Thursday, December 29, 2011

Mychalchuk pots " 5" in 8-2 win over Action...

The "Free Agent Frenzy" continues as Swan River Action owner/player Walter "Wallet" Lepholtz's quest for the perfect roster is stymied once again. Icing a full lineup, Action had no less than 10 new 'Hired Guns" and it appears Lephotlz , who over the years has signed more free agents than the late George Steinbrenner, will continue the carousel until a bonafide contender emerges. Running with eight skaters, (the oh to familiar two D, six forwards combination,) CU showed a most impressive blend of defensive play and dangle, leading them to a convincing 8-2 victory. Rock solid net-minder Mike" The Wall" Smith, held free wheelin Action forwards Wayne Bass and Jeff Riddell at bay all evening.
The Wall
Rookie sensation Clayton "Freight Train" Mychalchuk continued his current scoring streak by wearing out the twine an impressive five times. The rookie was all smiles post game, "I haven't scored this many goals in a game since playing for famed coaches Toefil Sagert and Lloyd Jones back in wee wee!" Playing on a line with veteran forwards Jeff "Nifty" Knight and Rob "Blogmeister" McDonald, the young rookie found himself being spoon fed all evening. Turning back the hands of time, McDonald and Knight aka "The Give and Go Brothers", completed not one but two Tic-Tac-Toes , reminiscent of their early glory days with the club.
Freight Train
On the backend, Darren "Muggsy" Mullin was a solid +6, despite routinely having to cover for his "wandering" defence partner.
Muggsy
"I'm a wanderer, a wanderer, I getta around, and round and round !"

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Annual Christmas Red vs White Classic..

Kevin "Special K" Kopecky was the latest member to be inducted into the exclusive "40 year old" club. Making the presentation on behalf of the Credit Union Hockey Club was veteran defense-man Craig "Zdeno" Zamzow.
Coming off a big 11-5 victory over the Valley Outlaws, CU held it's annual Red vs White Christmas Classic. Honorary team captains and elder statesman Brian Minish and Barry Eggie had the dubious job of drafting teams. After a grueling 45 minute high tempo, end to end affair, Eggie's team Red made a miraculous come from behind win to secure this years cup. With many former standout alumnus in action, the game was not short of a little "Old Time" hockey... setting the bar high, Eggie lead Team Red with four goals and three assists. Although unable to attend,(enjoying the fruits of his recent contract signing), Garrett "Big Country" Watson reassured management that he would go easy on the egg nogg this holiday season and continue his twice/day work outs. Click on the above link for the official press release.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Gritty Game ends in 5 - 5 Draw...

The fourth meeting between CU and their cross town rivals Swan River Raiders was a feisty, fast skating affair. The game featured not one , but two sets of brothers donning the rouge, blanc, and grise. On loan from the Everett Silver Tips, Evan "Relax" Morden, joined his younger sibling Riley "The Grin" on the CU back end. Suffering from jet lag , bus legs, and some of momma's home cooking, the older Morden struggled all night to find his legs.



Accompanying  Garret "Big Country " Watson on the right side, younger sibling Kurtis " Little Country" provided a key goal early in the game. With the Raiders controlling the play early, the younger Watson intercepted a clearing pass, walked in over the blue line, wired a screen shot that found the back of the net.

With the lead changing hands on  every shift, CU sniper Jeremy Gray went top shelve not once , but twice, to give CU a two goal lead.  The Raider Nation quickly tied the game and then went up two. Robbed by a fantastic glove save by Raider tender Warren "Catcher" Clark early in the game , defense men Craig " Straight Blade" Zamzow scored on a greasy back hand to put CU within one. Stepping up to the plate yet again, Gray completed the hat trick, tying the game late. Pressing  for the win, Clayton "Spice" Mychalchuk found himself in the middle of a" blue paint special " as the buzzer sounded. Recounting the evenings action, the "Brothers in Arms " enjoyed a cold one, preparing for a tilt with the Outlaws on Wednesday night.

Little and Big Country

The Brother's Grin

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Zamzow, Mychalchuk, shine with "Wing Night" on the Line...

CU gave the Minitonas loggers an early Christmas gift to the tune of a 15-3 licken.  The home coming was especially sweet for Minitonas's other prodigal son, as smooth skating rookie center-men Clayton "Hot and Spicy" Mychalchuk did not disappoint. Playing his edgiest game of the season, Mychalchuk not only let his physical presence be known, but also turned the "Trick".


Playing up front for the game, Craig "I thought I was the Wing King" Zamzow had his best offensive outing since the Hornets cut him 13 years ago. Scoring four goals , one of which would have surely put him into the "Top 10".... Zamzow seemed to have found the touch, not only around the net, but had no problem going toe to toe with Mychalchuk around the wing table!



Garret " Big Country" Watson, playing in his first game since inking  his contract, kept his scoring streak alive. Unnamed sources have speculated that the strapping power forward has been leading a double life. Unconfirmed reports have the lofty center-men feeling quite comfortable in the kitchen. With the annual CU skate and Christmas potluck just around the corner, big things may be expected of the rookie.



Randy "Red Line" Matieka, making his season debut, played the 1-3-1 system to an absolute "T". Struggling to find his legs and lungs, Matieka set up office on the oppositions blue line. Nice to have ya back Cherry Picker!!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Smith Outstanding in 7-2 win...

It took less than one game for premiere puck stopper Micheal Smith to regain his all star form. Smith was near perfection, shutting down the high Flying Kenville offense at every opportunity. Flyer young guns, Bray "Back Door" Mullin, "Dangling" Darren Miller, and "Jacked Up" Jared Penner, were repeatedly robbed by Smith. Swan Valley AA Midget Stampeder call up, Ryan "Abs" Cable, providing a little offense, lead all CU scorers with a pair. Jeremy " Jack Pot" Gray continues to have his way with opposition goaltenders. On  a current six game run, the "Hands of Butter" right winger produced yet another two goal game performance.

Abs

Add caption
It's official,  rookie sensation Garrett " Big Country " Watson has been offered a contract, after what can only be described as a very impressive four game try out. The six foot four power forward averaged a point a game, and has become very comfortable at either playing down the middle or flanking the wall. It was suggested by current team president Blaine "Soup" Campbell, that the eager young forward may want to try to get a few tips from former CU draw master Ryan "Cowboy" Keown. Rounding out the scoring for CU were Wade "The boy has my touch", Cable and Jeff " Nifty" Knight!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

CU blow 2 goal lead...AGAIN !

An uncharacteristic shaky start by all-star tender Mike "Smitty" Smith and some questionable play making by defense Craig "Give it Away" Zamzow helped the Silver Seven skate to a 7-6 win. It took less than a minute for the Seven to draw first blood, when Smith  misjudged  a sharp angled shot that caught him short side.


 A see-saw battle that saw the lead change hands countless times, eventually saw the Silver Seven hang on to record the win. An errant pass onto the tape of a defender by Zamzow , quickly turned into a 3 on 0 , with the Seven capitalizing.  Looking for some redemption on the following shift, the normally smooth-skating  Zamzow, who on most nights embodies everything an offensive defense man should be... 
lightning fast, a skilled play-maker ?, a booming shot and savvy, yet still able to defend his team's zone by employing blinding speed, went end to end not once but twice, evening the score. 




Extending his scoring streak , Jeremy "OT Kid" Gray added two to keep the game close. Singles by Warren "Wheels" Gray and Garrett "Big Country" Watson were still not enough as CU fell just short once again on the comeback. Although held off the score sheet, power forward Kevin "Special K" Kopecky seemed to have found his stride. Entering the twilight of his career, the ageing winger appears to have  all injuries and equipment issues behind him. CU will be counting on him to regain the scoring touch that once had him as one of the leagues premiere scorers.




Sunday, December 4, 2011

The "Buck" stops here...

Snapping a two game losing streak, CU tagged the Mighty Bucks 5-3 Sunday night at the Centennial Arena.  Rookie sensation Clayton "The Spice" Mychalchuk, broke a two game scoreless streak by netting a pair. Relying on his break away speed, and foregoing  his defensive responsibilities, Mychalchuk finally capitalized on  two of his numerous breakaways. 

The Spice
The defensive trio of Darren "Mugsy" Mullin, Craig"Zdeno" Zamzow and "Black Jack" Blaine Campbell played a near flawless game. Limiting the end to end rushes and pinch ins, the back end provided goaltender Mike "Smitty " Smith with more than enough support to secure the victory.  Rounding out the scoring were Jeremy "OT Kid" Gray, Pat "Crash Morden and Rob "Blogmeister" McDonald. Unconfirmed sources have Brian "The Thrill " Gilroy being reactivated from the IR list in time for CU's Wednesday night tilt with the Silver Seven. Time will only tell.
 

Thursday, December 1, 2011

CU lose 7-6 to the Swan River Raiders...

The losing streak continues for CU, as lack of defensive responsibility continues to plague the front end. Continuing to give up early leads, CU found themselves playing catch up once again. The Raiders  opened up a 2 goal lead, and carried it into the second period. CU sniper and current team scoring leader Jeremy "  Jack Pot " Gray, started a stirring comeback by scoring two quick goals to even the score. On the ensuing shift, the shifty right winger completed the hat trick giving CU it's first lead of the game.

Jack Pot
Chris " Count on me" Zamzow, seeing action for only the second time this year, scored what was thought to be the insurance goal, providing CU with a 2 goal cushion late into the game. 

Count on Me 
A shift that  forwards  Pat "Crusher" Morden and Rob " Blogmiester" McDonald would soon like to forget, saw the relentless Raiders score three unanswered goals  to take a one goal lead.  With 30 seconds left, a somewhat confused CU bench managed to pull their goalie but failed to add the extra attacker. With time expiring, a dejected CU team headed to  the dressing room .
Joining IR listed player Brian "The Thrill" Gilroy in the press box, healthy scratch defensemen Craig "Zdeno" Zamzow  viewed the game as a  minor set back. " It's pretty obvious we have a lot of work to do in our own end, would  be kinda be nice to see a few more Red Jerseys  inside our own zone, did Munro just get back from a vacation, he looked a little sun/wind burned after filling my shoes on the blue line. " 



CU will try to get back on track when they face the Mighty Bucks this Sunday evening.