Winter 2006 Schedule

DATE --- TIME --- OPPONENT

1/8/06 --- 2:00 P.M. --- BLUELINE
1/15/06 --- BYE
1/22/06 ---2:00 P.M. --- 67'S
1/29/06 --- 3:45 P.M. --- UGLY STICKS
2/5/06 --- 5:00 P.M. --- ZAMBONISTAS
2/12/06 --- 8:00 P.M. --- BUZZARDS
2/19/06 --- BYE
2/26/06 --- 9:30 P.M. --- SCRUBS
3/5/06 --- 9:30 P.M. --- WORLD
3/12/06 --- 6:30 P.M. --- SW ALL STARS
3/19/06 --- 5:00 P.M. --- FIGHTIN' AMISH
3/26/06 --- 3:45 P.M. --- CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

Player Profile - # 23 - Joe Quinn

Name: Joe Quinn
Position: Defense / Wing
#: 23
Why?: He reminds you of Milan Hejduk and Michael Jordan. Seriously, I have no idea why. Maybe to irritate Craig.
Nickname: The Anomaly; Toast; Mighty; Dances with the blue line; Sgt. Schultz.
How we know him: Met Joe W. in 8th grade at Confirmation classes through another friend. Played in a band with Chub and Bizz
One Scout Said: He's a C-level player! Sometimes he is very smart, other times his teammates have no idea what he is doing. Actually, a very willing player who will play anywhere he is asked. Good versatility and an occasional mean streak. Will battle in front of the net - at both ends - and can score some "blue collar" goals.
Game reminds you of: Gretzky, Keith Gretzky. Ian Laperriere (?) - RW - Colorado Avalanche.
Best line on the ice: "I don't think I was offsides."
You may not have known: While in High School Joe "dated" the daughter of Broncos Coach Dan Reeves. Some speculate that their trysts were the inspiration for the Bronco's 2-minute red zone offense in the late 80's - Hey! But really, Joe is an accomplished guitar player and can beat Joe White in 9 out of 10 sports!
Thanks for: Being our whipping boy and not getting mad when I yell at you; nicknaming me "The Tripod" (not really); coming out and getting beers with us; and your unselfish willingness to play a different spot on the ice every week.

You want hitting?

Sometimes I wish there was hitting in our league. When I have such foolish thoughts I watch this video. Click on the title for "Scott Stevens' Top 10 hits." Remember, these are all clean hits and I do not believe he was penalized on any of them.

Hockey quotes - # 2

Barry Melrose - "A shot on goal may not always be the best play, but it is never a bad play. There is no such thing as a bad shot on goal."

Editorial # 2 - a sad goodbye.

As some of you may know, Adam Deadmarsh was my all-time favorite Colorado Avalanche player. He wore # 18 for the Quebec Nordique and the AVS until his trade to Los Angeles. He reitred - at the age of 30 - before the current NHL season due to the post concussion syndrome which didn't allow him to play any longer. Although having dual citizenship, he played for the USA in international competition, including the 1996 World Cup that the USA won.

The best thing about Deadmarsh was that he did it all. He was fast, finished his checks, hustled all over the ice, fought, played with heart and grit, hit everyone he could, played all the forward positions, and stood in front of the net.

He hit the crossbar in overtime of game # 4 of the Stanley Cup finals. I always wondered if he would have received more of the due he deserved if that had gone in and super soft Uwe Krupp had not won the game. He also wore the coolest "cat in the hat" top hat on AVS flights and had his name misspelled on the Stanley Cup.

So, my Top 5 Adam Deadmarsh moments:

5) The 1996 World Cup - Canadian Joe Sakic had a semi-breakaway and as he went to get the puck, Deadmarsh caught him from behind. A true indications of his hustle and his speed.

4) While with Los Angeles he was boarded by Ruslan Salei a very cheap player who will not fight. Deadmarsh got up and beat the snot out of him. He was ejected, suspended and fined $25,000. His teammates paid the fine for him because he did the right thing, and what everyone else wanted to do.

3) During an AVS game with Detroit, Brandan Shanahan was running around the ice taking liberties with players. He had beat up the much smaller Rene Corbet in an earlier game. Deadmarsh fought Shanahan and was winning handily when "Shanny" tied up his right hand. In a move Inigo Montoya would be proud of, "Deadly" who was not right-handed, switched to his left and pummeled that prima donna.

2) After his trade to Los Angeles they played the Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs. LA won the last 3 games in a row to win the series. "Deader" had the assist on one winning goal and the winning goal in the last two games. (See picture above from Detroit).

1) In a game against Calgary in Denver that I attended, a Flame player boarded AVS rookie Dan Hinote. It was a total cheap shot and as the fracas ensued, Deadmarsh drug the Flames player out of the pile by the jersey and slid him along the ice and beat the tar out of him. He got 18 minutes of penalties and was ejected but you could sense the feeling of "team" as he came to the defense of a rookie playing in about his 10th game.

Anyway, he will be sorely missed. He was everything you would ever want in a player. If I ever have a son and he plays hockey, I hope he plays like Adam Deadmarsh.

An enthusiastic STEAMER fan

Another STEAMER fan on the edge of their seat! I know we are off to a slow start, but come on! Could this have something to do with combination # 3?

The Marek Malik Goal

Just click on the title and it will take you to the link. It takes a minute to load, but trust me, it is well wort it. This is the shootout winning goal in a Rangers Capitals game. It went all the way to the 15th shooter - Marek Malik.

Combinations - part 3

There are several ways to enjoy this tasty combination. Jager on the bottom, Red Bull on top - separate or mixed, it can only be described as "rich and rewarding!"

Hockey quotes - # 1

Ray "Chicken Parm" Ferraro - "Players are either goal scorers are they are not. You can not teach the skill of finishing. You can, however, teach players to hustle and get themselves into good places and better positions to score."

Player Profile - # 16 - Pete Dunlaevy

Name: Pete Dunlavey
Position: Right Wing
#: 16
Why?: The day of his wife's B-Day, his B-Day, and their anniversary; and of course - American hockey legend - Pat Lafontaine.
Nickname: Chowder; Chewbaca; Fletch; Trey Cool; Prarie Dog Man; David Beckham.
How we know him: His wife, Carolyn, used to work with another player's "ex."
One Scout Said: Blazing speed and hustle. Terrible to play against but great to have on your team. Never takes a shift off and is the personification of Ray Ferraro's theory (see other post). Excellent defensive forward.
Game reminds you of: Ales Hemsky - RW - Edmonton Oilers.
Best line on the ice: "You should go play in low-D where you could score some goals!" - to one of those Division-3 college hockey players who is playing in our league for some unknown reason.
You may not have known: Pete is from Western Massachusetts and was on the State Champion cross-country ski team in High School. He ran track and cross-country at Muhlenberg College and has run a mile in 4:29.
Thanks for: Defending the chowderheads; beating the snot out of that punk - the best fight and victory in STEAMER history; being willing to play or watch hockey at any time; and being a fellow hockey-addict for Adam and I - so our significant others don't think it's just us!