Two good home opponents for the Pee Wees

First up, a make-up game. Not a game that was canceled, but one we would like to have back. Woodbridge was a game to forget, one where our guys were clearly more skilled, but simply did not perform. That 6-2 loss seems like ages ago. I know we will have something to prove. I hope Woodbridge is ready for the intensity.

The second game is with another young team.  The Vineland Patriots have struggled this season in the NJYHL, with 1 less win than the Woodbridge team.  They will have driven a long way to get here, so don’t expect them to just lay down.  If you have never been to Vineland, its south, way south.  So far south, the gas is cheap.  So far south, its warmer.  So far south, you are surprised you are not in Maryland by the time you get there.

We need to maintain our intensity, but we can win 2.  A weekend sweep would be sweet.

 

Titans bounce back with comeback win 5-4

Saturday’s third period was not their best.  Coach Phil let them know how disappointed he was in the effort. They responded Sunday morning for him with a great effort vs. the NJ Renegades.  Given the length of the journey, I opted to keep the injured home and took my updates via electronic means.  Andrew also was aprised by happy Titans who were on their phones on the way back with tales of glory. 

Chris started today and was confident in net.  He made some good saves early to keep us in it, including a neat toe save.  Austin T. scored for us early (without his Easton S17, affectionately known as ‘George’).  Timmy was next, having lost his ‘George’ on Saturday had no problem scoring from Neil H. and Chris M. The home squad roared back in the second to tie it at 2,  and the goalie change did not affect them.  The Renegades were hot.  They put 2 more in to make it a 4-2 game before AJ could settle in.  Saturday we would have folded; but this was not Saturday.  Defensemen Frank and Nick W. stepped up their hitting.  The wingers held position.  AJ would shut them down the rest of the way.

Richie was next to score on a pass from Timmy who took a pass from Dave at the 9:14 mark.  4-3.  Then Ryan, looking for the equalizer took a pass from Austin, drove the net.  A crashing Adam G. banged it home.  Tie game 4-4. 

We might have settled.  A comeback tie would have been satisfying.  But they pressed on.  With just 2:30 on the clock, Nick W. broke it out to Dave who passed to Billy.  Titan Goal!  5-4 Titans. The Renegades abandoned the net, 6 vs. 5 for over a minute.  Timeout with 33 seconds left.  A crucial clear.  The Titans win!

So who needs a George?  Billy scored the winner, he named the original  George.  Timmy and Austin also both scored today without one.  Its not the composite sticks, or the Eagle  leather gloves; its the hands that shoot.  Its not the XXXX skates, its the feet and the legs that have skated circles all year in them.  Its not the 9k helmet, its the brain, and how you use it, its not the ITECH chest protector, its the heart underneath.  Today the boys showed character.  They refused to lose, and they worked to win.  Congratulations!

 

2 periods of Hockey does not a game make

The PeeWees today learned that it takes a full 45 minutes to play hockey well. The opponent, the NJ Penguins were a tough competitor the last time we met them. But we never gave up and fought them hard the whole way. That game was not close. Today the opposite happened. We were down just 1-0 after 2. AJ had stopped 16 shots, using his stick particularly well. The defense was strong, particularly Nick K. a and Nick W. who both took it to the Penguin skaters. No one pushed us around today and they had few second shots.

The breakout was not in synch in the first. We had few shots early, despite enjoying a man advantage and then a 5-3 advantage. As the second period advanced, we had a number of good opportunities. Neil created three good scoring opportunities, but their goalie was dead solid perfect. Dave had a neat break away that was stuffed. Then Richie could not get one in the net. Chris took over in goal at the halfway point.  AJ had a victory.  They lit him up last time, but today he did his job well.

Frank C. on a rare Titan breakout

Chris saved us through the end of the second.  Then Coach Phil felt the opportunity was there and asked “Who will get the tying goal?”. But it was not to come. Instead the Titans seemed to lose their composure, and suddenly the scoring machine that we met at the Rock was unleashed. At 14:27 it was 1-0. At 12:36 it was 3-0. By the 5 minute mark they had put the game out of reach by scoring their 5th goal. The last 2 would still come, most of these were impossible for Chris to stop. Earlier intervention by the 5 skaters was needed to prevent the outcome which disappointed all but the visitors. We just were not the same team in the 3rd.

I spoke to their coach on the way off the ice. Sergi Starikov was a NJ Devil and winner of 2 Olympic gold medals with the Soviet Red Army team. He knew we were a younger team. He knew that he was not happy with his boys during the first 2 periods, and that we had clearly outplayed them in the second. In the third, ‘Sometimes 11 year olds play like they are 11 years old’. He told me the Penguins are looking forward to getting one of the last playoff spots in the NJYHL A division. With 6 losses they are on the bubble with Red Bank right on their heels. They have sometimes not played to their potential. It happens to all teams at all levels. The good news for us is there is another game today and more to come. A few goals are needed to break us out of our slump. Good luck Penguins, make the playoffs. Good Luck Titans, lets go out and show them how really good we can be.

The Penguin goalie was too much for Dave

George IV, as predicted here last week met an untimely demise in the third period today when a stick check broke the neck on Timmy’s investment. Like 2 other Georges before it, Easton S17s are snapping like spun candy. Jared’s remains as the lone George on the team at this point. Billy and Austin who know what its like to lose a George in battle comforted Timmy after the game.

Timmy laments another broken George. With 3 boys, mom and dad may need a hockey mortgage.

 

Renegages/Pens Weekend

This late in the season we should rarely run into “new” teams.  But, some you may have forgotten about.  Ask Austin T. about the Renegades.  Despite their bigger size Austin scored the only hat trick of the season vs. this team, leading us to a 6-3 win back in late September.  Now we see them on thier ice (the newest Aspen Ice in Flemington).  The Renegades have played well and have improved since we met them last, but so have we.  The defense, which was very sharp that day will have to be on their best to pester the Renegades in their zone.  Hopefully the offense will make this a season sweep of this club.

The other game this weekend is the NJ Penguins.  They tried to bury us at Rock Ice the last time out.  Two of their kids had screaming slap shots which caught our goalie off guard.  The game was physical, and we have to return the favor if we are to play with this team of talented 95s.  Everyone needs to contribute in all zones for us to defeat this team.  Giant fans will be rooting for an upset, as will we.

 

Coliseum: Back to Breakfast

Taking Andrew to meet his team mates at the the Cranford game Sunday allowed us to meet up with my egg-eating friends to sample another breakfast joint.  The Coliseum, right across the street from Warinaco Park on St. George’s Ave. (RT27) was the selection this morning and overall was a good choice to warm the bones after the outdoor rink in Roselle Park.   The person that painted the lines in the parking lot must own a Yugo or a motorcycle because my car was too fat to fit in the spaces. 

Inside the decor was 1980s Greek diner, no points there. But they sat us quickly, and we were pleased when opening the menu.  The egg-eaters were liked the daily special selections, which in many places are not available on the weekends. were offered Sundays and were a great bargain.  The eggs arrived perfectly cooked, meals hot and complete when they hit the table (no missing toast).  I sampled the chocolate pancakes which were fluffy and huge.  My only complaint was lack of pancake variety.  The oatmeal was only passable, but the boys liked the both the hot chocolate and the french fries.  A good meal, a good bargain, and somewhere to keep in your head coming out of a Cranford game. 

rating 2.5 pancakes 

 

What’s Cross Ice?

If you were wondering about the new bumpers splitting the ice at some of the practices, its all about “cross-ice.” Cross Ice is winning fans all over the country. Especially for young players, a single sheet game results in very few touches.  The smaller area makes for more time with the puck per player, better player development, as decisions need to be made quicker and more efficient use of the ice.  As many as 3 consecutive games can be played on one surface.  USA Hockey likes the results so much that they limit Mites full-ice schedules until later in the season, but permit cross ice games from Sept 1.  But its not for 8 year-olds alone.  The benefits go all the way to Bantams.  Read the following on small area hockey:

http://www.wayzatahockey.org/coaches_managers/CrossIce.pdf

 

By the Dawn’s early light

The boys traveled to Cranford today, waking early after a loss the night before.  Outdoor rink, chill in the air.  Like the last game, the goalie, this time Chris kept it close, facing 29 shots in 2 periods.  This team was the biggest, fastest of all the Cranfords we have played. I guess they needed to make a statement after they lost to us a few times.  It was 3-0 after 2, and now AJs turn, but they poured it on, scoring 4 more and shutting us out.  This was the first time we have been shut out since the “No Pretzel” game at Grundy. But I did get a good breakfast afterward, and I’ll share my review  with you later in the week.  

On a sadder note, the tragedy of the George’s continue as the second Easton S17 goes down in battle….

 Is that Austin with the O-Stick?….Where’s George IV?  Oh no!

 The last known action photo of G-IV.  Tim has G-III in the background. Is he next?

 

Blizzard improve at Titan expense

AJ defends his net in the first 

The third time proved the toughest of all.  The Blizzard came to Wall, and since we met them at Chill Out, and Hershey, we expected to improve on the close game from the tourney to make up for the 6-3 pounding they gave us in the second meeting.  There we were short-benched, with Andrew and Billy leaving the game early, and Jared out. 

Well Saturday, they improved on us.  AJ kept us around for a while, playing a solid goal first period.  He was dead on for 10 minutes, stopping 18. It took until 5:35 of the first to break him. A couple of High Sticks disallowed Blizzard goals, but we still found ourselves down 2-0 at the 1st intermission.  These players were just faster harder hitting and they came to play.  A Titan power-play goal, Jared from Dave cut the lead to 2-1, 1:00 into the first, but the Blizzard were just getting started. 

At 9:32 they made it 3-1.  Unfortunately it got ugly from there…

 

Dave on an offensive rush…

…right into the Blizzard keeper

They kept hitting and we got tentative.  It showed as the score climbed through the rest of the game.  Chris replaced AJ but the barrage continued.  Richie scored on some fancy footwork to leave the Titans 2 goals for the night.  The end saw a tired and worn down team line up for the handshake.  A hard day at the salt mines for the entire squad.  Oh well, smiles leaving the locker room means they know, its just a game.

Chris takes some snow to stop a puck

 

Flames Radio Broadcaster Rob Kerr talks to PeeWees

Rob Kerr is loved by Calgary hockey fans (despite being originally from Edmonton) and seems to really like his job as a sportscaster following the Western Division Calgary Flames.  He also writes a blog: http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/robkerr

He spends the hockey season watching the workouts and games of this top squad with stars Huselius, Iginla, and Tanguay, in goal Kiprusoff and now with backup Curtis ‘Cujo’ Joseph.  He then goes on the radio and talks sports on the local FAN radio, where they spend much more time talking hockey than here on our WFAN.  Rob is routinely mentioned as the best thing on the station.  Rob started in Juniors, and this past year was a winner of the Marty Knack Award which recognizes members of the media for their outstanding passion and coverage of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Rob was kind enough to grant an interview for our pee wees:

How did you wind up working in broadcasting?
I first got involved in 1992 when I was working in Fort Mcmurray, Alberta,
the Alberta Winter Games came to town and I volunteered with the local cable
company to provide coverage of some of the events. I enjoyed it and
continued volunteering with ABC Cable 10 running cameras, directing shows,
and hosting some. I would eventually get the chance to do Play by Play of
the Fort McMurry Oil Barons of the AJHL for 3 years. In 1995 I left the
Alberta Forest Service, where I had worked as a Forest Ranger, and went back
to school in Calgary, enrolling in Broadcast News at the Southern Alberta
Institute of Technology.

What is the best part of following the team?

The best part is seeing everything from a closer perspective, watching a
game from the morning skate all the way through the final coaches press
conference, its unique and it gives you a whole new respect for what it
takes to play and coach at the highest level.

Is there some advice you would give to a young person who might want to work
in sports?

Make your own breaks, I got into this business with a bunch of people who
sat there and expected the breaks to come to them. I have covered every
sport possible, I have covered every event possible, I have volunteered to
do things that on the surface didn’t seem to have any bearing on my end
goals. But you have to build a base, a base which will help you form your
opinions and it will help you ask the right questions. Start at the lowest
levels, do the least important jobs, but remember one thing I work harder
today covering the Calgary Flames then I did when I covered the Fort
McMurray Oil Barons, that’s the way it works.

Who is the most exciting player you have covered?

There is no doubt that Jarome Iginla is the most exciting player I have ever
been around, what he does on the ice speaks for itself. But the man off the
ice is even better, he is humble, he is thoughtful, and he really cares
about his team mates and the fans, he is the ultimate role model.

How is hockey different in Western Canada vs. the Maritimes or the US East
Coast?

Hockey in Western Canada is unique in its toughness, and the willingness to
play at both ends of the ice. We like a good fight, we like big hits, and
we enjoy good solid defensive hockey. Fans here are intelligent and
passionate, but demanding at the same time.

Thank you Rob. Maybe we will see you in the Cup finals!

 

More on “George” and Composite Sticks in General

By now you all must know that Billy’s stick, affectionately known as George has suffered the fate of many composite sticks.  His broken neck is not uncommon, even without him taking a violent slap shot, or whaking a crossbar.  How may times on TV do you see a 5-5 become a 5-4 plus a guy without a stick beacause it broke in a defensive player’s hand?  (NHL and USA Hockey rules assess a 2:00 penalty for playing with a broken stick).  Players sacrifice durability for the light weight and engergy transfer properties.  Wood sticks also broke when everyone used them (mostly because players also wanted the lightest wood possible).

Having just passed the 30 day warranty period for the Easton, the status of Billy’s significant investment is still unknown at this point.  It may have been a manufaturing defect.  But its possible that an earlier slash, a tough faceoff or slapshot in warm ups damaged the integrity of the fiberglass, and because it is designed to pass energy easily down the shaft, with the damage already done, his one timer was just the way he realized the break.

So who makes these sticks, where do they come from?  Well that depends, but George might be better known as Jorge as Eastons are made in Mexico:  USA Today did the research and wrote an interesting article on the subject:

Mexican workers make more than half of NHL sticks:

Company	NHL share	Manufacturing sites
Easton	45.1%	Tijuana, Mexico
Nike/Bauer	15.7%	Composite sticks made in China, wood ones in Canada
RBK/CCM	13.7%	Composites in China; wood in Canada, Finland
Warrior	11.8%	Tijuana
Sher-Wood	2.3%	Composites, high-end wood, goalie sticks in Canada; most wood-stick production being shifted to Eastern Europe

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/2008-01-10-hockey-sticks-mexico_N.htm

This guy gives good guidance on making that big investment in a stick:

http://hockeymaven.blogspot.com/2007/07/buying-right-hockey-sticks.html

You may also save money by looking in the bargain bins or on-line for last season’s hot stick.  I’m certain if it was good for Jagr last year, its ok for Junior this year at 1/2 price.  Sometimes Dicks Sports and Sports Authority clear out inventory at 90% off as they change over to ‘summer sports’.  They sell a lot of lower end sticks but occasionally have more expensive ones.  Used composite sticks have to be suspect because they may have damage you cannot see.  Not to say you can’t buy one used, just don’t spend a lot on it.

You can also buy a box of “woodies” for the price of a high end Easton.  It may be ‘old school’, but will not have a negative effect on your kid’s game.  They may even like being a ‘rebel’.  Skateboard companies have been upset for years as kids have shunned fancy decks for plain wood, to save money and rage ‘against the system’  

Better Hockey Magazine talks about composite sticks and how to fix:

http://www.betterhockeymagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=39

Link to the top repair site for composites ($30, like new)

http://www.srshockey.com/repairsystems.htm