Weekly Crosscheck Vol. 2, #1
October 5, 2006
Hi Everybody! Winnipeg Johnny here. (GM, Birchcliff Ice Bats of The Hockey Blog All Stars Fantasy Hockey League.) So the puck has dropped on another season. We are up to twelve teams this year, so I thought I’d give you a little who’s who of teams (as best I know at this point). It looks like we are going to break the league into a Northern and Southern division using U.S. Rt. 90 as the line.
Northern Division
A-Team (Manager unknown to me)
SenStanley (Manager unknown to me)
Spezztacular (Manager unknown to me)
5 For Fighting (Manager unknown to me)
Camógaíocht (Manager - Kathleen)
Take Off Eh (Manager - Stephen)
Southern Division
Fenton Pucknuts (Manager - Pucknut John)
ShimerSpankers (Manger - Dave)
Green Bay Monks (Manager - Billy)
Birchcliff Ice Bats (Manager - Winnipeg Johnny)
Sublimators (Manager - Cara)
Saberswinthecup! (Manager - Jim)
I beleive that all the mystery managers are located somewhere in Ontario and are all Sens fans. They are all new to the league this year. I would appriciate it if they would confirm or deny this in the comments, so I can taunt them when the Leafs finally beat the Sens.
Kathleen lives on the U.S. side of the St. Lawrence River, and was the manager of last year’s 6th place team Oochamkunutk (”Ooch” for short). She has decided to change the name of her team primarily, I think, to make it harder for me to write the Crosscheck. From here on out her team name will be reported as “Camo”! I’d have to change your team logo this year anyway, Kathleen. Albany is no longer affiliated with the New Jersey Devils.
Stephen lives somewhere in New Hampshire, and is Cara’s brother. He grew up just on the South side of the St. Lawrence River too, and close enough to Canada to see Hockey Night in Canada on CBC. I believe he may be a Hab’s fan. This is his first year in the league.
Pucknut John lives in Binghamton and he has excellent season ticket seats for the Binghamton Senators. He is also the proprietor if this BLOG site. The Fenton Pucknuts finished first in the league last year. Pucknut is a Rangers fan, although I’m sure he will tell you that his favorite team is, without a doubt, the Binghamton Senators.
Dave is also from Binghamton and works for the same company as Pucknut John. Dave was the manager of the second place Philly Phlamers last year. Since the Moonshimers folded their team this year, Dave is going to have to pick on somebody else. Since he is a Flyers fan who can take it as well as he can dish it, don’t hesitate to flame him. You Ottawa boys…. don’t hold back on our account.
Billy lives in Queens, NY and is without a doubt a die-hard Rangers fan. (Just check his fantasy line-up.) I hope it works out for you better this year Billy. The Green Bay Monks finished in 5th place last year. Sorry I had to grab Lundy out from under you. Perhaps we can talk about a deal for Shanahan. I’m sure a pint of beer at the Irish Cottage will be involved.
Winnipeg Johnny no longer lives in Winnipeg. Unfortunately I no longer live in New York either. I’m sitting behind a desk in Reston Virginia. The Birchcliff Ice Bats finished in 3rd place last year, and I’m trying to improve by not having as many Leafs and Canucks in my line-up. I am a Winnipeg Jets fan, but do not recognize that team from Arizona. My favorite team is the Manitoba Moose.
Cara is originally from Upstate New York, but finds herself in central Florida. The Sublimators finished 4th last year, although they gave the Ice Bats a real run during the play-offs. I think Cara is currently a Lightning fan, although I have known her to cheer for New Haven and Binghamton (UHL), as well as Bridgeport, Manitoba, and Binghamton (AHL). She is a real hockey fan.
Jim is also in central Florida, and is new to the league this year. Although I haven’t met him yet, I gather that he is a Sabers fan. His web-site indicates that he spent a few years in California, although it’s hard to imagine that he did not originally come from Upstate New York if he is a Sabers fan. Jim, are you going to be in Philly for GSA, or San Fransisco for AGU?
Anything anyone else would like to add…. that’s what the comments are for.
Week 1 Matchup
Ice Bats vs. Pucknuts
I’ll concede goaltending to the Pucknuts, but that’s all! This will end close to a 5-5 tie.
Ice Bats will not loose PIM to anybody this year!
Sublimators vs. A-Team
The A-Team is off to a good start thanks to Heatley, but Spezza is just getting warmed up for the Sublimators. The A-Team needs to pick up a third goalie. With the three game rule, I give this one to the Sublimators. Cara… way to pick up Ott!
Green Bay Monks vs. SensStanley
This could be a close one. We’ll have to see if the Rangers play like they did at the beginning of the season last year or at the end. SensStanley needs a third goalie too, so advantage to the Monks, however I think I’ll wait to call this one until after the Rangers game tonight.
Take Off Eh vs. Spezztacular
I’m a little jealous that Spezztacular got both the Sedin brothers and Salo. I wanted them! Sundin also had a great game last night. A good strong team, but I think Take Off Eh is a little stronger. Both teams have two goalies, so I’m giving this one to Stephen.
ShimerSpankers vs. Saberswinthecup!
Wow! Two good looking teams neck and neck so far. This one is going to come down to Sunday night. Both teams have one player who won’t be skating, but Saberswinthecup! needs a third goalie. Otherwise I would have given them this matchup, but I think ShimerSpanker will take it.
5 For Fighting vs. Camo
Hmmm…. I don’t even have to resort to DiPietro jokes to predict that Camo will take this one hands down. Kathleen let the computer chose for her and ended up with a ridiculously great line-up.
The puck is dropped. The game is on. Lets have a great season, and keep your stick on the ice.
That is all.
-Johnny
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2 Responses to “Weekly Crosscheck Vol. 2, #1”
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OK, the Rangers played a good, tight game last night. I give Week 1 to the Green Bay Monks over SensStanley hands down. Do you think they can keep it up for an entire season this year Billy?
-Johnny
You may not believe this, but the bulk of my NYR aquisitions were the luck of the draw–obviously The Hockey Gods want the Monks to weight heavy on my favorite team, so who am I to argue? After watching the opener, even dangling Lundy before my eyes won’t tempt me to part with Shanny. Damn you.
-the Felonious Monk