Ice Hawks Edge past Opie to Reach Championship Game

We knew it was going to be a close one and it was. Real close.........Mach 3 close!!!! Speaking of gimmick razors, did you ever notice that when the good people at Gillette were marketing the twin blade Atra, that when they showed the animated whisker versus the blades thing they claimed that when the first blade came by it cut and stretched the whisker so that the second blade could come by and lop it off so it would be below the skin line, Now when they show a twin blade versus a triple blade, the animation shows that the twin blade doesn't actually do what they claimed it did in the original ads and now we know that it takes three blades to lift and cut so you don't have the Fred Flintstone shadow. Personally, I am holding out for the quadruple blade because I am on to these marketing guys.....yep, one step ahead of them lying bastards. that I am I tell ya. Ya gotta get up pretty early in the morning to fool me, boys!!! Ahem.... now back to the regularly scheduled summary.

This game featured one of our prettiest goals of the season and one of our standard garbage goals. We needed both of them to secure ourselves a place in the championship game. 44 Young and 4 Stebbins played an absolutely mesmerizing game of tic-tac-toe down the ice that ended with Terry freezing the goalie in a trance and dishing off a late pass to Phil, who deftly flicked a backhand shot into the net. WOW!!! A thing of beauty. It actually looked like hockey!!! . Our second goal was scored, and I want to be careful here so as to not sound ungrateful for 12 Ross's winning shot, because Hank was slow to get out of the zone so he didn't change up with the rest of his line and went back into the zone with two of the players from the second line. Some how, some way the puck ended up in "The Hank Zone" and after a few seconds of what looked from a distance like someone shoveling snow off a sidewalk, the ref blew the whistle and pointed to the back of the net. Goal!! Hank's dirty work paying off yet again. Tough to get on someone for taking a long shift when they put in the game winner....., but hey, I am just the guy to do it!! Hank, you &^#%@ *@#&^#^ get your (*#^#%$ off the *#^$%#( ice blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda......!!!!!!!!!

Great defensive work for the most part. 10 Lagemann, you were fantabulous!! You were picking peoples' pockets all night. Philip, you were equally as fabulantastic. There is nothing quite like the gracefulness of an 18 wheeler on ice that you exhibit on your end to end rushes.....well, other than an 18 wheeler on ice that is.

G Bart, aside from a late whistle, you were flawless between the pipes. Now, when you ventured from the crease is a different story, Irbe!! Fending off all those shots in the last minute (has 40 seconds ever taken longer to pass?) 6 on 4 onslaught was as exciting as it was noive wracking. (That would be "nerve" in Curley speak)(Chicks talk to the dudes and ask nicely if they will let you see their "Three Stooges Glossary", we all have one) Great Job!!

Notable Notes: The "WHO ME Look" that 4 Stebbins shot at the ref after he called Terry for slamming somebody head first into the boards was priceless!!

The line changes were so quick and efficient that it took Hank awhile to figure out that it wasn't Steve and Terry out there with him for some of his shifts. Psssst ...Hank, here's a secret, we aren't Asian. When you see Asian line mates, it is time to change up. Unless of course you foresee a chance to score a goal, then......

Just in case you didn't think anyone was noticing the oh so important little things, 3 Kopp and 70 Walter, great job in pinching in then getting back. You guys did it perfect. And to all those who realized that they were pinching in and stayed back for them, kudos to you as well.

Brian, I still can't tell if the Irish sweater was good luck or not. I mean, did the little leprechaun lift your stick up to let the puck go under it or did he stop it from going in? You are 1-0 with it so, on balance, I would have to say it is lucky sweater. Daaaa Da Da Dada Dada.......(The Notre Dame Fight Song in Da minor)

Scotty!!! You so skinny!!! Good to have the old Scooter back.......trying to vulture a championship trophy.

Check your equipment people. If we have that anal retentive Schmoe refereeing the Championship game, The Lord only knows what minor shit he will pick on and make you fix right at game time....."Um son, there is too much rust on your face mask, Section 5B, article 2, point F states that if the threat of exposure to tetanus to the player or opposing players exists.......blah blah. That guy made me wear my chin strap as tight as a fricking party hat....wadda a Doink!!!

Hey gang, let's hold it together for one more go at it and bring home some hardware!!! Let's remember two things going in to this game Monday. 1) Remember what got us here, the good solid efforts that have resulted in our wins. and 2) We are very capable of losing to any team so let's not get over confident. Prepare to face the best team we have ever played this season and go from there.

I say, win or lose, we as a team should go somewhere close and hoist a beer or two for the good effort we have made all season.

In the words of the late great, John Belushi, "LET'S DO IT!!!!!!"