Schlidaver International Hockey

Schlitz (21) vs Last Call

Thursday March 5th

Dedham 9:10pm

4-2 Win!!!

The blogger is here to tell you, dear friend and reader of the blog, that its been a long time since there has been good news in this space, far too long for anyone’s liking. There was an attitude of determination around the team as the Schlitz assembled in locker room number two in Dedham last night. “Tonight’s the night” seemed to be the theme. The night to put this putrid losing streak behind us, get up off the mat and win a game that isn’t against ourselves. I don’t even want to go into the statistics from the past two months, the whole stats division here at Schlidaveur International has been shut down due to lack of interest (or goals to keep track of), but just scroll through the last few pages… there are far too many fail gifs. It was time, emphatically put by more than a few, that this was the night we’d turn it around.

The team was ready clearly. As game time approached there were more players than we needed. Due to some eagerness (always welcome) and some miscommunication we had 15 guys in the room. CEOBMF Kilroy was there to backstop us, so really we had 16 guys in the room ready to go. Mark Reynolds would take his shinnies back off and would coach the team for the night as he wasn’t on the offical roster. This worked out great because its always nice to have someone calling the shifts and generally preparing the next group to go from the bench. We can usually use all the help we can get. The other extra body, Marc Valenti would join the D corps that would skate a 5 man rotation that included, Mike Campbell, Greg James, and Chris and Jeff Fosdick. That left 3 full lines for the offense and a total of 14 skaters, 1 coach and a partridge in a pear tree.

The offense would break down like this. Magic Mike Daley would center Elliot, and Gregson. Nelson would go with Jasse and Capraro, and Mike Fitzpatrick would pivot for Blake and Chuck. So there you have it.

The Gold took the ice against old friends Last Call who were sporting their white shirts that they used to play as the Generals with. They had the usual assortment of talent, a couple of half shields, 2 plain shirts with wheels, and the usual veteran crew. A team we can run with, should run with, have to run with…. it was on.

The opening shifts were a scramble as the Gold got their feet under them. The Nelson line led off and the play went up and back a couple time. Then the Daley line took the ice and took the game right straight into the Call’s grill. Daley moving in the zone with purpose moving the puck to Elliot and Greggy got a handfull of excellent chances right away. Before the end of the shift, about 3-4 min into the game Daley would score after a long scramble in front on a feed from Matt Elliot. The Gold felt good.

That good feeling wouldn’t last however as just about a minute later the Call would spring one of the their half shield’s loose (grey socks) and he would rip a shot from above the dot to Matt’s left that I still don’t think he’s seen. Not more than a pair of shifts later the Call would strike again after a scramble in front of Matt and a white shirt (one of several) on the doorstep would flip it in.
The Gold wouldn’t lay down friends. There would be no collapse as long as the Daley line had a crack at it. They would and on their next shift Mike would score another terrific hard work goal, again assisted by Matty E. I think Greggy got robbed with no helpers but he had a whole bunch of chances of his own before the night was out.

The game tied 2-2 the teams would settle in for a nice back and forth skate with some chances at either end. Matt would come up with very nice stops any one of which saved the Gold from coming back again.
The second period would go scoreless as the keepers settled in and at the start of the third it was clear to all on the bench and ice the game was there for us to take, but we’d have to go after it hard the rest of the way.

The blogger couldn’t be more pleased to tell you that on the first or second shift of the third Nelson would win a faceoff in the White end and would drive to the net with a blistering fast shot that would find the promised land. The Gold up 3-2, with lots of time left in the game. The boys would respond with hard short shifts from both O and D and the game was played more (slightly) in the White end than our own. There were chances that Matty gobbled up, and some nice defensive work by a bunch of players. Pete Capraro had a terrific backcheck at one point, Valenti had a great tip away, Jeff swooped away a chance at the last second, and the forwards turned in a couple of breakaways. Nelson and Jasse each came up short after pressing the play hard to the Call keeper.

There were lots of good plays all the way around and I'm sure I'm forgetting boatloads of them. But this is what it came down to. With the Daley line on the ice, Mike Campbell and Chris Fosdick on D we took down the last minute and a half. Not without giving up a chance right away... but the Gold got the job done, got the puck out, and Matt Elliot iced the game with and empty net goal with 5 seconds left.
Nice win. Nice work. Nice turnout. Nice to feel this way after the game ... and not the alternative.

All these good vibes were only amplified when we made it out to the parking lot.
Mike Daley, deciding to really cement his stature as God, err.. Player of the Game, goes above and beyond and brings Michigans... (not chilidogs) for the postgame. THis is a little Upstate New York treat with a meat sauce on top of regular hot dogs... and man was it good. Greg James also brought cookies from Miran! Woo hoo! Thanks!

Kudos to everyone who broght beer, Campbell, Jasse, Chris Fosdick... etc. Great work everyone.

Game Stars

3rd Star: Has to be the Badass Backstop, Johnny on the Spot, The CEO with Mo- JOE! Matty "Puck Stops Here" Kilroy. Great work Matt, thanks for not only taking the ice but taking the game for us.

2nd Star: Has to be Matt Elliot. With a pair of helpers and an Empty Net goal (they all look like breakaways on the score sheet) Matt had a great night. Really his line with Greggy and Daley was the story of the night. Kudos to all of em... especially....

1st Star: Magic Mike (dont call 'em Chilidogs) Daley. Just tremendous play all night. A pair of great goals and hard work all night that really drew the attention of the other team. Just plain old SOLID. Way to go Mike!

Honorable Mention 1: Always comes through when you need him. Nelson Greybeard...really) Sharfman. A tremendous game winning goal off the faceoff.

Honorable Metnion 2: Mark Reynolds for staying to coach. Thanks Mark, always nice to have another set of eyes watching the game and helping us out. It was a true team effort last night.