As 2013 draws to an end, we look back at the events that made headlines and made it a year to remember. We start with the 2013 Black Ice Pond Hockey Championships. There was plenty of cold weather on hand at White's Park this year. We watched as The Turkey Pond "Assholes" Flyers were scolded for not playing nice with other children. It must have had an effect on them as their docile play on sunday allowed the Hobey Stick to leave town with NYC's St.Nick's Athletic Club. In the 35+ division, The Budmen lost their Hobey Stick to the Coor's drinking guys from Agawam, Ma. Jack Edward's Teeth did the Capital City proud by threepeating in the Open Division, but then brought shame upon themselves by not lending a helping hand in the clean up process. The White Park Hockey Club was also given a Knob Award for their failure to help in the clean up or set up efforts.
In the NAHL, Blue was crowned Champions by defeating rival Green in a game seven. John "Stuffy" Stevenson's squad played a sound two way game and Green never could get anything going. Stevenson and company couldn't get over their championship hangover, however, and got off to the worst start in franchise history this fall, which cost "Stuffy" his job as his struggling Blue squad was in last place in the eastern conference going into the Christmas break. Meanwhile, Gary "Toe" Blake surprised everyone this summer when he announced his retirement. The winningest coach in NAHL history, "Toe" set the standard for modern day coaching. He implemented the "dump and watch" system which is used by all teams now in the NAHL. "The Toe" was replaced by "The Thumb" as first year coach Tom "Thumb" Flanders took over the reins of Green and has his club in first place in the NAHL. Thumb's name is being mentioned whenever the conversation of "The Bud" comes up. In other NAHL news for 2013; Dunc "Coach" Walsh became the first two-time winner of "The Vic" as league MVP. The unanimous choice of the hockey writer's club, Walsh showed why it pays to put in a 50% effort game in and game out.
In the CCHL this year; The Windmill was crowned champion after they shut out Buffalo Wild Wings in the finals. The first finals shut out in CCHL history earned netminder Mark Crowley the MVP of the playoffs. Tim "The Timinator" Walsh was crowned the CCHL scoring champion after a slow start was followed by a red hot second half of the season. So far this season, "The Timinator" is being touted as "The Timidator" because of his timid scoring pace so far. Matt "Nads" Nadeau finally got his first CCHL victory just last week. News of his success reached around the globe and even toppled a government or two.
Perhaps the biggest story of 2013 was the rescue of Moe Rudz from a slave labor camp inside North Korea. Moe was abducted by North Korean forces while on a panda safari in China that unsuspectingly crossed into N. Korean territory. Joe "Joe" Farrelly arranged a rescue of the eccentric billionaire. It included the derailed rescue attempt by Mike "Hipshake" Farrelly and Moe's younger brother Mark Rudz. The two were forced to parachute out of their plane "The Knat" after it was sabotaged by Poon & Tang, the notorious North Korean spys. Mike Farrelly's amazing story sold more copies than the Bible and the Koran combined. "G.I. Joe" Farrelly's forces overwhelmed Korean troops and rescued Moe Rudz. This saw the NAHL season open it's season in Seoul, South Korean and thus open the Asian market to NAHL hockey.
2013 is surely a year to be remembered even if you want to forget it.
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