EHL Conference Champs Decided

EHL Drop In Skates
We will continue to skate Wed & Fri 7:30 – 9 pm through May. All drop in ice time is managed with the Gears Beer Hockey app. There will be some openings on Fridays that we have not seen lately. We are running two sheets. Jeff Rouse is organizing a sheet for his Alumni Tournament prep. June through mid-August we will drop Friday and keep Wednesday going. The rink has a drop in hockey app now also, search CFH Hockey in your favorite app store, of visit Perfect Skate.

EHL 2018/19 Season

The final conference games were held on Sunday and the conference champs have been decided. Passions ran high during the day and there was some extra drama and ref penalty calculation time that we don’t normally see. Overall a great season. This is hockey and shit happens.

Game Wrapups

The first game was Bullfrogs vs Scrap Dogs. Bullfrogs went hot and cold all season. Scrap Dogs came on strong after a slow start. For the loser bracket game, it should just be for fun. Scrap Dogs had thirteen skaters and Bullfrogs had six. Your commissioner was one of the six. Bullfrogs scored first and Scrap Dogs tied it up a while later. With a few minutes left in the game tempers flared and two players were asked to leave. The game was decided in OT. Bullfrogs won in a shootout. All that for third place:)

The Stout Conference (40+) Championship game.
Old Fokkers took on Gooners Dogs and won handily by a 4-0 score. I’m told by Gooners that early in the game they blew a perfect opportunity to score and it just didn’t get better from there. Gooners certainly wins the most beer drank award though! I left hours after the games and they were still working some. I expected some fireworks during this game, but nothing major developed, thankfully!

The kids 25+, Lager Conference.
Hartwig Tree couldn’t overcome the talented Gutter Guys in the losers bracket. If Gutter Guys had a full bench for every game they would have been contenders. Brian Savard won the Guzzler Prize once again this season. Three or four in a row for him! Hartwig continues to be solid competitors and they never complain! My favorite kind of hockey team:) Thanks, Mike!

Frozen Wings has dominated all season with only two losses, but Chicken Shack won the Championship. Spring break and illness hurt the Frozen Wings bench, but don’t take anything away from the hard playing Chicken Shack. Rico and crew of Chicken Shack never stop coming at you. They play hard and they earned the Lager Championship. There was some extra drama in this game also. Passions can run high, it is hockey.

EHL Bragging Rights
Chicken Shack meets Old Fokkers on Sunday (March 31) at 1:15 pm. This will be a fun game to watch, come have a beer!

Special Thanks
The league and the technology wouldn’t be possible without the help of Jeff Dennings and my brother Mike. Jeff worked tirelessly to develop our drop-in hockey app and it has made running a sheet super easy. Plus, he organizes the scorekeepers and manages the registration and posting of score sheets.

Each team has some glue that holds it together. Thank you to Rico Phillips, Darren Newton, Ty Burt, Chris Green, Mike Hartwig and Greg Dufour for excellent work running your team. This is the first year since the league has stated that we actually collected all the team fees.

A big thanks to my lovely bride for allowing me to head to the rink three times and week and going herself twice a week to help with the drop in skates. I’m blessed.

Hey, let’s not forget the refs. Andy Pavolich did another great job getting us some stripes for the games and for the most part they got their hands out of their pockets:) All I have to say is that I’m glad I’m not a ref! Thanks, guys!

The 2019/20 Season

To help teams get sponsors and fund the ice bill, I’ve set up a sponsorship form for next season. We want to grow a few teams also. Some interest has been expressed, but time will tell. First come first serve. So get your team commitment into me for next season and help spread the word, please. The form is linked up below.

Sponsor Form

Stout Champions – again… Old Fokkers
Click the image to view their roster.

Lager Champions – Chicken Shack
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Gooners Dogs 2nd place Stout Conference
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Frozen Wings 2nd place Lager Conference
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Gutter Guys Lager Conference
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Bullfrogs Stout Conference
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Hartwig Tree Svc Lager Conference
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Scrap Dogs Stout Conference
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2017/18 Conference Champs Determined!

Stout Conference Champs Old Fokkers!

Old Fokkers beat Gears Beer 2-0 (empty net for second) to win the Stout Conference. Team Gears Beer came together throughout the season. Since they have not skated together before, it takes a while to gel. Plus, their regular goalie, Ben Liebenow, was real stingy with the goals. Gears Beer finished second to Old Fokkers. Not only has Old Fokkers played together longer than any team in our league – by decades – they also have the goalie with the lowest goals against for the season, Greg Weingarden. Only 33 goals (33 in conference, 40 total) during 17/18 regular season. Team TLC is closest with 58 GA in conference, 63 total. The only fully intact original team is the Old Fokkers. I split my team in half this season and what was MoJoes is now Gutter Guys with a different player mix. The “house” team from our first season is now Hartwig Tree. Interesting how things evolve. The “losers” bracket for Stout was won by Bullfrog 40 over Gooner’s Dogs even before we dropped the puck. Gooner’s brought an army and a guy wasn’t on the playoff roster. They told me that they forfeit, but let’s play. Well in a way that puts extra pressure on me, because I don’t want to win by forfeit! Nate was tough in net for Gooner’s Dogs but I followed up Chris Green’s goal with a tip off a deep corner pass by my center, Kevin O’Brien. We ended up winning 3-2 in a shootout. Big fun! The undisputed champs at supporting Skaters Bar is certainly Gooner’s Dogs. I’m going to miss hanging out and sharing war battles!

Lager Conference Champs Gutter Guys!

Gutter Guys beat Bullfrogs 25 to win the Lager Conference.

Bullfrogs 25 overcame some tough odds to make it to the finals. In August of last year I told them to rebuild their team with half the players. I pulled all the old guys to form a 40+ team. Gutter Guys was just too much though. The game started out great and was tied one to one for the first third, but after a couple penalties it all fell apart and Gutter Guys closed out the Lager Conference with a 6-2 win. Last years league champs, Hartwig Tree Service was ousted by Team TLC in a four to three battle for third place. Sorry guys, the Gooner’s Dog team had pickled baloney and home made salsa in the bar, so I didn’t see as much of your game! BTW, tell you wife she is right, Chris – that salsa is addicting! Note Team TLC is making a statement with their pic, nice job Eugene! So, we can start a new movement, hockey lives matter. We do hope that everyone, regardless of ability, had fun playing ice hockey this season. That is what it is about. Play hard, skate hard, but have fun. If we all focus on the common goal of fun, it will continue to grow. More teams means more variety in play and more fun.

Brian Savard Wins Guzzler Prize

We might have to rename this the Savard prize! Brian Savard earned 45 points with 26 goals. Drew Lang was catching up quick as a late starter into the league. He was second with 40 points with 23 goals. Brian earns the $50 Guzzler Prize this year. Who will earn it next year? Ty? Jason? There are a few within striking range this season.

Drawing TO Be held 4/8 for St Paulie Girl Prize

Players without penalties are leigilbe to draw a card for a $50 prize. High card wins $50.

EHL Championship game

In an epic battle, Gutter Guys will play Old Fokkers for the bragging rights and a case of beer. The game will be held at 1:15 on April 8th.

2018/19 Registration is open

Players can start registering towards their team deposit. We plan to hold at twelve teams next season. Help spread the word and get registered early. You know how people are. They like to join once they know that you are committed, so register early.

EHL Registration

11-12 Hockey Update

Eclectic Hockey League Action

Stout Division

Gooner’s Dogs faced Gears Beer with their main goaltender, Ben, in net. Ben is like a wall. Chris High, John (the kid) Finn and Mark Minaudo scored for Gears Beer to win 3-0. BTW, Ben assisted on the third goal:)

I have to share this: There was grumbling by Gooners players about the kid who scored all three goals for Gears Beer. So I looked into it and the “kid” was John Finn who I skate with a few times a week. John is way over 40! He was a late add as a regular to the team and wears a plain white jersey. We just don’t look the same with gear on do we?

Inter Conference Play

Old Fokkers faced their first inter conference team, Bullfrogs 25. Bob Gidcumb earned another hat trick to lead Old Fokkers to a 6-3 victory over the kids!

Side note: There was an incident where a player went down hard and felt that he was slew footed. It got heated and the player addressed his concern to the ref. The ref felt that the player was out of line and the player was ejected. This is a reminder that we need to be respectful of our refs. There will be dumb calls, even missed calls. Yelling or swearing a the ref will not help.

Bullfrogs 40 broke their goal drought! (Celebrate small successes!) They faced Team TLC in their first Inter Conference game. The one goal wasn’t enough though as Team TLC won 5-1.

Health Status of Goalie: Our sponsor, Bullfrogs owner, Mike Stevenson was in net to start the game and he gave us a big scare. Mike was facing a ton of shots unfortunately, and he became so short of breath he couldn’t get up. We had emergency response on hand with Rico and off ice we had Ben from Gears Beer, who is a Bay City fireman, as well as a few other guys helping out. Greg from Gears Beer called a paramedic and he was checked out. Other than high blood pressure, he recovered quickly and headed home. I spoke with him later that evening and he was doing better. Thanks to everyone who came together to help. We play hard but we are a fellowship and need to help each other out.

BTW, our regular goalie, Tom Huchings, skated with the Bullfrogs 25 team and came over to fill in for us. He got run over during the game. Not a fun day for our goalies!

Lager Conference

Gutter Guys faced Hartwig Tree in a very close game. John Moran of Hartwig got fired up in the third period and scored a hat trick! It wasn’t enough though as Gutter Guys won 5-4.

Reminder that next week there is a UM Womens game against CMU after our games. We start at 10:30 am!

Looking for ice time?

Wednesday & Friday 7:30-9 pm Visit https://fullbenchicetime.com to grab a spot.

Crystal Fieldhouse Leauge Standings

18A

18B

18C

40A

I stopped in to watch Craftwerk vs Lemieux Agency since I know most of the guys on both teams. Lemieux Agency came on hard from a 4-1 deficit, but too little too late. Craftwerk got an empty net goal late for a 6-4 win.

Polar Palace Leagues

11-5 Hockey Update

EHL Update

Stout Conference

Gears Beer hung in with Old Fokkers through two periods but lost 5-7 to the Old Fokkers.

Bullfrogs 40 has not scored in six periods now. Watch out, they are preserving their goals for future games! Gooners Dogs beat them 3-0.

Lager Conference

Team TLC won 5-1 against returning champ Hartwig Tree Movers.

Bullfrogs 25 started out the game without a goalie and ended the first period tied 2-2. Gutter Guys poured on three goals in the second period and took the 5-4 win.

Looking for ice time?

Visit FullBenchIceTime.com

Crystal Fieldhouse Leagues

Polar Palace Leagues

10-29 Hockey Update

Eclectic Hockey League

Stout Conference

Bullfrogs 40 wasn’t able to light the lamp at all Sunday as Gears Beer tallied up five unanswered goals, then an empty netter to top off their 6-0 win. Ouch!
Congrats to David Taylor and Mark Minaudo for both scoring two goals.

Doc and Bob teamed up on the only goal in the Old Fokkers vs Gooners Dogs game for a 1-0 win for Old Fokkers.

Lager Conference

Great job by a very short bench for Bullfrog 25, but not quite enough. They held their own, even without a goalie early in the game. Score of 2-2 at the end of the first. They held the line and even had a lead mid way through the second period. Andrew Langdon of Bullfrog’s took a puck to the head which left them even shorter for a bit. Nice job Matt Day for racking up a hat trick!
Hartwig ran away in the third to take an 8-5 win.

Mike Hazel was the only producer for Team TLC this week and it wasn’t enough to stop the talented Gutter Guys. Brian Savard wracked up another hat trick to lead Gutter Guys to a 5-2 win.

The below points are off for Hartwig as we are waiting on a scoring update.

For any scoring edits, contact jeff@gears.beer to fix the stats. Visit EHL on Hockey-Community to view all records.

Crystal Fieldhouse Leagues

Let’s start with the 40A league. A handful of these guys are regulars for our Wednesday and Friday drop in skates. Some real talent out there. Early in the season, but Rouse and crew at Craftwerk are neck and neck with Eric Lemieux of Lemieux Agency. Tucker and Flint Welding have a little catching up to do.

Not looking good for my friends on Saturn in the 18a! Looks like Chuck needs a little help up front! The Barn seems to be the team to beat at this point.

What is up with JF Photography? They are undefeated and only 14 goals against?

Polar Palace Leagues

10-15 Hockey Update

Despite the unusually warm weather, we are getting deep into the 2017/18 hockey season for most leagues. A lot going on at both Polar Palace and Crystal Fieldhouse. Here is a quick snapshot of the standings in the leagues with my select editorial comments for those interested.

Eclectic Hockey League

Our fourth week of games, so we faced a previous foe in each conference this week. Bullfrogs 40 edged out Gooners Dogs in a 4-3 Stout Division (40+) game. A couple of new players were added to the Gears Beer team roster and they held their own against undefeated Old Fokkers in a 3-2 loss. Gary Richards of Bullfrogs 40 scored a hat trick Sunday to put him in a tie with Don Lambert of Old Fokkers with 9 points each.

In the Lager Division (25+) Team TLC edged out Hartwig Tree Service in a 4-3 game. The Gutter Guys had a few guys on the bench for a change and out worked a short bench for Bullfrogs 25 in an 8-3 win. Gutter Guy’s goal scorer, Brian Savard is dominating the stats with seven goals and seven assists so far this season. Gutter Guys team manager Trever Funseth is second with five and five.

Crystal Fieldhouse Leagues

Jeff Rouse and company of team Craftwerk edged out Lemieux in a close 4- 3 win to take over first place.

Polar Palace Leagues

18+ Silver

Ray C’s handed Lonesome Mt Outfitters their very first defeat in a 3 – 1 game.

18+ Bronze

K & S Tree Service maintains first place with a crushing win over The Money Box 7-1. Sorry there Mike Cherry! Nice job with four goals in four games though!!

18+ Tin

Dirty Work Fabrication continues their undefeated streak. Only 8 goals scored on Nick Gawlas so far this season! Nice job Nick! Highwood edged out Prestige Worldwide to keep the points spread tight in the middle of the pack.