted it more, which team would capitalized on a late costly mistake. Indeed the ebb and flow of the contest did not suggest an ultimate winner until the empty netter in the waning seconds cemented the 5-3 victory for the Pearl River Pirates. Defensive lapses enabled the Hudson Valley (aka Newburgh) Polar Bears to take a 2-1 lead entering the second period. Having had the contest squared at two, then losing the lead in the opening seconds of the final period, the Polar Bears struck for a mid-third period goal to tie the match yet again. The Bucs who had found their legs in the second period, carried that momentum into the third and could have easily been derailed by their equally resilient opponents. But staunch net minding at one end of the rink was complemented by hard work in the offensive zone by our gritty bunch. Ultimately a loose puck arrived at a fortuitous time with Dillon Krok unchecked in the high slot. He fired the winning wrister with barely three minutes left in this nail biter. As the Grumpy Geriatric sat at the keyboard he realized that this was the Perfect Hockey Day. Hockey had come full circle in his life. On the day the team he was passionate about as a ten year old was honoring his childhood heroes at MSG, these ten year olds were honoring him in some strange way with their superb effort at the WSA. Thank you boys!