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Duffer News! Duffers open their 49th Season
The puck was right, Beak's 3rd great grandchild is a 9 Pound, 7 ounce girl. Teagan Rae was born on September 4th, 2019 Jeff revealed the gender of his child with a slap shot in April. https://youtu.be/hYxImtNewt0
Duffer Birthdays October 1, Fruitcake Bobka (72) October 5, Tommy Z (49) October 9, Monet Mike (35) October 22, Anthony (34) October 28, Doc (61) October 30, Commander Ken (48) November 11 Art (55) November 17 Uncle Bob (60) November 27 Emil Ludi (80) November 28 Tom O (68)
The Jeff Lopez Short Version Duffer Video is on Youtube |
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George Carlin’s Views on Aging (Larry Miller first delivered a similar version) Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we’re kids? If you’re less than 10 years old, you’re so excited about aging that you think in fractions. ‘How old are you?’ ‘I’m four and a half!’ You’re never thirty-six and a half. You’re four and a half, going on five! That’s the key. You get into your teens, now they can’t hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. ‘How old are you?’ ‘I’m gonna be 16!’ You could be 13, but hey, you’re gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life … . You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony . YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!! But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There’s no fun now, you’re Just a sour-dumpling. What’s wrong? What’s changed?
You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you’re PUSHING 40. Whoa!
Put on the brakes, it’s all slipping But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn’t think you would! So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60. You’ve built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it’s a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday! You get into your 80’s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn’t end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; ‘I Was JUST 92.’ Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. ‘I’m 100 and a half!’ May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
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 We had 6 Duffers at the MNF backyard big screen party! A Big thanks toHammer, Bill BTW, Terry. Mini Wheezer, and Tom Ambrosia for coming. BBTW brought cheeses, crackers and salami. T&A brought pumpkin spread and Hammer brought a bottle. This was a high end civilized gathering of men of quality! |
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 Co-MVP Brett and Vidas each had a goal |
 Grandpa Ken celebrated the birth of his 3rd grandchild with 2 goals! |
 Greg Z was our MVP when he brought us a case of beer. |
 Fred paid his dues so he is back for another season. |
 Mini-Wheezer was posting Facebook live updates. |
 Vidas and Johnny Z were all smiles after scoring goals and beers. |
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It was great to be back at the Kilt, we got 20% discounts on our meals. Our waitress Corra provided us with great service. We had a lot of laughs looking at the Czar's collection of Photoshop gems. You can view them by clicking on the link. |
| After getting a request to go back to keeping "Meaningful" scores, I searched some Duffer History and came up with a Newsletter from December 16, 2005 (Posted below) that mentioned Meaningful goals. While reading it I was reminded of my return to the ice with a new hip in that game. After reading what happened that day I have to wonder why I didn't retire after that game. Tim Smith shot me in the hip and gave me a big bruise just below the stitches that I got 5 months earlier. He hit me with a high hard one that bruised my shoulder and he was on my team. I also got shot in the balls by an opponent. If you want to see those ugly bruises, go to The webpage for that date. http://www.lopatka.net/12-16-05/index.htm |
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Our lovely photographer Abby was able to catch the Maestro's head in this picture from her phone. |
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What a great bunch of guys. That is the Maestro who is doing the "Killroy was here" over my left shoulder in the top picture. |
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| Congratulations to John Bobka who graduated from William and Mary Law school on Mother's day. |
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August 11, Tommy Z hosted the Annual Duffer Picnic where Brian Stewart received the Tim "Basket Ball Jones" Perfect Attendance Award. The Commander Ken presented Harvey with the Klinger Krash award and the Steve "The Hammer" Hammerquest was awarded with the Duffer Meaningless Award. August 25, We had 18 Duffers at the August Golf Outing. Visit the Duffer Summer Fun Page. September 14, 2018 We had 21 Duffers show up for the season opener. Anthony played goalie for the first time and picked up the 9-8 win. Terry complained when Beak passed to his grandson Monet Mike to set up the game winner in the closing minutes. Young guys are supposed to pass to the old guys. Steve The Hammer and Commander Ken provided us with a great cookout and Brian Stewart was presented with his perfect attendance award. Read More.... October 12, 2018 The Czar announced a train road trip to St. Louis to play 2 games and watch Ryan Dzingel and the Ottawa Senators play the St Louts Blues. We will leave the Amtrack Station in Joliet on Thursday January 17 and return on Sunday. Johnny B made his first game and played goalie. Mini Wheezer posted a Live feed on Facebook. Read More.... October 19, 2018 Brett, our Dick Tracy Detective, scored a spectacular goal for the Reds when the White team traded him there to slow down the stacked Red team. That goal prompted Beak to add Brett to the long list of Duffers who have been Photoshoped by the Czar and Beak. Read More.... November 9, 2018 Grandpa Ken scored 2 goals to keep his scoring streak alive. Ken has scored in all 8 games this season. Those titanium knees are working well. Joe "Drago" Evans ended his hold out and showed up playing for the Reds. He was traded to the Whites for TZ when the Whites went 5 goals ahead. Read More.... November 22, 2018 We had 30 Duffers show up for Hockey, Beer and Brats. Read More...... January 18, 2019 The Duffers took a train ride to St Louis. We played 2 games then watched Ryan Dzingel and the Senators play the Blues. Read More..... February 15, 2019 Amber Kraft became the first Granddaughter of a Duffer to score a goal. Rick Dzingel scored his first Duffer Goal. Read More.... March 8, 2019 Carmela Lopatka became the first Great granddaughter of a Duffer to play in a game and get an assist on her grandpa Ken's Hat Trick. Read More.... March 21, 2019 Tumblin Terry Nance scored 2 goals in 10 seconds to lead the Polar Bears to a 7-3 win. Read More..... March 28, 2009 Fred Bobka made his first appearance since the death of his son Joe. Before the opening faceoff, the Duffers formed a circle around the center ice circle to pay their respects to Joe Bobka. Twelve year old Carmela Lopatka became the first Great Granddaughter of a Duffer (GGOD) to score a goal in a Duffer game. Her Dad, Mike, Grandpa, Ken, and great Grandpa, Beak also scored to give the Reds a come from behind 10-5 win. That was Beak's first goal as a 79 year old. Jay "The Sniper" Hernandez scored his first Hat Trick. Greg Dubbs got his first Duffer win, when he played his first game as a goalie. 12 Year Old Ryan Kroll played his first Duffer Game. Will County Judge Dan Rippy scored his first Duffer goal. Read More.... April 12, 2019 Speed Racer Jeff Lopatka revealed the gender of his baby to be with a slap shot. Read more.... View the video here: https://youtu.be/hYxImtNewt0 April 24, 2019 The Duffers finished their 48th season with a cookout and a 5-0 Meaningful win. Read More....
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 Watch the video https://youtu.be/hYxImtNewt0 |
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I took advantage our Holy Week break and went to Florida to visit my
sister. I watched Mo, Larry and Curley hook a shark and lose him. I
watched my grandson Michael catch a catfish. We watched the Blue
Angels practice at Fort Pickens and again at the Naval Air Museum. We
went on a dolphin sunset cruise and saw dozens of dolphins playing near
our boat.
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| Klinger and I went to the Vault for our weekly
Duffer lunch and we met a wonderful group of ladies who were raising
funds to help a family pay for the medical care for their daughter
Ellie. They know how to raise funds. The are selling 4 packs of
beer to help Ellie. Read about her story here:
https://www.loveforellie.com/ Stop by the Vault in Lemont and buy a 12 pack for Ellie.
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21 Years ago
Want more Photoshop Gems? http://www.lopatka.net/Photoshop gems/index.htm
Wags Hockey
Classic Duffer News
Go to Lake Placid News for some
laughs.
http://www.lopatka.net/1982-Lake%20Placid/index.html
The Duffers received a
Christmas Card and Thank You from Mario Lemieux. The Duffers
have 4 pictures on the Mario Mosaic.
http://www.lopatka.net/2011-10-14/index.html (Anvil's Daughter won it!)
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
Brian Kraft's fishing lodges in
Alaska. https://www.fishasl.com/
Links
to Duffer Hockey Newsletters
2008-2010
Stats
page
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.
The
Duffer Picnic was Saturday July 29th
2017 at Tommy’s House Morton Arboretum Origami August 1; Kane County Cougar Game August 6; Parkinson's Fund Raiser August 18; Summer Game August 21;
Total Solar
Eclipse August 26; Golf Outing
September 1; Muzzy passed away. He gave us more
laughs than any other Duffer.
He was born on May 20, 1935. My son Dan was
born on his birthday in 1970.
We shared a lot of
Muzzy
pictures in the last Newsletter.
This was 1997 when we brought up Robby Granato to give the
Bombers 2 Illinois ringers. We filled most of the coach seats and
avoided a fun tax. This is the year that Muzzy shocked Hayward
church goers when he came out of the church and boarded the bus with
toilet paper streaming out of his pants. Read
More.... Read the lyrics to
"Wayward in
Hayward" by Jim Coughenhour
Mike won 11 awards for his artistic creations at the Tattoo convention
in Champaign.
mikeylotattoos@att.net
(Above) Mike's work of art on Joe Mazzarella III's
leg.
(Above) Mike's work of art on Joe Mazzarella III's
ribs.
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
Here is a video, thanks to Perry and Paula on
How to be a
Hockey Player
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.
Michelle
Spillman hit a 2 run Home run to beat Joliet Catholic on April
18, 2012. ... greg Lopatka ... Michelle Spillman
and Romeoville High School. ...
Michelle
Spillman hit her 4th homerun on April 21, 2012 to beat Hershey
High. ... greg Lopatka ... Michelle Spillman
"outdoor sports" ...
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 |
Go
to Duffer History 
Duffer Nicknames
1996
March
Hayward Trip 
