Weekly Crosscheck Vol. 2, #5
October 30, 2006
Pucknut back again for more gloating.
Yes, the Fenton Pucknuts continue to win and are slowly climbing out of the cellar and into the mix of top teams who seem to be taking turns bring in first place of the Southern division. This week it is the Ice Bat who, as predicted, batted around the Monks and are one point ahead of the Sublimators in the Southern division. Helped by the tricks from Sid the Kid and Tomas Kaberle the Bats also set the season record for goals (19) in a week. The only record set this week, although many others came close. The Monks are now cleaning out the basement as a result of this defeat.
My highlighted matchup of the week between Camo and Sublimators turned into a blowout. Although Camo continued to dominate in goaltending their failure to meet the minimum requirents led to a thrashing that dropped them out of first place in the Northern division. The Sublimators are now poised to make a run for first in the South.
The Spankers did indeed suffer from the light schedule and posted their worst performance of the season. The A-Team were the ones doing the spanking this week which is the only fitting way to treat a Philly fan. The loss dropped the Spankers to 3rd while A-Team jumped into first place of the North.
As predicted, 5 for Fighting moved out of the basement in dramatic fashion by running all over SenStanley. SenStanley even checked in this week, but seems to have run away in shame rather than fixing his lineup. In the last matchup Spezztacular managed to move over the .500 mark while Sabreswinthecup continue their slow decent to the bottom of the Southern division.
Week 5 Matchup
Pucknuts vs Spankers
This is the matchup of the as the last year’s top two teams meet up again in a grudge match. Can the Pucknuts continue their winning ways or will the Spankers turn their team around after last weeks humiliating effort? It will be a close week, but the Pucknuts, of course, will take the victory.
Ice Bats vs Take Off Eh
The Ice Bats try to hold onto their slim lead while Take Off Eh attempts to get their team to, well, take off. They may be near the bottom of the standings, but they have always kept the scoring close so I’m calling for an upset with Take Off Eh winning by a narrow margin. The REAL competition this week will be for the PIM category. The Bats are in first overall and Take Off Eh is second.
Sublimators vs Monks
Can the Ranger’s continue to romp on the West Coast and help the lowly Monks return to form? Not this week. The Sublimators will easily take the week and make a play for first place in the Southern division.
5 For Fighting vs A-Team
After sleep walking to an easy win over SenStanley, 5 for Fighting will be brought back to reality with a tough match against A-Team who are trying to hold onto first place. Look for a close matchup with the A-Team winning while keeping a close eye o the scoreboard to see if Camo can leap frog into first.
Sabreswinthecup vs SenStanley
Looks like its Sabreswinthecup’s week for some easy wins. They will maintain their lead over the last place Monks while SenStanley reaffirms their role as the joke of the league.
Spezztacular vs Camo
Camo will make their comeback this week and try to move back ahead of A-Team and into first place, but don’t count out Spezztacular. I predict Camo will win, but not by as large a margin as they would hope. The race for first will remain close.
So put on your game face (and your helmet hair), it’s week 5!
That is all.
Pucknut
Looking for a Leader
October 29, 2006
I haven’t been posting many updates on the B-Sens, mainly because they’re on the road, but also because this team is still trying to find their identity. All the components for a good team are there, but they haven’t been able to put it together with any consistency. A lot of this has to do with the lack of a preseason and the introduction of many new faces. All teams need an adjustment period to learn their teammates and find develop chemistry. What concerns me is that this team still does not have a captain.
The Senators have been playing with 3 assistant captains. Alternating based on who is in the lineup, but mainly Allison, Bois, Heerema, and with Hedlund filling in at times. Normally I don’t have an issue with a team playing with only A’s, the Rangers did it last season, but this team is different. Their former captain, Denis Hamel, has been playing on the bubble in Ottawa. I can’t help but think that B-Sens Coach Dave Cameron has been holding onto the C incase Hamel returns, but what affect does this have on the team? I feel that the players are waiting for him…almost expecting him to show up and take control of the team and this could be stunting their development.
My feeling is that Cameron should declare the Hamel days over and assign a new captain. Let someone else take control of this team and move on. If Hamel returns, give him an A, but do not undermine the new leadership of the team. So now the question is who to give the C to? Allison has the NHL experience and Heerema is probably our biggest scorer like Hamel last season, but I would give it to Bois. This team and organization needs more grit, more heart, and more players like Danny Bois. What better way to instill the blue collar approach than to name Bois captain.
Jr C Sens vs New Jersey Titans
October 29, 2006
| October 29, 2006 | ||
| 11:15 am |
Jr C Sens vs New Jersey Titans @ 11:15am
Chenango Ice Rink
Jr C Sens vs New Jersey Titans
October 28, 2006
| October 28, 2006 | ||
| 7:45 pm |
Jr C Sens vs New Jersey Titans @ 7:45pm
Chenango Ice Rink
Weekly Crosscheck Vol. 2, #4
October 27, 2006
Greetings all! Pucknut here filling in for Winnipeg Johnny.
I’ll start off by apologizing for the delayed Crosscheck (I guess that would be called charging). I have been busy enjoying the success of my team last week. After being called out in last weeks Crosscheck the Pucknuts have turned things around and are ready to steamroll into first place. When they win the cup again, remember it all started with a thrashing of the Monks.
The Bats were correct that they didn’t stand a chance against the Sublimators goaltending despite putting up respectable numbers, but underestimated how well they would do offensively. Take Off Eh put up some decent numbers, but were upset by the A-Team in a week that was much closer than the final score indicates. 5 For Fighting and Spezztacular showed us that they both suck pretty equally. Camo ran away with it this week it a highly offensive matchup with Sabreswinthecup that featured some of the worst goaltending we’ve seen this season (1/3.39/.870 to sweep goalie stats?!?)
Records continue to fall as teams are finding their stride. The Spankers and Camo matched the goal record with 18. Pucknuts and Take Off Eh set a new record with 32 assists. The Spankers are picking up where they left off last season and set new highs with 21 PP points and 173 shots. The most impressive feat of the season that is unlikely to be beat is the Sublimators with 5 wins, 1.26 GAA and 0.956 coming from the combined work of Giguere, Garon, and Fernandez.
Looking at the standings, Camo continue to stretch their lead of the Northern division while the Spankers move into first place in the South.
Week 4 Matchup
Pucknuts vs Take Off Eh
The Pucknuts have retooled their lineup and will continue their run to the top of the division. Expect Take Off Eh to claim a couple categories, but the end result will be another lopsided Pucknut win.
Ice Bats vs Monks
The Ice Bats have finally claimed the PIM lead and will look to make a run at first. As the Rangers go, so will the Monks and the Rangers are having a slow start. Bats take the win.
Sublimators vs Camo
Camo is the team to beat right now, but the Sublimators have the hottest goaltending in the league. This is the matchup of the week and won’t be determined until the last day. Camo will continue their win streak by a small margin of victory.
Spankers vs A-Team
Another close matchup, but can the Spankers overcome their light schedule? This one will be a draw and allow other teams to leap frog these two in the standings.
5 For Fighting vs SenStanley
Another matchup to determine who sucks less. Can 5 For Fighting take another week and get out of the basement? This week they’ll do it.
Sabreswinthecup vs Spezztacular
Both teams are falling in the standings. Here’s an opportunity for one of them to delay the inevitable for another week.
That is all.
Pucknut
Jr B Sens vs Rochester
October 22, 2006
| October 22, 2006 | ||
| 11:15 am |
Jr B Sens vs Rochester @ 11:15am
Chenango Ice Rink
Jr B Sens vs Rochester
October 21, 2006
| October 21, 2006 | ||
| 7:45 pm |
Jr B Sens vs Rochester @ 7:45pm
Chenango Ice Rink
BU Bearcats at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
October 21, 2006
| October 21, 2006 | ||
| 12:00 pm |
Binghamton University Bearcats at Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ 12:00pm
Ottawa Shuffles Lines
October 20, 2006
After last nights loss to Colorado, Bryan Murray has decided to shuffle the lines. Here’s how the looked in practice today:
Eaves - McAmmond - Alfredsson
Fisher - Spezza - Neil
Heatley - Kelly - Vermette
Schubert - Kaigorodov - McGrattan
Schaefer is nursing an injury and it looks like Hamel will sit. There is also rumors that Spezza’s back is becoming a problem. My guess is that they’re keep Hamel up there and rotate him in until they find some line combinations that work and the injuries get sorted out.
Phaneuf lays out Hamel
October 18, 2006
Here’s the video of Dion Phaneuf taking out Denis Hamel. Watch how Denis pops right back up and gets back into the play.
