LFM Hockey Report
As the intramural hockey season drew to a close, the following reports were submitted by the leaders of LFM-SDM’s three teams.
Captain’s Booty
Submitted by Jeremy Wallach, LFM ‘04
The 2002-2003 IM Hockey Season wrapped up with a big win by Captain's Booty, who beat the Lions (Alpha Epsilon Pi) by a score 2-0.
Captain's Booty came out strong in the first period, forechecking consistently, but the period ended with both teams scoreless. Just as they started the second period, Lou Rassey arrived (better later than never!) to add a little more firepower. That pushed them over the top.
Soon veteran Don Rosenfield caught a pass in the slot and fired off a quick shot to score the first goal. Tom Threadgold, an immovable object in the net, successfully blocked every Lion's shot. After several strong full-ice runs by Lou, Zep, and Mikko, the team picked up steam again in the third period. Paul Gallagher battled for a loose puck and snuck it past the Lion's goalie, putting another tick up on the scoreboard
Other highlights included a penalty for too many men (Zep and Paul, you gotta wait for someone to get off the ice BEFORE leaving the bench!) and another penalty for the team goon (err . the captain, Jeremy Wallach) for interference.
Captain’s Booty had a phenomenal LFM turnout this season - three LFM teams and morethan fifty players! And all three teams had strong (and vastly improved) records for the Spring term.
The LFM 04's plan to keep their skates sharp for next Spring!
Jedi Knights
Submitted by Co-Captain Matthew Capeci, LFM ‘03
In an amazing display of skill and pure desire the Jedi Knights, an LFM '03 hockey team co-captained by Kim Murdoch and Matt Capeci, roared to a victory in their final game at MIT in front of zero fans. It truly was an amazing sight, witnessed by none, as the team utilized the processes they had re-engineered and took the clockspeed to beyond the speed of light!
Game highlights included the following:
- As usual, Lou "Hat-Trick" Rasseyov led the team, this time with three goals. Like Michael Jordan does in basketball, Lou elevates the games of his teammates above and beyond their core capabilities
- T-Gold was as billed in the advertisements - a brick wall - putting up the goose-egg and doing a little puck juggling after a magnificent glove save to make the game interesting
- Stagnov had the hit of the game, laying out his opponent by using his shoulder (and raw power) to first elevate his opponent off the ice and then drop him like a used tissue
- Seaymegoofov wins the MVP award for staying home (little Siseov skated in his place)
- Nardov wins the Brian Botano award for nailing a triple lutz after stopping the puck acrobatically with his skate
- Greenov whiffed at the puck once, strikingly similar to his softball swing
- Evansov scored a goal in the correct net this game
- Siseov continued to skate smarter, not harder and scored a goal. In addition, Siseov had the second best hit of the night, laying out Kapeciov during team warm-ups
- Rheaume continued his stellar play with several pointy elbows strategically placed in the midsection of the opponents
- Webberov came extremely close to having a shot on goal while skating in circles on the ice
- Katzen failed to show. Rumor was his cousin is in town
- Bowers showed up late. What else is new?
- Kamalov took the hit of the game from the ice, popping his shoulder out and back in, reminding everyone of Mel Gibson in “Lethal Weapon” and looking just like a real hockey player after bloodying his jersey
In summary, the final game was our best game and a perfect way to end two years of blood, sweat and tears on the ice! Congratulations to everyone that played this season and last and especially to our fans that failed to support us throughout both seasons.
Shiba's Revenge "Miracle on Ice"
Submitted by Mike Parkins, LFM ‘04
"Put your clothes back on, we're having a shootout" were, for multiple reasons, words Shiba's Revenge never expected to hear. But that is what the ref yelled as regulation time expired in a recent D-League hockey game.
After completing the fall and IAP seasons with a 0-4-1 record, no one would have thought the team would tie up the last game of the season with just over a second to go, and find the back of the net twice in the shootout, to finish the spring season undefeated at 3-0. What events led up to this momentous occasion?
Spring started like any other season, until John "Scoring King" McGrath rifled one into the goal in the first game to give Shiba's Revenge the season's first goal, and their first ever lead. Excitement quickly became euphoria when Adam "Rainbow Warrior" Kornick dumped another Past Zeta Psi.
When Mike "Sheepshead is Better" Amati snuck in the third goal, the team sensed their first victory close at hand. Amy "Still Two Fine Hams" Vallely anchored a D that stopped every run the ZP's put together in its tracks. Despite the ref actually sharing a few beers with the other team before the game, Shiba left the ice victorious for the first time.
With the taste of victory and Boones fresh in their mouths, the team unleashed a flurry of shots against an unprepared Spanish House in the next game. McGrath again got the party started, quickly followed by Satish "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here" Krishnan's score. Mike "I Can't Skate so I'll Just Run" Parkins and Josh "Timber" Binder poured on two more goals, but then with time winding down Wayne Gretsky apparently made an appearance for the Spaniards, and finessed in three goals in under two minutes.
Shaken, but not stirred, Shiba's gelled the defense and held on for another victory. Despite the brief lack of defensive help, Chris "I Can't Yell at the Defense Because I'm Dating Her" Pandolfo continually stopped great shots and clearly defined himself as a world-class D-league goalie.
The final game found Shiba's Revenge playing their best hockey of the season, but against a very skilled team. Down an early goal, Shiba's continually attacked and made great defensive stops. Shion "For the Love of Hockey, Stop Doing That" Hung and Kim "Are the Refs Still Hitting on Me" Murdoch held down the defense and kept the puck in the offensive zone while the offense took shot after deflected shot.
With time running out, Parkins chased the puck into the corner and just flung it in front of the net blindly. Four skaters were there to fight for it, but "MVP" McGrath would not be held scoreless. With 1.3 seconds remaining the puck snuck past the goalie to tie the game. Adam "the puck went in at 1.3 and I was naked by 0.4" Kornick and the rest of the team went wild, shedding equipment and dog-piling at center ice.
The refs decided a shootout was in order, and Pandolfo held firm, blocking the opponent's first shot. McGrath went back to work and found the back of the net for his shot. The second attempt from the bad guys was covered well by Pandolfo, but snuck past him, only to hit the post and bounce out. Knowing Shiba's only needed to score one more, John "Kool" Sharkey had possibly the world slowest skate-up, but rifled the puck to the back of the net as another dog-pile ensued.
At no point during Shiba's first ever game was someone not laying sprawled on the ice. Vegas odds for a single win were worse than Corey Haim's Oscar chances, but the team had fun, encouraged each other, and improved together. Not since the Bad News Bears or the Indians in Major League has a team improved so much, but it was a fun and wild ride, And sets the team up well for next year after internships.