2011: The Year That Was

There was a lot of good things that happened in the hockey world in 2011, but none bigger than the first Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship. We're not trying to take anything away from the Bruin's Stanley Cup win, but.... when Chris "Brownie" Brown put together "the greatest show on ice", the world became a better place.

Who can forget the assassination attempt on Brownie's life, masterminded by Hassan Bin Sobar? We remember the convincing win of the gang from Capital City Diner over the Budmen and the equally one-sided victory of The White Park Hockey Club over the Cheers Chiefs. Who can forget the Newts winning the Ladies division championship? That makes at least two of us!

As if the Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship wasn't enough; Fans in the Capitol City were treated to a thrilling NAHL Championship series. In a hard fought seven game series, Green triumphed over Blue and added another chapter in this storied rivalry.

The hockey nation watched as the trial of "The White Pond Duo" played out in the courtroom and two of Concord's "favorite sons" were found "Not Guilty". Just when we thought that was enough to carry Capitol City hockey fans through the summer, along came the Boston Bruins who win Lord Stanley's Cup despite being bit by the Vancouver Canucks early in the series.

The fabulous Tim Thomas stole the show, but Brad Marchand won over Bruin's fans with his spirited play on and off the ice.

What was looking to be a quiet summer turned into anything but as the fateful voyage of the "Duke of Lancaster" had hockey fans on the edge of their seats as the events played out in what is arguably "the greatest story ever told". In the end, the Hockey Gods smiled upon the Capitol City once more and Thursday Night Hockey was saved.
The new season got underway at "the Doug" this fall after the historic arena got a facelift AND a suprise when Jimmy Hoffa turned up buried under the floor. Dave Maznick was thought to be buried under there, however, it turned out that he was on the bottom of White's Park pond. The new scoreboard was hoisted in place and the puck dropped in front of another sell out crowd on Thursday Night.

We saw the creation of the Legends of Thursday Night Hall of Fame which inducted it's first class of Legends.

Tilly, Dumpin, Joe, Heathy, Kaiser and Hernia were selected for their commitment to excellence in the great game of hockey. This event was followed by the NH Legends of Hockey induction of two of Thursday's finest, Ryan "Silky" Brandt and Dunc "Coach" Walsh both who delivered memorable speeches that acknowledged Thursday Night Hockey as "Unbelievable" and "Awful, but in a good way".

Pictured above:Silky and Brownie catch their breath on the Blue bench while Coach and Brooster prepare Coach's speech before the banquet.
Blue, under new coach John "Stuffy" Stevenson, has shown that they are ready to take over as the top team in the NAHL, however Green, who was nursing a championship hangover, has climbed back into the race for supremacy. It has been an extremely rough and tumble first half in the NAHL and disciplinary chief Sheldon Brennahan has had his hands full.

Blue has won the first half ,but Green has their eyes on the prize. The new year 2012 is shaping up to be another great year. Although mother nature has been a bit slow at bringing the deep freeze, it looks like winter has finally arrived.

There is a lot to look forward to in 2012 so, keep your head up and your stick on the ice! Moe Rudz and the staff of The Pucking Files wishes you "All the Best in the New Year". They hope to see you on tuesday January 3rd at the Barely House and Cheers for some Black Ice Ale.

Blue Halfway There

Blue came out throwing their weight around and grabbed a two goal lead, but they couldn't knock out the defending champs who clawed their way back into the contest. Blue tried to send a message early in the game as Jack "Jackhammer" Fraiser pounded Green winger Mark Rudz into the end boards with a questionable hit that will surely be reviewed by league disciplinarian Sheldon Brennahan.

Green was not about to let Blue push them around and answered the bell with their own punishing hit. Green defenseman Jeff "Kano" Kane charged up ice and layed out Mark Rudz with a crushing body check. Kano told reporters at the post game press conference, " I wanted Blue to know that if they're going to do that to our guy then we're going to do the same thing". Rudz responded to the hits by saying, "I'm glad Kano showed Blue that we're not going to let them push us around. I just wish he could've used one of their players as his target." Rudz finished the game, but he was taken to Concord Hospital after the game for an MRI. He is sharing a room with Jim "Cummy" Commerford who is still recovering from a injuries he suffered in a game last month. Cummy's younger brother Mike led the Green attack all night long. Green tied the game only to watch Blue take the lead back. Late in the third the score was all knotted at six, but Blue scored two unanswered goals. With less than three minutes remaining Mike "Cummy' Commerford scored another goal to narrow the gap to within one, but Green ran out of time. Blue's win increased their lead in the eastern conference to two games over rival Green. Blue wins the first half of the season. Green coach Gary "Toe" Blake said after the game, " They don't give a trophy to any team winning the half. The championship is decided in March and my guys will be there defending the title. I guarantee that!"
The first star of the game went to the first unit of Blue, the second star went to the first unit of Green and the third star went to fans who pack "the Doug" every Thursday.

Greg "Hernia" Fornier (above) had six shots on goal during the game and six shots before the game. Look for the year in review later this weekend on The Pucking Files.

Pimp My Ride

Fans of Thursday Night Hockey no longer have to worry about parking on game night. Billionaire publishing magnet Moe Rudz has donated buses to the NAHL to shuttle fans to and from "The Doug" on game night. Finding a parking spot on game night was like trying to beat Smitty high glove side (almost impossible). Thanks to this generous donation fans can now be picked up on Main St. and shuttled to the arena. The buses were painted Blue and Green in honor of the two best teams in the league. Each bus has a stewardess and refreshments are served free of charge to season ticket holders. The NAHL; At your service!

Not Another Tie For Christmas!

The last thing a Thursday Night Hockey player wants for Christmas is another tie, but that's what Santa brought them. In front of a raucous Doug crowd Blue saw their slim lead disappear as Green tied the score with less than five minutes to go. Apparently the first unit of Blue must be Swedish because they definitely weren't Finnish. Blue had their opportunities to regain the lead in the waning moments of the game, but missed on several glorious opportunities that would have extended their hold on first place to two games. The two titans of the NAHL remain just one game apart. Team Red and Team Yellow are only a few games back and both teams had scouts there watching the game. Tom "TC" Carroll, Chris "Brownie" Brown and Jim "Heathy" Heath were awarded the three stars.
From everyone in the NAHL we wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a Jolly Kwanzaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No NAHL All Star Game This Year

The NAHL has decided to cancel the ALL Star Game this year in order to make room in the schedule for the Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship at the end of January. It has come to the attention of many that Blue and Green has dominated fan balloting and members of the other clubs have called it "unfair". So, the NAHL President Dick Hurtz has decided that since the league's involvement with the Black Ice Championships, they believe it is in the best interest of everyone that they not break for the All Star game. Fans were still able to vote for the first and second team All Stars and not surprisingly, all but one player is from Blue or Green. The first team is: Clint "Eastwood" Casavaugh, Tom "Painch" Painchaud, Dave "Greasy" Palisi, Todd "Philby" Philbrick, Greg "Hernia" Fournier, Red "Whitey" Adams (Red) and Kenny "Rebel Without a Vote" Dean. The second team is Brian "Tilly" Tillotson, Dunc "Coach" Walsh, Any "BTO" Bachmann, Dan "Too Late" Early, Jim "Heathy" Heath, Tom "Harry" Harrison. Each of the players selected will recieve a pint of Black Ice Ale at the Barley House on January 3rd. For being the top vote getter, Red Adams is going to Disney World.
Santa Claus will be at the game between Blue and Green on Thursday Night. He is there to join the NAHL in it's charity work for "Hockey Fights Obesity". The first two hundred fans to arrive will get the opportunity to do a lap dance on Ol' Saint Nick.

Green Edges Out Blue in Thriller at the Doug

Last night in front of a sold out Doug crowd, hometown Green defeated first place Blue and pulled within one game of first in the Eastern Conference of the NAHL. In what many called "the best game of the season",fans saw lead changes multiple times. The see-saw battle was played at a dizzying pace. Both coaches shortened their benches in order to get their best players on the ice as much as possible. Green coach showed a lot of confidence in Tom "Berg" Bergault by using him in all situations, but it wasn't enough to bolster an impotent Blue power play. After Blue failed to get any offense generated on the power play, Green scored two quick goals and took the lead and held on for the victory. "Now that's what I'm talking about!" , exclaimed jubilant Green coach Gary "Toe" Blake. Blake has been on the hot seat all season after his team's slow start. Joe "Joe" Farrelly was named the 1rt Star of the Game, Tom "Painch" Painchaud was 2nd Star and Gregg "Moose" Moffett was the Third Star.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says, the NHL is giving "serious consideration" to allowing "clutching and grabbing" back into the game after learning of The Pucking Files investigation into a "growing situation" of young players "getting gay" at the pro level. "It is our belief", said the Commissioner (not to be confused with the Commish), "that players need to clutch and grab each other. If they can do it during the game then they are less likely to do it after the game". Sean Avery of the N.Y. Rangers says that he likes the "crack down" on obstruction because it allows players to "get more creative on and off the ice". He came out publicly in support of gay rights in the NHL. He told The Pucking Files, "If a player is scared to "come out" then pick up the phone and call me and I will be there to stand beside you as you tell your teammates". When asked about Sidney Crosby being rumored as gay, Avery said, "Sid the Kid is not gay, he's just really lame around women."

Say It Aint So Moe!

After the Bruins took care of the L.A. Kings last night, the L.A.Queens took care of two Bruins cubs by taking them to a gay club on Route 1. Newest King Mike Richards seems to have gravitated to the L.A. nightlife like a moth to the "flame". He invited young Bruins Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand to a night out after the game. These photos were taken by Moe Rudz on his cell phone. Moe invited the three to join him at his table. He said, "I recently donated a very large sum of money to "The Boys Club" and so they treat me like a VIP". He also donated a smaller sum of money to the Boys and Girls Club recently a source tells us. Seguin and Marchand missed the team flight to Ottawa and would have probably been fined had not Mr. Rudz offered them a lift to Ottawa on his private jet. According to our sources, Mr. Richards has now left the Kings for "personal reasons". Bruins GM Peter Chirelli told The Pucking Files, "I have no knowledge of Brad and Tyler's personal preferences, but as long as they are putting up points I am o.k. with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

Black Ice Countdown

There is just forty six days to go until the puck drops for the first game of the second annual 1883 Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship. The pond has been dredged and the ice is beginning to form. There should be a sign that says, "No Basketball on the Pond!" This is a hockey town!

The Big Dig

After listening to testimony from both sides, Judge Judy from the popular tv show The People's Court" made her ruling on the White Park excavation debate. Judge Judy sided with the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament over the Museum of Natural History and granted the Black Ice group permission to dredge the pond to make room for two more hockey rinks. Mayor Jim Boulay told The Pucking Files, "We are delighted with the judge's ruling. The Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament is a huge boost to the Capitol City in tough economic times. Without this tournament we could end up the next Berlin." The Museum of Natural History's case was full of holes. Dr. Squeeky's findings were questionable to many scientists who read his report. The city hired Dr. Howard and Dr. Fine to conduct their own DNA test which contradicted Dr. Squeeky's findings. They said that Dr. Squeeky was "way off" in dating the remains. Dr. Howard and Fine's report said that the body was no way near four hundred years old, nor was the ethnicity native american. "We found the body to have been in the pond for no more than eleven months and it is a middle-aged male caucasian. Concord detectives then searched their files for missing persons from that time period and came up with a match. It was determined that the body was that of Dave Masinick. "It appears that Mr. Masinick had been out on the pond preparing for his come-back for Thursday Night Hockey. Mr. Masinick refused an interview with The Pucking Files to confirm the story. So the excavation is underway and temperatures are expected to drop this week. Things are looking up for Black Ice.
In case you hadn't heard; Blue defeated Green last night to extend their lead in the Eastern Conference of the NAHL. Blue's unit of "Tilly", "Coach", "Philby", "Silky" and "Joe" were given the first star of the game and Kenny "Don't Ya Love Em Madley" Bradley was awarded the second star for the thirty saves he made on Clint "Eastwood" Casavaugh. Jim "Heathy" Heath was the third star. Green coach Gary "Toe" Blake is on the hot seat. It is rumored that he and super star Tom "Berg" Bergault are not getting along. "Berg" did not even register a shot on goal last night. "I need the damn puck!", exclaimed Berg. "If "Blakey" wants me to score then he'd better put me with guys who will pass me the #*!$* puck or else....trade me." Green is in dire need of a win. It doesn't help that Jim "Cummy" Commerford is still out of the line up. He remains in Concord Hospital and is still listed a "stable".

In other news in the hockey world; the Winter Classic in Philadelphia is less than a month away. The Rangers and Flyers both revealed their team uniforms for the upcoming event. The Rangers went with a traditional old school look while the Flyer's went with something well- suited to the nippy weather of january.

Not Guilty!

The NAHL disciplinarian Sheldon Brennihan has found Blue defenseman Chris "Brownie" Brown "not guilty" of any wrong doing following last week's hit on Jim "Cummy" Commerford. Brown faced a suspension if found guilty and a fine of $200,000. Brennihan told the Pucking Files, " After reviewing the video multiple times I found no evidence of intent to injure in Brown's hit. I did however notice on the video that Tom "Berg" Bergault was left wide open in front of the net on the tying goal and that perhaps the "unamed" Green defenseman should pay the $200,000. fine. "Cummy" is still in Concord Hospital recovering from a concussion, four broken ribs , a fractured jaw, two fractured disc in his back, a brusied kidney, a dislocated index finger, a mild case of gout and constipation. The injuries were so severe that even his younger brother had to undergo knee surgery. He is expected to be back in time for the Black Ice Classic on january 27th at White's Park. On thursday the Supreme Court will make it's ruling on the case of the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament vs. The National Acamdemy of Anthropological Sciences regarding the "Pond Man" case. Read all about it this friday.

Comeback Kids (but who?)

It all seemed to be going Blue's way in the first period and a half. First place Blue built up a five to one lead and seemed to be running on cruise control when things got ugly. Green winger Jim "Cummy" Commerford (pictured all smiles on the Green bench) was on the wrong end of a blind side hit from Blue defenseman Chris "Brownie" Brown that left the speedy winger unconscious in a heap at mid ice. Green enforcer Jim "Heathy" Heath went after Brownie and the two heavy weights squared off. Both benches emptied and an old fashioned "donnybrook" ensued. Cummy was carted off on stretcher and Brownie was pelted with debris from the Green fans. The hit must have fired up Green because they stormed back and grabbed a seven to six lead over Blue with just minutes to go. Blue was back on their heels as they were pinned in their own zone for most of the third period. However, with less than a minute in regulation "Brownie" Brown unleashed a monster slap shot that Green netminder Tom "Harry" Harrison made a spectacular save on, but the rebound went to Blue centerman Tom "Philby" Philbrick who made a nifty pass to his winger Tom "Berg" Bergault who buried the biscuit just before time ran out. Boos rang down from the Green crowd and Blue was pelted with more debris. The tie moved Green into second place ahead of Yellow who was idle last night. Green coach Gary "Toe" Blake said, "We are going to get the league to look closely at the hit on Cummy and we hope they will take action against Brown". Cummerford was taken to Concord Hospital and is listed as "stable". Tom "Philby" Philbrick was named first star of the game. He led all scorers with three goals and two assists. Dave "Tilly" Tillotson was named the number two star. He had two goals and two assists. And Dan "Too Late" Early was named number three star for making the beer run.
No more news has been reported of the discovery of "the pond man" in White's Park pond and booth city and state officials are tight lipped for now. However, these two photos look eerily similar.