Team Breakaway vs Buffalo

[tourmudcat6]

My apologies to the PIHA organization as well as the Buffalo Wings. I accept full responsibility for our teams forfiet this weekend. As captain of the team and rink organizer, I scheduled all of NTB's games at the scheduling meeting. I tried to schedule with as little traveling as possible, as I know that traveling is a pain in the ass. I was told by a league official that we had to go to Buffalo as a joint trip with the Growl. I did not volunteer. However, I agreed to the trip, so I take responsibility.

Unfortunately, we are unable to field a team for tomorrow. When we picked the team, dedication was not one of the highest requirements. Some teams are full of players that hold this league on top of their priority list. I think that is fantastic and great for the sport. Some players have conflicting work schedules. Some have wives and kids. Some play other sports. Many have to choose every week, "Do I play PIHA or do I engage in my other commitment?" I am also one of these players.

Saturday is just an unfortunate collection of choices and circumstances for a majority of our team. The remaining 4 or 5 choose not to go, and I do not blame them. Who wants to drive five hours, pay $100 in gas and tolls, get your ass kicked with five players, drive five hours home, miss game seven, and go to bed at 4AM. I find it hard to believe that it would be good for the league for NTB to play Buffalo with five skaters.

I agree with whatever punishment the league hands out. They have to do what they have to do. Remember that while we have a fantastic generous owner (Thank you Jim), all of our players have had to pay money out of pocket to play in this league. Many players take off work or cancel plans to play as well. There is commitment there.

It is kind of a catch 22. Do I take the best players that are not fully committed and try to win a lot of games? Or do I take the players most committed ,( which just happen to be less skilled ), and try to win a couple games? It is always difficult to get skilled players to fully commit to a pro league unless they are under contract and getting paid or there is a chance for moving up to better things. That is just the way it is in all semi-pro sports. There are very few Crash Davis's around. My job was to pick the best team that I could. I picked the guys that I would enjoy playing with and the guys that I thought would have a chance to win. All in all, I think that my choices were good for the league and in the case of tomorrow bad for the league as well.

I feel that this league has come a long way and has made much progress. I hope that my mistake does not impede this.

I am sorry for any inconvenience caused.
Matt Denton
Captain of Team Breakaway

[BreakawayProGM]

Matty,
WOW....You got alot off your chest but we are making the trip with the help of the league Matty. Tonight's game against the Wings will take place. This was and effort by the league, myself and Jason Yocum. I knew you weren't able to play and your effort's to push this trip are commendable. But it's not your fault. We have 8 minor's and 1 pro player trying out for team USA at the skatezone in Voorhees NJ. 6 of our pro players have other tournaments to attend and several are away with business or on Vacation. This is not your fault. PIHA has been awesome this season. NTB has three games left after this weekend. I hope to win all three and make the playoff's. It's been an up and down season for us but we shall prevail. Matty, the blame does not fall on you. You have done what you can, and that's all I would ever ask for. Timing is everything, and this weekend was just bad timing. Our team, the League and players will all grow from this and continue. I personally have put so much time and effort into NTB, but I still feel it's worth it. We all make sacrifice's and decisions to help promote this league and our livelyhood. A balancing act. One example, During our trip to Reading I missed my son's first ever hit in little league baseball. I'll never get that back. But it was a decision I made and I have to live with it. I don't wanna hear that we are not committed, we are. I will be looked at by the league, I'm sure of this, for the players I choose to represent NTB. Whether or not I choose the right players. In my mind and heart, I did choose the right players and stand behind my decision. Good luck to all.......


Jason Toran
General Manager
Nike Team Breakaway
[email protected]