Still a Long Row to Hoe...
February 14, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Springfield Jr. Blues News Release
This weekend is the final series with arch rival St. Louis Bandits. Tonight's game should be interesting with five of the six new guys in uniform for the good guys. This year has been more of the same for the Jr. Blues as we are 1 - 8 against them. With the recent additions from trades this just might be the turn around the Blues have been waiting for. I've seen a lot of confidence this week from the guys after practice, and the fans really enjoy Coach Dibbles ¬ÅSmash-mouth hockey ¬Â. What does this mean for this weekend's series (the last, thank goodness for the year) with those pesky Bandits For one thing, I predict Stew Bell dropping the gloves with Isaak Quackenbush and maybe a couple of other fights before the night is over with. That remains to be seen, of course, but I hope the guys can gather enough goals to bring this one home with a win. Every game is critical for the good guys with only sixteen games left in the regular season and six points out of the fourth and final playoff position. We've gained four points in the two games with Chicago last weekend, but we need a win tonight, if for nothing else for the guys to prove to themselves that they can beat St. Louis.
Coach Dibble has picked up six young, very good players in recent trades and transactions. Here is a look at the new names and numbers. Last week we were introduced to Kevin Lofatto. He will wear number 7 for the rest of this season. Mike Zajac from Bolingbrook, Illinois will wear number 3 (but won't be dressing for tonight's game), Ben Kramer will wear number 4. Kevin Walters, who hails from St. Louis has jersey number 17, number 22 will be worn by Josef Pontasch, and rounding out the latest acquisitions will be Mike Parnell, wearing number 26.
We'll also be watching the scores closely tonight coming out of Michigan, Traverse City and Port Huron. Chicago plays at Michigan, Janesville is at Traverse City and Motor City plays at Port Huron. Port Huron has been the door mat of the league and North Division this year, entering the league at the last minute, but they have made a lot of moves throughout the year in a constant effort to get better, and they have. The Fighting Falcons have recently given their opponents more and more competition. We'll root for them, Chicago and Janesville tonight. If those teams come out on top tonight coupled with a win here against the Bandits, we could be ever closer to that fourth, elusive playoff spot. Let's go Blues! More coming up as game time draws nearer.
We didn't get the help on Friday night, but the Jr. Blues made a statement to St. Louis! The good guys scored twice in the first to lead 2 - 1 at the first intermission. One sure thing in this league is you can never count out the Bandits. They took the lead with two goals in the second and led 3 - 2 at the second intermission, but tonight was for the Blues. With two goals early in the third, the Blues looked to be in control, but again those pesky Bandits tied the score. After St. Louis scored to tie a little past the halfway point in period three, it was all Jr. Blues from there on out. From there on it was all Springfield as the good guys took back the lead with a goal by former Bandit Josef Pontasch. Ross Andersen scored an empty net goal to ice the win and it was one of the sweetest victories all year.
Saturday night at the Hardee's Ice Plex you just knew Jeff Brown, Bandit coach, would have his team ready to go. They don't like losing, especially to the Springfield Jr. Blues, and it was a typical game on the big ice.
Stew Bell and Isaac Quakenbush dropped the gloves again in the first with Bell getting the worst of it. While it was a ¬Ågood hockey fight ¬Â Stew took three stitches to close up a scalp wound. He returned to the game later. The Bandits were far more aggressive on this night, and they got a little help from the zebras as is the usual case at the Bandits home ice. Give credit to Brown, as he knows how to work the officials on his home ice. They responded ¬Â¦
With Motor City winning two over Port Huron, and Traverse City winning two as well, the Jr. Blues are back to eight points out of the fourth and final playoff spot. Things don't look good right now with Topeka coming to town next weekend. They always play tough. The Jr. Blues have played Topeka even this year, splitting a series at home and again in Topeka. Let's take two from them!
Let's go Blues!
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North American Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2011
- Poe Commits to UConn - Topeka Pilots
- Monsters Weekly: February 14 - Fresno Monsters
- Corpus Christi Raises $24,250 for American Cancer Society - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bulls Weekly - Five Out of a Possible Six Points, Clinch a Playoff Birth - Amarillo Bulls
- NAHL Announces Players of the Week - NAHL
- Wichita Falls Wildcats Insider - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Walt the Wolf Needs Your Help - Wenatchee Wild
- Fighting Falcons to Return to Port Huron - Port Huron Fighting Falcons
- 'Runners Stay Classy, Dump Mustangs - Topeka Pilots
- NAHL Announces Top Prospects Jersey Auction - NAHL
- Metal Jackets Sweep Weekend - Motor City Metal Jackets
- Still a Long Row to Hoe... - Springfield Jr. Blues
- NAHL Wildcats Coach, Beat Writer on Puska on Pucks - OSC Original by Denis Puska
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