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2014-15 Duffer Schedule

We are working on a "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" Road Trip to Detroit.  We leave Thursday March 5th and return Sunday, March 8th.  I need a $100 deposit to reserve you a seat to the Redwing-Flames game on Friday March 6th.  See the latest news for details.

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Getting ready to go to Detroit in 1981.  (Left to right) Titz, Magoo, Frank H, Fred, Frank P, Boris, Dan M, Slime Dog, Stump, Thor and Paul Jr.

Here is a link to all 40 past Duffer Road Trips. Duffer road trips

Go to Duffer History

Duffer Nicknames

Wags Hockey

Alphabetical Nicknames

Duffer News

Hat Trick for Grandpa Tom!

Romeoville, IL December 12, 2014  Attendance: 24
 Six Meaningful Goals!
December 12, 2014
We had a nice turnout and a great game. T&A scored early and often to boost the Reds to a win.  The game was close until the 3rd period.  The Reds took an early lead when T&A took a pass from Speed Racer Jeff and beat Johnny B on the stick side high. Art scored twice to give the Whites a 2-1 lead.  After the second goal, Beak told Jeff to get that goal back and he did. Senior Joe Mazzarella scored and gave the Whites a 3-2 Lead.  Joe's son, still smarting from his a new Woody tattoo, tied the game with a break away goal. Koss was on the bench when Joe got ready to shoot from 20 feet out and he said, "Not from there!"  When the puck went into the net and he shouted, "Way to go!" The tie only lasted a few shifts until Joe's cousin Dan sailed a slap shot past the Anvil to give the Whites a 4-3 lead late in the second period.  Beak tied it when he fired a wrist shot through a maze of players.  The puck managed to miss a defender, T&A, Beak's grandson Jeff and Goalie John who never saw the puck.

The latest Duffer Grandpa. 

Jeff said said that if that puck was a little higher, he would be singing alto in the church choir. The Reds took over the 3rd period when Grandpa Tom scored twice to pick up a hat trick.  Monet Mike fired a shot in from the point for a Lopatka Hat trick. (All 3 Lopatkas a goal) Magoo scored the 5th meaningful goal for the Reds when he redirected a blast from Jeff past Johnny B.  Art's son AJ got even with his dad for an early trip by tapping in a meaningless goal with 1.5 seconds left in the contest.

Trip Details 
 I got a lot of input at Wild Wings and most agree with keeping cost down. We selected a Detroit Trip Board of Directors. (The 5 guys that were still standing at Wild Wings after 1:00) Terry asked the board if he could bring Dylan for his 14th birthday.  He has been our referee since 2007 and all he wants for his birthday is to play with the Duffers. The Detroit Trip Board members agreed to his request.  After taking our beer goggles off Terry and the Board agreed that nothing good could come from bringing adolescents and a wife on a Duffer Road trip. We will have 3 GODs (Grandsons Of Duffers) that will be going on the trip now that they are past the legal drinking age.  
I have 24.5 skaters and 1.5 spectators that have given a verbal commitment. 7 of those players are coming in from other places. We still need a goalie. The Anvil was in no condition to make a decision after the locker room party. My Brother's Grandson Dan the Bradley Goalie, is now 21 and he may be able to help us out again like he did in Pittsburgh.

  
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The King was the first to send in his $100 check Harvey and  Barron gave me $100 cash , so I know we have 3 people going "fersure".  T&A, Perry, Lou and Darrin said, "the Check is in the mail" T&A sent a check for his brother and him.  His Brother Joe was moved from the spectator column to the Players list!
With these numbers, we were tempted to go to a bus, but then we will lose some if they have to pay $200 or more for transportation, so we are going with the original plan of an old time Duffer Trip.  Planes, Trains and Automobiles.  
Tony has 30 tickets reserved for the Friday 3/06/2015 Redwings /Flames game.  Get  your check in now. so that I can give Tony a firm number and lock in the seats.  

  • · Let me know how you are getting there and if you have room for passengers. 
  • · Berserk has 2 empty seats left in his van.  He has another Van if you want to drive it
  • · Klinger has room for 3 in his truck, plus Hockey bags.  Bob Morgan also has room in his truck.  I sent out a list of roommates to those Duffers who expressed an interest in going.  Please make these arrangements and let me know as soon as possible.  
  • We will skate in the "Joe" on Friday and we may skate at Ligget University on Saturday Morning.   
Mail Checks made out to:
Greg Lopatka, 
6906 Valley View Drive
Downers Grove, IL 65016


Memorable Moments:

  • Newest Grandpa had a Hat Trick·
  • All 3 Lopatkas scored a goal
Perfect attendance: 
only 2 Duffers have Friday Perfect Attendance: Speed Racer Jeff and Fruitcake Fred.

As Jimmy Buffett would say, . "We got a lot to drink about"

(Above) The King came to lunch last week, had some laughs and got talked into going to Detroit on March 5th.

(Right) Former Duffer Bob Friedlander is scouting for the LA Kings.  He got some time with the cup last summer.

 

Grandpa Tom and his first grandson.

He missed the Thanksgiving game for a good reason.

Drinks were flowing as they celebrated the new arrival.  They were very late getting to Wild Wings.

I don't know how many beers you have to have to get talked into drinking out of a goalie's skate.

Carmela got this chewed up puck at her Daddy's game.  No, she did not chew it up. 

Ken became a grandpa 7 years ago and Beak became a great grandpa for doing nothing.
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Tweedy's son Luke was freaked out by this Beer nuts look alike Santa last year when he was a 2 year old, but this year when his Mom told him that he better be good or Santa would not bring him any toys.  He told her, "I'm gona punch Santa in the face and take all of his toys!"

(Above) That is Jeff with Bobby Hull

(Left) Beak with his sons, Dan and Ken and his grandson Jeff and Granddaughter Amanda.

The Anvil working on overtime pay.

On April 4th, 1981, we went to Birmingham Michigan to play some hot shots.  We had 3 full lines, 8 defensemen, 2 goalies and there were 7 Healthy Scratches (Failed to pay the King on time).  The King was able to let some guys rest on the saboth.

Goalies:  Slime  Dog and Stump (Backup for both Games)

1st Line: Jeff A, Frank P. and Dan M. 2nd Line: Wally, Magoo and Boris. 3rd Line: Beak, Geno and Thor

Defense: Titz, The King, Frank H, Mike M, Timmy D, Bobka, Commander Paul and Muzzy

Healthy Scratches (Failed to pay the King on time) Friedlander, Paul Jr, Larry H, Bruce, Bob Campagna, Dave the Hot Head and Carl Sod Buster

 

 

 

Go to the Last Duffer News

Go to 2012 The Last MLF Game

Go to 2011 MLF Game

(Anvil's Daughter won it!)

Go to 2010 The First MLF Game

Visit The Rampage Women's Hockey Team web site at: http://www.rampagehockey.org/index.cfm

They Have 2 WODs and  on their team. Their DOD moved to Canada for Graduate School.

WOD=Wife Of a Duffer, DOD = Daughter of a Duffer

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Tweedy's Wags Game

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Peoria History

Nashville Game 2

Bill Gaston interview

Michelle Spillman hits and fields

      

To E-mail the Duffer News Web master, just click here! g.lopatka@comcast.net

You can e-mail History updates to Beak. 

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Call 630-493-1199 ask for Mike Lopatka

1402 Ogden Ave Downers Grove

www.skingallerydg.com

Mike won 11 awards for his artistic creations at the Tattoo convention in Champaign.

Mike's latest work of art on Joe Mazzarella III's leg.

Ann Arbor Music DVDs are ready to ship.  $10 includes shipping and handling. you can also get classic copies of:

 

You may find the following links useful:

Ben Oskroba's First professional goal for the Peoria Rivermen

Drago's Hockey Lessons

Here is a video, thanks to Perry and Paula on How to be a Hockey Player 

 

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Michelle Spillman

Michelle Spillman 10-31-10

Michelle hits a 2 run home run for Romeoville High School in a 3-0 victory against Joliet Catholic Academy.

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JC-Homerun.MOV

Michelle Spillman hit a 2 run Home run to beat Joliet Catholic on April 18, 2012. ... greg Lopatka ... Michelle Spillman and Romeoville High School. ...

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Highland Park-Homerun.MOV

Michelle Spillman hit her 4th homerun on April 21, 2012 to beat Hershey High. ... greg Lopatka ... Michelle Spillman "outdoor sports" ...

 

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Michelle3Base hit.MOV

Michelle hit a triple to help beat Highland Park High 8-5 on 4/21/2012.

 

Patrick Kane Stickhandling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REAqCB9vfbU

Brandon Bollig Stickhandling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3B8v_ZHA10

 

Duffers Hockey Canlan Ice Sports Romeoville 2014-2015 Schedule

wk      Date              Time

1 September 5, 2014 8:00 PM ***

2 September 12, 2014 8:40 PM

3 September 19, 2014 8:40 PM

4 September 26, 2014 8:40 PM

5 October 3, 2014 8:40 PM

6 October 10, 2014 8:40 PM

October 17, 2014 NO ICE

7 October 24, 2014 8:40 PM

8 October 31, 2014 8:40 PM

November 7, 2014 NO ICE

9 November 14, 2014 8:40 PM

10 November 21, 2014 8:40 PM

11 Thanksgiving 8:45 at Downers Grove IceArena

November 28, 2014 NO ICE

December 5, 2014 NO ICE

12 December 12, 2014 8:40 PM

13 December 19, 2014 8:40 PM

December 26, 2014 NO ICE

14 January 2, 2015 8:40 PM

15 January 9, 2015 8:40 PM

16 January 16, 2015 8:40 PM

January 23, 2015 NO ICE

17 January 30, 2015 8:40 PM

18 February 6, 2015 8:40 PM

19 February 13, 2015 8:40 PM

20 February 20, 2015 8:40 PM

21 February 27, 2015 8:40 PM

22 March 6, 2015 8:40 PM

23 March 13, 2015 8:40 PM

24 March 20, 2015 8:40 PM

25 March 27, 2015 8:40 PM

26 April 3, 2015 8:40 PM

27 April 10, 2015 8:40 PM

28 April 17, 2015 8:40 PM

29 April 24, 2015 8:40 PM

30 May 1, 2015 8:40 PM