Welcome to Duffer Hockey News for January 12, 2007

Welcome to

"A Drinking Team with a Hockey Problem" Visit the Beak's Web Page: http://www.lopatka.net

Bolingbrook, IL January 5, 2007

Attendance: Excellent


	Old Guys are Back!

Reds 7, Whites 5

The Reds jumped off to an early 3-0 lead with Goals by Tweedy, Mini Wheezer and Frank's Grandson, Bobby. Robby answered Tweedy's goal to make it 3-1 after one period. Steve made it 3-2 in the second period, but Bill BTW scored a goal that could have been disallowed by an alert referee, because Harvey went to the White Bench during a line change, when he realized that he was the only guy in a bright Red sweater on the Home bench, he skated over to the Red bench, while Bill was busy scoring his goal. Bill added another in the second,


	Stump, Knarf and Koss were key players on Defense.

but the Whites answered with 3 of there own to make it 5-5 after 2 periods. (Tommy, Steve and Robby) Hacksaw was salivating at the possibility of a shoot out, but Koss fluttered the game winner past the Brain mid way through the third. Bobby added an insurance goal in the final minutes. Thor and Brinks had many chances, thanks to unselfish passing by Tommy and Robby but The Anvil thwarted them all. Tweedy did his best to set up Harvey and Beak, but the Brain was on every shot, even Beak's palm shot that hit him in the chest. The Referee in Chief ruled that the goal would have counted, because Beak did not make a deliberate kicking motion. We had another unbelievable night for Parking Lot Beer. Thanks Don!

Put Saturday, March 24th on your calendar for a Road trip to Bloomington. We will leave Saturday Morning around 9:30 from the Cracker Barrel on Weber Rd and I-55. (You can leave your car there, Maybe Berserk will bring his Van)
We will play a Duffer Game around noon in the brand new U.S. Cellular Coliseum. We will have food and drinks at 4:00, then watch the Bloomington PrairieThunder play the PORT HURON FLAGS at 7:05.
Our Bloomington Duffer, Emil, is getting us overnight accommodation information.
I will need to know 4 things: 1.) if you plan to play. 2.) if you plan to watch the PrairieThunder. 3.) if you will need a room. 4.) your room mate preference.


	Art and Emil will fill out the squad with our Peoria Duffers. Our all time favorite Rivermen player, Trevor Baker is a Player/Assistant Coach. Their Head Coach, Derek Booth, also played for the Rivermen. http://www.prairiethunderhockey.com/ See Page 2


	Only 2 of these guys were missing on Friday.

Page 2


	Midnight Hockey By Bill Gaston

I want to thank the Flea’s Dad for bringing this entertaining book down to the good old USA last month. Perry passed it on to me, on New Year’s Day and I am happy to say that I am on page 170 already and there are no pictures! The author describes the not so serious hockey that is played by guys that have given up the NHL dream. There are some 600,000 guys playing Midnight Hockey in Canada. He divides it up into 2 groups. Beer Leagues are played by speedy guys in their 20s and 30s and then there is Old Timer Hockey that is played by guys that can no longer keep up with the Beer League guys.

I want to share a few quotes and thoughts each week from this book, since it mirrors many of the characters and events that the Duffers have witnessed over the years. He had a guy on his team named Kelly, that finally “Hung um up” in his late 60s, so that he could teach dancing on a cruise ship. (He had to sign a promissory note that he would not bed any of his mostly elderly students. Maybe Harvey is still with us because he would never sign anything that silly.

“Bill Gaston Quotes”

“Life is the bigger game that we play hockey to get away from.”

“Hockey players are good at the game of life, because they can play when they are hurt. If you can’t play hurt, you can’t play.” When you are an Old Timer, you no longer heal, injuries become part of your body.” (I think of Klinger)

These quotes got me off of the couch last Friday and motivated me to strap those pads on my aching legs. The author talks about going to the rink and watching the last 10 minutes of his team’s game when his back was hurt. That post game beer tasted lousy. That is exactly what I have been going through. He notes that no one can watch 3 periods of an old timer’s game. When you try, you end up opening the “Gate” on the bench. A very thankless job. Especially when younger guys jump over and slash your hand with their skate.

Neil the Beer Guy, who rolled his car on the way to a game, broke a few ribs, broke a wheel off of the cooler, scattered the beer cans all over the place. The Canadian police helped him gather up all of the dented cans, then drove him to the game and he showed up dragging the 1 wheel cooler into the rink in the third period. The police waited outside to take him to the hospital, but after a few post game beers, he got a ride home from a team mate.

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