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05.10.06 Finals - Game 3 (best
of 3) - Game Report vs The Anchor Inn
Wipe-off hockey clipboard, iron-on letters, green and yellow fabric paint, and a blank jersey to officiate my small part on the team: $24.37. New hockey helmet (with face mask!) Christmas gift for a boyfriend with one front tooth already broken: $79.99. Pitcher of whatever ass-beer is bought after each game, win or lose: $7.00 (with a pizza that we never seem to get) ...But being apart of a great group of men who had the best record of their league, came to play and support their teammates despite family issues, business trips, late game reports, bad weather, broken sticks, bruises, aches, and the sniffles, late-night games, unsportsmanlike opponents, being mocked-out for falling, missing American Idol, playing with Drake, and a mean case of herpe-lip: PRICELESS. I am truly proud to say that I learned a lot about hockey from watching these men play. I came for the beer and pizza (and for Brian too), but I kept coming for the entire team. I wanted to be apart of the bit of unity the men developed through playing with each other on the ice, and soon enough, I went from talking about "you guys" to a collective "we" or "us". This is what team sports are all about. The Gators began their season with players who barely knew each other. Some were coaxed away from the Scuttlebutts' team, others called by friends on the team, or a friend of a friends uncle's brother's, extremely tan and well-dressed real estate agent (but I won't name names...), and somehow, the four or five men who stayed after each game to drink and come up with goofy quotes for the website soon turned into almost all the players, some lady friends (or potential lady friends), some family members and friends, and even a few drunken work buddies. The comradery of the fifteen or so teammates really amazed me sometimes. No matter who missed their perfect shot, who wasn't able to keep a player out of the zone, or who ate all the pizza after the game (...Jim), these men shook hands after each game, talked (as much as men can), went home after every game to check game-reports, vote in polls, and think about ways to improve for the next game. And just about every week they did improve [as did these game reports :) ] But sometimes, there are factors you just can't control. There are bad calls, teams that outnumber you, that one player you just can't keep up with, broken sticks, etc... Unfortunately, the Gators were met with slim chances last night. Playing a team almost twice their size, the Gators faced off in their final championship game against Anchor Inn. Missing a valued player, Brian Drake (18), and maybe still harboring a bit of regret after last week's loss, the Gators just couldn't come back from the 5-0 lead Anchor Inn had in the first period and first few minutes of the second. Their opposition began their scoring just nineteen seconds into the game, and didn't let up. ...That is, until Frank Warner (5), Dave Salafia (15), and Brian Pasono (17) managed a huge play with just over five minutes left in the second period. Then, moments later, at 3:06, Pasono scored his second goal on Salafia's assist, slowly adjusting the score. With only 47 seconds left in the second period, Warner again skated up the ice to score the third goal of the night. The second period was definitely the highlight of the night for our Gators. Outnumbered and feeling a little beaten, the Gators scoring stopped there, however. Anchor Inn went on to score five more goals in the third period, but without much approval from the onlookers (at least, on our side.) The Gators vs. Anchor Inn matchup ended in a loss for the men in green: 9-3. Goalie Jerry Suplicki (35) had a hard night of 51 shots on net (I was only off by 5 this time, Jer!!), and the Gators managed about 35 shots throughout the night. Chris Ryan (27), back to his old self, had one penalty, and Jim Suplicki (19) was only involved in two on-ice scuffles (maybe three: when the refs weren't looking. Good job, Jim!) The game was undoubtedly frustrating, and the men didn't quite leave the ice the same way they usually do, last night. Walking into the locker room a little slower than normal, each Gator seemed to be having the same silent, morose thoughts. The bar wasn't as chipper as the rest of the season, the jokes weren't as funny (or dirty), and the beer didn't taste as good (did it ever?) They may not have felt like it, but these men walked away from this season winners. They played hard all season, overcame plenty both together as a team, and individually. You don't have to know much about hockey to see that. They became friends if they weren't already, and are now planning manly get-togethers: there's talk of picnics (and tea-parties, I'm sure), in order to keep in touch in the off-season. Most of the men plan on playing again next season, hoping for another chance at those white collared champion shirts (I still like the sweatshirt better...), and will use their downtime getting back to working, drinking, time with family and friends (and maybe some roller hockey, from what I hear), preparing for the next winning season...and of course, posting daily on the website forum lest Jerry yell at us all again. Hopefully, there will be some more fans in the stands next season, with Jerry and his wife expecting a baby girl soon, and Rob Strelick with another girl on the way (pink gators next season?). Even though they lost last night: the Gators did a great job- every night. I can't wait for next season!! :) Anchor Inn - 9, Gators - 3 |