Winter season opener 2014-15 BU Schlidaveur

September 23, 2014
Schlitz vs Cadavers
BU 9:10pm

Something followed me down Babcock street last night. The familiar vortex whipping my hair, streetlight shadow jumping out in front of me as I carried my hockey bag down the hill, and in through the back door of the rink by the Zamboni ramp. It feels like home, in this old concrete bunker by the railroad tracks, so many warm, distant memories swirling in the darkness and the cold breeze. The sound of the game echoes around the dim empty space, the smell of the rubber mats in the tunnel beneath the stands... it's always good to be home, at least for a visit. 

It was great night to begin the 2014-15 Winter campaign for the schlidaveurs. Conveniently, and according to de facto tradition we started off with a Schlidaveur on Monday night at BU's Walter Brown Arena. It's always nice after a summer of playing with ourselves... I mean against ourselves... That we start off playing ourselves. Stands to reason we'd be good at it.

Decent turn out, even with last minute drops and an add we had 9 a side. As players filtered in, Ken (email? Why should I answer the email?) "AK" Douville showed up to even things out. Fosdick gave him some razz about the email which would have consequences on the ice.

Rosters.

Gold: Randy, Reynolds, Jeff, Valenti as D, Jared, baker, and Mitch as a group, and Nelson, Taylor, and Seva as the other. 

Black: sully in net, DWH, Bauer, iJosh as D; Larry, AK, Matt, and Matvey, Scot, and John Bric. 

Newcomers from this summer Chris Taylor and John Bric got shirts and were welcomed into our sad bizzare fraternity of middle aged hockey... So congrats to them. Welcome aboard boys, how long you stay is your own fault. 

Ken (now AK) was ready and told Jeff during warmups "Before I didn't care, but because of the locker room I'm going all out tonight to win, you'll see." 

So it was to be. The teams were pretty evenly matched. It was about halfway through the first when Larry would spring Ken, err AK who would make a nice move and bury the first goal behind Randy. He made sure to point it out at the face off. Good stuff, calling the shot and delivering. He was a contributor all night. 

It seemed Black played better in the first all around and the first ended 1-0 Black. 

Gold would recover a little in the second and got some traction finally in the offensive end. Jared made a nice play and springing Jeff made for the net. Jeff shot-passed and Jared got another swipe at it but Sully was there. Mitch, following the play, was right there and banged home the equalizer. The (imaginary) crowd went crazy for the long time veteran who was returning to the club after taking the summer off. Great way to come back. We look forward to seeing lots more, and lots more scoring from Mitch this season. 

Well it wasn't all good in the second for gold. On a long clearing pass randy ranged out to play the puck near the corner. Jeff came back to take the play but the pass was miffed and the puck went straight to the front of the net where Larry popped it in for the lead for Black. Larry, never shy about a point doesn't mind picking up the trash. The Stat whore was delighted to be on the board. End of 2, 2-1 Black.

The third saw more great bak mans forth action. Both sully and Randy had strong moments in net. There was less than ten minutes left when Jared would take a breakaway home by roofing one over Sully as he sprawled. Jared's backhand is a fearsome thing... Soft deadly hands. The game was tied down the stretch 2-2. That's how this one would end after great efforts on both sides. Nice way to kick off the year with a fun, hard fought 'daveur at old Walter Brown. 

Game stars:

3rd Star: Ken "Mitch" Goldenberg. A great goal for his return to the ice. Welcome back. 

2nd Star: Ken "AK" Douville. Way to take your motivation and deliver. AK was productive all night with many chances plus that strong first goal. Great job. 

1st Star: Jared "deadly hands" Gorden. A goal (a beauty) and an assist. Jared always seems to be the axis in which the game is decided. Good work out there. 

Honorable Mention 1: Jim Sullivan. A great game in the pipes. Thanks again for helping us all out by playing net. 

Honorable Mention 2: Also with a goal and an assist... Stat Whore Larry Bell... I just put him here because I dont think he counts game stars as a legit stat.

Now... The blogger felt good writing this one... but dont expect a full game story or literary ruminations for every game. I'm trying to nurse this puppy back into shape, if I've got the time, and the energy. Regardless... its good to be "back", and thank you for reading.