Tour Mudcats

[inlinehockeydad]

Hello to all of you inline hockey fans.

I have been a long time visitor to IHC.com and also to the forums to see whats new and exciting in the hockey world. My son and I just returned home from Torhs winternations, and it was a fantastic weekend. We didn't fare too well, but the tournament was well run, games ran behind, but not too far, and Tony was great as usual.

I would like to express my feelings on the Tour Mudcats. I have been following them for a while, I love the way they play with passion, fantastic skill and playmaking abilities, and are just fine young men.

My son is a huge fan of the mudcats, and he asked one of the mudcats if they would sign his shirt, well, not only did he sign my sons shirt, but he got the rest of the team to come and sign it for him, and they were all so nice to him. This is what makes these tournaments for my son, and the shirt is now on the wall in his room.

We were able to stay and catch the Mudcats vs Pama Cyclones game, and let me tell you, it was the best inline hockey game I've seen in years. The play was intense, the play was end to end, and the skill level was the best I've seen in a long time. Cj Yoder amazes me every time he is on the floor, and he makes the rest of the mudcats better by just being there, there is no wonder why he is considered the best to ever play inline hockey. Dan Kostanza (sp) played incredibly well as well, he makes some moves that look impossible from the stands. Brian Yingling had the fans in awe with some of his moves, and the rest of the team all played great. From the first mudcat to the last mudcat these guys are awesome!!!

Itan Chavira looked incredible as usual, look for that kid to become somewhere in the Cj Yoder range in a few years. He seems to have the puck on the string, and him and his brother Wakim (sp) are fantastic together. Skyorina (sp) also shows he can still play the game as well, and is a good mix with the younger ones from Pama.

The goaltending was incredible in this game. When you take the starting goaltenders from both USA and CANADA you're bound to see a great game including great saves. Both Rob Laurie (pama, USA) and Brett Leggat (Mudcats, Canada) made saves that they had no business making. I can easily remember both of them making 5-7 just incredible saves that dropped my jaw. I strongly believe that if two "normal" goalies were in net, this would have been a 10-9 game. It is so joyeus to see two goalies such skill on the floor competing.

So congrats to both teams, and also to the snipers who gave the mudcats a run in the final game (I'm sorry, I had to leave before that game).

So in conclusion, thank you to all of the Tour Mudcats, you are all fine young gentlemen, and the game of inline hockey is what it is from young ambassadors of the sport like yourselves. You are the ones that put the smiles on my sons, and his teammates faces. Tour should be proud of each and every one of you.

Thanks.

Joe

[blocparty]

The Mudcats are a great team and that does not surprise me at all that they did that for your son. I am friends with a lot of guys on that team and they are all good guys. Playing against them is never easy, but their smarts far outweigh their talents. They are all very talented, but the things they do that people dont notice are what helps them win games big. They are extremely smart with and without the puck.

Its a shame we couldnt get ESPN to film at torhs this past wknd. The Ice Dogs vs the Snipers semifinal game was outstanding. Their wasnt a seat in the entire building left for that one. Unforunately it ended in a shootout, i would much rather have played it out in Overtime. I also here the final game with the Mucats and Snipers was amazing, and i would expect nothing less.
Good luck to the pro teams going to narch.

[GROWL]

Joe,

It really is a shame that the two semifinal pro games were at the same time. Not to slight the Mudcats or Pama in anyway, but the better game was the next rink over. Of course by reputation most would choose to see the mudcats vs the pama cyclones, probably the two true elite teams out right now. However, the Snipers / Ice Dogs game was the best I've ever been involved in. The rink management themselves said they've never seen that many people watching a game at Sportsplex in the 6-7 years it's been there. Even coming out on the losing end doesnt affect my view of the game, that this was truly one of the greatest pro games i've seen in many years. One thing is for sure, the Snipers need to be held in the same regard as the other elite teams, they have lost in OT or a shootout two years in a row at TORHS Winter Cup. As for our young Ice Dog Team, these players will only get better and as they learn the intangables that they lack. They will be a force to reckon with. If these kids manage to stay together, they will be the new force in roller hockey for years to come.

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Anthony,

I agree with you 100% the sportsplex has not seen a crowd like that for any game in a long time on that rink. Second of all that young team should definately be a force to be reckon with in years to come. Those kids should be proud of themselves for the way they played.

[inlinehockeydad]

But the snipers did also finish 7/9 teams at Narch finals in Toronto. And those 9 teams included 3 mens platinum teams.

[Dave Garland]

The Snipers lost in the quarter finals at NARCh in overtime and only lost 1 other game besides that....

[alex]

Joe,
As for our young Ice Dog Team, these players will only get better and as they learn the intangables that they lack. They will be a force to reckon with. If these kids manage to stay together, they will be the new force in roller hockey for years to come.

I noticed on another thread, someone said Thomas Stahl & Sean Sullivan are on the Ice Dogs. So, if the Ice Dogs are staying together are Stahl and Sullivan remaining with the team? I'm curious because that, I guess, would mean HomeCare America is no more since those two have been centerpieces of that team for several years.

[GROWL]

The Ice Dogs was just a name Sullivan borrowed for the team since he needed jerseys for the weekend. In fact he ended up using our Growl jerseys instead, but several of these players were Homecare players. What the future holds for them is not exactly know. I'm sure that is something that is in the hands of Sean, but i'd definetly count on him, stahl, and keating being together in some fashion, whether it be Tour 87, Homecare or whatever. They will be a force to reckon with. I'd also like to mention the terrific effort of Keith Diprima who played sytrong for them this weekend. He is a former Bauer Cyclone goalie.