Blue Fin’s Bistro Hockey

The Blue FIn’s Bistro Hockey Team played in their first ever Championship against Labatt’s.  Labatt’s finished in first place in the regular season.  They lead the league in goals - with nearly 50 more than the closest team.  They also have the top 4 scorers in the league for goals, assists, and points.

But the FIn’s were ready.  No one was willing to let a season of hard work go unrewarded.  All the glorius statistics meant nothing to the Fin’s….they only wanted to capture the last and most important statistic.

Just over a minute into the game, Labatt’s lit the lamp first on a goal that stunned the Fin’s.  The Fin’s kept fighting with short shifts, high energy, and a ton of heart.

But Labatt’s scored two more goals early in the first period and with a 3 goal deficit, the Blue Fin’s composure started to slip through their fingers.

Dave ‘Big Ragoo’ Berent got his team right back in it when Mike ‘Steel Pecs’ Hofmeister fired a laser-like pass across the net.  Berent snapped the puck in the net like Wonder Woman deflects bullets with her super bracelets.  (Of course, the reference to Wonder Woman is in no way degrading to Dave, who is like some masculine super hero kind of guy who cooks fish and scores goals….and maybe even has an invisible jet.)

Still in the first period, Labatt’s scored their fourth goal to restore their 3 goal lead.  (4-1) In the 2nd period, the game became much more physical.  It was, by far, the most agressive game Labatt’s played and arguably the word ‘chippy’ was appropriate at many times. 

Seven penalties were called in the second period, but the FIn’s could not take advantage.  Ken ‘Scooby Doo’ Glanvile scored an unassisted goal in the 2nd period and again a comeback seemed attainable.  (4-2) Labatt’s however, took advantage of a power play and the momentum swung back to Labatt’s.  When they increased their lead to four goals, desperation started to set in for the Fin’s.

Leading the Fin’s on the ice, Stephen ‘Locomotive’ Tsotsoros skated as hard as he could for the entire game.  Another notable performance was recorded by ’The White Shadow’ - Keith Locker.  Recognizing the importance of the game, and the predicament his team was in - Locker assumed the unfamiliar role of drawing penalties - instead of committing them. 

The Blue Fin’s scrambled in the 3rd period and never gave up.  Labatt’s 7th goal (7-2) essentially iced the game and the championship.  The Blue Fin’s played hard, but didn’t have the chemistry they enjoyed in the previous few games. 

It was a great season.  Here is your Blue Fin Bistro Hockey Team:

Captain Mike McGee - defines the word hustle on every shift - also a GREAT CAPTAIN

A. Captain Matt Pusteri - fast, fast, fast; wicked back-hand shot

A. Captain Mike Hofmeister - a natural goal scorer, and witty to boot

Adam Hoover - played one of his best seasons yet, he gets better every single game

Stephen Tsotsoros - he’s the only guy with an actual hockey last name.  He led the team in scoring.

Dave Berent - sponsored the team, owner of Blue Fin’s Bistro - and is always a threat to use the fists

Mark Ross-unmatched eye-hand coordination, great poke checks, and by far the best locker room stories

Joe Moreschi - plays with heart and plays inspiring defense

Keith Locker - plays blue collar hockey - skates hard, hits harder

Wes Gyure - long time teammate, but subbed this season - plays tough D and also scores goals

Bob Cwikla - he’s fast, his legs never stop moving - he gets his own rebounds and scores a lot of goals

Dan Fahey - awesome defense, the other teams have trouble getting by him

Ken Glanville - no one else provides the emotional lift that Kenny does.  he’s as fast as anyone on skates

E.J. Darisse - goalie - he is one of the very best goalies you’ll see on ice - C, BC, etc. 

John Probasco - only guy to get booted from Blue Fins.  he’s an afternoon delight - any time of the day

Bill Rusin - doesn’t like people with big noses

After a monumental come-back victory in the opening round of the play-offs, the Blue Fins matched up against the higher seeded Carolina Ale House.  In only one meeting during the regular season, the Blue Fins lost 4-2. 

Captain Mike McGee laid out the game plan which focused on containing #18 (Vincitorio) and keeping him from rushing up the ice.  In the early stretches of the game, his play time seemed to be reserved for special teams - and probably for later in the game…

The Blue Fins opened up the scoring thanks to a low quick snap from Bob ‘Quickla’ Cwikla.  The 1-0 lead lasted just over 5 minutes until #18 took control of the puck and out maneuvered several Fin skaters.

Both teams scratched and clawed, hoping to take the lead, but the game stayed deadlocked at 1-1 for over a period.  It was an evenly played game, and the tension rose as each team tried to grab the elusive momentum.

Then on a face-off in the Ale House zone – Rusin dropped it back to Dan ‘Cabo-Wabo’ Fahey.  Fahey muscled a blistering shot on goal.  The Ale House goalie managed to block it, but the shot was too hard for him to cover.  The rebound came right to everyone’s favorite blogger who put it past the scrambling goalie.  (no need to mention the fact that this is the only blogger…)

Finally, the momentum started turning:  a minute later – Stephen ‘The Locomotive’ Tsotsoros increased the Fin’s lead, assisted by Cwikla.

E.J. ‘The Sandman’ Darisse didn’t need much help from his defense – but he certainly got it, giving him a restful final two periods.  The Blue Fins held their blue line like the shores of Normandy.  Matt ‘Greased Lightning’ Pusateri played tough defense – poke checking the best Ale House had to offer. 

Also on defense – you might as well put this guy’s picture in Webster’s next to hustle – was Captain Mike McGee.  McGee played good defense and capitalized his hustle on a hard working keep-in that he rolled back into the zone.  Behind the net, Rusin caught the pass and sent it quickly in front to Mike ‘The Body’ Hofmeister.   In the blink of an eye, Hofmeister one-timed the puck, backhand, top-shelf.  It was the shot of the game and the goalie never had a chance.

In the 3^rd period – as expected, the Ale House tried to mount a come back.  But ‘Sandman’ Darisse lived up to his top rated expectations – a sheet of plywood bolted to the cage wouldn’t have stopped more pucks than Darisse.

Rounding out the game – Tsotsoros and McGee slyly moved Tsotsoros back to defense for the final period.  The plan worked to perfection, and the Blue Fins defense swarmed the Ale House attackers. 

Kenny ‘Scooby-Doo’ Glanville iced the game on a fast shot from the right side of the net to increase the lead to 5-1.  

Regardless of the score, the Blue Fins kept hustling and skating hard to the end – giving them one of their most gratifying wins.  The Blue Fins earned a bid to their first championship game ever.  They play league-leading Labatt’s – next week at 7 pm.

The Blue Fins increased their lead thanks to a pass from Bob ‘Quickla’ Cwikla to Kenny ‘Scooby-Doo’ Glanville. Glanville deked the goalie out of his pads and flipped the puck in backhand on a goal tailor-made for the highlight reel.

Mike ‘The Body’ Hofmeister was all hard work and hustle and it paid off early in the 2nd period. He scored his first goal of the night, assisted by Dave Berent, putting the Blue Fins ahead by 3-0.

Matt ‘Speedster’ Pusateri led the defensive effort and repeatedly carried the puck out of his zone to safety. Another slice of the defensive pie was served up from Mark ‘Skipper’ Ross. Ross’s eye-hand skills paid off with skillful poke-checks as well as a pin-point pass that resulted in an assist. Rounding out the Blue Fins protection was Wes ‘That Guy’ Gyure who also played hard despite only 3 skaters to share the load.

This reporter’s favorite player scooped up a loose puck and delivered it past the Crunch minder which increased the lead to four goals.

The Crunch thwarted E.J. Darisse’s attempt at a shut-out early in the 3rd period. Either before or after this goal, though, it didn’t affect the game. Darisse again was at the top of his game and showed why he leads the league in Goals Against, Goals Against Average, Shutouts, and Save % for regular goalies.

Tsotsoros restored the four goal lead early in the 3rd period thanks to more superior locomotion.

Then - ‘THE BODY’ took over:

Mike Hofmeister’s next goal was a result of more hard work. When the goalie failed to smother the puck, Hof raced from behind the net, grabbed the puck, and scored his second of the night.

Hofmeister completed his first career hat trick on the final goal of the game. After a pass from Rusin, Hofmeister skated around the Crunch defense - and scored shorthanded - completing the rout for the Blue Fins.

The Blue Fins end the regular season with a strong win and enter the play-offs in 4th place thanks to a 7-4 record. Their first play-off game is Monday at 10:00 pm against the Wanderers.