Q: Jimmy you fat bastard, What do you see as some of the more intriquing match ups in this weekends 1883 Black Ice Tournament?
A: Well Rudzbro, first of all; when are you going to cut that goddamn mullet? Who do you think you are; Barry freakin Melrose? Seriously though, when I look at the card, first thing that jumps out to me is; Who's carrying Thursday Nighters in their line up? I've gotta give an edge to any team with these guys on their roster. I don't believe any of the European teams can play the rugged Thursday Night style that it takes to win Black Ice. I don't see anything on friday that stands out as significant to the odds makers. It is Saturday that things start to get interesting. There are two big tilts slated for 10:35 that could possibly be a preview of Sunday's finals.
Q: What are those Jimmy?
A: I'm getting to that Rudzbro you sonovabitch! The first is in the 50+ Division and it features the host White Park Hockey Club vs. The Turkey Pond Flyers. These two teams aren't known for fair play and good sportsmanship. Frankly, they don't like each other very much and some of the bad Blood goes way back to the old Industrial League. Some of these guys would slash their own mothers if they thought they'd get a "W" out of it. When it comes to speed, the name at the top of the list is Chris McLaughlin. This guy is like the energizer bunny on skates. He could be a difference maker even in the Open division. White's Park had to dish out a lot of dough to get him here ,now we'll have to see if he pays dividends. There is a reason there is budget problem in Concord and McCloughlin's contract is the main reason. If he doesn't produce, he'll be shipped back to Keene on a dogsled. One of the guys who has offered his dogsled for the trip back to Keene is the wiley veteren Steve Arndt who captians the Turkey Pond Flyers. He was seperated at birth from Bobby Clarke also a former Flyer. He'll break down the will of any team with his tenacity and grit. He'll spit in your eye if it means getting the puck from an opponent. The other ageless wonder on the Flyers is solid veteren defenseman Ryan Brandt. This guy grew up in Roso, Minnesota where they used to scrimmage shirts vs. skins in twenty below zero weather. It's so cold in Roso that some residents move to the Artic Circle to get away from the cold of Roso. On the White Park side of center ice you'll find the nasty boys: Gary Mailhot and Bobby Bloody. They don't call him "Bloody" for nothing. Whatch out Governor Lynch! There are no sacred cows in these guy's world. Of course both teams are deep. Just look at these line ups; they're full of Thursday Nighters. White's Park: McLaughlin, Tommy "Painch" (first four letters spell PAIN) Painchaud, George "Dumpin" Chase, The Mailhot Brothers (puttin on the foil)and former Thursday Night star Jimmy "Hay Zee" Hayes who grew up at White's Park and knows his way around that pond. Turkey Pond Flyers: Steve "Arndt going to lose" Arndt, Ryan "don't try playing goalie in a pond hockey game!" Brandt, Gregg "Moose" Moffet, Tommy "Shemp" Champagne, Dan "Lucky" Luker, my brother and Bob Arndt.
Q: Who's Bob Arndt?
A: He's the X factor. This is another Minnesota guy who plays pond hockey all year round. He follows the cold weather around the world just to play pond hockey. The colder it is; the better he likes it. Former Minnesota North Star Lou Nanne called Bob Arndt, "The most tenacious hockey player in the State of Hockey". He is my X factor and why I'm picking Turkey Pond by a goal.
On Rink 3 fans are going to get their money's worth with this match up. It features two premier teams from the 35+ Division. Capitol City Diner vs. Cheers/Oral (not to be confused with Cheers/Annal: Adventures on the High Seas {the B movie}). Capitol City Diner is built on speed and speed kills. They too are stacked with Thursday Night talent; Tommy "Berg" Bourgault, The Cummy Brothers, Andy "BTO" Bauchman, also Scott Jocelyn, Gene Patnode, and Jason Aziz. On the other side of the ice Cheers/Oral may knock a few teeth out of their opponent's heads. Dr. Rich will fix you up on monday. This line up features Thursday Nighters Dave "Tilly" Tillitson, Dunc "Coach" Walsh, his brother Mike Walsh, Clint "Eastwood" Casavaugh, "the Good Doctor" Rich Rosato and two of Concord's favorite sons, Bruce "the Rooster" Gilles and Lee "Leebo" Blossom.
Q: Who do you see in this one Jimmy?
A: Again, not an easy choice but I'm going to have to go with Cheers/Oral. You gotta like the name; it's got smiles written all over it. Toothless freaking hockey smiles! You look at this line up and it's full of sore losers. These guys don't like to lose and they will do whatever it takes to win (except Dunc won't backcheck). I don't know Dunc's brother Mike but if he's a Walsh and he's from Concord then he's pretty good. It's going to be tough to slow down Capitol City Diner and I don't know if that'll happen. What I see is a run n gun game and if that happens, I see Cheers winning this gun slingers match. For me, the X factor is Leebo. Did you know he was the captian at BC? And, he's in the NH Legends of Hockey along with buddy Bruce. You have two legends on one team; Wow! I think Leebo is going to have one of those Legendary performances. And if he doesn't, there is plenty of firepower in that line up. If Capitol City Diner can get a couple of breaks and get a lead at half time, they could pull off an upset.
Q: Hey Geek; Do you see these two in the finals?
A: No Mullet Boy; I only see one of them in the finals. You can't forget about The Budmen who have a relatively easy schedule until Sunday. That is a dangerous line up!
Q: Who's on that team Geek?
A: Where have you been Bozo? The Budmen is like a Thursday Night Special. It features The Philby Brothers, Chris "Brownie" Brown, Jim "Heathy" Heath, Scott Summerville (not Thursday), The old pro Joe "Joe" Farrelly, and the softest hands in hockey Tom "TC" Carroll. You've got everything on this team; hustle,size, veteren leadership and skills up the ol' Whazzoo!
Q: So, you see The Budmen and Cheers in the final of 35+?
A: No, I didn't say that Rudzbro. There are too many teams that I don't know a thing about (mostly europeans). I'm just saying this; if these two play the way they are capable of playing, they SHOULD be the last two standing on Sunday.
Wow Jimmy!, you sure are a Geek! Thanks for coming here today! Well hockey fans this is going to be some kind of fun. So pour yourselves a Black Ice Ale or better yet let em pour you one in the beer tent or even at one of Concord's many watering holes and enjoy the show! Look for more insight into the 1883 Black Ice Pond Hockey Championships all week long at The Pucking Files.
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