Spring 2000
The Players
Paul Arena
PJ Cunningham
Bobby Dowe
Justin Dronne
Kyle Dronne
Derik Fontana
Billy Giersbach
Nicky Guglliccelo
Frankie Heslin
Matt Miller
Robert Schlueter
Nick S
The Coaches
Frank Heslin
Bill Giersbach
Don Miller
Game 1 - Cobras 3 - Blackhawks 2 Game 2 - Sabres 12 - Blackhawks 2 Game 3 - Blackhawks 11 - Snipers 1 Game 4 Blackhawks 9 - Comets 1 Game 5 - Barracudas 1 - Blackhawks 0 Game 6 - Don't remember Game 7 - Don't Remember Game 8 - First playoff game. Game 9 - Sabres 5 - Blackhawks 2 Game 10
2 wins 3 losses
April 2 @
April 9 @
April 16 @
April 23 NO GAMES THIS WEEKEND - Easter
April 30 @
May 7 @
May 14 @
May 21 @
May 28 NO GAMES HOPEFULLY - Memorial Day
June 4 @
June 11 @
June 18 @
With the score tied at 2 it looked like we were heading for a tie when a Cobra surprised us with a shot from center rink that slipped past Nick who played a great game. Oh well next week.
OUCH. That score is accurate. After doing that to so many teams, it was our turn. The Sabres were fired up because,
a) we took them to the 8th shooter in the championship game shootout or
b) Paul and Derik left the Sabres to join us or
c) who knows.
That's right Derik and Paul came to us hoping for more playing time. I promised the kids a small roster but for the second week in a row, I hope they realize why I don't like a small roster. We were missing 3 players from the roster. Robert recently got hurt and is recuperating with stitches. Frankie was hit in the face with a rock the night before and his badly swolen and bloody mouth kept him from playing. And our 3rd missing player, was as best I can figure talked out of playing for us after his dad had talked to me about him getting on the team. I won't ever know what really happened here.
Anyway, it was a tough one as the Sabres were fired up. They have been the top team for the past two years in Allaire and it looks like they added a few more new faces to it. Looks like they were huge additions to the team.
The Drone brothers paired up to score our first goal as they passed and scored. Don't remember who got the goal and who got the assist, but it was a great play for Kyle and Justin. Billy scored our second goal on shorthanded with a beautiful wraparound. We had some moments where we looked good, but overall, I think the kids were a little phsyced out before the game.
A few kids seemed confused by a situation that has transpired, and I spoke with them in the locker room about it after the game. Apparently, they were confused to see "A Blackhawk" playing for the Sabres. I kind of had to explain to them that there is a difference between being "A Blackhawk" and being one of "My Blackhawks". Most of you that read this understand the "childish" adult things that transpire in life, and in this situation, you know exactly what I am refering to. I suppose I did a good job keeping the kids from knowing that this situation was inevitable, but I guess I should have spoken to them about it earlier. Besides I am always concerned about PPP's.
Next week we will be back on track and working towards the final game of the season........whatever that might be.
We are back on track. We practiced a couple plays again. One of them cost us that goal, but we will eventually get it down. A lot of passing, and some really nice plays were set up. Late in the game a few guys showed off their "cannons" from the point.
Playing with three sticthes in his leg, Robert managaged to score the a strange goal. It looked like it hit the goalie in the chest, but all of a sudden it was behind him in the net. I'll never figure that one out. Way to get back on track. It was a shame that the Snipers had to face us after last weeks game because we had a point to prove and they were the unfortunate team that had to deal with it.
And by the way, when we shook hands, there were two kids on there team that I had to look up to. No wonder Billy was leery when he tried to skate past them.
We played well this week. Lots of great scoring opportunities.
Wow. The 'Cuda goalie was awesome as he shut us down this week. We oushot them 30 to 8 and could not sneak a puck into their net. It was a great, exciting game.
We won this game. I missed it, but I heard we played great. Killed a lot of penalties though.
We played this game real well. The Sabres have been beating everyone real bad all season, including a 12-2 whipping of us. In that game a lot of our players were physched out and just could not play. This week I looked for players that would not be physched out and gave them roles. They played these roles great. Not perfect, but good enough to make this a close game. And it could have been a lot closer, as we scored one of the Sabers 5 goals, and Derik nearly scored as the final buzzer sounded. He did take the goalie out of the play, and if we had another 5 seconds we might have gotten another goal. I was real happy with the majority of the players today. Frankie played one of his best games of the season. Bobby and Derrik were on fire (great speed and hustle). Justin and Kyle were given specific roles and did a great job defensively. Playing defense against some of the Sabres was a big task for the 11-year-old Justin, but he did fantasitc. After a couple early and quick goals and a broken stick, Nick shut the door and looked great. Paul stepped up and offered to play defense with the promise of shutting down the Sabres top scorers. He didn't shut them completely, but he did slow them down. Late in the game he suggested that he and Matt switch roles, but Matt didn't feel he was capable of doing it. Eventually, I relented and gave our Captain the role of shutting doen there top scorers, even though he didn't think he could do it. Well, my faith in Matt was rewarded when Matt chased down a streaking Sabre and stopped his shot on goal. He did such a great job, he earned an elbow to the head. I told you that you could do it Matt. Billy scored our second goal and skated hard. In a game like this, Nick S and PJ were missed and could have been a difference in the final results.
We play a consolation game next week against the Stars (if they show up) but in theory, the rebuilding era begins now. We lost many key players to other commitments and for the second time in our history, we are about the begin a rebuilding process. Hopefully this rebuilding will be as succesful as the last one which left us a stronger team then the team we had prior to that rebuilding. Having lost our Captain after this season, I have named Frankie our new team Captain. He served as the 12-U captain for three years and now it is time for him to step into that role again. It seems that every time I put a letter on a players jersey, they leave. I can do this to Frankie, becuase he can't leave, but I am afraid to name assistant Captains.
Check out the information on them.
