30-2 curse

[Tekkaman]

Just checked the scores on the PIHA website and saw that midwest got beaten by the snipers. Must be a curse on whoever goes 30-2 for the season as Pitt did the same thing last year, lost in a divisional championship.

[chaus10]

go snipers

[Mtour71]

not too much to say about this, but i will say that the officials definitely changed the course of the 3rd game with an awful call on their fourth goal. however, congrats to the Snipers. im friends with all of you guys and wish you the best in San Jose and hopefully the Springs...

[Dave Garland]

Full videos of all three games will be up soon. It was an awesome series.


First game was 3-2 Snipers in OT with a great goal by PJ Tallo.

Game two went to the Tornados 3-2. Nick Syrigos made an unreal play knocking a home run pass out of mid-air and then setting up Brandon Barnette for the win.


Game three was all Snipers 10-5. Highlight had to be a full length goal that scored with .1 seconds to go in the first period giving the Snipers a 4-2 lead.

Congrats to the Tornados for a great season. Snipers are on the way to San Jose!

[JLambertUMSL]

Talk about high freaking drama. Last night was one of the most intense nights of roller hockey I've ever witnessed. Just awesome.

Game 1: Tom Bruce sets up PJ Tallo in overtime for the game-winner as Zack Reis runs interference in front. (Reis is extremely physical, but always clean and fair....but that wasn't legal. I'd have probably thrown a water bottle from the bench too. Maybe the refs were busy watching the Tommy and PJ show.) Either way, Tallo partially fanned on the shot from the left-wing circle, which fooled Jake Menzel, then he celebrated with a fistpump eerily reminiscent of his celebration of the game-winner in the UMSL-Long Beach State playoff game at college nationals. :)

Travis Fudge was arguably the best player on the floor in this game, but could only get the puck past Dustin Brown once: a second-half power play goal that tied the game 2-2.

Brown, Bruce, Tallo, Reis, and Chris Loness starred for the Snipers.

Southside took a 1-0 lead early when Bruce lured a forechecker into chasing him behind the net, then came flying all the way down the wide-open center lane and rifled a wrister past Jake Menzel. The Snipers went up 2-0 when Tallo set up Reis for a one-timer. The Tornados' Bill Scalise quickly cut the lead in half.

Game 2: Tallo and Bruce almost did it again, but Fudge, Kyle Gouge, and Brandon Barnette carried the Tornados past the Snipers in a must-win situation. Barnette's power-play goal with 1:53 to play gave the Tornados the win. Gouge's slash on Tallo's leg as Tallo closed in on a prime scoring chance during the final minute of the game caused a bit of a skirmish. Tallo was down for a couple minutes. Loness went after Gouge on the ensuing faceoff, but not much happened as neither player wanted to be suspended for Game 3. I didn't think the slash was a terribly dirty play -- just desperation. In that situation, you have to stop a clear scoring chance by any means necessary. One more step, and PJ probably scores to tie the game.

Game 3: Bruce's 120-footer beat James Cash and the buzzer at the end of the first half to propel the Snipers to victory. After Tallo scored twice in eight seconds to put Southside ahead 2-0, Gouge and Barnette scored to even it up. But on the ensuing shift, Amir Shah put a hip-check on Tallo that sent Tallo flying and drew a four-minute roughing call. That was probably the turning point of the series -- especially after Fudge and Gouge couldn't convert a shorthanded two-on-one off the ensuing faceoff. Loness put the Snipers ahead for good, 3-2, with a blast from up high, then Bruce's long bomb through Aaron Sanftner's screen gave Southside a two-goal edge. I haven't looked at the video full-size (only on the camcorder viewfinder and on my Blackberry), but it does look and sound like it beat the buzzer.

The Snipers held a 19-9 shots-on-goal edge in the first half. They came out on fire. It was a scary moment in the first minute of the second half when Bruce left the game with an apparent shoulder injury after being blasted into the boards, but then Tallo set up Loness and Reis :21 apart to give Southside a four-goal cushion. Reis' goal was the product of Tallo standing tall and making a perfect pass despite being hammered into the boards by Nick Syrigos. It was 6-2, but no lead is safe against the type of players the Tornados have. Travis Fudge proved that when he stole the puck in his own zone and took it coast-to-coast for a top-shelf snipe that made it 6-3 with 9:19 left.

But even without Bruce, the Snipers were red-hot. Tallo forced a turnover, Reis recovered the loose puck and sent a quick pass to Loness, who fed Joe Altnether for the goal that gave Southside a 7-3 lead with 8:36 to play.

Then Bruce returned, and it didn't take him long to virtually seal the deal, as he set up Robby Carroll on the doorstep to give Southside a five-goal cushion.

[Dave Garland]

James,

Bruce was bodied up on the boards and his own stick nailed him in the nuts. Ouch.

[JLambertUMSL]

James,

Bruce was bodied up on the boards and his own stick nailed him in the nuts. Ouch.

Looked like a shoulder injury...like when someone hits you wrong in the back of an extended shoulder...then I stand corrected (or at least clarified).

So actually he Boston Roller Ratted himself. Clarke knows what that's like.

[RichardGraham]

Hey James,

An excellent account, and the writing was vibrant and fun to read. Great work.

[PGHhockey]

Wear a cup, guys! I know it's not the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's just like guys that don't wear a shield or a cage until they take a puck/stick to the face.

And make sure you eat your vegetables.

[JLambertUMSL]

Hey James,

An excellent account, and the writing was vibrant and fun to read. Great work.

Thank you sir!

My dad says hello, by the way. :)

[JLambertUMSL]

Video highlights will be on YouTube tonight. Last night's "site maintenance" derailed my uploading efforts...I stayed up as late as I could, but couldn't quite wait it out. Now I'm stuck at work all day.

[Mtour71]

I wouldnt say that I necessarily "blasted" Bruce. I tried to though haha. But he turned sideways and well I ended up spearing a close friend in the groin region. Not a good situation. Completely unintentional, but the puck was long gone and I probably shouldve been escorted to the box, but it was once again another call that was missed/botched by the officials.

Oh and by the way James.. thanks for the unbiased account. This is not sarcasm for maybe the first time ever.

[Dave Garland]

Tommy was actually wearing a cup..

In the words of Jeremy McCoy "it came underneath and got him in the twig and berries"

[JLambertUMSL]

I wouldnt say that I necessarily "blasted" Bruce. I tried to though haha. But he turned sideways and well I ended up spearing a close friend in the groin region. Not a good situation. Completely unintentional, but the puck was long gone and I probably shouldve been escorted to the box, but it was once again another call that was missed/botched by the officials.

No, you didn't really blast him that hard. Based on some of the other stuff that was let go, I didn't think it was such a bad no-call.

You'll see what I mean on the first highlight video (game 1/period 1, it'll be up around 6:00 tonight). Watch what happens to PJ after he breaks up the Fudge/Barnette 2-on-1, takes the puck the other way, and has his shot blocked (an excellent play) by Syrigos (who probably had both referees in his field of vision and could tell they weren't watching him). Basically, Syrigos pins him to the boards using an elbow to the side of the head.


Oh and by the way James.. thanks for the unbiased account. This is not sarcasm for maybe the first time ever.

No problem! Believe it or not, I always think I'm being unbiased/intellectually honest. However, sometimes it's not what you say, but how you say it (hyperbole and overdramatics sometimes makes people think I'm biased).

I was mostly able to keep my UMSL mouth shut while taping, but here and there, some stuff slipped out. Like the cross-checking penalty on Clarke...I'm gonna have to mute that part. At least I didn't scream when PJ scored in overtime. But that's because I knew he was going to score. :)

[JLambertUMSL]

Tommy was actually wearing a cup..

In the words of Jeremy McCoy "it came underneath and got him in the twig and berries"

He got Roller Ratted.

(Cheapest team in the history of roller hockey, with a few notable individual exceptions.)

[o'les]

all right the roller ratted thing wasn't funny the first time

[JLambertUMSL]

all right the roller ratted thing wasn't funny the first time

Wasn't really supposed to be funny.

(Cheapest team in the history of roller hockey, with a few notable individual exceptions.)

[imasieve30]

Wasn't really supposed to be funny.

(Cheapest team in the history of roller hockey, with a few notable individual exceptions.)

<Gets popcorn and settles in.>

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

<Gets popcorn and settles in.>

<Gets stale hot dogs and sodas and joins Joe!>

[Leaferguy]

<tries to steal candy from machines while Jeff eats old meat>

[JLambertUMSL]

They know it. Headbutting in the face...intentional high-sticking...intentional nut-hacking...climbing on the glass to yell at refs after being ejected...shooting (firing, not flipping) the puck into the stands (not empty stands) after a delayed-penalty whistle...and never......stop.......talking........to the refs...............after............EVERY......... ..FREAKING.........WHISTLE!

I doubt that they care how they're perceived. It's just part of the game. :rolleyes:

(Like I said, WITH NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS, who will be named upon request.)

[imasieve30]

Jeff I'm running back up to get some Swedish Fish, you want anything?

[JLambertUMSL]

http://www.thepiha.com/game.php?game_id=70670

http://www.thepiha.com/game.php?game_id=70671

Some of those stats have been edited/cleaned up, it looks like. The high stick at the end of the second boxscore listed was actually a 5:00, to a different player.

[SpiderRat]

No problem! Believe it or not, I always think I'm being unbiased/intellectually honest. However, sometimes it's not what you say, but how you say it (hyperbole and overdramatics sometimes makes people think I'm biased).

"..hyperbole and overdramatics sometimes makes people think I'm biased"..??? First off JLambert, command of the english language certainly isn't your forte. Second, looking up big words in the dictionary and putting them beneath your name, certainly will not hide that fact that you've found yourself focusing not on your school work, but harboring sour grapes because your favorite team lost to the Boston RollerRats. In New England, we play a hard-nosed, stick it to you style of hockey. If you want the puck, you better be prepared to get a little something something in return. If you go into the corners, you better keep your head up. That's just how we all learned to play the game. There's nothing wrong with playing physical. If you can't stand the heat, get out of our kitchen. Most of us just came off back to back seasons of winning MLRH, a perfect league for our style of hockey. We adapted to the PIHA rules and won PIHA. I'm sorry your team lost dude, but complaining and whining almost a year later, serves you no purpose. I've yet to read, other than Daves "account" of the finals, any member of the Snipers complaining about the games. There had to be a winner, and there had to be a loser, we happened to win. I've told anyone who will listen, that had Bruce and Thompson been there, the outcome might have been different. But guess what, they weren't there, not the Rats fault. You play with what you have, and do your best. The Snipers had and still have a great team. I'm sure if they make it to the finals again, everyone of their key players will be there. Just to make sure that if they did happen to lose, they won't have the likes of you trying to defend them. Saying the Rats are the dirtiest team to play PIHA, just shows that either you don't understand physical hockey, or your sour because your stint as the Snipers official ballbag holder ended when they lost. How's this, get your name etched onto the Founders Cup, then and only then, will you be able to debate this with me or any of the other 2007-2008 PIHA Champion Boston RollerRat players. Our names will be on that cup forever. Your legacy will be here, on IHC, complaining for years to come because your favorite team lost to a bunch of physical, dirty at times, complaining, aggresive hockey players from Boston. Man I like that last sentence. BRING IT BABY!!!!

[SpiderRat]

<Gets popcorn and settles in.>

Hey Joe, can you grab me a diet coke and an extra buttered popcorn? Thanks Man. lol....

[RichardGraham]

Just let me know guys, when you think this has gotten far enough out of hand for me to get involved. And I was having such a nice little vacation.... :D

[imasieve30]

<Claps as Roger makes a cameo.> :D

I give this thread another few hours.

[BkHdTpShlf]

Well said Rog, I actually agree with you for once...that hurts to even say hahaha I can't really comment on much about the first four games of the series since I was not in Colorado yet but from what I see from those links to game sheets is as follows: The Rats had nothing but hooking calls until the slashing, boarding & cross checks by the Snipers occured. Sniper players etc don't take that as me trying to bash you guys. After having the chance to hang out with you all after the finals, I have nothing but respect for you guys as you know but from just looking at those game sheets I only see the Boston guys retaliating to some shots taken, dirty or not. Second those games sheets are wrong, the second link shows 3 penalties by the Rats at the end of the game by Greg Frederick...well Greg plays for the Mass Bombers, always has. So how hes on the Rat roster & getting 3 penalties for a team he does play for is beyond me. Last if your going to post something to make someone look bad, makesure they can't post facts, like total penalties in the 7 game series, which was Snipers 26 & Rats 36. So thats just about 4 per game for the Snipers & 5 per game for the Rats or maybe post just the harmfull calls like roughing, high sticking, boarding or a slash...which was Snipers 11, Rats 12

Now for what I can comment on, games 5,6 & 7. The Snipers for most of Sunday was by far the better team. They were one of the fastest teams, if not the fastest team I've ever played against...including any pro tournament. It was two teams not looking to give an inch & battle for every loose puck. There were not many penalties over the 3 games & the ones I do remember by both teams were soft, including a few phantom calls, one coming on the Snipers mid way through the mini game. My question to you James is...Do you even play? Whats your deal with bashing the Boston guys? I'm pretty sure if you ask most of the Sniper players, they'll just say it's hockey. So what's your problem?

[dan sangiorgio]

after playing a home and home with every team in the northeast i can say that none of these teams are out there to hurt players its just there style of hockey and how they get the job done. they play very tight and try to control the play by being physical especially in front of the nets. now with this style of play they will take penaltys its just bound to happen and some times due to piha have some of the worlds worst refs things just get out of hand. between the 2 boston teams and the blaze i can say they are all talent players who just play 2 way hockey something you don't always see in roller hockey. for full disclosure and to show i am not just being eastern bias one of the guys who played for the roller rats in that finals was a goon in all four games we played this year and did nothing but run our goalie and run his yap despite being the smallest guy on the rink.
i think darrel said it best "its hockey"

[SpiderRat]

"Well said Rog, I actually agree with you for once...that hurts to even say hahaha" Too funny D. A year later and we finally agree on something. I'm sure thats a good thing man. Great post by the way. Arguing stats and facts will always be a losing battle. I also agree with you that the Snipers were/are the fastest team by far. Had we not been a physical team, they probably would have kept our names off the cup.

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Jeff I'm running back up to get some Swedish Fish, you want anything?

Nah I will take some gummy bears and snowcaps!

[Dave Garland]

Roger (and Darrell),


I agree that was well said. 90% of my frustration last year was due to the event itself and how it was handled.


By the way, we will have videos up from the Gateway Championship soon. For news stories visit www.pihagatewayhockey.com

[imasieve30]

Ahhh and to wrap it up, the shameless Dave Garland plug at the end!
I'm a little disappointed, I was hoping for more action. :p

I look forward to the sequel! :D


-Joe

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Ahhh and to wrap it up, the shameless Dave Garland plug at the end!
I'm a little disappointed, I was hoping for more action. :p

I look forward to the sequel! :D


-Joe

And this ends todays episode of "Days of our Lives"

[feedmetherock]

i didn't know james had to play to be able to write about what happened... that's interesting.. i mean obviously he has watched a ton of hockey so i think he might at least know what a penalty is by now

[SpiderRat]

i didn't know james had to play to be able to write about what happened... that's interesting.. i mean obviously he has watched a ton of hockey so i think he might at least know what a penalty is by now

Playing hockey and writing about hockey is two entirely different things. James could write about boxing all day, but until he gets into a ring and got his bell rung, how could he possibly comprehend the devastating effects of a well placed right hook? Or a punch to the kidneys, or a quick hard jab right to his jaw, or a one two combo to the chin then ribs, or a low blow to the groin area, or a, well you get the idea. Hmm.... sounds like an interesting theory to test.

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Ding Ding!

Round 1

[Drexel63]

This is perhaps the funniest reference ever used on this forum, considering the scoresheets James posted...



Playing hockey and writing about hockey is two entirely different things. James could write about boxing all day, but until he gets into a ring and got his bell rung, how could he possibly comprehend the devastating effects of a well placed right hook? Or a punch to the kidneys, or a quick hard jab right to his jaw, or a one two combo to the chin then ribs, or a low blow to the groin area, or a, well you get the idea. Hmm.... sounds like an interesting theory to test.

Couldn't you have picked a better comparison to help your cause? I was waiting for the "or a head-butt to the face while wearing a helmet" :)

[SpiderRat]

Actually I couldn't have used a better comparison. You obviously missed the not so hidden innuendo placed conspicuously ON TOP of the lines. As far as the game sheets are concerned, I thought Darryl covered that portion of the program well. It's not like the Snipers were innocent little boys getting beaten by an over zealous step-father. Mistake #1 goes to James for pointing that out. I think that's round one to the SpiderRat!

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Roger its still to close to call the first round!

Maybe we should go back to last year and call you a glorified backup. If I remember correctly I was the one who told the guy you did have shutout in the conference finals last year.

[SpiderRat]

Yes you did Jeff. Thank you. As far as being called "a glorified backup" our other tender did not even make the conference games, and missed the first two games of the finals. Those two games we one with me, the "glorified backup" in goal. As well as winning game six to put us in game 7. No disrespect to Pete, but I like to think that we won the season together.

[Dave Garland]

You guys are all nuts and I love it...OK we are all nuts.

[GR8SK8r06]

You guys are all nuts and I love it...OK we are all nuts.

They aren't not nuts...........They're just coo coo for cocoa puffs. LOL:D

[Leaferguy]

This place sells cereal, too?

Internet is cool

[growl89]

there are worse things in life to be called then a glorified back up... After all chris osgood is a back up, he's doing pretty well for himself

[JLambertUMSL]

It was more than just hard-ass hockey. Gimme a break dude. I've never seen anything like it. Call it gamesmanship, whatever. There's still no excuse for firing a puck into the stands or intentionally high-sticking someone.

As for the personal stuff...I was going to take the high road, but a lot of you guys (I'm talking about one or two people on the college board too) continue to take the same old personal shots.

You asked. OK? You asked, so now I'm stroking my goddamn ego. :mad:

Have I ever played?

I started playing ice hockey when I was 8. I played on A-level travel teams (not AA or AAA...I was competent...was a captain on three teams over the years...but wasn't really that good). I went to several summer camps, locally and elsewhere (Michigan State, Bemidji State). I played competitive ice until I was 15.

I didn't play in high school. I went to DeSmet HS, which would go on to win the state championship in ice all four years I was there. I topped out at 5'5" 130 when I was a freshman. I never had any hope of making the team at DeSmet, and I knew it. Had I gone to 90% of the high schools in the area, I could have played high school ice. But I went to DeSmet. I neither knew much nor cared at all about roller hockey at that time. I played crappy pick-up ice for a while a few years ago, but that's about it. When my hockey career ended, I was picking up the drums and ended up playing in a couple different bands, so I had other things to occupy my time, including a fanatical obsession with college football (no, I've never played football, sir, please forgive me). I remained a close follower of the NHL, NCAA, and DeSmet hockey, however.

But yes, I have played plenty of hockey. Nowadays, whenever I get a chance, I skate around half-speed taking weak crappy shots (I could never shoot the puck that hard)...but I still skate well enough, ice and roller, not to embarrass myself.


Do I know anything about the sport?

Of course not. All I do is tape games and write stuff. :rolleyes:

If I didn't know something before, a few of the following things might have helped me learn a little more.

Watching every moment of approximately 200 PIHA games over the past two seasons (closely enough to do the stats and/or video, not just walking around the rink while the games are going on), going to State Wars the last two years, NCRHA nationals the last four, being on the bench as an assistant coach (to some degree; Pops Marchand doesn't really use assistant coaches) for all 86 UMSL DI/II games, and at least present for about 250 practices the past three seasons...head coach of UMSL's B team for the past two and a half seasons (coached the team to wins over both Lindenwood B teams this season, for what that's worth. Nobody else beat LU B this year.). Not to mention hundreds of hours watching video, evaluating talent, scouting, etc. And don't forget that I get an up-close-and-personal look at the best program in the sport of roller hockey (that would be Lindenwood) on a regular basis. I'll put my knowledge up against ANYONE.

I've been given varying degrees of credit for helping build the college program that went from Division II to the DI national championship game in one season. (But truthfully, there are about four people who have even the slightest clue just how much of UMSL Inline Hockey has my fingerprints on it. To give you an idea, I've been the chief executive of the club for three years now. I don't go around beating my chest about my role, but it's as much my program as anyone else's.)

I was invited to coach the Missouri '92s at State Wars. They're the defending champions. I'll be coaching two State Wars teams this year. Let's see how they do.

Every once in a while, one of the guys who plays in tomorrow's PIHA Western Conference championships comes to me for advice. He's built himself quite a hockey career; anyone would tell you that. NARCh Pro...multiple NCRHA all-tournament selections...a C on his chest at one of the elite programs in college roller hockey...yet he asks ME what he can do to improve. He's just one of many. (I hope he doesn't mind my mentioning that.)

I am an extremely-full-of-himself, egotistical son of a bitch, but I don't like the spotlight at all. When I go to a rink, I don't want anyone to know who I am. But the people who know me have plenty of respect for my knowledge.


Command of the English language?

ACT composite 30...Reading Comprehension 35, English 34. That was eight years ago, but the only thing that might have hurt that in the meantime is too much text messaging.


Hey.....you asked.

[JLambertUMSL]

PS...

Messrs. Lee and Interbartolo make the "clean and classy" list. For the record.

:cool:

[sh105]

Go get em' Jimmy.

Mr. A

[Mtour71]

College roller hockey is not where you learn about the game. PIHA is not where you learn about hockey. If you want to learn about inline hockey you learn from other coaches. Pops Marchand is not a person you learn about hockey from. Ron Beilsten, Tim McManus, Scott Rupp, etc. are people you learn about hockey from. I mean I can sit here and say I know a ton about basketball because I watched the NBA playoffs every year and helped my dad coach a cyc team, but that doesnt mean I know anything. Everyone appreciates your enthusiasm about the sport. There needs to be more people with the same outlook, but the fact of the matter is that watching/running 200 UMSL practices does not qualify you as a person who "knows the game." I am not saying that you do or dont know anything about it, but you cant expect people to consider you a intelligent hockey mind because you went to state wars twice and watched a bunch of piha.