Over 50 Top News

On April 16 the 10:20pm game - Wildcats vs Blackbears has been changed to 8:00pm. and on April 30 the 10:20 pm game - Big Red vs Blackbears has been changed to 8:00pm.

Summer league application here
The following trades are effective immediately : All players must turn in their jersey's at the office and be issued their new team jersey prior to the games on April 2, 2013. As we go into the final round of the season, this should be the last of the trades for the 2012-13 season, parity has been difficult to gauge due to the high volume of mercenaries & injuries this year. Kudos to the Turtles management for their timely colapse on 3/26 to the Blackbears to avoid further trades. Coach MacLeod was seen leaving the building shortly after the game thinking he had pulled another one over on the Commish.

Tony Frontiero      from   Turtles           to     Catamounts

Kim Philbrook      from   Riverhawks   to     Catamounts

Andy Powers        from   Riverhawks   to     Turtles

Rick Bransfield    from    Wildcats       to      Catamounts

Mike Kapnis        from    Catamounts to     Wildcats

John Purcell        from     Catamounts to    Riverhawks

Mark Brown        from    Catamounts to    Riverhawks

Dave O'leary      from      Eagles          to    Wildcats

Bob Wogan        from     Huskies        to    Panthers

Dan Costa          from     Panthers       to    Huskies

Lee Trentsch      from     New               to    Eagles

Larry Abbott       from     Copperheads to   Riverhawks

Dave Searles     from    injured reserve to Copperheads

To all those involved please confirm acknowledgement of these trades by emailing Hockeytown at   HTUSAINC@AOL.COM

Eastern Playoff Schedule Western Playoff Schedule

Tuesday May 28, 2013   Qtr Finals Tuesday May 28, 2013   Qtr Finals

8:20pm Catamounts vs Riverhawks game A 7:20pm Indians vs Eagles game A

9:20pm Blackbears vs Big Red game B 9:00pm Tigers vs Panthers game B

10:20pm Terriers vs Wildcats game C 10:00 Copperheads vs Crimson game C

bye Turtles bye Huskies

-

Tuesday June 4, 2013 Semi Finals Tuesday June 4, 2013 Semi Finals

7:20pm Turtles vs winner of C 9:20pm Huskies vs winner of C

8:20pm winner of B vs A 9:00pm winner of B vs A

-

Tuesday June 11, 2013 Finals Tuesday June 11, 2013 Finals

7:20pm Finals 8:20pm Finals


      3rd and final payment of $230.00 is due Feb. 1, 2013
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL CUSTOMERS:

There have been reports of arenas in the area that have experienced locker room thefts. It is imperative that you are vigilant about securing your locker room doors while on the ice. There are sliding bolts on each door and if you do not have your own lock, there are locks available in the main office.

     Some south shore rinks have been experiencing car keys being stolen from locker rooms.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION -- DO NOT LEAVE YOUR KEYS, WALLETS & VALUABLES UNPROTECTED.

Notice to all players in the Western Division:

Ray Sampson from the Crimson has a group skating Friday nights at 8pm from May thru labor day. Interested players should contact Ray at 781-888-1761 for more info .

OVER 50 LEAGUE UPDATE                                                     DECEMBER 19, 2012

Now that we are through with the first third of the season it has become evident that the West division has some glaring inequities within the division and the East division has had so many injuries that it is still unclear as to how a trade will affect the balance of power at this point. So for now the West Division will be the focus of attention. The following trades will be effective immediately. All players involved in the trades should return their old jersey to the office and will be issued a new jersey, all players statistics will be carried over to their new team.

     For those who are playing in the New Year’s (Butch Melanson Memorial) Day game, rosters will be posted on the website by Friday Dec. 28^th. The current plan is to have two games at 1:00pm & 2:30pm

PLAYER                                      OLD TEAM                             NEW TEAM

1. JOE BERNARD                     INDIANS                              EAGLES

2. BILL NUZZO                       TIGERS                                INDIANS

3. JOE PULEO                          HUSKIES                            TIGERS

4. RUSS BRICKETT                EAGLES                             HUSKIES

5. TOM CRUSCO                    CRIMSON                          COPPERHEADS

6. DAN GOODENOW             COPPERHEADS               CRIMSON

7. DANA SEERO                     EAGLES                              PANTHERS

- Nov 28: 2nd payment of $230. is due Dec. 1, 2012

   - The new years day game sign up sheet in now available in the main office

2012-2012 Team Rosters
All players please call or email to confirm their teams. Schedule is posted on the schedule page.

781-233-3666 or htusainc@aol.com

TERRIERS - WHITE TURTLES - GRAY WILDCATS - BLUE BIG RED - RED

BRIAN, HURLEY ROBERT NAZZARO PAUL POWERS JOHN RUSSO

NEIL SNOW DAN, WHYTE BOB, FERRARI MARK PEABODY

GEORGE MURPHY KEVIN, PIERCE ED FRENI DAN MCCRAINE

RUSS, HUDSON PETER, O'LEARY KIRK, BRANSFIELD TOM GARDEN

TOM MACIEJKO VINNY NAZZARO TOM, DRISCOLL BOB GRENIER

JOHN, DOHERTY WALLY MACLEOD BILL CHRISTIANSEN STEVE PEABODY

MARK NAPOLITANO SWEEZEY, BOB GORDIE MACRAE PAUL MUNZING

JOHN, TUDOR SCOTT BRAZIS JOE, LAWLESS RANDY POPP

CHRIS, RING JIM LISTON TOM, MOULTON SCOTT COLBORNE

JOHN SPANO TONY FRONTIERO JIM CHISHOLM BILL RILEY

PETER, NOONAN JOE RUSSO

ROLLIE, GRAHAM LLOYD TERNES JOE, BERTAGNA GREG, ROSS

BLACKBEARS - LT BLUE RIVER HAWKS - TEAL CATAMOUNTS - GREEN

TIM KIMBALL BOB, SENNOTT DAN CARNEVALE

DOUG WINE KYLE WOODMAN MATT BRADLEY

JACK WOODS DAVE, YOSHIDA JOHN PURCELL

MIKE LARCOM JACK, O'NEIL MARK BROWN

RICH SCIMONE BILL YOUNKER BOB PAPPAS

ROGER GEARY DAN HEANEY STEVE, PALMER

BOB BALLETTO TOM HEANEY CHRIS ANDREWS

KEN, MUSE BILL, JOHNSTON MARK MCDONOUGH

LUIGI PUCCILLI ANDY, POWERS MIKE KAPNIS

JOEL, BROWN STEVE, MOCCIA STEVE ARTICK

RON, MOULTON

STEVE HATCH DAN AYLWARD DAVE PHOENIX

EAGLES - GOLD INDIANS - GREEN CRIMSON TIGERS - ORANGE

TOM CARROLL DAVOLIO, TONY JERRY CAGIANO BOB JAFFE

DAVE O'LEARY GERRY, VYE SAMPSON, RAY GREG CUILLA

PAUL, MONTECALVO DUGGAN, BILL CHUCK HOLLAND JAY HART

CHIP, GRAY PAUL BASTARACHE DAN POTHIER CRAIG BERGERO

JEFF SCUTERI RUSS HAGOPIAN PIOTROWSKI, BILL ED BOUCHER

DAVE DRISCOLL RYAN, JOHN CRUSCO, TOM O'MEARA, BOB

BATCHELDER, ROG MONTANARO, JIM LEAVITT, BILL ED O'BRIEN

STEVE COTTER BENT, NORM CODY, KEN BONITO, RICH

BUCK RICHARDSON TED WHEATLEY GAUDETTE, PETER BILL NUZZO

BRICKETT, RUSS BERNARD, JOE JOHN CASTRO BILL LEFAVE

BOB GILLIGAN KENNY, JIM ROBIN MURRAY ROLLIE, CHERWEK

WALSH, TOM KATE FALLON ED DEVENNE PAUL LAUBENSTEIN

COPPERHEADS - COPPER HUSKIES - BLACK PANTHERS - WHITE

RICH HERLIHY DAVE GAUTREAU JIM KEELY

CITRONI, PAUL JIM GAUTREAU JONATHAN LONGLEY

DAVE SEARLES DANA SEERO DAN WOODS

FLAHERTY, PAUL BOB JOY JAY O'LEARY

DAN GOODENOW LOUIE MASTROMARINO JACK BURKHARDT

ART PELTON STEVE DULLING DAN COSTA

ROCKY JOYAL BURKE, DAN BOB MOSCHETTO

DUNSMORE, DOUG RON MCCARON TONY BORGANZO

DAVE GUSTAVSEN KIRK SEMON JOE SWINIARSKI

PAUL TUSCANO GUIMOND, LEN MARK ENRIQUES

DAN DESANTIS JOE PULEO RICK JOYCE

MARC BERGERON GLENN PERGAMO JOE MASAKOWSKI

July 30, 2012

Dear skaters,

The 2011-12 season produced another first for the over 50 Division. The Western Division, Panthers, became the first team to repeat as champions in the fourteen year history of the league, despite losing league leading scorer, Jerry Caggiano, in a late season trade, a fitting legacy for Captain Butch Melanson. Outscoring their opponents in the playoffs sixteen to five, obviously the commissioner has more work to do with that Division.

The Eastern Division ran more true to form as the league champion, Turtles, were sent to the golf course early despite their having their top two scorers lead the league with over 140 total points. A determined Catamount team took them out in the semifinals easily by a score of 5-2 . The Catamounts advanced to the finals in what looked like an old time Beverly reunion. Their opponent, Blackbears, weathered a scare in the first round as a shorthanded Wildcats led by the tireless Paul Powers and an outstanding goaltending performance by Tom Walsh took them deep into overtime. The Catamounts, thanks to a late season trade and a much improved attendance record gave the Blackbears all they could handle en route to their first championship with a 4-3 overtime victory.

Congratulations to the 2012 over 50 champions – PANTHERS & CATAMOUNTS

The plans for the 2012-13 season are currently similar to last year. The format for our fifteenth season will ultimately be determined by the number and ability of the players who sign up. Parity is the ultimate goal and the commissioner will use all the tools available to accomplish that goal. All current players in the league who sign up by AUGUST 25, 2012 will be guaranteed a position and then new and former players will be added on a first come first serve basis. Opening day will be Tuesday Sept. 11, 2012.

Please list on your application which league you would like to play in as well as any personal requests and I will do my best to accommodate, keeping parity in mind.

The over sixty league will continue on Sunday afternoons and will begin in mid October. The format will depend on the enrollment. The league will be open to all skaters sixty or older and to players that are 57 or older and have never been classified as an “A” player in the over 50 league.

We will once again be offering a Saturday Afternoon session for “A & B” skaters starting after Thanksgiving and running through the end of April (20 weeks).

Applications for all of the above are available upon request at Hockeytown’s main office. 781-233-3666. Anyone who knows of an interested skater for any of the above programs should call or e-mail htusainc@aol.com the rink for an application. All applications can also be downloaded from Hockeytown’s website at www.hockeytownsaugus.com

Over 50 League Application here - Over 50 Saturday afternoon skate application here

Larry Abbott
Commissioner
Hockeytown USA

“Use it or lose it”

“Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind” Jackie Joyner Kersee

Summer Rosters:

THREE TEAM SCHEDULE
ONE TEAM PLAYS BOTH GAMES EVERY THIRD WEEK
ALL GAMES ARE 46 MINUTES IN DURATION
BOTH GOALIES PLAY BOTH GAMES AND SWITCH SIDES AT THE 23 MINUTE MARK

TEAL BLACK ORANGE

BERGERON CARROLL J. GUATHRO

CIULLA BATCHELDER D.GAUTHRO

O'BRIEN GRAY MONTANARO

MURRAY FLAHERTY DAVOLIO

BURKHARDT CASTRO O'MEARA

RYAN GAUDETTE NUZZO

LEAVITT SEERO JAFFEE

SPANO MASTROMARINO CURLEY

BRICKETT PIOTROWSKI MCCARRON

GOODENOW BERNARD LEFAVE

GIRAUD BONITO SEMON

DESANTIS ABBOTT CITRONI

East Div Champs
Catamounts West Div Champs
Panthers

      2012 OVER 50 LEAGUE – PLAYOFF SCHEDULE



Western Division :                                                    Eastern Division :

Tuesday May 15, 2012    ( quarterfinals )

   8:20pm Panthers 3 vs Crimson 1 (A)        7:20pm Blackbears 3 vs Wildcats 2 OT (A)

9:20pm Copperheads 3 vs Indians 2 (B)    9:00pm Terriers 7 vs Riverhawks 4   (B)

10:20pm Tigers 4 vs Eagles 3 (C)                10:00pm Big Red 3 Catamounts 4 (C)

     bye   -   Huskies                                                           bye -   Turtles

Tuesday May 22, 2012    ( semifinals )

7:20pm Huskies 4 vs Tigers 1                 9:20pm Turtles 2 vs   Catamounts 5

8:20pm Panthers 8 vs Copperheads 4       9:00pm Blackbears 3 vs Terriers 0

Tuesday May 29, 2012     ( finals )

7:20pm    Western Finals                        8:20pm    Eastern Finals
                 Panthers 5 vs Huskies 0         Catamounts 4 vs Blackbears 3 OT

ALL TIES WILL BE DECIDED BY SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME THAT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ONE TEAM SCORES.

** THE TRADE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 1, 2012

MARCH 15, 2012

OVER 50 LEAGUE UPDATE:

THERE ARE ROUGHLY SEVEN GAMES LEFT IN THE REGULAR SEASON AND A COUPLE OF TWEAKS ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE PARITY IN THE PLAYOFFS.

THE TURTLES HAVE LOST THEIR LEAD ON THE REST OF THE LEAGUE AND THE BLACKBEARS HAVE VAULTED TO A TIE FOR FIRST WITHOUT THE SERVICES OF ROOKIE SENSATION, DAN CARNEVALE FOR THE LAST FOUR GAMES. THEREFORE THE BLACKBEARS WILL BE SENDING DAN CARNEVALE TO THE LOW SCORING CATAMOUNTS STRAIGHT UP FOR THE VERTERAN DEFENSEMAN FRANK REILLY.

IN THE WESTERN DIVISION THE PANTHERS HAVE HAD A LOCK ON FIRST PLACE FROM DAY ONE AND THE LAST PLACE CRIMSON HAS SLOWED THEIR SKID WITH THE HELP OF STRONG GOALTENDING FROM DAN AYLWOOD. THEREFORE THE LEAGUE LEADING SCORER, JERRY CAGIANO WILL TAKE HIS FIFTY POINTS TO THE CRIMSON IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR TOP SCORER, TONY “THE LEGEND” FRONTIERO.

THE LEAGUE TRADE DEADLINE WILL BE PUSHED BACK TO MARCH 31, 2012 TO PROVIDE TIME FOR MORE TWEAKING IF NECESSARY.

THE COMMISHONIER

                        Feb 7, 2007: The 3rd payment of $230 is now due.

On Sunday, January 1, 2012, Butch Melanson, a long time member of over 50 league and a lifetime member of the local hockey community, passed away suddenly while playing the game he was so passionate about. Funeral services will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home at 19 Yale Street in Wakefield. Visiting hours will be Thursday, January 5, from 3 – 8pm



NEW YEAR’S DAY GAMES:          JAN. 1, 2012

1:00pm game        DETROIT    8

                               CHICAGO    2

     This year’s games were the reverse of last years with the west division becoming a blowout and the east division a down to the wire shoot out ending. The Detroit team made easy work of the Chicago team as they pretty much had there way with Chicago goaltender, Lou Puccilli, Unfortunately, the game ended with seventeen minutes left to play as all hands attended to Butch Melanson who suddenly collapsed on the bench, the victim of an apparent heart failure. Many were immediately involved with CPR led by off duty trooper, Dave O’leary in an heroic effort to revive a fellow player. Later that day the hospital confirmed what many who were there had feared. Butch had died doing what he loved to do and with those he loved to do it with. The shock of the situation had left many bewildered by what had just happened. It was my original thought to cancel the second game in lieu of the situation. But it gradually became apparent that the players thought that Butch wouldn’t have wanted it that way. So with heavy hearts and the need to do something we decided to play the next game.

2:30pm game   PITTSBURG        6    in a shoot out

                          WASHINGTON   5

     The game started out a little sluggish as one might have imagined but as the clock moved forward the intensity grew and the banter increased as the competition breathed life back into the guys. As I watched the game go on I realized that this was exactly what they needed after witnessing a tragic event.

     Down by three goals with less than six minutes to go the Pittsburg team got a goal from rookie Neil Snow to give them life. Then just under the three minute mark the line of Peabody, Popp and Peabody made it a one goal game. After Andy Powers and Frank Reilly abused Mark Brown down low ( a good non call ) the most unlikely player to score a clutch goal (Peter O’leary) scored from an impossible angle forcing the game into overtime. Five minutes of unproductive hockey left us with a dreaded shootout. Steve Peabody broke the tie as the final shooter for Pittsburg. It was a fitting end for a tough day and tribute to Butch as this was the kind of game he would have liked for his final day.

New Year's Day Rosters
Please respond to confirm once your game time.
781-233-3666   or htusainc@aol.com

WESTERN DIVISION:   1:00 PM

                      CHICAGO                        DETROIT

FORWARDS: STEVE KILEY                       GERRY VYE

                           TOM CARROLL                    BOB JAFFE

                           STEVE CUMMINGS             RICH BONITO

                           BUTCH MELANSON             TONY DAVOLIO

                           MARK CURLEY                     JOHN RYAN

                          JIM GAUTREAU                    FLASH FLAHERTY

                           BILL DUGGAN                       BILL PIOTROWSKI

                           ROLLIE CHERWEK             HARRY BOUCHER

                           ED O’BRIEN                           ROGER BATCHELDER

DEFENSE:       JOHN CASTRO                        TONY PIETRAGALLO

                           STEVE COTTER                      PETER GAUDETTE

                           ED BOUCHER                           BILL LEFAVE

                           LOUIE MASTROMARINO     TOM CRUSCO

                           KIRK SEMON                            KEN CODY

                           KIM KENNEY                            BILL LEAVITT

GOALIES:       LOU PUCCILI                    PAUL LAUBENSTEIN

EASTERN DIVISION:   2:30PM

                      PITTSBURGH                     WASHINGTON

FORWARDS: STEVE PEABODY                      TIM KIMBALL

                          MARK PEABODY                       DAN WHYTE

                         RON POPP                                    PAUL POWERS

                         BRIAN HURLEY                           MIKE LARCOM

                         KEN MUSE                                    PAT GALLIVAN

                         NEIL SNOW                                   STEVE PALMER

                   DAN WOODS                           FRANK REILLY

                          STEVE ARTICK                           RICH HARRIS

                          MARK BROWN                            LARRY ABBOTT

DEFENSE:      RANDY POPP                               CHUCK TRYDER

                          JOHN DOHERTY                         ANDY POWERS

                          PETER O’LEARY                          BILL RILEY

                          MARK MCDONOUGH                 JAY O’LEARY

GOALIES:       STEVE HATCH                            TOM WALSH

December 13, 2011
--- SECOND PAYMENT OF $230.00 IS NOW DUE ---

July 30, 2011

Dear Skaters,

The spring of 2011 will always be fondly remembered by Boston area hockey players, for not only did the Bruins do the improbable but the Over 50 League at Hockeytown saw it’s first championship team dressed in pink shirts. The Panthers, a new addition to the West Division league this year, got off to a rocky start in the league and ended in last place. But a late season trade stabilized the roster and the team started to come together during the playoffs. The addition of the top goal scorer, Tom Maciejko, was just enough to give Captain Butch and his band of rookies the firepower to take the Panthers all the way.

The East Division playoffs saw the third place Big Red endure some dramatic games en route to their championship. A come from behind overtime victory against a shorthanded Terriers team in the quarterfinals and a winning goal with three seconds to play against the Blackbears in the semifinals sent them to the Big Dance against the heavily favored, first place Catamounts. The Big Red disposed of the Catamounts in a workman like fashion easily with a 4-0 victory. Ironically, between both championship teams, only one player was in the top ten scorers of their respective leagues. Proving once again that a championship team depends more on solid goaltending and balance than the individual efforts of a Thelma & Louise combo.

That was last year and every knowledgeable hockey player worth his sweat knows that the hardest thing to do is repeat. (Especially if the commish has anything to do with it). The plans for the 2011-12 season are expected to stay the same as last season with two divisions of seven teams, but like every one of the last eleven seasons, the number and quality of the players as well as the ever-present desire to maintain parity throughout the league will dictate the final format. Former players that sign up by Sept. 1, 2011 will be guaranteed a position and then new players will be added to available roster spots throughout the league. Opening day will be Sept. 13, 2011. Please list on your application which league you would prefer to play in as well as any personal requests and I will do my best to accommodate, keeping parity in mind.

It will be with a heavy heart that I walk into the locker rooms this fall to hand out the shirts. The always vocal, opinionated and spirited, Don Allard, who always came to play, will very much be on my mind. His untimely death this summer will remind me to cherish the times we spend on the ice and in the locker rooms, with friends and teammates who still get to enjoy this sport we all love.

The over sixty league will continue on Sunday afternoons and will begin in mid October. The format will depend on the enrollment. The league will once again be also open to players that are 57 or older but have never been classified as an "A" player in the over 50 league.

We will once again be offering a Saturday Afternoon session for "A & B" players starting after Thanksgiving and running through the end of April. (20 weeks).

Applications for all of the above are available upon request at Hockeytown's main office. 781-233-3666. Anyone who knows of an interested skater for any of the above programs should call or e-mail (htusainc@aol.com) the rink for an application or download one from the website at www.hockeytownsaugus.com

Larry Abbott

Commissioner

Hockeytown USA

"Use it or lose it"

"Men do not quit playing because they grow old, they grow old because they quit playing” Oliver Wendell Holmes

Don Allard, a two year veteran of the over fifty league and recent member of the 2011 league champion "CATAMOUNTS" died suddenly last Sunday from complications of a motorcycle accident. Having played with Donnie in numerous tournaments as well as against him in the over 30 league and over 40 league in Peabody during the last twenty five plus years, I've enjoyed his competitiveness and his passion for the game as both a teammate and an opponent. He was a person who enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. He will be sorely missed in the hockey community.

DONALD ALLARD - age 53, of Newburyport, formerly of Winchester, suddenly, June 26th. Beloved husband of Jayne F. (Canning) Allard. Loving son of Anne (MacPhee) Allard of Woburn and the late William K. Allard. Dear brother of William K., Jr. and his wife Elaine of Dennis, Ronald J. of Barrington, NH, Cynthia J. of Woburn and the late Kenneth Allard. Devoted uncle of Victoria Amico and Jenna Allard. Funeral from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, on Thursday, June 30th at 8:15 a.m. Funeral mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn, at 9. Calling hours Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. An interment service will be held on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Donald's memory to Glen Highland Farm (www.glenhighlandfarm.com ), a border collie rescue and adoption organization, 217 Pegg Road, Morris, NY 13808.

CHAMPION PANTHERS 2011

CHAMPION BIG RED 2011

Update on Crimson player - Robin Murray 11/11/2010

On Tuesday night Robin was rushed to the MGH after an incident during his game at 9:20 vs the Tigers. Robin is on his way to recovery after having a stent put in to repair a blocked artery. Quick action from his Crimson teammates, staff members John Lasala and Steve Whalen the Saugus Fire Department and EMT’s prevented a tragedy. Many thanks to all involved and wishing a speedy recovery for Robin.

Commish


Champion Wildcats	Champion Copperheads	The GM

2009 Champions: RIVERHAWKS

2008 PLAYOFF CHAMPIONS - TERRIERS

2008 OVER 50 HOCKEY LEAGUE – END OF SEASON REPORT

ONCE AGAIN THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS WERE UNABLE TO GET IT DONE IN THE PLAYOFFS. THE INDIANS WON THE REGULAR SEASON WITH 38 POINTS. THIRTEEN POINTS AHEAD OF THE LAST PLACE TEAMS – HUSKIES & TERRIERS. THE LEAGUE LEADING INDIANS AND THE LAST PLACE HUSKIES BOTH SCORED 107 GOALS DURING THE SEASON. THE INDIANS REMARKABLE TURN AROUND FROM 2007 CAME MOSTLY FROM THE ADDITION OF ROOKIE JOHN RUSSO, WHOSE FRESH LEGS FORCED ONE OF THEIR AGING VETERANS TO A DEFENSIVE POSITION WHERE HIS EXPERIENCE AND TIRED LEGS WERE BETER SUITED FOR A BALANCED ATTACK. EVEN AFTER A MID SEASON TRADE MADE BY THE COMMISIONER TO SLOW DOWN THE SURGING INDIANS, THE TIRELESS DAN MCCRAINE LED HIS TEAM TO THEIR FIRST LEAGUE VICTORY IN TEN YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY THE WEEK LAYOFF AND AN UNTIMELY ABSENSE BY ONE OF THEIR TOP SCORERS WAS JUST MORE THAN THEY COULD OVERCOME.

THE BOTTOM FOUR TEAMS COMPETED IN A SINGLE ELIMINATION SERIES FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ON THE FIRST PLACE INDIANS. IT WAS THE TERRIERS WHO EASILY ELIMINATED THE EAGLES AS THEY WERE WITHOUT TWO OF THEIR TOP PLAYERS. THEN THE HUSKIES SUCCUMBED TO THE TERRIERS IN THE LAST MINUTE OF A 1-1 GAME WITH THE TERRIERS HOLDING ON THRU A LATE SRCAMBLE TO EARN THE RIGHT TO PLAY THE INDIANS. THE PLAYOFF HARDENED TERRIERS THEN EARNED A DRAMATIC COME FROM BEHIND VICTORY OVER THE INDIANS TO CONTINUE THEIR CINDERELLA STORY IN QUEST OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

SIX TEAMS COMPETED IN A TWO GAME SERIES TO MOVE TO THE SEMIFINALS. THE TURTLES WON THEIR SECOND GAME IN A DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE WITH THE BIG RED TO ADVANCE TO A SCORELESS OVERTIME WHICH LED TO THE ONLY SHOOT-OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS. STRONG GOALTENDING SENT BOTH TEAMS DEEP INTO THEIR ROSTERS HOPING FOR A SCORER. CHRIS MITCHELL WHOSE VAST PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE BECAME THE UNLIKELY HERO AS HE SCORED ON THE BIG RED’S FIFTH TRY.
THE TIGERS FOLLOWED A DECISIVE VICTORY IN THEIR FIRST GAME AGAINST THE WILDCATS WITH A 7-5 LOSS IN THE SECOND GAME. IN THE OVERTIME JUST SECONDS AWAY FROM A SHOOTOUT, A DEFENSIVE LAPSE BY THE TIGERS ENABLED THE WILDCATS THE OPPORTUNITY THEY NEEDED AS JOE LAWLESS SENT HIS TEAM TO THE SEMIS. UNFORTUNATLY FOR THE WILDCATS THEY FACED OFF AGAINST THE RED HOT TERRIERS WHO SEEMED TO BE ON A MISSION. A FOUR POINT GAME BY BRIAN HURLEY ERASED ANY HOPES G.M. O’LEARY HAD OF GOING TO THE BIG DANCE.
THE ALWAYS CONTENDING BIG RED SQUEEKED OUT A WIN OVER THE BLACKBEARS ON THEIR ROAD TO THE FINALS. THE COMMISH HAD A GOOD SEAT FOR THIS ONE (1500 MILES AWAY) AND MIGHT HAVE SOME MENDING TO DO NEXT YEAR.

THEN WE GET TO THE FINALS. THE WILDCATS MIGHT REMEMBER LATE IN THE SEASON HAVING A 7-2 LEAD AFTER TWO PERIODS OVER THE BLACKBEARS WHEN RICHIE HART (LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AWAY FROM TWO MAJOR SURGERIES) PUT TOGETHER A LEAGUE HIGHLIGHT FILM BY LEADING HIS TEAM TO A 9-9 COME FROM BEHIND TIE. THAT GAME LEFT THE WILDCATS WITH THE MOST DISAPOINTED LOCKER ROOM OF THE SEASON, UNTIL…..NOW.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME LOOKED AND FELT LIKE A LOCK AFTER JOHN CROCKER TOOK A BILL LAFAVE PASS AT THE TERRIERS BLUE LINE WITH SEVEN MINUTES LEFT IN THE THIRD PERIOD AND QUICKLY CHANGED THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE BUILDING. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS CAPTAIN POWERS AND THE BIG RED LEADING 2-1 WERE GOING TO DRINK FROM THE CUP. NO ONE COULD BLAME THE TERRIERS FOR LOSING THE BIG ONE, A LAST PLACE TEAM UP AGAINST THE TOP GOALTENDING IN THE LEAGUE. THE TERRIERS PULLED THEIR GOALIE AFTER A BIG RED ICING CALL WITH 1:25 LEFT, THEN WITH 70 SECONDS TO GO THE CINDERELLA TEAM DID THE IMPOSSIBLE. TOM DRISCOLL GAVE THE TERRIERS A NEW LIFE TYING THE GAME AT 2-2 AND WHAT LOOKED TO BE A LONG NIGHT FOR BOTH TEAMS. THEN WITH THREE SECONDS LEFT, A STUNNED ARENA WATCHED A TIPPED SHOT OFF THE STICK OF GREG RHEAUME ROLL END OVER END UP IN THE AIR WITH THE VELOCITY OF A TIM WAKEFIELD KNUCKLEBALL. IT WAS OVER. TERRIERS 3 - BIG RED 2. DISAPPOINTMENT & ELATION AT THE SAME TIME, IT’S WHY WE PLAY THESE GAMES.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TERRIERS FOR A FINE PERFORMANCE AND CONDOLENCES TO THE BIG RED AND THE OTHER NINE TEAMS.

INDIANS - 2008 LEAGUE CHAMPS