CU go 1-1 this week...

CU started the week with a road trip up Hwy. 10 North to the comfy confines of the Bowsman Ice Plex to do battle with the Valley Outlaws. The Outlaws came out flying, peppering CU goaltender extraordinaire Mike " Stretch " Smith with 26 plus shots in the first frame. Down 3-1 heading into the second period, CU mounted a comeback on goals by McDonald, J.Gray, and Eggie. The game saw the lead change hands several times, until the Outlaws scored the winning goal on a controversial play. CU rookie defense men Darren " Mugsy" Mullin, known throughout the league as an "Old School Clutch and Grabber", became a victim of his own specialty.

Veteran official Lyle "Show me the Money" Sagert, considered one of the leagues premiere zebras, missed a questionable holding call that lead to the Outlaws scoring the winner with less than a minute remaining. Pressing for the tie, CU fell just short, on some remarkable game saving play by long time standout veteran Outlaw puck-stopper Gerry " Flops" Gattinger . Although unavailable for comment after the game, Sagert was overheard saying, "Mugsy seems to be all in when the sweater is on the other foot!" 

On a night when Dave 'Tap Out' Theunissen went home $2,017 richer courtesy of the Star and Times  Stampeders game night sponsor, the Swan Valley Credit Union Oldtymers followed up an impressive Stampeder victory with one of their own. Ironically enough, with the trade deadline quickly approaching, SVCU was led offensively by the surprise return of two long, lost members. Icing only seven skaters, CU manage a 15-5 win over Swan River Action. Chris " Can't make it Tonight Boys " Zamzow, scored twice, and was an impressive plus 6 while playing on the back end . Brian "The Thrill" Gilroy's five goal, three assist return to the line up was the real story of the night. Coming off what many considered to be a career ending lower body injury, the journeyman sniper let his hands do the talking for him.

Rumor of  the pair being placed on the trading block, now have management scrambling to renegotiate both to long term deals. The same cannot be said for sophomore defense men "Dangling" Danton Ashcroft, whose contract negotiations have come to a stand still. It is reported that the blue-liner may be put on waivers, or given his outright release.
Cherry picker perfectionist Randy " Hit me I'm Open" Mateika, showed his versatility by anchoring the blue line. For the first time this season, Mateika actually ventured inside his own end. Teammates and fans alike were more than a little surprised to see # 55 snuggling for most of the game beside CU tender Mike " The Wall" Smith. Smith was quoted after the game, " Seeing # 55 skating backwards is a bad dream that can NEVER be forgotten!"  
Also scoring for CU were Mateika with the hattie, Warren 'Wheels " Gray with a pair, with singles going to Cable, Morden, and J. Gray.
CU's next action has them playing the SVRSS Tigers Tuesday in Minitonas, and then host the Swan River Raiders Wednesday evening.

For all those hard core runners out there,present company included (LOL), this unveiling of a new running shoe is for you....

CU win Big in "Wing Night - Part 2"...

Facing a short handed Flyer squad, CU auto piloted to a  convincing 12-2 victory. The recently reunited "MKG" line accounted for six of the twelve goals. Jeff "Knifty" Knight lead all scorers with three, while right winger Jeremy "OT Kid" Gray netted two, and Rob "Blogmeister" McDonald added a single.
Running a bit thin on the front end, Craig " Zinger" Zamzow filled in admirably for missing right winger Randy "Macho Man" Mateika. Zamzow, who has had less than impressive outings when playing the half wall, seemed to have mimicked Mateika's play to a T. Trolling the opposition blue line for the majority of the game, frustration finally came to head. Three time league MVP Blaine "Soup" Campbell thought three failed break away passes to the cherry pickin power forward was more than enough, took it upon himself to dangle the entire Flyer squad not once, but twice, before giving it away.
Right winger Mark " Saucing my Eggs" Munro, playing his first game in weeks, wired in two seeing eye dogs. The scoring drought continues for snake bitten rookie Clayton " I put this Sh*t on Everything " Mychalchuk. Looked off numerous times throughout the game, the big centermen's final crushing blow came post game, where Munro put the finishing touches on regaining the dubious title of the Eggonator!!
Parkland Ranger call up Nic " Smooth as Molasses" Schneider, coming off the IR list, welcomed the extra ice time and a chance to play in front of a hometown crowd. Schneider did not disappoint, making countless rushes,the fleet footed Ranger dented the twine twice. Playing partner, Darren "Mugsy" Mullin, hand his hands full with Flyer standout Darren "Dangle" Miller. Mullin. relying on "Old School" tactics made famous by standout CU alumnus Lorne "Hugs" Henklemen, had  Miller wrapped up tighter than a soft Taco.

CU win Two....Mateika Continues Scoring Rampage...!

With the NHL re-visiting the controversial "Spin-a-Rama" move , currently legal in the shoot out, but banned during the penalty shot, crafty CU forward Randy "Stop on a Dime" Mateika may have to dig a little deeper in his repertoire of moves. Recording his third 'Hat Trick " of the season in the teams previous 9- 6 win over the Mighty Bucks, the fleet footed forward kept his scoring streak alive by potting two against the Minitonas Loggers in a 10-4 victory. Still sporting the sun kissed skin and Hulk Hogan autographed work out attire, the flamboyant forward was quick to point out to his fellow teammates that he was plus 15 in the last two games. A true testament to his line-mates, who are often left to  play short handed in their own end.

Oh YeaaaaaaaaaaaaaH!!

"Red Line " Randy

CU defense men Craig "Zdeno" Zamzow coming off what could only be deemed as his worst outing of the season, (a one game experiment on the wing) regained some dignity, and notched two from the back end. Also chipping in with two, Kevin "Special K" Kopecky, and ageless veteran Barry "Shooter" Eggie. Unconfirmed sources have both Kopecky and Zamzow working with Core Fitness Guru "Sargent" Sandy Ellingson in a" Covert " dryland fitness regime. 

Special K

Zdeno

Warren "Wheels" Gray,  back from holidaying on the Famed 16th hole  at the Phoenix Open, struggled to find his legs and lungs, but still manged to bulge the twine.

Gray's playing partner Blaine "Soup" Campbell was held scoreless but the evening was not an entire loss, as Scotty Gomez, one of  Campbells's beloved Montreal Canadians,  finally pulls the trigger after a 365 plus day drought. With the annual Corporate Challenge Classic on this weekend, CU will not see action until next Thursday , where they will head down HWY 83 for another Classic "Wing Night".

CU clip Flyer's 12-3...

The emotional let down of losing in the "A Final" of their own tournament the previous weekend still weighed heavily on the minds of the young Kenville Flyers. Warren "Wheels" Gray opened the score early, scoring on a partial breakaway. The free wheelin d-man was leading the rush all night, reminiscent of former CU blue-liner Jason " Run and Gun" Ryden.

Jeremy Gray, playing on a line with veterans Brian Minish and Rob McDonald, lead all scorers with four. McDonald,the unselfish/lack of goal scoring ability player that he is, was busy setting the plate for his line-mates, as they went plus 5 for the evening. The re-emergence of perennial goal scorer Kevin 'Special K" Kopecky, was definitely long overdue. The big power forward finally found his footing, and squeezed out his first hat trick this season, only his second since playing for the Minitonas Hornets of the now defunct SVIHL.

Minish, who has been fighting the puck of late, popped a backhand top shelve "where Mom keeps the cookie jar", that would have "By Golly Gee!", brought Howie Meeker to his feet. CU goaltender Mike "Smitty" Smith, welcomed the relatively quiet night, however his save percentage may say otherwise. It was not exactly they way Darren 'Mugsy" Mullin wanted his first goal in 20 games to unfold. With the two floundering in the crease, a feeble attempt to kick/swipe the puck clear, ended up on the d-man's stick, where he proceeded to wire it glove side corner on a rather surprised and confused Smith.

It became apparent that CU would take their game to the next level post game in the Benito "Snake, Wing, and Egg Pit !" The Magnificent 11 devoured 12 dozen of Benito's finest wings (Executive Chef Pat Harness was caught mixing special sauces after a one-goal loss to CU one night previously) and 12 pickled eggs. Reigning "Wing King" champion Craig "I like em by the dozen" Zamzow was in fine form. Slashing through a couple of dozen lemon pepper , Zamzow nullified a courageous coup attempt by rookie Clayton Mychalchuk. Mychalchuk had every chicken in MB fleeing after pounding 18 wings and 4 pickled eggs.  Nearly inaudible, with his mouth jammed with more pickled eggs than the infamous Lance Clarkson, Mychalchuk's pre-egg routine was confirmed with hot sauce in hand "I put this shit on everything !" Unconfirmed sources have reported that a certain business in town had to evacuate the building not once,but twice because of a strange smell and gurgling noises coming from their second floor.




CU's next action has them hosting the Mighty Bucks next Wednesday at 10:00 .

CU hang on to a 5-4 Win over Valley Outlaws...

CU won the first of back to back games with a hard fought 5-4 win over the Valley Outlaws. Facing former CU tender Darren " Make mine a Double" Fedorchuk, who filled in admirably for Butch Hodgson, CU made the most of their limited scoring chances. Fighting the dreaded "beach lungs and legs" syndrome, it was apparent CU sniper Jeremy "Jack and Cola" Gray's hands were spared. Potting two, the goal scoring phenom continues his torrid scoring pace. Out shot 2-1, Mike Smith was outstanding between the pipes. A last minute barrage by the Outlaws, pressing hard for the tie, had Smitty making no less than 3 game winning saves. CU's "Fantastic Four", defensive core,  thwarted many an Outlaw rush, The game had it's fair share of  physical play,  as  CU defense man Blaine "Crunch " Campbell let his "6'4 200 plus lb." presence be known all evening. Adding singles were Warren 'Wheels" Gray, "Pumper" Pat Morden, and Brian "Magic Man" Minish.

"Big Country" traded to Ramsey Downholers...

Big Country

Immediately following a convincing 10-5 win over the Minitonas Loggers, a game that saw the return of vacationing forwards Jeremy "Cubra Libra Kid" Gray and Randy "Carved out of Bronze" Mateika , Garrett "Big Country" Watson was informed of the pending trade. Via satellite phone from a remote beach in the Panama, CU Director of Hockey Operations and General Manager Dave "The Slasher" Bettesworth told Watson that the youth movement was not working out. After shopping the strapping forward around, a deal was finally struck with the Ramsey Downholers of the ACGHL. Terms and conditions are still being finalized. For the official press release click here. CU hits the ice twice this week,Wednesday they host the Valley Outlaws, and then head down Hwy 83 to Benito for a clash with Kenville Flyers Thursday evening. The Flyers are coming off a 6-5 A side loss in their own tourney, and will no doubt be looking for some retribution.

Kenville Flyers

Raiders Score with Twenty Seconds remaining...

Swan River Raider forward Wayne "Bullet" Bass scored with twenty seconds remaining in the game to give the Raiders a 4-3 win over the CU Oldtimers. The goal was particularly disheartening for CU goaltender Mike Smith, who single handily kept his club in the game. Being peppered with 60 plus shots, Smith made save after save, foiling the Raider's at every opportunity.

The game also marked the return of legendary CU sniper Brian "The Thrill" Gilroy. Still showing the effects of a "Lower Body" injury, the once dominant scoring machine struggled to find his game. Registering only 2 official shots on goal, Gilroy was held pointless for only the second time in his career. Frustration and confusion continue to dog CU's front end. Visibly missing the offensive explosiveness of  forwards Warren Gray, Jeremy Gray, and Jeff Knight, the evening was very quiet for Raider tender Warren Clark.

Falling behind 3-0 early, defense-men Blaine Campbell, went end to end ala Serge Savard, putting CU on the board. Capitalizing on few scoring chances, forward Rob "Gloves" McDonald finished off a beautiful tic-tac-toe play to draw CU within one. Showing the leadership and poise of a young "Guy Lapointe", Campbell notched his second mid way through the period , evening the score. Fighting to clear the puck in the dying minutes, the Raider's smelling blood, finally snuck one by a sprawled out Smith.
CU will try to right the ship when they play host to the Swan Valley Regional Tigers this Wednesday evening.

Silver Seven End Winning Streak... 8-4.

The homecoming was not kind to former Bowsmen Burner goaltender Darren "Fuddy" Fedorchuk. Not donning the pads since his stellar winning performance in the CU Annual Christmas Classic, Fedorchuk was pressed into action when CU starting tender  Micheal Smith was whisked away on a "Shopping Extravaganza" south of the border with his lovely wife. Fedorchuk, a lad of good Ukraine stock, had to put his Christmas Eve celebrations on hold to face a fired up Silver Seven squad.

Fudd

Jumping out to a quick 2 goal lead, it looked as if CU was well on their way to chalking up another "W". However , the free wheelin Seven, lead by Dallas " The Reach" Anderson, quickly tied the score. The Silver pulled ahead by two and appeared to be running away with it, when Clayton Mychaluk wired a pass to a streaking Rob "Blogmeister" McDonald, who tipped it past a stunned Seven goaltender. The comeback was short lived when Silver forward Jordy "Cookie Jar" Stephan back door-ed two quick goals. Ice conditions may have been a factor in the performance of CU's "Beefy" backend, as the normally agile, puck moving trio , struggled to find their footing all evening.
Healthy scratch Kevin "Special K" Kopecky , has reassured the club that he will be making his way back into the lineup this week. One week of touring "The Happiest Place on Earth", has the power forward craving for some ice. It was also reported that both Jeremy "Jerk Chicken" Gray and Randy "Rum " Mateika are continuing with their strict dry-land training regime while on two weeks leave.

Randy "Rum" Mateika

CU 's next game has them hosting the Swan River Raiders this Wed. evening.