Romeoville, IL 08/08/08
Attendance 22

We had Great Coaching!
Beak looked out onto the ice before the game and saw 10 Duffers wearing white, and only 2 wearing Red, (That happens often when more than 2 Granatos show up) so he went into the locker room and made a call for some players to wear red.  After warm ups, the Reds still didn't have 2 lines, so Kevin, the speedy cheese head put on a red jersey and evened up the sides.  It was a great tune up for the season that starts on September 5th.  Both of our regular goalies were back in the nets.  Steve Granato beat the Anvil early with a break away goal, but Geno came back a little later and knotted the score with a shot that beat the Brain for his first goal.  Geno gave the Reds the lead with another goal later in the first period.

Kevin, a Granato by marriage, played a beautiful Duffer game, He set up Meaningful Duffers every chance he got, without taking a shot until late in the game.  Geno took advantage of his speedy center and picked up his Hat Trick early in the second period.  Steve G brought the Whites back to a one goal deficit with another break away goal.  Mini Wheezer beat the Brain to give the Reds a 4-2 lead, then Basketball Jones made it 5-2.  Terry the Terror fired one past the Anvil to make it 5-3 and then Steve G made it 5-4 with his Hat Trick, but Geno answered that goal with his fourth.  Donny G nailed the post so hard that the Anvil's ears were ringing until the buzzer ended the second period.  Kevin finally took a shot and made it gave the Reds a 7-4 lead.  Geno added his 5th in the 3rd and sealed the victory.  Magoo got a break away in the final minute and Kevin demonstrated restraint as he slowed down to match Magoo's speed and followed him in for the rebound that never came, as John beat the Anvil to make the final score 8-5.
Hacksaw continued his Bret Favre tactics as he threatened to retire.  He was offered a smaller scale Favre like deal.  Thor said he would give him $20.00 to stay away for 5 years.  Boris really enjoys the media attention. Geno said, "Have Kevin go Red every week".
Coaches We not only had the Donny Granato, the Chicago Wolves newest Head Coach, playing for us, but we had the Head Coach of the Colorado Avalanche in the stands watching us play.  Tom Ambrosia was testing his bad back by helping Tony watch us.  I gave the Granato brothers a goal for this season.  Why not bring the 2 most sought after Cups to the Duffer Picnic next summer.  Donny would have to get his team to repeat and win the Calder Cup and Tony would have to get his Avalanche team to win Lord Stanley's Cup.  That is not too much to ask is it?   It has been done before, see the picture of both Cups meeting in Minnesota on Page 2.

  Road Trip!
The Duffers have been going on even year road trips.  Denver-04, Toronto, 06 and  Phoenix, 08.  A road trip for 09 was discussed at the picnic meeting.  Uncle Bob made an offer that we couldn't refuse, so we are going  to Arizona in March.  Tony offered us a nice Denver package for 2010.  Darren and Lou said they would fly in from Canada  to warm up in  Arizona and Perry said he would fly in from Texas to cool off.