The final is upon us after last nights showdown between thePuddle Jumpers and the Whalers. The Puddle Jumpers showed up with a full bench again while the Whalers seemed to be short on numbers, maybe that was just the difference in numbers.

The PJ's took an early lead in the first period going up 2-0 and had the Whalers tied up in their own end for much of the first period. This was unlike when the Whalers stomped the Bandits and it seemed to catch the Whalers a bit surprised.

The PJ's were keeping their shifts very short and keeping fresh legs out there, where the Whalers shifts seemed to be 3 minutes or so...

Anyhoo, the Whalers did score on besty with a shot and a defensive stick redirect, but apart from that the PJ's goalie looked calm and focused.

The PJ's stuck in 3 more goals to make the final score 5-1 and that sends the PJ's into the final for the very first time against MIB...

Nytex has decided that the evening of the 23rd is a good time to play a final game, when half of most teams will be visiting family... For two teams that have fought very hard this whole season and playoffs, need to have their whole team there to play and to raise the keg if successful...

Let's have a vote to see who would postpone the game until after Christmas, say the 29th...

Crazy Stanley Stories

You know, as luck would have it, I was invited to attend a very lively party with Lord Stanley a couple of years back. Oh yes, I said it, I went to a party!

This one was at a place named Baby Dolls. I aked why we were shopping for baby dolls? Wouldn't they be really small? I mean full sized dolls are small enough. I can't imgine how small a baby doll would be. Turns out it wasn't a place to buy anything like that. But, you could buy almost anything else anything there!

The only bad thing is, there was a poilicy that no photographs were going to be allowed to be taken. Too bad, but let me tell you, my mind has several "photographs" burned into the back of my brain, let me tell you!

At any rate, please attach your stories onto this and maybe we can give the '99 Stars party at Vinnie's a run for it's money...... Naaahhhhhh who the hell am I kidding, but go ahead anyways, huh? Whattya say?

Jim Carr

Jump Jump Go Ahead and Jump................

The Jumpers outlasted the Red Hot Jets 5-3 to earn their first playoff win, and continue on their quest to a first Stanley Keg.   The Jumpers

scored the lone goal of the first period as Rutherford fround a pass from Joey Couch.   Jets got on the board in the second period as Josh Trimberger slammed one home after passes from Brandon Suits and Mike Phillips.   However, the Jumpers and more specifically Monte Allred buried two himself in the second frame to put the Jumpers on top 3-1   Third period saw two goals from each team to bring the game to a 5-3 close.   Opening round Playoff Hero Coy Gnade went from hero to zero for the Jets as he was absent from the scoresheet aside from the two slashing penalties he took in the third period.   The second of those slashing penalties was an offsetting call with Head Jumper Shawn Rust.  

For the Jets its the end of the road, and the end of the road for longtime member Adam Berringer who will be moving to the great city of Chicago this month.   Adam did find his way on to the scoresheet with an assist on the last goal of the game by Josh Trimberger.   Adam we wish you and your family the best as you move to Hawk Land.   We leave you with this very confusing series of numbers that only you can understand 13 26 39 52 65 78 91 .

Next up for the Jumpers its the winner of Saturday nights Whalers Bandits game.   The Frozen Four at Nytex is almost all set, once the Whalers and Bandits game is complete the winner will join the Jumpers, MIB, and Rampage in the Frozen Four at Nytex.

3rd star - Allred (Jumpers)
2nd star - Couch (Jumpers)
1st star - Rutherford (Jumpers)

Puddle Jumpers win over Jets

The Puddle Jumpers upset the Jets last night in a very close game at Nytex, placing the Puddle Jumpers the furthest that they have ever finished as a team in the coveted Stanley Keg rally.

The Jets have been strong with their new goalie, who they are losing next season and he played a "lights out" game letting in only "highlight reel" goals scored by the PJ's. Besty let in 2 that looked like his vision blocked, none the less, Besty looked a little shakey!

The Jets got the 4-2 score in the third to 4-3, by pulling their goalie and placing four players in a line right in front of Besty in a defensive faceoff. The PJ's let the faceoff be won by the Jets and one of the Jets wall stuck it passed Besty.

The faceoff with 25 seconds left to go ended up in the PJ's stealing the puck and scoring on an empty net, ending the game 5-3.

This was a good game for both teams and the PJ's are on their way to the Texan final against the winner of the Bandits and Whalers...

Should be good folks!

Keg Talk

The team that wins the Stanley Keg takes that trophy home with them until the next playoffs. MIB had some holiday photos taken with it which was very creative, and gave us the lovely photo seen here. Question is who is going to get crazy with that thing? Throw it in a pool? Take it to a Strip Bar? Use it as a shield in Paintball?




I guess the more important question is who is going to take it home?



Bandits have been close before, is this their season? Puddle Jumpers have been on a roll, but they are an unproven playoff team. MIB has been solid, can they continue to rally? Cinderella story with the Jets? Whalers? Who is it going to be and what will they do with it?

Eight Goals - Whalers Move On...

MIBeats Keller

Final game of the night this past Saturday was between the Keller Indians and MIB. MIB taking the ice for the first time since the loss of their teammate, and Keller trying to knock off the champs and advance towards another Keg. For the Tribe it was the Kelly family that took center stage. Ryan Kelly had a pair of goals and father Les assisted on one. Chris Dolbee of MIB got their first goal which was very fitting. He also took the first penalty which led to the first of Ryan Kelly’s two goals. The Tribe was down 3-1 heading into the third period, and even though they managed to score a trio of goals in that period, it wasn’t enough to stop MIB who also had three goals in the third. Total Team Effort is the way to describe this one for MIB, 9 different players registering a point including both Dolbee boys getting a point a piece. Eric Johnson got the game winner off a Tim Marra pass. 6-4 was your final here, from all accounts it was a fun game, five penalties called including an unsportsmanlike conduct to Cord Gifford of the Tribe, but both team kept their heads cool. In the end MIB moves on to face Rampage. Even though there are six teams left in the playoff the MIB Rampage game is part of the Nytex Frozen Four as this will determine the winner of the Ranger Division.




3rd star – Chris Dolbee (MIB)

2nd star – Chuck Dolbee (MIB)

1st star – Scott Dolbee (MIB)

Rampage Sting Stingers

The 5 time champion Stingers continued their quest for a 6th Keg against the highly favored Rampage on Saturday. It was a low scoring affair with both netminders doing work as there were only 3 goals allowed in this game. A total of 6 penalties were called, 4 to the Bees and two to the Rampage. One penalty that you rarely see in the adult leagues was elbowing on Stingers Josh Briscoe. Kind of a rough penalty for a youth minister to take? Stingers had three penalties in the 2nd period, but the Rampage never converted on any of those chances. Kudos to Dana Fenili of the Stingers who stopped 32 of 34 shots in this game. Had he more offensive support he might could have walked away with a win here, but the Rampage will advance with the 2-1 victory. Toby Zelt tosses in the game winner along with a helper to win the first star of the night. Next up for Rampage is MIB who knocked them out last year in the Keg Semi Finals.




3rd star-Greg McCutcheon (Ramage)

2nd – Dana Fenili (Stingers)

1st – Toby Zelt (Rampage)

Whalers Win

Whalers and Average Joes began their Stanley Keg conquest on Saturday, the first game of three on the night.







Pretty clean game for the most part only one penalty a tripping call on Bryon Chesser of the Whalers. Whalers were red hot the first two periods scoring four in each giving them an 8-2 lead headed into the final frame. In the final frame Average Joe player Dan Voorhees turned it on grabbing a pair of goals and helping on the only other Joes goal that period. Ultimately the Joes fall to the Whalers 8-5 despite a heroic performance from Voorhees (3 goals and 2 assists). Whalers played a complete team game with 12 of their players registering a point. Brian Hamstra was the team leader with 4 points (1 goal and 3 assists). Next up for the Whalers is a showdown with the Bandits. Winner will move into the Frozen Four at Nytex.



Stars of the game:

3rd star – Andy Thomas (Whalers)

2nd star – Dan Voorhees (Joes)

1st star – Brian Hamstra (Whalers)

J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets

Last night the Stanley Keg playoffs continued with a classic match up in the Texan Division quarterfinals between the JETS and SENS.   Adam Berringer appreciation night at Nytex, and the Jets did not want to disapoint.   Sens showed up a few men short.   With one player suspended, and their starting goal tender out of town for the rest of the year, the Sens were struggling before the puck even hit the ice.   To make matters worse long time Sens head coach, Jay Waters, was out and Sens coordinator Eric Anderson had to man the bench in his stead.   Eric was a scratch because of a deep cut on his hand, he couldnt put a glove on for fear of a staff infection.  

Sens called Dana Fenili from the Stingers to man the pipes which he did keeping the team in the game until the very end.   Jets Pugilist, Coy Gnade, kept them in the game with a pair of goals early on in the game while goal tender Alex Moreno kept the Jets close giving up goals to Rob Castle, Reagan Dobbs, and Chad Lowery.   Sens big undoing was their lack of discipline as late inteh third they allowed a 5-3 power play where Jets Captain Brandon Suits found the back of the net with 30 seconds left in regulation forcing the fourth period.  

No score in the fourth period, so the shootout would determine whose season would continue and whose would not.   For the Jets it was Coy Gnade who beat Fenili for the lone shootout goal and game winner.  

Three Stars for the game:

Third Star  - Brandon Suits (Jets)
Second Star - Alex Moreno (Jets)
First Star - Coy Gnade (Jets)

Next up for the Jets is a battle with the other flyboys in the Puddle Jumpers.   Puddle Jumpers were the best in the regular season, and should be a very tough test for the Jets.   But if Moreno can play well in net, and the Jets big guns stay focused, who knows.

Jets 2009-Present

Jets 2008-2009

Vegas Odds for the Stanley Keg

Las Vegas Native Jimmy McSween just sent in his official odds for who will win the Stanley Keg.  

Bandits   -   4-1
Jets    -      20-1
Sens   -      10-1
Whalers  -  12-1
Stingers -    12-1
Indians   -   8-1
Jumpers -   5-1
MIB    -      3-2
Joes -        10-1
Monkeys - 9000-1
Rampage - 4-1

There you go folks, looks you could make the most money betting on the monkeys, however you would need a time machine.

Best Female Player in the Bronze League

who is the best female player in the league?

Krysten from Rampage?
Rector from the Tribe?
Zee from Average Joes?
Eric Anderson from the Sens?

Bronze Playoffs

Playoffs getting going in full swing starting with a Thursday night clash between the Sens and Jets. Sens started slow this season, but turned things around and have been really heating it up lately. They will be without the heart and soul of the team in CJ Fisher who is serving a suspension for an altercation with Todd Kilgore of the Spider Monkeys earlier in the season. Jets will be looking to their captain Brandon Suits to lead them to victory. Team pugilist Jack Germaine has been called up from the Jets AAA affiliate in Saginaw. He got the call up to even out the field against the Sens big bruisers. Goal tender Alex Moreno will have a tough task as the Sens have really been putting the shots on goal this season. It will be Adam Berringer Appreciation night as longtime Jets forward Adam Berringer will be moving up north to the windy city. Slight mix up at the rink as the bobble heads were accidentally sent to a rink in Uganda. I predict a Sens victory 6-4 in this one.




On Saturday we will have three tilts on the card. First we have the Average Joes squaring off against the giant machine known as the TDA Whalers. Whalers have been sparring no expense on the marketing side of things and will no doubt have the shoe box packed to the gils for this one. Whalers coach Derrell Upton said that his team is poised for a deep run in the playoffs, and fans should purchase their playoff ticket packages now before they sell out. Average Joes are hoping that team leader Glenn “KAOS” Fredderick can carry them on his back and help them continue towards their first Stanley Keg. I predict a Whalers win 8-7 in overtime.



Second of the night we see the mighty Rampage take on the legendary Stingers. Stingers have rebuilt their team with many new skaters, and will have an uphill battle in this one. Rampage have been very good for the past two seasons, and the Stingers have been struggling. I think form will hold true on this one with the Rampage getting the easy win. They will have to find a way to get past Dana “The Wall” Fenilli though. He has been the Martin Brodeaur of the league for years now, and is always difficult to play against. Rampage have some snipers like Mike Cheripka who will no doubt give the Wall a tough time. In the end I think its Rampage 4 Stingers 1.



Finally we have the main event of the evening, the Keller Indians taking on the reigning champion MIB. Keller has been up and down lately. They have won some hard games and lost some easier games, so it is hard to say how good they really are. Team leader Les “oorah” Kelly better have his lines set right for this epic battle as MIB is tough, and given their recent loss they will no doubt be putting it all on the line to win one for Scott Dolbee. I say MIB wins this one easily 10-2.

Drag some people to the playoffs!

What's up Bronze League?! The Whalers are fired up for the playoffs and hope to see you around the rink. Here's a video we are using to lure friends and family out to the games. Hopefully, all the teams can bring some "fans" and have a good time over the next few weeks.

Play in Game Complete

The Bronze play in game between the Stingers and Spider Monkeys is complete, and the Stingers are your winners. The Stingers took down the Monkeys 6-3 in a penalty free affair. The Stingers showed up to the Nytex Sports Centre with a full bench, and used that to their advantage while the Monkeys had just 11 skaters.




Several players rose to the occasion and had a big game, Phil Pratt from the Monkeys had 2 goals, and teammate Chase Hudson had a pair of helpers. From the bees it was Josh Bennett who had a pair of goals, and the hero of the game Collin Cannon who also had a pair of goals including the game winner and an assist.



Next up for the Stingers is the Rampage on December 11th at 9:35.



For the Spider Monkeys it’s the end of an era. Moving on over to Euless next session, these guys have been a staple at the Nytex Sports Centre for a long time. The Monkeys have struggled to put wins together, but always the optimists they insist that they are only hear to play hockey and drink beer. I give them a double stick tap for having a great attitude. More stick taps for their newest jerseys, the Reebok look is a good one, and the logo of the monkey with that spider man mask is very unique. Best of luck to you Monkeys, hopefully we will see you guys again.



For the Stingers the road for their record setting 6th Keg continues. This team is a force in the playoffs. If they can get past the mighty Rampage who knows…



Three Stars from the game were:



3rd star – Phil Pratt (Monkeys)

2nd star – Josh Bennett (Bees)

1st star – Collin Cannon ( Bees)

We Lost One of Our Own Last Night

Folks sad news to report MIB player Scott Dolbee has passed away.   Scott was a member of the last seasons Bronze Championship team, and was with them this season as well as they skated towards two in a row.  The Hockey Community is a tight knit one, and anytime we lose a good member it hits home.  

Through 7 games this season Scott had one goal and three assists and two penalty minutes.   Also on MIB are Scott's family members Chris and Chuck.  

Sorry to hear for your loss MIB.

The Brahmas will have a special moment of silence at the start of their game vs the Missouri Mavericks tonight in Scott's Honor.