Post by Old Bucks Admin on Feb 8, 2013 11:18:14 GMT -5
Despite its coincidental timing with the Super Bowl, Week 20 served as a testament to the dedication of the Old Bucks with both locker rooms filled to their typical capacity. It is, however, worthy of note that even over the ambient pungency of hockey gear, a distinct aroma of buffalo sauce and beer farts pervaded the pregame air, suggesting that perhaps not all club members strictly adhered to appropriate pregame nutrition. Tim White was in such gastroenterological distress that he employed a homemade reach extender to spare himself 15 degrees of bending while tying his skates. Paul Egan looked on in a state of incredulous admiration that bordered on outright jealousy.
Emboldened by his new club-subsidized knee protectors, Kenny G began the game with a fearless performance, turning aside some early pressure from the Red attackers including a highlight worthy “snow angel” save in the midst of a frantic flurry of shots. Mike Robbins and Larry Fitzgerald eventually broke through for Red, realizing that hay needed to be made before John Diaz and Brian Urban noticed that the game had started. As if on cue, Urban responded by quickly finishing off two seeing-eye passes from Diaz in the span of five minutes that simultaneously energized the Blue bench while opening up ice for the Bassert brothers. After surrendering a 2-0 lead in exchange for a 6-2 deficit, Red fell into an uninspired malaise of sloppy defensive coverage, half-hearted stick checking, and an “aw hell, just fling it up the middle” breakout scheme. Just when it seemed that Red was going to spend the remainder of the evening fruitlessly chasing around a squad of superior skaters, Marty Urban made a dramatic sprawling paddle save and, with one loud and convicted “COME ON!!!!”, reinvigorating his crimson comrades.
Jonathan Millen began chipping away at the Blue lead with a sharp angle fling from the corner that apparently caught Kenny admiring his first piece of new equipment since the Carter administration. Robbins then took a pass in the high slot from Huck Fairman and fired in an elevated wrister through traffic to move the score to 6-4. Both goalies slammed the door on a pair of mid-game breakaways with Marty turning aside Brian’s attempt and Kenny standing tall in the face of Tim White’s signature razzle-dazzle. Proving that you need to be aware of his presence at all times, Tim soon sprung for a second breakaway and this time finished the play by tucking a low forehand shot into the open corner.
Desperate to change the momentum of the contest, Blue put out Steve Sousa and his renowned ECHL penalty minutes record. (You nostalgia fans out there may remember Steve from his days with the Wheeling Nailers as Steve “The Sandman” Sousa). Red responded to this obvious invitation by sending fan favorite Johnny “Left Hand” Lupisella over the boards. Lupisella had just been had just been recalled after a rollicking 2 goal, 3 assist, 526 PIM season in the Federal League. Needless to say, these two dance partners immediately found each other and traded a furious exchange of haymakers that left both combatants bloodied and beaten before gesturing the refs in and exchanging the time honored back-slap of respect. Say what you will about staged fighting in hockey, but the Loucks Ice Arena had not heard such a roar since the Zero Alcohol Tolerance signs went up.
The fracas paid immediate dividends for Blue as Andrew Bassert, Dave Hunt, and Brian Urban quickly rebuilt the Blue lead. Dave’s goal in particular came off a classically executed 2-on-1 with Diaz and ended with a top corner one-timed snipe. True to his form, Dave celebrated by hooking down four Red players on his way off the ice. Blue ended the night the way it began: by watching Urban and Diaz continue to fill the Red net while Red struggled to keep up with the pace that clearly benefitted the younger legs of the Blue squad. A late push by Dave Majors, Tim White, and Jonathan Millen was too little too late as Blue wrapped up the evening with an impressive 12-9 victory.
Most of the skaters hurried out of the locker rooms to catch the second half of the Super Bowl and provided the TJ’s employees with a quiet Sunday evening. When asked if he was heading over for a beer, Marty Urban shouted back from the double door vestibule “Gotta Run!!!!! Beyonce!!!!”. Refusing to let the sporting event of the year interfere with a mild alcohol dependency, Ken Blankstein, John, Hugh, and Mike cracked a beer in the parking lot and recounted glassy eyed stories of how “this is how Old Bucks used to be”. Before calling it a night, a Lawrenceville official swung by and casually exchanged pleasantries while intentionally avoiding any mention of the obvious alcoholic imbibery taking place. After departing to resume his rounds, the man was heralded as a fine citizen and a true American hero. Plans were promptly made to abuse his leniency henceforth.
Week 20 Three Stars
3 – John Lupisella/Steve Sousa – These guys clearly know their role and what puts fannies in the seats. Modern-day gladiators.
2 – Tim White – Two goals and three breakaways. See what happens when you don’t burn yourself out by tying your skates like a man?
1 - John Diaz – Complimented his now dependable multi-goal game with a handful of sneaky set-up passes.
Emboldened by his new club-subsidized knee protectors, Kenny G began the game with a fearless performance, turning aside some early pressure from the Red attackers including a highlight worthy “snow angel” save in the midst of a frantic flurry of shots. Mike Robbins and Larry Fitzgerald eventually broke through for Red, realizing that hay needed to be made before John Diaz and Brian Urban noticed that the game had started. As if on cue, Urban responded by quickly finishing off two seeing-eye passes from Diaz in the span of five minutes that simultaneously energized the Blue bench while opening up ice for the Bassert brothers. After surrendering a 2-0 lead in exchange for a 6-2 deficit, Red fell into an uninspired malaise of sloppy defensive coverage, half-hearted stick checking, and an “aw hell, just fling it up the middle” breakout scheme. Just when it seemed that Red was going to spend the remainder of the evening fruitlessly chasing around a squad of superior skaters, Marty Urban made a dramatic sprawling paddle save and, with one loud and convicted “COME ON!!!!”, reinvigorating his crimson comrades.
Jonathan Millen began chipping away at the Blue lead with a sharp angle fling from the corner that apparently caught Kenny admiring his first piece of new equipment since the Carter administration. Robbins then took a pass in the high slot from Huck Fairman and fired in an elevated wrister through traffic to move the score to 6-4. Both goalies slammed the door on a pair of mid-game breakaways with Marty turning aside Brian’s attempt and Kenny standing tall in the face of Tim White’s signature razzle-dazzle. Proving that you need to be aware of his presence at all times, Tim soon sprung for a second breakaway and this time finished the play by tucking a low forehand shot into the open corner.
Desperate to change the momentum of the contest, Blue put out Steve Sousa and his renowned ECHL penalty minutes record. (You nostalgia fans out there may remember Steve from his days with the Wheeling Nailers as Steve “The Sandman” Sousa). Red responded to this obvious invitation by sending fan favorite Johnny “Left Hand” Lupisella over the boards. Lupisella had just been had just been recalled after a rollicking 2 goal, 3 assist, 526 PIM season in the Federal League. Needless to say, these two dance partners immediately found each other and traded a furious exchange of haymakers that left both combatants bloodied and beaten before gesturing the refs in and exchanging the time honored back-slap of respect. Say what you will about staged fighting in hockey, but the Loucks Ice Arena had not heard such a roar since the Zero Alcohol Tolerance signs went up.
The fracas paid immediate dividends for Blue as Andrew Bassert, Dave Hunt, and Brian Urban quickly rebuilt the Blue lead. Dave’s goal in particular came off a classically executed 2-on-1 with Diaz and ended with a top corner one-timed snipe. True to his form, Dave celebrated by hooking down four Red players on his way off the ice. Blue ended the night the way it began: by watching Urban and Diaz continue to fill the Red net while Red struggled to keep up with the pace that clearly benefitted the younger legs of the Blue squad. A late push by Dave Majors, Tim White, and Jonathan Millen was too little too late as Blue wrapped up the evening with an impressive 12-9 victory.
Most of the skaters hurried out of the locker rooms to catch the second half of the Super Bowl and provided the TJ’s employees with a quiet Sunday evening. When asked if he was heading over for a beer, Marty Urban shouted back from the double door vestibule “Gotta Run!!!!! Beyonce!!!!”. Refusing to let the sporting event of the year interfere with a mild alcohol dependency, Ken Blankstein, John, Hugh, and Mike cracked a beer in the parking lot and recounted glassy eyed stories of how “this is how Old Bucks used to be”. Before calling it a night, a Lawrenceville official swung by and casually exchanged pleasantries while intentionally avoiding any mention of the obvious alcoholic imbibery taking place. After departing to resume his rounds, the man was heralded as a fine citizen and a true American hero. Plans were promptly made to abuse his leniency henceforth.
Week 20 Three Stars
3 – John Lupisella/Steve Sousa – These guys clearly know their role and what puts fannies in the seats. Modern-day gladiators.
2 – Tim White – Two goals and three breakaways. See what happens when you don’t burn yourself out by tying your skates like a man?
1 - John Diaz – Complimented his now dependable multi-goal game with a handful of sneaky set-up passes.