MT LEBANON BLUE DEVIL HOCKEY
V A R S I T Y G A M E S U M M A R I E S
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3/11/08 In my last entry, I said "let's play two at Mellon in March". Obviously, I didn't mean on the same night, but 70 minutes of hockey later, the Blue Devils lost a heartbreaker, 3-2. I'll leave dissecting the fine points of the game to all of you that know hockey. All I know is that this is just one more glorious chapter in the best rivalry in high school hockey. Three games and each team is 1-1-1. Frankly, I don't care that the one MtL loss was a playoff loss. Would you trade the Outdoor Game win for a win last night? Last night's game didn't prove anything other than on any given sheet of ice on any given day, either of these teams can beat the other. Once you get into OT, the team that wins is the team that gets the luckiest bounce and finds the puck on the right stick at the right time. Play that game the day after and who knows? Yeah, it hurts. Losing always does whether it's on the ice, in court or a sales contest. Moms and Dads know that some days it seems like you do everything right and the world kicks you in the teeth, leaving you to wonder what happened. Other days, the gods smile and your half-assed effort yields a jackpot you didn't expect. That's not to say that you shouldn't always try your best, just to warn you that effort and results aren't always equal. It's not fair, but it's life. You guys played your hearts out in front of all the people that care about you. From the scorer's booth, I watched the parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters and friends cheer and hope as hard as you played. They hurt too, but they hurt for you. Remember the love. The seniors end their career with a memorable season. Nobody I knew picked this team as a number 2 seed. Hell, people wondered if you could beat NA and you beat Meadville on their ice and BP in the most watched game of the year. You handled the pressure and played with class, respecting the game. In my role as a League Rep, I see most every team in the PIHL up close and personal and this team made me proud on and off the ice. To those of you that return next year: Remember how you feel today when it's time to run and lift. It doesn't get any easier and you won't make it to Mellon next March if you don't make a commitment now. A whole new batch of Blue Devil ghosts will be looking over your shoulder. Peace. |
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3/6/08 Win or lose, it would be the last home game for the seniors. State College was an unknown quantity coming into the game. The Blue Devils hadn't played the Little Lions since an '05 road trip that saw the BDs crush the LLs in State College. Even more interesting than the game was the flurry of e-mails afterward from feuding MtL parental factions about ice time. Ah yes, it was a special time. Last night's game was a study in contrasts. The Little Lions were the Open Division champs for the last two years and, being senior heavy this year, decided to return to AAA. They benefitted from playing in the weakest division, so their record was a little deceiving, as were their individual stats. The Blue Devils came out and played like the Big City kids versus their country cousins. In a game that had only one penalty, the BDs methodically ground down the LLs, beating them cleanly and soundly. Goals by Brian Frey, Joe Gorham (the game winner) Brooks and Jon built up a 4-0 lead. Assists went to Rascoe, Roman (2) Wilen (2), Phillips, Gorham and Sebastian. The gap between the teams was obvious on the ice, but in looking at the scoresheet, I saw something that you don't see much in high school hockey; three of the SC coaches had kids on the team. I don't think any local big time programs would tolerate this around here. The win, coupled with Meadville's win over NA sets up an all too familiar Final Four with the next game on the horizon being Bethel Park at Mellon Arena next Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. If you're a BD hockey fan, this is what you live for. Take it from an old hand, get plenty of sleep the night before, lay off the caffeine all day and get ready for a case of Bethel Park Hawkey Attitude. Seriously, have you ever seen fans with a bigger chip on their shoulder? That's why these games are so much fun. For the early years of the Taibi Era, the assumption was that the Road to the Penguins Cup went through Bethel Park. It's time to lay that to rest once and for all. The Road goes through Mt. Lebanon and the road is blocked by the Blue Devils. Boys, this will not be your last game. You are hitting your stride and starting to get goals from players who need to score them. It's all about desire and execution and it starts in practice. Let's play two at Mellon in March. |
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3/4/08 On the surface, The Blue Devils played one of their best games of the season last night. 6 goals from 6 different players, no one with more than two assists. Shots 34-12. Darn near perfect, eh? If you are an underclassman, you may think thisonly applies to seniors. You are wrong. You are partof THIS team and its history. If you don't make the effort now, it will be remembered. Performance counts, excuses don't and the ghosts never forget. Not for this late in the season. The first team PP was ineffective. Too many checks were missed and too many silly penalties late in the game. Hats off to Joe Gorham and Rob Simcik. They led the team in physical play and even if that goal never comes, Rob, you will always be remembered as the guy who gave all he had whenever he got the opportunity. Joe, you've stepped up physically with your speed, just in time for the playoffs. The BDs didn't score until there was less than 2 minutes remaining in the first period when Mike Teta tallied, assisted by Bianco and Sebastian. While this was a PP goal, it was late, after the "A" team had done little or nothing with the man advantage. At 14:01 of the second Jon Wilen made a nifty move off the half wall faking a pass to the point and walking into the circle to whip one over Shane Leonizo's shoulder into the basket. Mike Stoehr and Brooks also tallied in the second with Joe Gorham and Mike Wagner adding scores in the third, with Wilen and Brian Frey on the respective assists. Plum scored a late PP goal thanks to the aforementioned, ill-advised penalty and a defensive breakdown. Despite the variety of goal scorers, I couldn't help but note that this team cycles more and shoots less than any team in recent memory. Maybe that's because every time I see someone coming out of the corner, their head is down and passing options are missed. On Monday night, I watched Bethel dominate McDowell. Bodies were flying into the corner boards with the same frequency as planes fly into O'Hare on Thanksgiving. Don't get too comfortable with this win. Cinderella is coming to town tomorrow night and there is no comfort zone in the playoffs. |
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2/28/08 I love it when a plan comes together. The rink wasn't regulation. The ice was bad. The lights were weak. The sound system was terrible. The locker rooms weren't and hockey moms had their frozen patooties sitting where the hot chocolate normally sat. The scoreboard was a nightmare, the scorers and timekeepers had no glass to protect them and OH YEAH, THE BUZZER DIDN'T SOUND AT THE END OF THE GAME!!!!!!! Yet, one thousand of your closest friends, ages for 8 to 80, in various states of dress and undress, had a time that they will remember all of their lives. The first PIHL Outdoor Charity Classic was a scene beyond description. People found every possible vantage point to watch a game that had no bearing on the final standings. Students stood four deep around the glass just to be there with each other. This was the Woodstock of High School hockey. Two coaches put aside their personal and professional rivalries for the good of The Game. Two hockey clubs worked toward the common goal of making everyone look good. My God, even the government bent over backwards to ensure that this was a success. The game was almost an afterthought. Almost. Going 0-0 late into the third was better than a Hollywood script. A shootout might have been more dramatic, but we'll leave that to the NHL, at least until next year. For now, everyone connected with the PIHL, the WPHOA, Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon, WPXI, the Tribune-Review and the Allegheny County Parks Department should take a bow, pat each other on the back and start planning next year's game(s). I'm in. |
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2/22/08 When you play for a program with a tradition of excellence like the MLHSHA, you quickly learn that the regular season is merely the prep time for the real season; the post season. I don't know of any other program that has played in the same building for as long as the Blue Devils. What that means is that there are ghosts. In the rafters, in Locker room "C", on the bench. Names like McDermott, Surma, Beachler and countless others have sat where you sit and skated where you skate and they go with you when you wear the blue and gold. What you do in the post season is how you are remembered and the ghosts never forget. If you are an underclassman, you may think thisonly applies to seniors. You are wrong. You are partof THIS team and its history. If you don't make the effort now, it will be remembered. Performance counts, excuses don't and the ghosts never forget. As I walked into the rink, I heard the SV head coach tell an assistant that Mount Lebanon lacked depth. He meant it to say that this team isn't complete, that it's a one line team. Nothing that happened that night changed his mind. Hats off to Joe Gorham and Rob Simcik. They led the team in physical play and even if that goal never comes, Rob, you will always be remembered as the guy who gave all he had whenever he got the opportunity. Joe, you've stepped up physically with your speed, just in time for the playoffs. As to the rest, you know where you stand. Coach Taibi used to give out a poem entitled" The Man in the Mirror" to remind players who was responsible. Not everyone can be a star, but everyone can be a player. The seniors are playing for their legacy. The underclassmen are playing for their jobs. Because while the ghosts never forget, neither does the coaching staff and every year somebody who thought that all they had to do was show up finds out that their spot is gone. This isn't a scare tactic, it's history. Ask me and I'll rattle off the names of the players who got cut after being on the varsity for a year or two. The SV game was an uneven effort. While Rob had one of the less consistent games of his career, he was not bailed out by the guys he's been Behling out all year. (Couldn't resist the pun). This Thursday game is bigger than the first game of the playoffs. If you can't get up for BP outdoors, knowing that it's the most watched high school game of the year.... From here on out, every team has one goal, to beat you. What you do and the effort you give will be looking back at you in the mirror for a long time. |
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2/11/08 Inspiration comes from the strangest places. As I was leaving the rink last night, one of the USC hockey parents said, "Brooks Behling scoring a hat trick? I'd rather have a hot poker stuck in my eye!" I resisted the urge to ask whether he might be taking things a little too seriously, but let it go. After all, why mess with a darn near perfect night? First, the fans. Lebo students, you're the best. Last night was all the proof I needed that this team plays better in front of a crowd. You really fired up the team so you get some credit for the win. Come and see the Seneca Valley game at home and the Bethel Park game at Bethel at the end of the season. You may be the secret weapon. Next, the Triple Trio. Is there a sweeter sound this side of heaven? I don't think so. Thanks again. The parents. Again, thanks to those of you who put it all together. To the senior parents: Thanks for all the years, the road trips, the bad hotels and more memories and fun than any one person should have. Now, about the game. In my humble opinion, there is one glaring factor that separates the Blue Devils from USC: coaching. The toughest part about coaching kids like ours is putting enough of a chip on their shoulder to go out and play with the right attitude. In other words, it's tough to convince kids that have it so much better than their parents that they should be hungry. This is what was missing in the NA playoff game last year. Last night, the first ten minutes of the first period showed two teams that were so jacked up that they couldn't play for more than 4 seconds without a whistle. 27 seconds in Jon Wilen took an interference penalty. No harm done. The BDs eventually found their stride and outshot USC 8-2. 42 seconds into the 2nd period, Wilen was on the board again, this time scoring with assists from Tank and Tiny Bubbles. At the same time USC's James Joyce took a 10 minute misconduct for using language so colorful, no one would repeat it for me. Back to that coaching thing; I can't remember the last time a BD took misconduct for mouthing off, do you? Later in the period, JW took a boarding call that could easily have been a 2 and 10. Again, no harm done. With a 1-0 lead the Blue Devils scored one of the more memorable goals of the season when Rob Behling deflected a save to Luke Sebastian who flipped a Larry Murphy Special from his own faceoff circle to the far blue line where Brooks knocked it out of the air, controlled it and lit up Max Daurora like a cheap stogie. Behling from Sebastian and Behling. BB got his second at 4:08 of the third and it looked like another almost hat trick night. At the 10:18 mark some thing happened that had not happened since last year, the other team scored. James Joyce made it 3-1, but the result was never in doubt. With 26 seconds left Brooks found the empty net for the HT. Get out the hot pokers, eh? On the side, a "well done" to every player on the team. Doug Patrick and James Greeno did a great job of going into the corners and taking care of their defensive responsibilities. When the Panthers got physical, Joe Gorham and Rob Simcik showed them who the real cake eaters were. Everybody had a hand in this win. This was a great playoff preview, the fans, the attitude, the atmosphere. Get ready. Next, Cinderella Seneca Valley. Another playoff type game. Lebo fans, we need you. |
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2/8/08 Tonight was my ninth Lebo Senior Rec. It was the best. Not because it was Luke's, but because there is nothing like seeing the players without their masks and hearing them talk about the game and their teammates. To all of the non-senior moms: Thanks for great event. The room was perfect; the collages (collagi?) will be treasured for years to come. John Greeno is hereby awarded the title of Big Video Dude (BVD). The senior video was a classic for which you will always be remembered. Another reason that this was a great night was that John took care of all the audio/video needs. But for up close and personal, you can't beat the underclassmen getting their only chance to rip the seniors in public. Rooter and Tiny Bubble's mock-Roman interview ruled the evening, but it's so great to see them each bring a liiitttle bit of the locker room to the public eye. These guys are great young men, but why shouldn't they be? Look at their moms. Thanks for a great evening. |
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2/4/08 Hockey parents are a frustrated lot. Some wish they were players. Some think they are coaches. Some are frustrated writers....but the 2008 award for Frustrated Hockey Parent goes to...Tina O' Donnell. What, don't know her? I just met her. Her son, Justin, is the goaltender for the Butler Golden Tornadoes. Her frustration is a special kind of hockey torture. Unlike most HPs who are frustrated because their child's coach doesn't recognize little Billy's incredible talent,(Isn't it obvious from the DNA?) Tina's personal hockey hell is unique. Justin is a talented player stuck in a program that shows no sign of ever going anywhere. In all of my years, I have never known Butler to make the playoffs or have a winning record. At the most recent all-star games, I saw goaltenders that couldn't hold a candle to this kid. All you need to know is that the Blue Devils outshot Butler 63-7 and if it weren't for Justin, the score could have easily been 18-0 instead of 8-0. This kid made at least 10 "holy #^$%!!!" saves and all he got to show for it were more shots. He saw more rubber than Route 79 on Memorial Day weekend. Talent aside, a performance like that takes heart, especially late in the season when your team is 2-14 coming in to play a 14-1-1 team. At one point he had a 90% save percentage and was losing 6-0. Appropriately enough, on the other end of the ice was another goaltender with just as much heart who has every right to be frustrated. Scott Langsdale got the start for the Blue Devils and unless I am mistaken, this was his first for the varsity. Scott has been the silent victim of the ultimate numbers game, being stuck in a program with so much goaltending talent that there simply is no room at the inn (or the crease, if you will.) Despite this, Scott has stuck with the program, forsaking amateur hockey for the chance that he might get a chance. Most of those chances have come on weekends in tournaments when the team is at -3 strength, yet he has always given the maximum effort. If ever there was a player who deserved a waiver from the letterman requirements, it's Scott. He's a class act, making the most of the few opportunities that the Hockey Gods have thrown his way. Oh yeah, congrats on the shutout too. The game itself was part of a doubleheader, having been preceded by a Char Valley-Kittanning game that featured 91 penalty minutes, a 12-2 score and two players being ejected, one for telling Referee Jim Weaver to "suck a body part." (Actual quote from the "Officials Report to the PIHL" form). The first period featured a 21-4 edge in shots. In keeping with the irony of the evening, the BDs didn't score until they were shorthanded, BB from BB. (Bianco from Behling) In the second, Jon and Brooks scored, the latter on a PP making the score 3-0 at the ice cut. On my side of the ice, the highlight was when Butler sent two to the penalty box with nine seconds left, only to be topped by one of the BDs taking a slash behind the play with one second left in the period, effectively negating the two man advantage. The smart money says that this was one topic of discussion in the locker room. Shots at the end of two, 46-5. The BDs threw 17 more shots at the net in the third and O'Donnell just couldn't stop them all. Cummings, Patrick, Dan Roman and Brooks all tallied to put the game away. Oh, yeah, there WAS one other goal. At the 8:44 mark, Luke Sebastian netted his first goal in a PIHL game. He was assisted by the Altadena Connection of Brooks and Jon, a suitable combo given the years that they have played together. While a single goal might not seem like a watershed event, consider that until this point Luke had scored the same number of goals as his brother who graduated in '02. By the way, his brother was a goaltender. When we ordered his ring after the '06 season, the inscription "Hard work pays off" was engraved on the inside. Thanks for the goal, O Hockey Gods, I was starting to get worried. So now it is down to the final three games of the regular season, USC, Seneca Valley and Bethel Park, all playoff teams. A few weeks back, I challenged this team to chew up and spit out Fox Chapel, North Hills and Butler in preparation for the stretch run. They did. Now, it time to leave Kiddieland and head for the big rides. Senior Rec will be videotaped so that the seniors can have a memento of their playing days. We will get it on Ch 19 so that your friends and relatives can watch. If the thought of this makes you say,"I'm gonna go out there and tear it up" just remember the lesson of Justin O'Donnell. All the talent and effort in the world is wasted unless you play like a team. |
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1/28/08 I know, I know, lately I've been sounding like a broken record. A grumpy, grouchy, broken record. Aren't you glad that you're in the stands and I'm over there? It's just that I've been doing this for so long that I'm spoiled. Since 2002, the Blue Devils have made the PIHL Final Four every year. That's EVERY YEAR. It's fair to say that only the elite programs can make that claim. What's so frustrating to me is that, top to bottom, this team has as much potential, if not more, than most of the previous Blue Devils teams. Proof of that potential is now on the PIHL AAA standings. As of this morning, MtL leads AAA for fewest goals allowed, 17 in 16 games. Opponents were 0 for January. Read that again, slowly. Pine Richland, the pre-ordained champion, gave up 4 goals to Hempfield last night; 3 goals to Wheeling Park and 2 to North Hills. You remember North Hills, 6 total shots last night? Ah yes, last night's game. Mr Crabby, Broken Record hereby takes the day off to acknowledge a vastly improved effort by the BDs. The boys came out FLYING last night, putting up 17 shots on the board in the first period, giving everybody a crick in their necks from looking at one end of the ice for so long. At least once, the offense made a complete change while maintaining control in the attacking zone. At 9:04, Mike Wagner lit the lamp assisted by Mike Stoehr and only a single shot allowed and an interference penalty marred an otherwise perfect period. The second period showed that experience counts as the players on the ice repeatedly communicated and made space for each other. Strong positional play paid off when Brooks took a loose puck and whipped an unassisted laser from the right faceoff circle. (By the way, I've decided to refer to Brooks by one name ala, Cher, Madonna and Prince. He deserves it.) At the 6:23 mark, Mr. Grumpy got a smile on his face as Brooks, Joe Gorham and Brian Frey went to the crease with one purpose. The goal was first credited to Brooks and later to Joe. Personally, I thought Brian got it, but it really doesn't matter, does it? Shots after two, 26-4. For those of you that didn't notice, Brandon Bianco played defense the entire game. I've got to believe that this was something of a spark as the rest of the D wasted no time jumping in on the offense. It made for a whole different game, making the offense that much more dangerous and increasing the passing options from behind the net. Right out of the locker room, the Altadena Connection added a tally, Brooks from Jon and Ironhead. The rest of the game was penalty free as the BDs kept the pressure on. Final shots 40-6. Congrats to Travis on his shutout. I looked once and he was doing his homework in the crease, but after all the tough games he's had to bear on the road, it was nice to see him get a breather. Enjoy it right up until the next practice. One word describes this game: Better. With a little luck, PR is looking at the standings going, "Who ARE these guys?" With a little luck, you can show them in the Penguin Cup Finals. By the way, I read a story the other day about Maria Sharapova winning the Australian Open. She said that before the finals, she got a text from her mentor, Billie Jean King, that simply said "Champions take chances and pressure is a privilege." Chew on that for a while. Mr. Grumpy out. |
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1/24/08 When Ali or Marciano were in their prime, they'd fight guys nobody but the most ardent boxing had ever heard about. These guys were referred to as "pugs", "tomato cans" or my all-inclusive favorite, the "Bum of the Month". Coming off a listless performance against Fox Chapel, the Blue Devils came home for the beginning of a long winter's stretch in the friendly confines of the Rec Center. Waiting for them were the barely over .500 Shaler Titans. The Titans went through a period of parental interference a few years ago where a good coach was replaced by the current parent's choice. Among the results was a 15-0 thrashing by MtL on their home ice that had the crying towels out all over the internet high school hockey blogosphere. The only reason for the score was that Coach Taibi called off the dogs. Sad to say, these are not the same Titans, nor are these the same Blue Devils. Shaler is now coached by Mark Cooper who sports several state championships from his days with Peter's Twp (another program where parents chased a good coach) and his amateur teams. Those of us who spend the years on the other side of the ice know that Coach Cooper has a reputation as a screamer, but who gets results. In his first year, he has taken a bottom feeder program and started to turn it around. My prediction is that this will be a playoff team for the foreseeable future. How far they go will depend. Depend on what, you say? Well, talent and coaching for sure. But it takes more than talent to win a championship. It takes commitment to the game. Like any sport, the deeper you become involved, the more intricacies you find. In other words, it's the little things that separate the champs from the prima donnas, dilettantes and poseurs. Like many games this year, the BDs won by being more talented and well-coached. As if by formula, Brooks and Jon scored, Tank got his assists and Mike Stoehr added a helper. They outshot Shaler in every period, but the total went down every period from the 1st to the 3rd. Rob and the D earned their umpteenth shutout and with a little luck, Rob will be the Penguin Player of the Month for January. When he wins, he should take the defense with him. These guys understand their roles and embrace them. The concern is with the offense. Is there talent? Yes, but not as much as you think. There are hard chargers who go into the corners sometimes, but no finishers. Ask yourself this: If this team were in a shootout, who would your three shooters be (besides your own kid)? I'm not picking on anybody, but even Stevie Wonder in a dark room at midnight could see that while this team might be the best defensive team in the state, they're having trouble scoring consistently. What is that favorite saying? "Talent that works hard beats talent that doesn't?" Try to remember that last time these BDs hit somebody that made you cringe for the other player? When's the last time a forward crashed the net because he wasn't going to let the goaltender get in the way? The first lesson I learned as a fledgling hockey parent back in the Dark Ages was that you learned nothing by beating a weaker team. Sometimes winning too easy is a curse because it distorts your true performance. The next few games are against teams that should be beaten in every phase of the game. Don't think you can play like you have been and turn in on for the senior Rec game against USC and the finale against BP. The time to build momentum is NOW. North Hills has an All-Star goalie in Zaid Alzaid and his team won the AAA All-Star game. My prediction: If the Blue Devils don't outwork, outhustle and outskate North Hills and Butler, USC will embarrass them in front of the home crowd on Senior Rec. Seniors, this is it. If you want to play at Mellon Arena on the same ice as Briere, Lemieiux and Crosby, you've got to earn it. When you were little, these guys were heroes. Now that you're men, you realize that they got there by working hard on ALL phases of the game. Sure, they had talent, but your dads will tell you that Mario and Jaromir got their names on the Cup because of guys like Loney, Bourque, and Errey. You know, 3rd liners who worked harder because they had to. Just ask your dad. Or your coach. |
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1/13/08 Q: Why is Rob Behling an All-Star goaltender? A: Because he has to be. Of all the storied rivalries in high school hockey, this isn’t one of them. Eight years in the PIHL and I can’t ever remember a Lebo/FC that meant anything. There’s no tumultuous history, no coaching rivalry, nothing. Nada. Zip. Bupkis. About the best thing you can say is that at least there isn’t much traffic on a Sunday evening. I don’t know if I’m slowly developing hockey sense or if the coaching staff is reading these summaries, but it seemed like a little more emphasis was placed on being ready for this game at the start of this game. Not that I minded arriving at 6:45 for an 8:00 game. Hell, we weren’t even the first ones there. At any rate, the players were told in no uncertain terms to get there early and get ready. To my eyes, the tactic worked. The Blue Devils hit the ice ready to play. With just 3:16 gone in the first period, Chris Ford scored his first goal of the new year, assisted by Joe Gorham and Dan Roman. MtL dominated positional play and at 10:19 of the period Brooks Behling (aka Danny LaBarbara) scored assisted by Jon Wilen and Luke Sebastian. Shots at the end of one 13-6. The first Blue Devil shot of the 2nd period came with 8:41 gone. That’s right, more than half the period without a shot. But maybe because it was Sunday, the Foxes were in a giving mood so they gave the BDs a 2 man advantage at 9:40. At 10:20 Mike Roman scored on the PP assisted by Brandon Bianco. This was the second and final shot of the period. Shots for the second period 2-4. Could I get an extra shot in that triple espresso, please? In the third period, the teams introduced a new segment, Penalty Fest!! The shots were 6-6 as the teams filled the score sheets with penalties. Final shots, 21-10. Final score 3-0. Now, back to Rob. Although he only saw ten shots the entire game, he made at least four crucial saves. I’ve always thought that goaltenders should get double bonus points for the big saves, but then again, I’m partial to goaltenders and defensemen. At this stage of the season, the Blue Devils have the second lowest goals against average in AAA. Good goaltenders recognize their defense and everybody knows that you can’t win without good goaltending. So Rob, I’m giving it to you straight. This team is no offensive juggernaught. It’s up to you and the blue liners to lead the way. Having watched you and Luke, Mike and Taylor grow up playing, there’s reason to be confident. Pressure? I don’t feel any pressure. Neither should you. It’s your time. |
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1/10/08 Sorry 'bout that. It's just that driving in the rain for a 9:00 p.m. game brings out the best in me. Actually, the folks at CMc are among the friendliest and hardest working in the PIHL. They have a program for every game and a promotion for every home game. What they don't have is a team that's recovered from the transition from AA to AAA. Luckily for them, they were playing this years Blue Devils, a team that believes everyone should have a chance to win. So, in that tradition, they spent the first two periods making sure that the Big Macs didn't feel too bad about being out of the playoffs at this stage of the season. The Macs took a penalty and Brooks Behling scored at 4:28 assisted by Wilen and Philips. For the next seven minutes, the offense played like they didn't want to get too far ahead. Around that time, I looked over to the bench and saw that all was not happy. Just then Rob Simcik and Dan Roman went over the side and scored before the line change could be completed, second assist to Mike Wagner. The second period was scoreless and was even less exciting than that. As is often the case, the third period was a little different. The Blue Devils came out with an edge to their game and Mike Roman fired one in from the left point after a feed from Jon Wilen. While Jon and Ironhead are on the All-Star team this year, they didn't want fellow All-Star Rob Behling to be left out so the team got together and decided to take two penalties at once so Rob could show off. After killing the PPs, CMc, not wanting to seem ungracious, took a penalty or two of their own and Wilen scored at 9:29 assisted by Behling and Wagner and Wagner scored at 11:52 assisted by Roman and Philips, both on the PP. Final shots 29-9. Fox Chapel, Sunday's opponents is 6-6-1. In the near future is Seneca Valley, this years PIHL Cinderella. USC and BP are waiting in the wings. This is no time to take the foot off the gas. There are no byes in the AAA playoffs this year and unless you want the road to the Penguin Cup to go through Pine Richland, you better win them all. We are out of the backstretch and into the final turn. The only game that matters is the next one, so forget about the Baldwins and the CMc, what have you done for me lately? |
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01/03/08 Anyway, even a tractor-trailer splayed across I-70 East couldn't turn away the Blue Devils as they motored over the mountains to that scenic little town by the river more famous for stogies than hockey. Apparently, while the teams took the ice a few minutes late, the offenses were still mired in traffic somewhere. The most exciting parts of the first two periods were that James Greeno left his sweaters at home (rookie mistake) and that while keeping the score sheet, I had the privilege of sitting in on the half hour conversation about the WP bus trip to Meadville next week. (Call me a pointy-headed intellectual from the Big City, but I think "70 East, 79 North, follow the signs" should just about cover the whole conversation.) Anyway, the Blue Devils used the first two periods as a warm up to practice their forecheck and it wasn't until 17 shots had been fired and there was only 1:52 remaining in the 2nd that Brooks Behling, freshly paroled from his 2 game M'Ville suspension, scored with assists from Mike Roman and Brian Frey. 25 seconds later, WP took an interference penalty that briefly interrupted the "How YOU going to M'Ville" conversation in the booth and Brooks doubled up with a PP goal, unassisted with :04 remaining in the period. The 3rd played much like the first two, with Jon (What in the &%$# is HE doing on the ice so soon?) Wilen scoring with assists from Brooks and Brian Frey. Even thought the Blue Devils obliged by taking two penalties before the end of the game, WP was never in any danger of disturbing Rob Behling's shutout. So, I ask you, Butch to Sundance, "Who ARE these guys?" Yes, they're 10-1-1. Yes, they've only given up 17 goals in 12 games, but the gnawing doubt at the back of my mind wonders if these guys are for real. I'd feel a lot better if there were some cohesive offense to go with the stifling defense, but Santa didn't put any in MY stocking. It would be easy to look at the stretch of games coming up and look ahead to Senior Rec night against the USC Panthers and the year end showdown with BP, but don't do it. Seneca Valley is making noise in the standings and everybody loves to beat the rich kids from MtL. It's time to step it up in practice. It's time to shake off the holiday rust and sharpen the offensive instincts. All those goals you've been saving for a rainy day? Now's the time. |
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