Springfield Drops Ugly One
December 2, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Springfield Jr. Blues News Release
Back to the rink, finally! The weekend off was good for the Blues to get some much needed rest and to heal some injuries, but a weekend without hockey (with the Jr. Blues, of course) is a weekend without sunshine. Tonight the Blues take on the Bandits again. I wonder if Bandit Coach, Jeff Brown, will be reminding his players about the last meeting between these two clubs. To refresh memories that was a win by the Jr. Blues. It was a big bashing win by the Springfield Jr. Blues. It was the worst defeat in the history of the St. Louis Bandits. The final score was 7 - 2, Good Guys. The Blues definitely brought their "A - game" to bear that night at the Hardee's Ice Plex. It was so frustrating for Coach Brown that he wouldn't even be on the bench with his team during the third period. He chose to go to the corner box and watch from there. I wonder where he might go tonight if the game is similar. Of course, that depends on which of the Blues teams show up...either the one that brings their "A - game" or the "Bad and the Ugly". We'll know the answer to that one in just a little while.
The "official" Springfield Jr. Blues Blog" is coming. Nally is working on it and we expect to have it up and running in a week or two. Just a Christmas present from your Springfield Jr. Blues! Once the Blog is up and running we'll have a Link on the Web page for you to click on and get the latest from the organization. When we have the kinks worked out I will discontinue the articles as such and this missive will be found on and as the Blog. Josh and Nally have vowed to drag me kicking and screaming, if necessary, into the technical age. This could get interesting! I openly and willingly confess to be one person that is very "Technologically Challenged"!
The Jr. Blues picked up a pretty good player over the Thanksgiving break. Coach Dibble made a deal with the Amarillo Bulls for Mitch Rogge from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Our source, who was billeted at our house before he was traded to Amarillo a couple of years ago, Luke Jenkins, said this guy is good and can put the puck in the net. Mitch gets his first start as a Jr. Blue tonight, and we'll get to see him in action early. Good luck to the "New Guy"! Go Mitch! And welcome to the Jr. Blues family! Jenkins, by the way, has signed on to play for Army next four years at West Pointe! Congratulations to a deserving and a super nice kid with a lot of talent.
The Blues were outshot 9 - 3 during the first period. They didn't seem ready to take on the Bandits as this doesn't look like the same team that thumped Topeka two weeks ago. After one period it is 2 - 0 Bandits. Let's hope the Good Guys can get inspired for the second period. They just looked a bit off during the first. Some mental errors hurt them and most of the guys need to step it up. We'll see how they do in the second stanza.
Talk about an ugly hockey game! The second period reminded me of the movie "Slap Stick"! It was fight after fight, and penalty after penalty, most of them on the Blues. At one time there were six Jr. Blues players and the penalty box judge in the sin bin. If you have ever been to the Nelson Center you know how small the penalty boxes are in our barn. They all could not inhale at the same time. But they took no prisoners, and that's for sure. It was one of the ugliest periods I've seen in a long time. The Blues did seem to pick up some energy toward the end of the period, but when you're down three goals you have a mountain to climb, especially against a team like the Bandits. Period three is on the way.
It was not any prettier during the third. The Blues were outplayed from start to finish and looked bad throughout the contest. Maybe they can regroup and do better in Chesterfield tomorrow night. At least we can hope for a much better output from a team with so much talent. If they can ever learn to play with consistency they will be a force. Until then we'll see more of the same. Be with you tomorrow night.
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North American Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2011
- Stars fell first-place Falcons - Traverse City North Stars
- Wichita Falls prevails in ten-round affair - Odessa Jackalopes
- IceRays Stunned in OT 3-2 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Springfield Drops Ugly One - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Bruins Win 4-1 - Austin Bruins
- Michigan Warriors Announce Partnership with GFHA - Michigan Warriors
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