Game On! March 30, 2008: 4:45pm ISNG

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Round 1 : Van Wonders v. Blacksheep

Where
Sunday at 4:45pm the quest for Division 7 Men's Beer League hockey supremacy begins on the North Shore.

Wear
Don't quote me on this but I believe we wear white and they wear red in Game 1. I can however confidently say this, "bring both sets of wool".

Us
This was the first season the The Blacksheep HC has played at or above .500%. We deserve to pat ourselves on the back. When we show up and play Sheep hockey we can beat any team in our division and have proved this season. Sheep hockey is a team game:

• Hard, quick shifts
• Pressure on the puck at all times
• Aggressive back checking
• Positional play
  
• Pucks thrown at the net
• Butterflies create hurricanes

For us to live to play in the next round we must focus all of our energy at fighting the little battles on the ice. We are not out to complain about the ref's, argue about ice time or beat up on our own selves. We must put that aspect of our season behind us and move towards the goal of winning every shift we play. That is how we will win the war.

O' Captain! My Captain! We are lead by the men we voted as Captains and their word is law. Billy, Gavin & Scattergood we have chosen you to lead us; tell us where to play, who to play with and how we can best help this team. Before the game and between periods we will not speak about our team and our play, we have asked you to do that that for us, and, will listen with open ears and closed mouths. We have a team full of leaders and must now individually show that leadership by allowing our voted three to shape the outcome of this season. That is the mission for the rest of us - agreed?

p.s. Let's all show up sober sporting no ill effects from the night before. Seriously, we have every Saurday night for the rest of our lives to poison our livers. One easy night can mean 3 extra games over the next couple of weeks. Trade that for a brutal Sunday morning hangover.

Them
Lifetime we are 1-3-1 against the Van Wonders. This season we have played them twice, losing both games buy a combined score of 7-1. The first of those two games we played with a very limited line up that included Wheeler, two Maroons and Jason Hanson in net.

The Van Wonders are a smart, mature hockey team that wins games by staying out of the penalty box. This season they have taken 118 less minutes in penalties than we have. The moustache brigade [notice many of their players are a bit older] play smart a old-school game that relies on puck control and mental control. In the last six games they have only allowed 6 goals and have won each game. This is a team that we need to generate shots on goal against.

There are three players that we need to keep an eye on in this series.

Craig Burak #9 usually plays left defence and he is the cog that controls the play and tempo of the game from the back end. Against us he has moved the puck effectively from there end into ours repeatedly. He is talented enough that each time we have played them we have collectively muttered under our breath that we NEED to know what he is doing at all times and should do all we can to keep the puck off of his stick. He has played 249 games in this league and has scored 309 points. Do not let this man beat you, because he will if given the opportunity.

Dan Brown #6 scored 21 goals this season and has scored 109 over his Duffer's career. His total was second highest in the league next to the Wayne Gretzky guy who plays for the East Van Specials who should really be playing in Division 1 or 2. He doesn't like to pass the puck, preferring to skate through a crowd to get a shot on goal.

Paul Cederberg #19 is their talented goon. His 54 penalty minutes is the same number that our #19 has taken this year. In our last meeting he was ejected for taking too many penalties. He has 30% of his teams penalty minutes and is a hot head. He can also pass the puck, talk shit and be thrown off of his game. He takes penalties in bunches and plays rough.


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