Road to a 3 Peat

Ok I'm sorry this took so long to post I've just been so busy. Ok so Canada didn't go as expected but then again it did in a way. For those that don't know we took 4th. We played ok but those 12 minute halves killed us stamina wise. Sunday morning against Quebec in the semi finals our center had a nervous breakdown and let up 6 goals before he was finally removed from the game. Now the good news is that whichever Canadian teams beats us either in the semi finals or the finals in Montreal we end up beating in the finals in Kzoo a month later. We did it in 2008 when Steve John and I lost to all-black in the semi finals in Canada we beat them for gold in Kzoo in overtime. And last year we lost to Quebec 5-2 in the finals up in Canada and a month later we took gold over them 6-4 in Kzoo. So the numbers are on our side.

However numbers don't mean shit when you don't put in the work. We are working hard and preparing for Michigan. This will be our first tournament back on US soil to start the US circuit. I do like Canada because if we didn't play together and then went to Kzoo first we wouldn't probably do as well as we normally do. But with 14 teams already registered and at least 1 possibly 2 or ever 3 more to come, Kzoo should be a good tournament. It usually is and for some reason this is the tournament that EVERYONE loves to come to even more than nationals I think. So while I'm not glad we didn't do well in Canada I'm glad it gave us a chance to examine ourselves and see what we need to fix. I still have 100% faith in our team that we can do it. We just need to tweak and not think about Jersey, Utah, or most certainly Nationals. We just need to focus on Kzoo and come up with a gameplan when the schedule comes out and go out there and play our best like I know we can and if all goes well then we will come out on top.

Ok guys. It's officially time. We have trained hard since September, had 2 mid-atlantic tournaments since and have prepared as much as we could. Now the road to a 3peat is officially underway. For our first tournament of the year we travel to Montreal Canada to face off against 5 other teams. The 6 teams are

1- Venom
2- Wrecking Crew
3- Quebec
4- Ontario all-black
5- Brittish Columbia
6- Nova Scotia

Last year up here were the same exact teams and we had lost in the finals to Quebec. This year a few things have changed as we look to make up for our devastating defeat at the hands of Mario and company. Here's our schedule

Fri 1/27 - 6:00 Venom vs. Quebec

Sat 1/28 - 8:55 Venom vs. Brittish Columbia
12:35 Venom vs. Ontario all-black
2:25 Venom vs. Nova Scotia
6:05 Venom vs. Wrecking Crew

Sunday's medal games depend on where we rank of course. But this weekend will be a good test for us to start off being that you have Mario who is one of the best players in Canada on Quebec, Jeff and the defense of all-black, and of course one of my least but most favorite people to play against with Tyler and that ever persistent wrecking crew. I'll be updating as the weekend goes on so keep your eyes peeled and as long as our center doesn't have a nervous breakdown again our road to a 3peat shouldn't have too many obstacles.

Ok so due to the fact that the girls teams aren't coming (and I am not hiding my feelings about that one) the schedule had to be redone slightly. Sorry to all, but here it is

8:30 Wolfpack vs Venom
9:00 NY1 vs NY2
9:30 Wolfpack vs NJ
10:00 NY1 vs Venom
10:30 NY2 vs NJ
11:00 NY1 vs Wolfpack
11:30 NY2 vs Venom
1:00 NY vs NJ
1:30 NY2 vs Wolfpack
2:00 NJ vs Venom
2:45 1 vs 4
3:30 2 vs 3
4:15 Bronze medal game
5:00 Gold medal game

Hey guys a quick note. I just wanted to say that I have received all the comments about my articles and I very much appreciate most of them. The more we can spread the word about the sport the better. If you'd like to send me your email address I will be happy to send out an email informing everyone when there is a new post.

theblindbartender@gmail.com

Thanks again.

Hey my apologies for being absent for so long. There was nothing really to report and i've been so busy with work. But we are officially underway in our road to a 3peat as we have our first tournament of the season this Saturday November 20 from 8:30 to 5:45.

PA will be represented by 2 teams. We have Venom who is only missing John as a starter but it goes like this

On left wing replacing John Mulhern we have Scott Hogwash (sorry Scott if I got that wrong)
On right wing we have the usual Andy Jenks firing up
Blocking up the middle we have Josh Schwartz
Our subs are Bernard Taylor and Porphay

On the other team you have the PA Wolfpack and they are

On left wing you have Matt Shields
On right wing you have Joey (no clue how to spell his last name)
In center you have Mike Coughlin
Their sub is Derren Daily

Here is the basic info for the tournament
Time: 8:30 AM to 5:45 PM
Address: 6333 Malvern Ave. It's at the Overbrook School for the Blind

Teams are as follows
* PA Venom
* PA Wolfpack
* NJ Thunder
* NY Knights I
* NY Knights II

There are also 2 girls teams that are playing 5 minutes halves.

All men's games are 2 7 minute halves with the exception of the bronze and gold medal games which are 10 minute halves.

Here is the schedule so you can have an idea when I play

8:30 wolfpack vs venom
9:00 ny1 vs ny2
9:30 wolfpack vs nj
10:00 bso1 vs bso2
10:20 nj vs ny2
10:50 ny1 vs venom
11:20 wolfpack vs ny2
11:50 nj vs ny1
1:00 bso2 vs bso1
1:20 nj vs venom
1:50 ny1 vs wolfpack
2:20 ny2 vs venom
2:50 bso1 vs bso2
3:10 1 vs 4
3:40 2 vs 3
4:20 bronze medal game
5:00 gold medal game

This should make for an interesting tournament especially if everyone for all the teams show up. Can either team from New York come up solid to make it through to 5 PM? Can the New Jersey Thunder gain revenge for last years loss to Venom for the title? Can Wolfpack prepare appropriately for Youth Nationals by winning here? Or will Venom defend their title without their captain and still come out victorious? Whatever happens this should be one of the better Mid Atlantic tournaments in a long time.

Ok as far as how to get here....if you're taking public transportation, take the 10 trolley which will drop you off at 63rd and Malvern. Then it's about half a block up. If you want to take the Elle to 69th street and then take the 65 that will drop you off right in front of the school.

Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to call my cell 215-459-2239 or even text me. I will be working every night Wed, Thurs, and Fri. But will be more than happy to respond and try and help you get here.

Hope to see u all soon.

Tweet Tweet Tweet....PLAY!!!