WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2005
HNA TIER 5 FALL/WINTER LEAGUE
PHANTOMS vs. FIREBLADES
Phantoms 2 -- Fireblades 2
ADDISON, IL – Ladies and gentlemen, the previous evening’s
hockey game can be summed up in one word: rematch. Yes, the
Phantoms and the Fireblades faced off again for the first time
since the HNA Tier 6 Finals to settle the score of who is the
better team. The outcome? Well, I guess we’ll have to
wait for the rematch.
The Fireblades have gone through some changes during the off-season.
With a number of their players leaving for lucrative deals in
the UHL, they have recruited a slew of new skaters, easily identifiable
by their lack of matching jerseys (which is still legal during
Game 2 of the season, but not so much come Game 3 – or
so the league says). However, the Phantoms were unconcerned
with any personnel changes, and stuck to their game plan of
intense offensive pressure and smothering defensive coverage.
And if and when that fails, a quick switch to colorful and creative
taunting, designed to reduce opposing teams to tears.
The Phantoms, having grown accustomed to playing with less than
a full bench, were pleasantly surprised to have fourteen skaters
for the game.
Having completed a summer stint with the Phantoms’ farm
team, the Gainsville Ghosts, defenseman Mike “Like Falling
Off A Zamboni” Steinert rejoined the team for the first
time since last season. Also making the game, after missing
the season opener, were wings Bo “’Cephus”
Coonce, Jeff “QB” Blake, and fly-fishing center,
Randy “Peaches” Cochran.
The first period was full of movement, action, and ice shavings,
but no goals. Neither team had more than a handful of shots,
and there was a great deal of neutral zone play. The Phantoms
were unfortunately held scoreless more by an official’s
bad call than the Fireblades goalie’s impressive saves.
In the early goings, captain Mike “Root Canal” Boyd
appeared to slam home a rebound from the front of the net, which
bounced straight back out and into play. The officials, thinking
it had hit a post instead, did not signal a goal and play continued.
Due to his lack of overt enthusiasm upon scoring, Boyd has been
enrolled by his teammates in the Gene Stanislavsky School Of
Acting and Mime. He graduates in May and will be holding a recital
at the Chicago Theatre on Friday, April 21, 2006 (tickets available
soon).
Things got rolling in the second period, when defenseman, Scott
“Speak Softly And Carry A One-Piece Stick” Battle
went end to end to put the Phantoms on the board. Mystifying
Fireblades players with his inhuman puck control, Battle weaved
his way through the opposition like a White House official dodging
the truth at a Senate judiciary hearing.
The Phantoms tried to pull away early in the third period, as
defenseman Russell “Goalies Are Gonna Die Of” Thirsk
blasted a shot from just inside the blue line into the back
of the net. Although hulking winger, Greg “He Shoots,
He Falls” Rolnick attempted to redirect the shot while
screening the goalie, he fortunately did not touch the puck.
Phantoms netminder, AJ “Captain Chaos” Brandt, lost
his bid for a shutout mid-way through the third period, when
the Fireblades’ crafty center roofed a beautiful backhanded
shot over his shoulder.
Shortly afterwards, the Phantoms were up in arms over another
bad call that cost them their lead. After an apparent offsides
violation that was not recognized by the zebras, the Fireblades
scored the tying goal on a snapshot from the point that somehow
snuck between Brandt’s pads.
Both teams struggled to score the winning goal in regulation,
but the clock soon wound down and forced a phrase all passionate
fans love to hear: FREE HOCKEY!
The Phantoms again controlled the action in overtime, outshooting
the Fireblades 3-2, but were forced to settle for a tie, both
in the game, and in the standings with their nemesis. Boyd's
pleas for a shootout went ignored by the officials, which simply
kept with the underlying "see no evil, call no evil"
theme of the evening.
With little time to rest or prepare, the Phantoms will face
the Eagles on Sunday, November 6 in Wilmette.
GAME NOTES: The Phantoms successfully killed off three penalties,
including one gaffe for too many men, served by a concerned
and cross Cochran; while the offense had numerous chances, and
the added presence of Dan “I Could Get Used To This”
Phillips on right wing, it was the Phantoms’ defense that
scored both goals; check out the comedic stylings of defenseman,
Jay “Schecky” Smith all next week at Zanies (six-drink
minimum). |