Thursday, November 25, 2010

Home away from home for the Holidays

While some folks favor turkey trotting or hunting on Thanksgiving Day, I say there's no place like home away from home for the holidays at Lakeshore Hockey Arena. Who knew it was bring your dog to the rink day, but it surely elevated the owner's blood pressure as 6-month old Otis sniffed around the new carpet that was rolled out over the summer. "He's trained, right?", lamented Bruce as the sweat was beading up on his forehead under that goofy Don King hat he wears. Dr. Trey was supposed to be the best in show handler for today but he must have joined the turkey trot bandwagon as we watched Otis drag MaryJean all over the rink instead.

First half of the A/B scrimmage with AQ saw Thunder pick up right where they left off, kissing their little irish sister, with a 1-1 tie. AC snipped the 1-hole after picking up a turnover just inside the AQ blue line at the 845 mark. AQ captain Tim Young netted the equalizer with 5mins to go, picking up and putting away a loose puck in front after a blast from the point.

Second half was all Thunder, 5 goals to none. Anthony Fedele came off the bench, just as Thunder's penalty expired, grabbed the handle and deked the AQ netminder at the 26min mark, to prime the pump. Austin Briganti recorded another Harry. Then Thunder would eventually go on a 3-goal flurry in 3-minutes with Codey Mazeau going bar-down at the 830 mark, assisted by Austin Briganti. Next up was Michael Lucarelli picking up the trash in front and banging home a rebound off a drive by Fedele at the 6min mark. A buck and a half later Lucarelli came back strong on the rush muscling a shot over the AQ goalie's stick off the drop from Fedele (i think). Ian McClellan had a nice stand-up on a late AQ rush and Brandon Hutchison put a bow on the game, earning his LOTE credits for "finnish", as he tucked one in with just thirty seconds to go in the contest. And in case there was any doubt, Ethan Mordenga was on the scene to get some wood on it just as it crossed the goal line. I like the hunger!

As I ponder what I am thankful for on this day of giving thanks, I would remiss if I did not mention our extended Thunder Family. Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good turkey. Don't miss the home opener against Churchville, 1pm on Saturday 4-December at the shore. Peace, love, hockey!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Friday Night Lights

The Greece Athena/Odyssey Thunder Hockey team lit the lamp 5 times in their second scrimmage of the season, allowing just 3 markers for the Royal Comets of RH, Friday Night at the Scot. Faced with a most unusual predicament of having zero netminders come out for their team this year, RH was forced to canvass their student body and as luck would have it they were able to convince a former youth goaltender to come out of retirement to help them out until they find a more permanent solution. I tip my hat to that young man for having the courage to stand between the pipes so the opponent would have something other than a shooter-tutor to throw pucks at. All kidding aside, this unsung hero really saved the game. Just spit-ballin here, but I understand BERHFL has 7 goalies, and was thinking that maybe, just maybe RH has enough room in their salary cap to pick up one or two of those BERHFL goalers on waivers?

On with the game. Just in from his senior class trip, Andy Sherry cracked the seal with the first goal of the game, possibly assisted by McNeil and Mattle, hard to say, it was a bit of a scrum. RH answered back as Nick Baird (#9) converted on a 2-on-oh jail break with Tori Whitcher (#20). Next up was Tyler Grimshaw with an off-speed slapper that slid in for the go-ahead goal just inside the left post. Freshman Anthony Fedele jumped on the bandwagon, going upstairs where Tommy spins the wing sauce, for his first unofficial varsity goal (scrimmages don't count cuz nothing really goes on the board). Ganti stepped off the senior class trip bus as well and found the back of the net with a snapper from the point. Then Fedele would return, going top dawg for his second tally of the evening. Jake Zaremski (#18) and Ben Cuatt (#2) rounded out the scoring for RH to make it a 5-3 final in Thunder's favor.

Not a bad looking line with Fedele, eHots, and McSkillet... i call it the more bars (goals) in more places line, if you line them up in that order, get it? Speaking of height differential, did you see freshman forwards Ethan Mordenga and Brandon Hutchison buzzing around out there attempting to fill out the #25 and #26 sweaters? Time to pull the rip cord on those parachutes cuz they got some serious wheels. Sophomore forward Jeffrey Geitner made an appearance and looked good out there as well.

ASim opened, Cumming closed and freshman goalie Quinton Rose stole the show in the middle of the goalie sandwhich. My intel had freshman Austin Briganti listed as a forward, but Webby likes to give brother's an opportunity to skate together where possible so I give you the #22-#27 tandem. Little bro Austin demonstrated a desire to pledge the Harry fraternity as he held his own blocking a shot, breaking up a 2 on 1, and shutting down a 1 on 1 in the handful of shifts he received. Lucarelli, Lennox, and Mazeau showed good chemistry as a line, moving the puck and generating several scoring chances. Good work boyz!

Now can we talk turkey? That's right, we are confirmed for a Thanksgiving Day scrimmage, 8:30am to 10:00am @ Lakeshore, in round robin format, with AQ and Spencerport. Tell you what, Thunder is gonna put the biscuits in the basket so all you have to worry about is the rest of the fixins. Deal?

Friday, November 19, 2010

Maxine Knightengale - Get Right Back

The Greece Thunder Hockey team took a page out of the original Slapshot sound track and "got right back to where they started from" last year, notching four goals and allowing just one for Webster Shroeder, in their first scrimmage of the 2010-2011 season at Boulter Arena last nite. I found it a bit odd seeing Webster dressed in their road blues while Thunder came out of the tunnel wearing their road purples. Then two by two the Thundermen retreated to the room to change it up and by the end of the warm-up it was a sea of white. No comment on those fashionable yellow sleeve socks which look aight with the purple unis but were questionable with the whites. I mean maybe if they lowered the disco ball and turned on a few black lights it would have made for a cool effect but i digress.

Junior netminder Ian Cumming backstopped Thunder to a scoreless first half, which featured varsity debut appearances by sophomore forwards Michael Lucarelli (#2), Adam Lennox (#6); freshman forwards Codey "with an E" Mazeau (#8), Anthony Fedele (#21); and sophomore defenders Ian McClellan (#7), Eric Grills (#10), and Patrick Crowe (#23). While their parents likely had pits in their stomachs, these guys clearly demonstrated their competency jumping in with both skates and making some very nice plays. Without a doubt, Thunder has a bright future ahead by the looks of things.

Seemingly a foot taller this year, ASim took the baton from Cumming for the second half between the pipes as Thunder settled in and went to work. Webster actually drew first blood at the 27min mark when #7-Kevin Paterniti turned on the jets to put his team on the board with a heavy forecheck and a shorthanded finish. But it was all Thunder for the balance as they would go on to ring the bell 4 times unanswered. AC hit the twine with a commander backhander at the 25 min mark, after picking up a rebound from Simmy's wrister that hit the left post. eHots netted number two by digging in the paint and banging home the rebound from a bid by McNeil at the 22 min mark. Tyler Mattle got #3 and #4 at 18mins and 13mins respectively by being in position and ready to pull the trigger. One was a backdoor putaway on a feed across the crease by McSkillet as the PP expired and the other came off a textbook 2 on 1 with Hostetter. Not a bad start boys.

Play of the game goes to Eric Grills who requested a "fly-by" and despite hearing the pattern was full, he went ahead and buzzed the tower with a PK clear that sailed right by everyone's grill on the Thunder bench. Don't forget about today's 4:30pm tilt @ the Scot where Thunder will verse the Royal Comets of RH. Yeaaahhh Thun-Derrrrrr!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Bass Season is Over - Hockey Season is Open

Welcome to another edition of Rod & Reel Magazine with your host Wes Vyverberg. Time to winterize the boat and put away the poles (even though the smallies are still biting) cuz it's time for hockey...hockey...hockey !!! That's right, your 2010-2011 Greece Athena Odyssey Thunder Hockey Team is returning a strong core of 15 players to the ice from last years squad, who posted a solid second place finish in the West Division, but bowed out early in the sectional pre-quarters, losing 2-1 in sudden death OT to AQ. I am fairly certain that dagger still haunts our guys and suspect they will be coming back strong with a vengeance, led by their senior captain, Michael Briganti on defense and their senior assistant captains, Mike McNeil and Eric Hostetter, up front.

I'd like to give a shout out to a dozen new faces in the room who represent the future of our program. Welcome aboard boys!

#7 - Ian McClellan, sophomore-defense
#10 - Eric Grills, sophomore-defense
#23 - Patrick Crowe, sophomore-defense
#2 - Michael Lucarelli, sophomore-forward
#6 - Adam Lennox, sophomore-forward
#16 - Jeffrey Geitner, sophomore-forward
#8 - CodEy Mazeau, freshman-forward
#21 - Anthony Fedele, freshman-forward
#25 - Ethan Mordenga, freshman-forward
#26 - Brandon Hutchinson, freshman-forward
#27 - Austin Briganti, freshman-forward
#31 - Quinton Rose, freshman-goalie

If you would like to catch a glimpse of these men of thunder in action, head east on 104 after work on Thursday, 18-Nov, to a place where life is worth living, for a 5pm tilt with Webster. Get off at 5-Mile line road, make a left and then your first right onto Publisher's Parkway,and you will find the Webster Ice Arena on the right across from Webster Thomas High School. Be there, or miss out on the first opportunity of the season to be THUNDERSTRUCK. If you can't find your way east on Thursday, there is still hope for you, as Thunder faces off with RH, 4:30pm @ the Scot (Scottsville Ice Arena), in the second leg of their east coast swing on Friday 19-Nov. Not sure what to do about dinner? Might I recommend the garlic parmesan or cajun buffalo wings at the Rinkside Grill. They are to die for.