Post by Old Bucks Admin on Oct 27, 2011 5:24:45 GMT -5
Saunders came out for Week 6 and we felt a sense of closure, like everyone in the club was now accounted for. Craig Allen was back, too, after a two-week layoff but Paul Egan was absent having texted us an hour before the game: “Just memorized pi to the hundredth digit—worn out.” The Eagles had a bye week and so did Marty; Rich Cerbone took his place, playing goal for Blue while Kenny G. played for Red. The other Kenny (Blankstein) was extra diligent making teams, trying to forestall any complaints that might come from a Blue team struggling in the midst of a three-game skid. We commend his effort and applaud the result.
Blue struck the first blow, and the second, jumping out to a 2-0 lead. Then John Quirinale uncorked one from the point that just cleared the far post and Red was on the board. Red proceeded to score early and often, little encumbered by Rich Cerbone who, like an old Buick, prefers to warm-up while he idles. Nor did it help that his goalie pads were designed for girls’ field hockey. Red had leads of 4-2, 6-3, and 8-5 while Blue looked sloppy and unsure of themselves, unable to sustain any kind of offense. Red made a study in teamwork. Just about everyone scored from their first and second lines: Jonathan Millen, Mike Robbins, John Lupisella, George Schott, Craig Allen, Jason Millen, and Tim White—they all had goals. The only frontman who didn’t score was Steve Hendershott, but we couldn’t miss the white turtleneck he wore beneath his Red pinny, confirming the adage, “It’s better to look good than to play good.”
In contrast, Blue’s depth chart was a veritable sand bar of mediocrity. For offense, apart from an early Huck Fairman goal, they relied exclusively on Alex Cerbone and the Bassert brothers, Andrew and Dave. Their combined effort kept Blue in the game until the later stages when others stepped up. Notably, everyone on Blue took shifts of equal length meaning the lines stayed the same throughout the game. This affected Bob Freiling most, who was stuck with Jim Heffern and Huck Fairman as wingers. He was like a speed boat dragging around two leaden anchors. Suffice it to say, he scored little and passed less.
Rich Cerbone grew stronger as the game wore on, shedding his lethargy like a snake sheds its skin. He made big saves and Blue clawed their way back to an 11-10 game—just one goal down. But the Blue defense nodded, and Craig Allen scored; and then Eddie ripped one from the slot that looked like it bore a hole right through Rich’s blocker. Three angry stick-slaps on the ice attested to Rich’s—and the team’s—exasperation.
Up 13-10 Red still could not cinch the victory. Their hare-like vanity was about to fall prey to Blue’s plodding, tortoise-like consistency. First Joe Peugeot scored reviving Blue’s hopes. Then Huck Fairman, virtually ignored by Red’s defense as not worthy of their attention, camped out in front of the Red goal and bashed in an easy rebound, making the score 13-12. Andrew Bassert tied it up one shift later and Red was reeling. It took late-game heroics from Kenny G. to keep them from losing the game outright. With two minutes left, during the confused mayhem that usually signifies the close of a hotly contested Old Bucks game, Alex Cerbone was able to stand unimpeded right in front of the Red goal while Dave Bassert dug the puck out from the corner and set him up with a perfect pass. Alex one-timed it from about four feet out, putting his entire weight into the shot, as if he was “swinging for the fences”. Kenny G. threw himself in front of the shot in as wild a maneuver you’ll ever see a goalie make. His pads caught the puck and deflected it wide. Moments later the zamboni doors opened. The teams left the ice with mutual smiles, knowing the battle was over, but the long campaign had hardly begun.
Blue struck the first blow, and the second, jumping out to a 2-0 lead. Then John Quirinale uncorked one from the point that just cleared the far post and Red was on the board. Red proceeded to score early and often, little encumbered by Rich Cerbone who, like an old Buick, prefers to warm-up while he idles. Nor did it help that his goalie pads were designed for girls’ field hockey. Red had leads of 4-2, 6-3, and 8-5 while Blue looked sloppy and unsure of themselves, unable to sustain any kind of offense. Red made a study in teamwork. Just about everyone scored from their first and second lines: Jonathan Millen, Mike Robbins, John Lupisella, George Schott, Craig Allen, Jason Millen, and Tim White—they all had goals. The only frontman who didn’t score was Steve Hendershott, but we couldn’t miss the white turtleneck he wore beneath his Red pinny, confirming the adage, “It’s better to look good than to play good.”
In contrast, Blue’s depth chart was a veritable sand bar of mediocrity. For offense, apart from an early Huck Fairman goal, they relied exclusively on Alex Cerbone and the Bassert brothers, Andrew and Dave. Their combined effort kept Blue in the game until the later stages when others stepped up. Notably, everyone on Blue took shifts of equal length meaning the lines stayed the same throughout the game. This affected Bob Freiling most, who was stuck with Jim Heffern and Huck Fairman as wingers. He was like a speed boat dragging around two leaden anchors. Suffice it to say, he scored little and passed less.
Rich Cerbone grew stronger as the game wore on, shedding his lethargy like a snake sheds its skin. He made big saves and Blue clawed their way back to an 11-10 game—just one goal down. But the Blue defense nodded, and Craig Allen scored; and then Eddie ripped one from the slot that looked like it bore a hole right through Rich’s blocker. Three angry stick-slaps on the ice attested to Rich’s—and the team’s—exasperation.
Up 13-10 Red still could not cinch the victory. Their hare-like vanity was about to fall prey to Blue’s plodding, tortoise-like consistency. First Joe Peugeot scored reviving Blue’s hopes. Then Huck Fairman, virtually ignored by Red’s defense as not worthy of their attention, camped out in front of the Red goal and bashed in an easy rebound, making the score 13-12. Andrew Bassert tied it up one shift later and Red was reeling. It took late-game heroics from Kenny G. to keep them from losing the game outright. With two minutes left, during the confused mayhem that usually signifies the close of a hotly contested Old Bucks game, Alex Cerbone was able to stand unimpeded right in front of the Red goal while Dave Bassert dug the puck out from the corner and set him up with a perfect pass. Alex one-timed it from about four feet out, putting his entire weight into the shot, as if he was “swinging for the fences”. Kenny G. threw himself in front of the shot in as wild a maneuver you’ll ever see a goalie make. His pads caught the puck and deflected it wide. Moments later the zamboni doors opened. The teams left the ice with mutual smiles, knowing the battle was over, but the long campaign had hardly begun.