selects vs. growl

[dude10k]

anybody know the final for the college selects vs. the growl???

[Db55UD02]

Kind of an embarassing game for the Growl. They got destroyed by the college boys. There are some extremely skilled guys playing in ECRHA. As for my team, we won two games against a skilled Lemoyne team today in Feasterville. We had a goal of winning it all back in March, and it came to fruition. I look forward to the coming season in the Growl organization. If anyone cares to comment on this championship game, please feel free to expand on my info.
DB

[SpeedDemon]

I wouldn't say the Growl got 'destroyed' but we wound up losing by a fair amount (not sure the exact score). Speaking for myself, exhibition games are a chance to have fun with no pressure. I go out there, jabber with the refs and the other team, watch my linemate get spun around like a turnstile at a t*tty convention and just have a good skate.

It is a shame that more people do not show to watch, because these college guys are great players and make some plays that deserve to be seen. I had to compliment more than a few of them during play.

As I said last year after playing them, many of the Selects could easily play in PIHA or MLRH and some already do play pro level NARCh and TORHS. Mike Burke was playing out of his goalie equipment. There's a reason they're 'Selects.' In my opinion, they could have been the team to beat.

-Naz

[seyone]

Dave, I wanted to come and see you guys play but forgot when the game was. I want to congratulate you and the rest of the team on a great season. good job!!



http://ironmagazineforums.com/avatar.php?userid=68&dateline=1037164899.jpg

[dude10k]

i would like to see marple vs. selects that would be interesting dont u guys think so???

[Db55UD02]

Is it contact? If its contact, some of them thin mints would get killed. If not, totally different ballgame out there. Thanks Bret, believe you me, you should have been out there playing. Lets hope things that happpened over this past year get corrected. But all in all, a big thank you to the Growl organization.

[MBurke]

13-4, but it wasn't as lopsided (especially early on) as the score might indicate.

Mike Burke
Commissioner
Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association
http://www.ecrha.net

[NLane]

I think they play by college rules, which would be no contact and no offsides.

[MlrhFan101]

Isn't this the second year in a row that the college team beat a professional team?

[CoachChrisG]

As long as the Gladiators leave the thugs at home, (unlike their embarassing antics last year,) and the game is non contact. Under real rules Marple wouldn't have a chance against the best of the ECRHA. It is the best and most intense inline hockey out there today.

C.C.

[CoachChrisG]

Outside of maybe a handful of players and maybe ONE goaltender the pros just don't measure up. (Not even the Mudcats could beat the best college team of the time.) These kids are fast, have great skill and play great hockey which is something the pros haven't shown since the days of RHI.

Kudos to the college kids showing who the true elite in the sport is...

C.C.

[SpeedDemon]

Do you have any idea what you're talking about?

The Mudcats are one of the premiere teams in the nation. I would give them 3 out of 4 games against any college team anywhere. Rink Rat, Mission DNA and Tour West have equal the talent and might even do better. I am not slighting the college boys but experience does wonders. TORHS, USA Inline and USARS have elite brackets that can be entered by anyone; why don't we ever see the best college teams winning those?

What can I base my opinion on? College-wise, I have refereed (ECRHA) and also played against the Selects. Semi/Pro-wise, I have played MLRH, PIHA, practiced with and skated against the Mudcats more than a fair share of times. I have also participated in NARCh and TORHS and personally witnessed all the top teams from atom through junior and pro.

Being involved on both sides a pretty good deal, I feel I can speak credibly. What do you bring, besides your obnoxious hate for anything semi-pro or pro?

[NLane]

And who won a national event between college teams last year? A bunch of California kids that played MLRH and their coach attributed, in part, the MLRH experience for the success of the team. The college players are great players. Chris Harrell (from VA Tech) has been a good player since the mid '90s. He's played MLRH for several years and had great stats every year. How did the selects do in Vegas at the beginning of this year? Coach?

[MBurke]

The Mudcats would light us up, sorry to say. We have the talent to hang with them, but the above posts are right - experience and time playing together does wonders. I'd love to see what the Selects would do if they had a consistent team that played often and practiced together. We're trying to work to that goal, but it's tough for college students without the backing of a major sponsor.

Both the NJ Riot squad we beat last year and the Growl from this year weren't really their full teams. I'd like to see the results if they were - I still think we'd come out on top, but the games would have been much tighter playing against a team with more time together.

As for the question about Winternationals last year, you're looking at a team that never played together going and trying to compete in DI at NARCh. We lost to the eventual champion Snipers, 2-1. The other games weren't as close, but that was to be expected for the first time out. I wasn't all that surprised with 0-3, especially considering the other teams in our bracket.

Trying to compare college teams (especially individual college teams) against factory pro teams isn't really a level playing field. We're a rather small cross-section of the roller hockey population, both due to age (usually 18-22) and educational constraints (if you're not in college, you're obviously not on a college team). Sure, Mission DNA, Rink Rat, etc. would rip us a new one. They should. They can pick from any player of any age in the country to play for them. Michigan State, Penn State, etc. don't have that same luxury.

Mike Burke
Commissioner
Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association
http://www.ecrha.net

[John_S_Osborne]

Can we please just start ignoring CoachChrisG? I mean, at least everyone else here has some sort of leg to stand on, as SpeedDemon pointed out, with teams they've played, coached, reffed, etc. which gives them some sort of credibility to have an opinion. Who the heck is CoachChrisG?

But anyway...

I would love to see the Selects play Marple. I think that is the next logical opponent for them. Someone mentioned elsewhere (I believe it was CoachChrisG again, ugh..) that the Gladiators would need to leave their goons at home and play non-contact, but alot of their top-flight players are ones who consistently play "roller hockey", not MLRH-styled roller hockey. Also, you'd probably put the game on a bigger rink than Marple, so it would be a very speedy contest.

Man, I'd love to see that.

- john

[NLane]

I know, John, but sometimes I can't help myself. I'm in therapy for my troll feeding addiction. Sorry, will try to hold back for awhile. Additional sessions, etc.

[SpeedDemon]

Mike,

Everything you say is right on tap. I still believe the Selects would have edged us out even if we hadn't been missing about 4 or 5 of our regular players and had to use non-regulars. For the same reasons as you point out a pro team beating the selects, our team is a small cross-section of the Philadelphia region. It would be hard to find that much talent in such a little area (hell I'm on the team, what does that say!), to compete with the entire ECRHA regional selects. But that can't be used as an excuse, as I didn't in my original post. Our management agreed to the game and so there are no excuses. That's why you just have to have fun.

But as you said, if the Selects played together and practices together often, they could be an extremely solid squad. I would love to see them play the Gladiators, non-check, since many of those guys are used to pro level non check anyways and won't use the "We're a checking team" excuse. I think if the game took place at the Sportsplex, it would be whistle-to-whistle excitement.

[yokes]

Hmmm where do I start with this one? One goon problem and we are labeled forever, thats fine. Till you come up and actually see one of our games then maybe you should stop passing judgement. Next, wouldnt have a chance? Lets go with Smitty and Jacobs, next comes Ron Tracey and JD Davidson, third line has a new addition to go with Mike Roman. If that isnt enough then go with the defense pairings of some guy named Yoder teamed with stud Mike Oconnell, then there is another team USA player by he name of Matt Denton matched with Al Tedesco, and third line is comprised of forward turned defense Joe Jacobs with Andrew Christiano. I wont even mention either Scuse or I. Now that ive named dropped all over the place, anybody on here that has seen us play please help me explain why we are not the Growl even in non contact.

Its just not fun unless you stand in front of it!

[yokes]

Well John I think that maybe next Tuesday you approach me and we will go together and talk to Jamie, you know he is always nuts about doing stuff like this. Ill see you and Drexel near the end of the season for a rematch. TROPHY.
Naz calm down I think Chris G just loves MLRH so much that he hates us because the Texas division got screwed up. By the way which team will you be playing for next year, Sting???

Its just not fun unless you stand in front of it!

[typhoongm]

We would love to play the selects in a non check non fight game. Call me(Jamie) at Marple and I'll set it up 610-338-0111
Should be lots of fun. And we can play at Feasterville if you want.

[GROWL]

I give a lot of credit to the college select team. However, the college team would not beat a tournament pro team like Rink Rat or the Mudcats. Remember both PIHA and MLRH, the respective leagues of the two teams defeated the past two yrs, can only draw from a small area. If they could draw from the best of the best in a 10 state radius then of course they would have a better product. Let's not forget, the reason the game happened was as an advertisement to the college players that they can and should be involved in PIHA. The league has a commitment to the ECRHA and hopes to have a great relationship as we both grow our sport together, playing the sport the way it was meant to be played (no thugs, bluelines, or ramps necessary).

[John_S_Osborne]

>>Well John I think that maybe next Tuesday you approach me and we will go together and talk to Jamie, you know he is always nuts about doing stuff like this. Ill see you and Drexel near the end of the season for a rematch. TROPHY.<<

I'll mention it to him. I think it's a great idea. I remember last season when we brought the Drexel guys out early to play against the Gladiators. Boy, we got shallacked, but it definitely was a learning experience.

Btw, yokes, I cannot believe.. let me say that again, CANNOT BELIEVE.. that you guys beat us in OT in that Hyper Crusade tourney. On a GWG by Rich Gabe nonetheless, the puck rolled like 5 times before it finally snaked between our goalie's pads.

We'll see if we can do you one better when we play. ;)

- john

[bottom_line]

the only reason the glads win games are bc of 4 guys and we all know who they are... the rest of the glads are goon players, the exception being if simon egan plays for you guys this year... but lets face it, with out you guys bringing in denton, yoder, jd and ronny the rest of those guys are all glorified house league players...

[yokes]

Thats the old knuckle puck from his foot days, but still it is Rich Gabe. Our team had no business in that final thats for sure.

Its just not fun unless you stand in front of it!

[dude10k]

YES!!!!!

[dude10k]

hell yeah

[sk8erboi]

lindenwood university already beat the mudcats, there are some other teams that could too like st charles or michigan state

[sk8erboi]

you ever seen lindenwood, st charles, or michigan state play?

[SpeedDemon]

Yes, no and yes. I am aware of what has been done in the past. This is why I said 3 out of 4 games against the best teams. I'm not going to discount any skill or ability that these elite college teams have. But I am going to give the benefit of the doubt to the best players in the world.

[SpeedDemon]

Hi yokes,

I don't think I've ever replied to a post by CoachChrisG before, after having to sift through them all for a year now. I just felt that he finally needs to be called out on some of his commentary; everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, however you can't just go talking out of your rear. I might even agree with half the stuff he says, but I also believe in doing my part to help the sport and he does nothing of the sort with his negative attitudes.

I am rostered with the Sting. I'll see you on the rink. Let me put one by you for crying out loud.

[MDE3]

Thanks for the vote for Simon (on his behalf) but apparently you missed his last Piha minor game(so did I).......reports are still coming in lol. He may have picked up some bad habits over the summer :))

Honestly I don't think the majority of the Glads are goons, but they did have one or two players who gave the team a bad reputation in MLRH, and some of the others followed their lead in several games. What made it seem so bad was that the "goon" part of their game was totally unnecessary and detracted more from their reputation than it added.

I think the emphasis on "goonery" was supposed to be part of marketing MLRH as a "rough and tumble" "pro" sport("drop the puck, drop the gloves"), and was done deliberately in the errant belief that this style of play would draw more fans. There will be probably be enough legitimate brawls during the games to satisfy the most bloodthirsty fan, without going to the extremes seen in some of their games last year.

Having seen many of the Glads playing in PIHA over the summer I would not say they were as "goonish" as some of the other teams even in PIHA.


PS ..( Simon is not playing for them this year)

[MBurke]

I'm hoping we can put both of those together in the near future. Problem with us is our geographical spread - getting everyone together for a game is rough, much less to practice.

Mike Burke
Commissioner
Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association
http://www.ecrha.net

[yokes]

Come out to Trenton Saturday ill be backing up for the Canadien squad in the Speed Hockey exhibition. I didnt want to post anything out of fear of how ill hold up??? You did see we got Scotty and Yings right?? The rich just keep getting richer.

For the right price anything is possible...ahhh..except maybe a goal.

Its just not fun unless you stand in front of it!

[SpeedDemon]

Which Ying, Steve? Scott Miller? Damn you guys.

Good luck in the speed hockey exhibition. I won't be able to get there, I have a packed weekend already....... hopefully I'll catch regional action when they start that up.

[NLane]

Glad to see they are picking up inline skaters instead of going for all ice guys.

[sk8erboi]

"But I am going to give the benefit of the doubt to the best players in the world."

You mean Team Finland?

[SpeedDemon]

You're clouding the issue. Unless you want to stay on topic, I'll just end it with what I said previously.

[yokes]

How many Mudcats were there at that game by the way, now remember where I play and who I see on a weekly basis before you give this answer. For a second point who was in net??? This all may shed some light on why the Mudcats lost this game.

Its just not fun unless you stand in front of it!

[bling45]

My bad yokes didnt know we were in the presence of someone who is so powerful and sees so much, our bad... big guy.

[yokes]

No problem, just know the truth to what really happened from the sources mouth himself so I thought Id enlighten everybody. But thats for the compliment, I have been benching more lately.

Its just not fun unless you stand in front of it!

[thefangrrr]

It would be interesting to see selects from all the colleges play some pro club like Ottakringers, or Marple or the Storm. Anyone have predictions?

also what if MLRh did a selects thing....wow, that could be interesting.

[JMUDukes26]

I played in that selects growl game, and I have got to hand it to the Growl, what an upstanding bunch of guys. I am used to playing games where, down even a goal, the game gets really chippy, and you start to worry more about getting hurt than winning. Thats what made this such a great experience, everyone was out there to have a good time. It was a real pleasure playing against you all, and I look forward to being on the rink with you in the future. Its games like that which make you remember why you started playing in the first place- its just good fun.

Thanks for a great game guys, it was a blast.

Gary LaBelle
JMU #26
Selects #5

Gary LaBelle
President
JMU Roller Hockey

[-venom-]

hmm sounds EXACTLY how the Growl/Sting game ended up...

[NLane]

The MLRH selects thing has been kicked around for a few years. Enter them in tournaments. Eventually I'd like to see an All-star game. Would be interesting. The MLRH selects may play the college selects next summer according to Rebecca (ECRHA) on the college boards.

[SpeedDemon]

Thanks for a point of view from the 'other side' so to speak. The feeling was mutual.

[SpeedDemon]

Is there really anything to be gained by the college players playing an MLRH squad? Is there possibly more to be lost? Should this be a new thread altogether?

[Rebecca]

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

The MLRH selects may play the college selects next summer according to Rebecca (ECRHA) on the college boards.


<hr></blockquote>

<font color=blue>sorry but I do not recall even insinuating that. What I did allude to was a Regional All-Star event next summer /wtimages/icons/wink.gif /wtimages/icons/wink.gif

Rebecca

http://thumbs.webshots.com/s/thumb3/8/3/85/67580385LGfyvC_th.jpg

[SpiderRat]

Alot of the "elite" MLRH players play NARCH or TORHS's Pro. The select team wouldn't have a chance. How could they compete against such a strong, experienced, MLRH allstar team?

[MBurke]

Well, if we went with a true NCRHA selects team, I think we'd give the "elite" MLRH team more than a run for their money.

Remember that our selects team would have more than its fair share of MLRH and elite-level NARCh players.

I don't think it'd be as much of a blowout as advertised.

Mike Burke
Commissioner
Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association
http://www.ecrha.net

[NLane]

I thought that a rink rat wheels person said that not many players in TORHS pro played MLRH on another one of these boards. Could be wrong....
Found it-college boards answer from bkhdtpshlf.
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by NLane on 10/21/03 07:44 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

[NLane]

My 10/14 response(on the college boards) was to another post that was talking about PIHA and MLRH players. I asked if there was to be a select vs select (meaning select PIHA or MLRH vs College selects) and your reply was next summer. Sorry I didn't get my specific question across and also misunderstanding your answer.

[SpeedDemon]

I agree with you here. I thought the previous poster was still talking about a single team such as Marple, versus the Selects.

Still, I don't think there's much to be gained.

[SpiderRat]

On the Boston Storm team, there are seven TORHS Pro players. On the Marple team I believe there is at least four that I can think of right now. Then you have Steve Yingling, who should be a TORHS or NARCH Pro player, plus Jason Yokum who just played net in a Pro SpeedHockey game. Not to mention past TORHS and NARCH Pro players who didn't play this past season, but are still "Pro", you could make up one powerful team. Talk about an allstar team!

[GROWL]

Let's discuss the possibility of a PIHA Select team vs the College Select team next spring. Thoughts Rebecca!

[GROWL]

Thanks Gary... I hope we were good ambassadors for PIHA. Again it was our hope to let the college pplayers know that they should plan on a transition to PIHA after their college days. It was our pleasure to play you guys. I appreciate your thoughts and thanks needs to go to Mike Burke and Rebecca as well.

Anthony Flynn
GM/Owner Tour Growl

[GROWL]

Well who was the variable in that equation? Wonder why Rebecca wanted to play a PIHA team this year?

[-venom-]

the variable? seemed to be you Flynn.... lol

[GROWL]

I'm sure that is why we received a letter apologizing for the game from Verna. As I recall I played in the ECRHA game as well, so i guess I wasn't the variable. Since they (Selects) could handle themselves like adults and realize it was nothing more than an exhibition game, I guess I didn't need to stand up for my teammates who weren;t getting crosschecked in the face like your boytz felt the need to do on Saturday. We've learned our lesson and it won't happen again. Obviously there are players on the Sting who felt they need to make some sort of statement to us. We should have realized that and not played this game, because we had nothing to gain in playing this game except to get hurt (ie suppin). We were giving Verna the courtesy of a return game, which obviously didn't mean much to us with our roster. Unfortunitely the Sting have a handful of players who can't play at that level and feel they must make their presence felt with a physical assult. However after watching your outbursts in the playoffs I don't expect you to understand being a team player or worrying about your teammates.

[-venom-]

Funny Flynn. It's hockey, sticks come up, people get hurt. It's called 'incidental contact'. Sorry to enlighten you, but the stick on Sup was NOT intentional or malicious by ANY means.

It's called an 'accident'. For some reason though you seemed to whole heartedly believe that we were trying to get into a war with you guys. It goes both ways Flynn. Citino caught Scott Carr under the eye with a stick and he's got a black eye now. Hell, YOU took a cheap shot at me while you were getting off on a change.

So don't sit there and give me this 'I'm not the variable BS'.... you had just as much to do with it as anybody did. We had no statement to make, we merely wanted to win. But it sure as hell seemed that you had a personal statement to make. Why? I have no idea.

And with your childish comment at the end, Flynn I'll defend my TEAMMATES from anybody, regardless.

But there's a difference between a TEAM and two individuals joining a team with 3 games left in the season, and basically not caring about anyone else but themselves.

I'll have you know Flynn, ALOT of people were unhappy with your decision in this regard..... many of them your close friends. ESPECIALLY because you were SO angry when we brough Nadler and Vanelizabethens on board, which effectively bumped Brett Compton from the roster.

But sure, it's ok for you to come and do the same thing later, when you realize that the only worthwhile playoff hockey left is your minor league team, so you insert yourself into the mix and try to act like you've actually helped us get that far.

Too bad I'm the only one with the balls to say it, but trust me, you make a MUCH better GM than anything else.

[RichardGraham]

Hi Growl and WRXRioT,

This note's for you: Keep it cool, guys, or please take it offline.

Thanks!

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[John_S_Osborne]

[Hi John, sorry, but I didn't think your link was appropriate.]<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by RichardGraham on 10/23/03 08:28 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

[-venom-]

old

[yokes]

OHHH My God I just fell out of my chair, nice John!!

Its just not fun unless you stand in front of it!

[John_S_Osborne]

Appropriate, yes, perhaps not.

But you have to admit, it was humorous. ;)

- john

[GROWL]

You know I am going to pass on any other comments about Saturday evening. You can believe whatever you want because frankly I don't expect you to respond with any intelligence, especially when your facts are way off base.

The one thing I can not believe is your comment about &quot;inserting myself into the mix once the only thing left was the minor league.&quot; You are so ungreatful Next season you can go play for someone who does 10% of what I've do for you and that whole team. Rick wanted to kick you off that team about 5 times and I stood up for you sorry I did. I guess you have a very short term memory. I guess I didn't run 5 tournaments, one from 6am to 3am two consecutive days, wasn't at every freaking game, washing jerseys and hauling them around every wear. All of that so our minor leaguers didn't have to pay for things (rink time, jerseys, $90 per game) like every other team. Your right I just inserted myself at the end. Well make sure you insert yourself to someone who works hard for you next year.

[Db55UD02]

To think if I wasn't in Florida, can you imagine if I was playing in that sting game? :). From a person who would like to see PIHA flourish, I can get an intervention between my teammates if need be. Not to beat a dead horse guys, but lets not take our dirty laundry ( every team has it, even the typhoon and glads) to the internet. Considering I have played with both of the parties at hand, I think both of you guys are class guys on and off the rink. We all have our times of breaking points. This brings me to my next point. I certainly don't want to go fishing for another team this coming February and want to have a second year with a team. Thank you for a championship season and wxriot, have a great season with the sting. Ah, it might be a nice hockey free couple of months without the crosschecks to the teeth, just kidding MLRH. Have a good weekend boys....

[-venom-]

whatever Flynn, Rick didn't want the kids on the team anyways, he didn't want you running the bench, he didn't want ANYTHING from you. Granted you worked hard to help your organization be top-notch Flynn, but you burned some people along the way.

About saturday night, Flynn I dont see how my facts are way off-base. You seem to HONESTLY believe that we were gunning for you guys.

Whatever Flynn, believe what you want. It's hockey, quit crying and get over it. Can dish it out, but can't take it...... funny, your own teammates agree...

AND btw Flynn, Rick might have been pissed with me because I'm pretty outspoken (perhaps a bit more than I should be, but that's who I am), BUT he never would have kicked me off. Bench me, yes....... kick me completely off, no. Anyways, this wasn't meant to start personal attacks on the board, or in person, or wherever. Honestly, believe it or not I've got tremendous respect for the Growl organization, yourself included. But you need to realize that that game on Saturday was out of hand, and BOTH sides were guilty. The Growl just as much as the Sting contributed to it...

/rant