Retirement announced

Well gentlemen, with the cost of gas being outrageous, and the obvious fact that I'm 2.5 hrs from the rink in Wyomissing, PA (...I'm in Baltimore, MD now), it is with sadness and yet pride that I announce my retirement from the MDL and Ice Demons team playing there. Zimmy has already taken over I'm sure. Of course, Jack was the other "A" and is still part of the leadership too.

I've had a great time in the MDL, and although I was one to speak my mind, I meant it when I always prefaced my diatribes by saying: "This (the MDL) is the best men's league I've ever played in....without a doubt."

The league has changed a bit since I started, and so has the team. I will miss playing with you guys. I always wanted to win, but I realized that I was there to have fun with you guys first, because many of us have long time friendships--friendships that will remain long after the MDL has folded (which I hope is never).

My respect goes out to Mitch Duguay and Tim Patton for running a good show. I enjoyed playing practically every team in the league, and am very happy to have made many friends across the league on the various teams. I hope the league can continue to function as it once did. That was a successful equation. Letting it become like a "rink league" would be a big mistake, as you'll lose teams who played in the spirit of the league and instead get the same disparity that that shitbag league at Timberline once used to be. (Yes, Sincavage, you stupid old f*ck, someone else would come along to free us all from the hellhole called Timberline, who was the only game in town for TOO long. May you rot in the hell you so richly deserve. At least your son Jim was a step above you.)

The last piece of business is the finances from last season. Some of you may still owe the league money. I had sent this document out to you guys back in April so that you could settle up with the league: http://mbsoftwaresolutions.com/hockey/hockeyfinances0708.pdf. The MDL claims to not have all of our monies, so I encourage you to review that document and make sure that you present your proof of payment to the league officials asap. Each player was supposed to pay $425. I paid a bit more than that.

So men, I wish you all good luck in the seasons to come. I was proud to call you my teammates and friends, and will for years to come.

Call for scratches for Bears, 2/2, 6:30pm

Please reply here on the team blog if you won't make it. Known scratches at this time: Babs. Fred was questionable, iirc.

Ice Demons fail to beat rejuvenated Pugs, 6-3

Good news for the Pugs: the 2 young guys, especially the PSU Berks player, will help them not to suck and finish last.

Bad news for the Ice Demons: they are a frustrated bunch who seem to have lost that magic they had at the start of the season. We gave up 2 SHGs and played crappy yet again. Bip finally got his first penalty of the season.

Scratches were O'Neill, Dancona, Snyder.

Reminder -- season balance payment (ice/refs/scorekeepers) due!!!

Please remember to bring your CHECK made payable to NLS in the amount of $220. Fred Sanford -- deduct whatever cash you gave the scorekeepers at that early season game and let me know what it was specifically so I can make sure they get paid $300 as we promised them (no more, no less).

Please pass the message to those who don't seem to be online.

Thanks...see you at the rink, men!
--Babs

Ice Demons winless streak continues

The Black and Red fell behind early, even 4-0 at one point this past weekend against the Pythons. Despite 3 full lines of offense and 4 defensemen, the Ice Demons couldn't seem to skate with the same intensity as the Pythons. The Pythons showed that they wanted the game moreso, and Greg Carder not being in the Demons lineup probably showed. Fred Sanford scored between a pair of goals by Sean "Jack" Daniels, to give the Ice Demons 3 by the time the game was over. Unfortunately, the Pythons had 6. There was a new addition to the Pythons roster and he did very well for them. He wasn't the same as Petr Halecky but he was still very good and was the extra man they needed to get the win.

Unless the Ice Demons can find that enthusiasm and hard work/skating mentality they had when the season started, this team will have a very difficult time with the remainder of the season. Bip can only stand on his head so many times before even he falters. C'mon men....now is the time to step up and start playing like you're ready to win. Bip's already playing winning playoff-caliber hockey...the rest of us need to do that...NOW.

Jack was the star of the game for his 2 goals combined with good defensive play.

Andy Conrad sustained some injury late in the 2nd period and after a trip to the hospital to get checked out, is listed "day to day."


Scratches were Greg Carder, Jesse Snyder, Mike Dancona, Mike Pincus, Roger Johnson, Dave Blankenhorn, and "Murph."

Ice Demons can't hold lead, Phantoms end up with tie

Well, I was late getting onto the ice, and when I did midway through the 1st period, it was already 4-1 Ice Demons. My first shift, I take a minor penalty because the smaller Stoltzfus was going to have an easy goal in our slot on a rebound. Thankfully, they didn't score on the power play, because if they had, the Ice Demons might not have been so lucky as to tie!

Fred Sanford played like a demon possessed, picking up the hat-trick and really epitomizing hard skating on the ice tonight. Bip played stellar again in net, even stopping a remarkable Chris Barry partial-breakaway (after he burned me at the blue line on a sweet move) in the last few minutes of 3rd period play not to mention a super slapshot earlier that period, and an awesome deflection in the 2nd period (which I learned was really Zimmy's deflection). Many highlight saves once again for one of the league's best goalies. At the other end, Matt Light started out off his game, but in the final 0:51 seconds of play in the 3rd, he stopped both Greg Carder and the host of other demons (Sanford, Carder, Zimmy) around the net to earn his pay for the night, keeping the game a 6-6 tie.

They skated harder, and some on the bench said it looked like we were standing around...and many would probably agree with that one. We went back on our heels, and they kept coming, eventually beating our defenses. I had yet another poor game back on the blue line. I think this is the worst slump I've been in for quite some time. This quote comes to mind:

Reg! Do you see this quarter?

It used to be a nickel.

Now, the golden years are behind you.

One season, you'll be hanging up the blades and retiring the axe.

Fuck it.

Then you'll remember it was Joe McGrath who trained you for the front office.

Perhaps I'm already Joe McGrath? No, I never dressed up in chicks clothes though, nor came onto any of our guys....and I'm certainly only interested in women. lol!

These are the kinds of tie-game results that you don't like...when you blow a 4 goal lead in the 3rd period. I felt like it was a 6-6 loss. They were very happy...we weren't.

Fred was tonight's top star of the game, and Bip was probably the 2nd star for his highlight-film-worthy saves yet again. It should be noted that Bip STILL (unless I missed it) has NO PENALTIES AT ALL this season yet. He's showed great restraint this season (and the new ref corps doesn't have a bias against him like the last corps either).

Scratches were Blankenhorn, Dierwechter, O'Neil, Snyder, Dancona, and Pincus.

Ice Demons losing streak continues after failing to beat Raiders, 2-1

Tough day for the Black and Red warriors, as even though they spent most of the game in the Raiders end of the ice, 2 goals snuck past Ice Demons goalie Bob "Bip" Bohner, 1 more than the Ice Demons were able to muster against the Raiders goalie. Fred Sanford rang at least one off the post, Greg Carder was stopped in close, and probably the best Toyota Saveathon Save of the Game came in the 3rd period when Andy Conrad blasted a one timer slapshot that the Raiders goalie snagged from going into the top right corner of the goal. "Call a cop...he was robbed blind!"

The Ice Demons will have their work cut out for them when they face the Phantoms this coming Saturday at 4:45pm at the Bodyzone Iceplex. Good seats are still available!

Ice Demons lose to Crunch, 4-1

In a game where the Ice Demons just couldn't seem to get their rhythm, they fell to the former champs 4-1.

Nate Friewald notched his first goal of the season to keep the Ice Demons from being shut out. Fred Sanford had the helper.

On a side note, the Crunch didn't have pennies and although the Demons were the home team, we decided to change into "rainbow" jerseys after the Crunch said they had no other jerseys. Personally, I think that's a load of crap. What decent self-respecting hockey player doesn't have a different color jersey in his bag? Obviously we did. So much for them having to deal with wearing an alternate color.

Call for scratches, 12/15, 3pm vs. Crunch

Looks like I'll be able to make this game after all, men.

If you can't make it, please let me know (here preferrably) asap so we can activate Mikey or Joe.

Jack -- don't forget to contact Jessie Snyder to get him back into the lineup on a part-time basis.

Thanks!
--Babs