Come playoff time, here’s to the I-league DB’s

I was asked to post the following... enjoy!

Here’s to the guys who make Saturday nights a laugh for everyone else

Here’s to # 10 for whacking guys on the back, on the head, or across the back while lying on the ground. Here’s to the guy who doesn’t skate that well who idealizes Todd Bertuzzi and must regulate as such. Here’s to the man that throws his glove up in the air and so dramatically, if unrefined, shoots it down with duck hunt like skill and precision.

Here’s to the guy who stops, turns 90 degrees and takes a slap shot into the opposing bench. Here’s to the ref who doesn’t see that as a penalty.

Here’s to those who after a large victory prefers tell the opponent how inferior they have been during the drubbing they just took. Here’s to those who don’t mind taking a run at a guy even though there is 10 seconds left and his lead is 3+ goals. Here’s to the guy who doesn’t partake in any of the game and yet speaks so elegantly once the contest has concluded.

Here’s to he whos complaints about ringers fall on deaf ears. Here’s to the same jackhole that could play up 2 levels himself.

Here’s to the team that wins 5 championships in a row. Here’s to the team that chooses not interact with anyone below their superior level while enjoying a cold beer or a hot pizza. Here’s to the team that not a single person has ever found a kind word about as I assume they prefer it as such

Here’s to the small angry guy’s. You play a LARGE role while coming in such a petite feminin package.

Here’s to those who choose to wear pink gloves.

Here’s to those who bull dose those who wear pink gloves. Here’s to those who need to prove they are bigger and faster than the girls.

Here’s to the cowboy with enough speed to kill. Here’s to those who can’t stop and prefer to use your legs or the end boards for such a thing.

Here’s to the man who thinks Ice Hockey should be played like soccer and feels the slide tackle is always the best way to play defense.

Speaking of soccer… Here’s to the guy who wears a do rag. Here’s to the screaming baby in the stands…err, my mistake, The guy who took a stick to the shin and even though shin pads can stop a 90 mph puck without as much as a strawberry showing up feels the need to scream out in pain so loud the glass breaks. Here’s to the same guy who can suck it up and stay on the ice for a power play after such an egregious dismemberment.

Here’s to the actual ringers. Here’s to the 18/19 something’s brought in to challenge a streaking team. Here’s to all those who don’t think they have one of their own. Here’s to those who enjoy handing these guys a beating.

Here’s to the goalies that never get enough credit, and never are allowed to take part in the aforementioned.

Here’s to those who wear #99, May a Zamboni fall from the clouds and crush these ignorant souls.

Here’s to those who wear #98, as they aren’t much better.

Here’s to the guys who actually get suspended. Here’s to the guy who comes out of the penalty box to continue the fight.

Here’s to the egos. Here’s to the guys that no matter what smile and shake your hand.

Here’s to the playoffs gentleman.

Here's to the NYTEX Gold (or whatever league it is) League. I love this league for all the reasons above

Saturday Night Matinee!

5:00 PM, showdown between two leader teams, Palmers Sweet Leaf and Rusts Puddle Jumpers. Some predicited a 4-3 win Sweet Leaf, all we knew is that this was going to be a fiesty one and we were not let down.

You could tell right from the beginning that Sweet Leaf were out to prove they could take the Jumpers and went up early with a sweet (no pum intended) tap-tap goal from behind the net to the front and in. Besty stood no chance on this one.

First blood to SL. Then the Jumpers came back to tie and go ahead by one. This was counter-acted by a high schooler, skating right up the middle around everyone and past Besty within a minute of the Jumpers going ahead. Hmmm, I wonder why #4 was brought out, to tie up the game?

This is when thing started to get really chippy. Lots of blatent cross checks, slashes and hits seemed to go un-noticed by Neimi and he started to lose control of the game. Two fights broke out at the PJ's net and ended up with Palmer and a PJ spending a 5 and 10 in the box (I think).

Things calmed down a bit and the PJ's went up 3-2, then tied 3-3. The shot difference was pretty large, with SL putting a bunch on Besty and kept him real busy between the pipes for the PJ's.

The PJ's snuck in two more to end the game 5-3, well 4-3 and one empty netter, Besty was a wall for the PJ's and allowed them to stay in the game and gave them the chances they needed.

Great, fun game to watch! More please!

Whalers 5, Jets 2

The Jets are always a tough team to beat. The Whalers knew they couldn’t play less than 100% and still win this one. Unfortunately for the men in green, personal schedules got in the way of hockey and several guys were unable to play in this prime time Saturday night meeting. Thurston, Chesser, Dillard, Watzke, Honeycutt and Mercado were not on the ice and this left two centers and two wings on one side. Regardless of the short roster they were able to adjust.

The Jets seem to be on the rise. At the start of this season nearly half of the team consisted of new players or free agents. Players seem to be getting a better feel for their teammates and they do have some quickness and decent goal tending.

The Whalers are the first on the board as Andy Thomas (26) finds Penney (10) in front of the net in the first minute of the game. The Whalers passing and puck possession in the offensive zone was working better than it had in maybe… forever. However, that was no indication that the Whalers were in for a cake-walk. Later on in the game the Jets’ Captain/Coordinator Brandon Suits (10) had enough of Hamstra (98) and decided to flip the puck into the chest of Hamstra after the whistle. Suits served a double minor and the Whalers score on the power play. Midway through the game the Jets found the net and closed the gap to 3-2. In the third period Jets #18 and Schooley (5) get tangled up on the boards and TJ Aarons (10) throws his hat in the ring as well (see video). The “misunderstanding” is cleared up quickly and play resumed shortly after. Note to the league: We need two refs per game.

Overall, I think both teams got what they expected. The Jets probably thought they would get under the skin of the Whalers as they do with most other teams. The Whalers planned to win by playing as a team. Whalers 5, Jets 2.

Uniform Talk

Something we havent done on here is really jumped head first into who has the best uniforms, or I guess just jerseys here at the Nytex Sports Centre.  

The Bronze League has done a great job over the past couple years at getting all matching jerseys, most teams now a days have two sets.  

The Silver League is in a similar state of affairs.   Who knows about the gold league, I am not sure who even keeps up with that league anyway.   Over 35 league teams always look real sharp, but that is because jerseys come as part of the package when you sign up.   Not a bad idea really.   Word on the street is this summer's big over 35 league will be an international vibe with teams representing Russia, Canada, USA, Finland, Sweden, etc, etc, etc, and teams will have two sets as part of their registration.  

Now there are not many picture examples of most of these, so hopefully some of you tech savy kids can provide some in the comments section.  

The Keller Indians have a classic logo that goes on both the silver and bronze teams sweaters.   They sport a white and a dark (Navy).   Not too much going on here, but it is classic, and recognizable.  This is probably the most common sweater seen at Nytex as the Keller high school program wears the same jerseys.   You can almost always find one at open hockey.

Stingers sport another simple yet classic design.   Similar to the Dallas Stars Jerseys the Stingers have a black and a white jersey that has the word, Stingers, across the chest in an arch type formation.

Whalers have two sets as well, a white with the classic Hartford Whalers W in the shape of a whale tail, and a dark that has a whale on the chest.   Both look great, especially since most of the time the entire team has socks to match.

Sweet Leaf is new and just rocks a green jersey.   These jerseys remind me of the classic old old old school NFL jerseys where there was no logo or name or anything. 

Rampage are rocking just one set as well with the teal blue jerseys, most of which have some sort of chupacabre type animal head on the front.   Originality points for the wierd logo.  

Sens have two sets, or more like one and a half.   Originally the team sported red jerseys with the Binghamton Senators logo on the front with the word Tomcast in place of Binghamton.   This was for a sponsor who helped with the original cost of setting the team up.   A while back they switched to a different red jersey (blackhawks style) with the word, SENS, across the chest like the Ottawa Senators third logo.  

Jets are a team with two as well, a white and a dark burgundy sweater that is in the style of the Avalanches sweaters.   Solid look on these, they have been rocking the old school Winnipeg Jets logo.   Great to see two teams in the lower division that carry the names and logos of some old school NHL clubs like Hartford and Winnipeg.   Speaking of Winnipeg off topic of course, word on the street is that the Atlanta Thrashers will be relocated there as soon as next year.   This is exciting as Atlanta does a terrible job at filling that arena, and no town with the nickname, Hotlanta, should have an ice hockey team.

Kicking it old old old school was the Ice Gators who had orange reebok practice jerseys with a Louisianna Ice Gators logo on it.   Those uniforms were very unique, and high class.  

Speaking of high class we now have three teams who go all out.   The Puddle Jumpers have a white with their duck head logo, and a dark that looks like a New York Rangers logo with the word Jumpers down in diangle fashion on the front.   Both of their sweaters have their names on the back and I think a logo on the shoulder and numbers on the arms.  

Also going high class is the Men in Boats who have a dark and a white with names on the back and the classic MIB logo on front.

Bandits are high class as well, they have a black, white, and now the wheels off wanted poster alternate jersey.    Greg Perry set the tone when he got the first bandits jerseys.   The skull logo on front with the dark black and purple color scheme was new to the league, and fits in well.  

Back to the Jets, the Silver Bullets were the Jets before the name change, they had the gray jerseys with the bullet on front that were very unique.  

Up in the Silver League the Blazers have the Ronald McDonald maroon and white jerseys along with now the black jerseys with the b on front and a flame coming up the side.   Some of the guys on the team have a red jersey with OKC on the front.   There is a Blazers team out in Richardson that some of the guys from here moonlight on.   Those jerseys were aquired when the Blazers decided not to stay in the CHL, and transition into a new team name and AHL franchise.  

Hornets have a bright yellow jersey with a logo that this blog poster uses for the Stingers.   I believe it originally came from the Cincinatti Sting or somesuch.  

Ice Cracks have the most wheels off jerseys with the matching socks that look like, well ice cracking.

Dirtbags have a bright orange jersey similar to that of the old ice gators.   Dirtbags have a sponsor from an area smoke shop that has their logo on the shoulders.  

Ice Dogs have a simple dark blue jersey with an original logo as well as a white jersey bearing the same crest.  

I know I left off probably half the teams, but who do you think has the best jerseys and why?  

Bronze News

Big week for Bronze League games.   Tonight at 9:30 we have the Sens taking on MIB.   Last time these two met it was nothing but shananigans, two players suspended for this game so hopefully things will be less chaotic.  I predict a 4-3 Sens win, all 4 Sens goals come in the third period.

Saturday brings five games to the Nytex Sports Centre.   5pm kicks off things with the Sweet Leaf and Puddle Jumpers squaring off.   These two teams are part of a three way tie for first in the division along with Rampage.   This early tilt will be a good test for the Jumpers.   The Leaf are much younger and faster than the Jumpers, so expect a good hard skate.    I predict Leaf win this game 4-3 in overtime.

The next game pits the Jets and Whalers against each other.   Whalers are tied for the top of the division, and the Jets are not far off.   This one is a coin toss, it can go either way.   If I had to make a prediction on this one I would say Whalers 4 Jets 3 also in overtime.

Next up Stingers and Mud Ducks.   Ducks got their first win last week courtesy of a shoot out goal by Joel Ulrich.   Stingers are tied for the top with 7 points.   I like the Stingers in this one.   With some of their veterans now back in the fold, I think their experience will outweigh the expansion Ducks.   7-1 Stingers.  

Next game is a big battle in the upper division between the Rampage and MIB.   These teams as previously mentioned are both in first, however depending on how the thursday night game goes that might not be the case come game time on saturday.   Still this is going to be an epic battle.   Rampage have really been gelling as a team, and MIB is always a threat.   Look for this one to be high scoring with the Rampage's young legs winning out the battle Rampage 8 MIB 5.

Closing out the evening is Joes and the Keller Tribe.   Joes still looking for a win, and will have to do it without Paul Hoch who went on the season ending IR last week.   Shout out to Paul, get better soon buddy.   My prediction here is 7-2 Tribe.

Thats it for this week lets get your thoughts.   Word on the street is that teams will be finally getting some practice times this march as we amp up for the back half of the season and the Playoffs. 

Facebook Group for Nytex Bronze League

http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_130923363644810&ap=1

New Bronze League Facebook Group, join up today.  

NHL Fight of the Year Candidate

Machine gun punching is always fun

Great Article in the Star Telegram Today

Good article on the front page of the sports section of the Star Telegram today.   Gives a little brief history of the Brahmas and Americans rivalry, and talks a little about the Dallas vs Ft. Worth hockey rivalries of the past.   Check it out, and forward it to your friends.

Brahmas and Americans battle at Nytex on Saturday Night at 7:30.   Discounted tickets are available just call 817-336-4ICE and ask for the Bronze or Silver League Special.

Brahmas/Americans Rivalry

Upper Battle this Thursday

Sweet Leaf and Rampage take the ice in this week's installment of Thursday Night hockey at Nytex.   These two powerhouses are probably the fastest two teams with the youngest average age in the league.   This game could go either way.   Rampage is undefeated, but oddsmakers in Vegas have been saying Sweet Leaf wont lose more than one game this season.   So considering the leaf lost one already this season the cards are all stacking up in favor of the Leaf to win this game.   If Brian Crawford still has the ridiculous John 3:16 rainbow afro the Rampage might be able to hand the leaf a loss.  

This game is a battle of the two best haircuts in the league with Andrew Palmers locks swuaring off against the Crawford Fro.  

My money is on the Leaf for this one.   I say goaltending is all but non existant in this clash with the Leaf taking the Rampage 22-20.   Ten different players will score a hat trick.  

Saturday Recap

This weekend’s games were not as close as we had hoped. Three of the four games were blowouts, and the fourth while not a complete blowout was a one sided affair for sure.




Saturday kicked off with a pair of matinee games. First being two time Keg winners MIB vs the Senators. This game started out close, but the Sens eventually put the pedal to the metal and passed MIB 9-3. The game was called by referee Greg Niemi with a minute left to go as tensions were mounting. A member of the Senators team threw one of MIB’s sticks about 8 rows up in Section O, and a member of MIB threw a punch at one of the sens after the refs broke up a minor skirmish. All told two guys were tossed and both players will serve a suspension for their actions.



Next up the Whalers blew away the Average Joes 8-1. Big shout out to Whalers Coordinator Darrin Ellis who had himself a hat trick. Way to be Darrin that is strong play buddy!



First game of the evening featured the Jumpers vs the Bandits. 10-1 Jumpers on this one. Bandits were missing several key players, and Jumpers were on steroids.



The late affair featured the Jumpers minor league affiliate Mud Ducks vs the Lower Division Powerhouse Keller Indians aka the Tribe. Tribe rolled up the Ducks 5-1.



Thoughts…