Semi Finals Set

Sorry for the delays folks, but the wireless connections here in Vancouver have been poor the past few days. Here's what's been happening:

-Team Ireland finished in 1st place after going 3-0 in the preliminary round. Pat King and Mark Hendricks are tied for the lead in scoring with 21 points each through three games.
-The other three teams besides Ireland that earned byes were the Czech Republic, Russia, and Sweden.
-In the qualifying games, Georgia upset Belarus, Germany upset Finland, and the favored Americans and Canadians beat the Slovaks and Japanese.
-In quarterfinals play, team Ireland squared off against Germany, and defeated the Krauts 8-0 in a lopsided affair. It was Scott Hoefer's first loss in anything since 2003. The Swedes handled Belarus as well, despite giving up a late second period goal from beyond center, they were able to rebound and score four unanswered in the third to win 6-3. Both the Czech/USA and Russia/Georgia games required overtime, with Jack Bauer scoring for the Americans and Giorgi Giorgigigi scoring for the Georgians.

So, the semifinals are as follows:
#1 Ireland vs #7 USA
#4 Sweden vs #6 Georgia

The remaining Red Army players (current and ex-pats) are the Hendricks brothers (sans Neal), Hand and King. Hand faces off against Mark and King today at 3 pm while Peter faces off against Beege at 7 pm.

That's it from Vancouver for now.

Olympic Update

I'm reporting live from Canada Hockey Place where team Germany and team Israel are warming up. For obvious reasons, tensions are high and appropriately, many security patrols are on hand in case things take a turn for the worst. I wonder if we'll see any members of the Red Army drop the gloves with each other now that they wear different sweaters. Other action today includes team USA versus team Slovakia and team Georgia versus team Czech Republic.

I'll update after the games.

The big news from yesterday was of course Ireland's shocking upset over Sweden. Trailing 5-1 entering the 3rd, the Irish stormed back with goals by Mark Hendricks, Shea O'Sullivan, and two by Pat King. The game remained tied after regulation, and even though Sweden was awarded a power play in overtime, the over passing bunch was unable to capitalize despite several in tight chances by Brian "Beege" Hendricks. In the shootout the Irish capped off the stunning victory when the Irish Hendricks scored in the fifth round immediately after the Swedish Hendricks had rung a slap shot off the crossbar.

Japan fell to Finland 14-3, though Jamie Simek did manage to assist on two goals and finish a +1.

The Alps tied Switzerland 0-0 in a game played mostly between the blue lines.

Russia defeated Canada 4-3 in front of several ice hockey players, including Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.

OTHER NOTES:
-Peter Hendricks was recalled by team Georgia after forward Giorgi Giorgison was injured making wine. If his plane makes it to Vancouver on time, we'll be seeing #59 lace them up today against the Czechs.

-Tony Horton tested positive for wienerschnitzel and is now ineligible to play for his country. The German returned home this morning and will be playing for his Bronze team the Wingers this evening.

-Neal Hendricks, the only non Olympian of the Hendricks brother contingency, was unable to lace them up for any team because he currently does not have citizenship to any country. The winger, though born in the US, moved to Finland in the winter of 1999. Abandoning his US citizenship for a Finnish one in 2008, the youngest of the Hendricks quartet then defected to Russia for inexplicable reasons, voiding his Finnish citizenship papers (which were being processed at the time). With Russia not wanting to be hurt by the countryizing twin, the Republic is playing hard to get and not allowing him to easy access. According to a press release from the Kremlin, "We don't want [Neal Hendricks] thinking he can weave and leave like he did with those Nordics."

-Finally, in the strangest news of the day, I saw Steve Hand and Andy Schram roaming the streets in the Olympic Village this morning. At first I wasn't sure if it was them, but I thought I recognized the pair from a distance. I checked Hand's twitter account (@Redlife17) and found this, "Emergency call from Team USA last night, going 2 Vancouver!!!!!!!!!"

As for Schram, his twitter account is less telling (@Shakethatthing). "What time does team China play?"

That's it from here. Hope to have an update after today's action.

Soviets Overcome Mistakes, Beat the Stench in Overtime

Ninety seconds into overtime on Tuesday night, Pat King tapped home a cross crease pass from Mark Hendricks, winning the game in dramatic fashion. Until that point, it seemed likely that the Red Army would be dropping to 1-3 on the season. Thanks to their explosive offense though, the Comrades were able to avenge poor defensive lapses and earn the coveted bonus point in the extra session.

"We're clicking as a unit right now," Tony Horton said. "When we have the puck we're talking and reading each other. It's fun to work out there, I feel like when we have the puck we're going to score."

The scoring was started with the Labia line. Since being reunited in the playoffs last season, the trio has yet to cool off. Ben Breiterman took a pass from Hendricks and opened the scoring with a high wrist shot.

"I took a page out of Pat's book and ordered top shelf," Breiterman said. "Laaaaaaaaaaaaaabia!"

After allowing two Cryptic Stench goals, the trio hooked up again to tie the score. After Hendricks' shot went high, King knocked the rebound in after it caromed off the lively end boards.

"Not the prettiest goal I've ever scored but it counts," joked king. "I think we've been doing a better job of creating chances when other options are closed. All that trekking through the snow in uncharted territories opened up my mind to new ways to score."

The see-saw game continued, with the Stench usually pulling ahead and the Soviets storming back. Hendricks tallied three times in the second period (his second natural hat trick in as many games) and Breiterman also scored once, but even a four goal middle frame was not enough to take the lead into the final period.

"The defense was killing us," Jamie Simek said. "I think we kept making the same mistakes. It was like Groundhog's Day, only without Bill Murray."

"We'll definitely have to look at tape tomorrow to see what we have to do to become better at clearing our zone, it's been pretty bad out there," Brian Lynch said.

"Bear Cavalry!" Brad Lotocki yelled, driving his BMW into a snow bank imagining that his car was in fact, a rhinoceros.

The porous defense led to some shaky goaltending, and Andy Schram, who is a hard judge on himself, did not mince his words when talking about... himself.

"Not my best game," goalie Schram said afterward. "I let in a few soft ones. Sure, some of them were tough to stop and they did get a slew of odd man rushes, but I can be better. I can be faster. I can be stronger. I can be anything Kanye wants me to be. But seriously, it was nice to be bailed out by the offense."

Schram, who routinely bailed out his team in last season's miraculous playoff run, was most likely referring to a goal he allowed on a weak wrist shot from just inside the red line. The shot dipped on him in the last second and snuck between his pads. His off night did not worry others though.

"Everyone has good game and bad games," Captain Steve Hand said. "He'll shake it off. He's doing it right now. Look, see him shaking? He's shaking it off."

King scored early in the third on the power play to tie the game, but the Soviets would allow two more goals and have to climb back once more from a 9-7 deficit. Horton tipped in a shot with five minutes to play, and with just under two minutes, Hendricks scored his 4th of the night on a wrist shot in tight, setting the stage for overtime.

"There is no way that I'm letting Ben beat me in points this season," Hendricks said, refusing to comment on anything related to the game except the battle with him and his defensive teammate. "If he thinks he can go point for point with me, then, well, he's got another thing coming."

Added Hendricks, "And it's not a pass!"

That's it from the 'Plex for tonight, I have to catch a flight out to Vancouver in the morning so I can cover the Olympics. As you know, a few of the Red Army players are suiting up to play in the international stage, so it should make for some interesting drama. I did manage to catch Scott Hoefer leaving the arena after tonight's game and I asked him what he thought his team's (Germany) chances were. He only responded, "Darka Kow", but he said it angrily.

In case you needed reminding, the players suiting up for the olympics are:
Ben Breiterman: Israel
Brian "Beege" Hendricks: Sweden
Mark Hendricks: Ireland
Scott Hoefer: Germany
Pat King: Ireland
Brad Lotocki: The Alps
Jamie Simek: Japan

I'll have more later. Preliminaries start on Wednesday.

THREE STARS:
3: Pat King
2: Ben Breiterman
1: Mark Hendricks

Brad Lotocki

As a token of appreciation to the players that laced them up for the Jenkins Cup Champion Red Army team this late fall and early winter, the blog will be highlighting each player's season and doing a brief recap of a few defining moments that the player made to help Mother Russia dance her way to greatness.

Brad Lotocki
Regular Season: 12 GP: 9 G, 15 A, 24 P
Post Season: 4 GP: 1 G, 4 A, 5 P
(All stats per Hendricksmemoryability)

The man synonymous with grizzly bears, hiking, and beards helped take Mother Russia to the top of the mountain last season. Yes, Brad Lotocki, one of the four remaining original Comrades to lace them up for the Red Army in its inaugural season some six years ago, enjoyed the fruits of his labor when he donned that championship t shirt a few weeks ago.

Lotocki has always been a staple of the defense. His ability to be a top tier shut down defensman while also chipping in offensively made him a hot commodity in the open market when he became an unrestricted free agent two summers ago, but his commitment to the team was evident when he signed a three year extension.

We could go on and on about how the Mountain Man has helped Mother Russia improve in leaps and bounds, but as everyone knows, we're highlighting the top moment or moments of players' season, not career. So, what stood out most to us about Lotocki's play last season? How about a fight?

Yeah, let's do the fight.

Quite rarely do members of the Red Army drop the mittens (though some are under the impression that it does happen quite often, and that we also pad stats) but when a fight does occur, it's important to understand the reasoning behind it to decipher if violence was necessitated. In Lotocki's case, the jury voted 12-0 in favor of ass kicking.

Perhaps, because I know the assaulted victim (he wears #18 for the team I cover) in the crime that led to the fight, my judgment is clouded. Still, never, in any level of hockey, is it legal to take a baseball swing with a hockey stick to the head of another player. It just shouldn't happen. There's no mitigating circumstances that could arise where said action is even remotely defensible. Don't hurt yourself racking your brain-- such a scenario does not exist in the entire Milky Way.

After a member of the Cryptic Stench swung at Hendricks, Lotocki was quick to jump to the aid of his stunned/confused/thankful-he-had-a-cage-on-his-helmet comrade. The tussle was brief, and with the referees already swarming the scene not many punches were thrown and even less landed. The two players were both ejected and consequently suspended. Lotocki served a one game sentence while Babe Ruth got three (one wonders if homicide is the only penalty warranting a league ban).

The moment was brief: the tempers flared, simmered, and cooled. In the heat of it all, without hesitation, Lotocki assessed the situation and acted. Sure, championships can't be won in the regular season, but statements can be made. Lotocki made one.

Then the team made one.

Here's to you, Bear Cavalier.

Regular Season: A+
Post Season Rounds 1 & 2: A+
Championship Series: A+

Championship Hangover Over; Red Army Defeats Shockers for First Win of New Season

Around 2:35pm yesterday afternoon, Mother Russia rolled out of bed, knocking several stray, empty beer cans off of her bedside table. The Soviet Matriarch placed her feet on the floor and held her head in her hands, letting out an audible groan before slowly rising and trudging out into the hallway towards the bathroom. With her hands fumbling for the light switch, she flicked on the fluorescent bulbs but was quickly blinded by the unsuspecting brightness, and shielded her eyes from the wrath of the 100 watt assailants. With her eyes slowly dilating, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes bloodshot, her hair disheveled; she bore little resemblance to the Cinderella she was just one month prior.

Yes, Mother Russia was experiencing a (championship) hangover.

The Soviets had dropped their first two contests of the season entering play last night. The first game, a loss to the Strangers, was a run and gun style of game that was too loose and a polar opposite of the tight hockey the Comrades had played in January. The second loss was at the hands of the Puck Ewes, who easily disposed of the Hendricks-less Russians.

But then, the Shockers came. If there is one constant in Red Army hockey, it is that a game against the Shockers gets the blood flowing (sometimes externally for Loges). What Chaser is to binge drinkers, the Shockers are to a post-championship winning Red Army team. The mind becomes clear, the nerves settle, and the eyes become focused. Early Sunday evening, the hangover ended, and the Comrades played their style of game winning 9-5, earning points 1 and 2 on the new campaign.

"It was really important to not start 0-3," Captain Steve Hand said. "We know we're a good team, but we still have to play like it. We can't just assume we're going to make the playoffs and sweep everyone again. So the win was key."

Hand, who scored two goals on the evening, also was engaged in some pushing and shoving in front of the Shocker net in the second period. Him and Loges were assessed two minute roughing penalties on the play.

"He's a real [jerk] that Loges. Every game he tries to stir up some [nonsense]. But, we know he's their best player so if he wants to keep taking trips to the penalty box it works for us. It's probably the only interaction with box he ever gets."

The rough stuff was present, but no eruptions occurred like in seasons past. Hand and King were the only two Soviets penalized, and both were coincidental calls (Loges earning both Shocker calls).

"It seems like I'm never on the rink when tempers flare," Breiterman said. "It's a shame, because I could really use a punching bag." Breiterman then smiled his patented wry, Jewish smile, sending chills down the spines of sixty year old women everywhere.

After allowing a 4-0 lead to dissipate into a 5-3 advantage, the Comrades used the intermission between periods two and three to talk over strategy.

"Defense was making some mistakes, so we had to simplify things," Scott Hoefer said. "I fumbled around out there a bit, but in the third we knew we still had the lead, so we had to forget about the mistakes and just play like we were capable of."

Hoefer, who was playing his first game since winning the championship, reiterated his thirst for winning. "I don't ever want to lose again, ever. I don't want to lose in hockey. I don't want to lose in Stratego. I don't even want to lose one hand of rock, paper, scissors."

In the third, the Shockers would make it close, but the star power on the Soviets shone too brightly. Hendricks, Breiterman, and Schram pulled their weight in the final frame and ensured the first tally in the win column. Breiterman completed his hat trick, Hendricks started and finished his, and Schram turned away 13 of 15 shots. It's the type of performance the team needed, according to the goalie.

"I get a great vantage point of the whole game," Schram said. "Sometimes I see that we're playing well, sometimes I see that we're playing poorly. Tonight was both. We would cycle down low and work the puck like magicians, but then we would stop skating and allow too many odd man breaks. It was a fine tuning game. There's some things we need to work on for sure, but a lot of good to take from it as well."

Pat King, who finished with a goal and a helper, echoed his goaltender's sentiments.

"For sure, I think we saw a bit of what we can do offensively tonight. The cycle was really working, and that's great because that means the defense is stepping up and being involved. I think we got away from the that a bit in the second and tried to go run and gun, and I think that will work but there needs to be a balance."

Balance is what they'll strive for when they look to even up their record at 2-2 on Tuesday versus the Cryptic Stench.

OTHER NOTES AND QUOTES:
-The Red Army is now 5-0-0 in the last 5 games that Scott Hoefer has skated.
-Tony Horton almost had the play of the game when he tripped in the corner behind the goal in the offensive zone, then flipped a guy over his back while getting up, had the puck ricochet off of the back boards to him for a zero angle shot into an empty net, but misfired wide. "German magic" Horton called it afterward.
-Brian Lynch enjoyed a solid outing on defense, taking no penalties and even stepping up into the rush at times. That's what we like to see out of numero uno.
-Brad Lotocki also was solid. But that's vintage Lotocki.
-Hendricks, despite his five point night, was not the highest producing Comrade. Breiterman had six points. As of now, that gives Hendricks 13 points on the season and Breiterman 14. Any chance we see a new scoring leader for the Red Army this season? I think we see two top ten scorers in the league, at least.
-The Olympic Break is next week, and I'll post an article on the four Olympians representing their countries during the break.

Pat King

As a token of appreciation to the players that laced them up for the Jenkins Cup Champion Red Army team this late fall and early winter, the blog will be highlighting each player's season and doing a brief recap of a few defining moments that the player made to help Mother Russia dance her way to greatness.

Pat King
Regular Season: 13GP: 18 G, 22 A, 40 P
Post Season: 4GP: 2 G, 4 A, 6 P
(All stats per Hendricksmemoryability)

Hat trick Patrick continued his evolution as a top tier scoring threat this season. His goal totals dipped a bit from last season, though much of that can be attributed to moving him to the "second" line for the majority of the season. It is no secret that him and the Gr8teen can produce like bunnies on the rink, but sliding King down to carry his own line certainly paid dividends (see Hand, Steve: production).

But regular season, shmegular season, right? This was a championship season, and though the Red Army boasted a 10-3-1 record on the season, they rocked an even more impressive 4-0 record in the playoffs. We here at the R.A.D. have been highlighting each player's contributions, especially in the playoffs, and like so many of his fellow Comrades, King had his fair share of them. Still, it was an easy selection to find the one moment that truly defined #57's season. Quite appropriately, it happened in the game that defined the Red Army's season as well.

Championship Series Game Two: Red Army vs Puck Ewes "Don't call it a comeback".

With the Soviets trailing by two goals entering the third period, the electric buzz in the stands that had rocked the Plex at opening faceoff had been replaced with a quiet hush. Yes, it seemed that a game three was inevitable. Fans sensed it, the Puck Ewes sensed it, and even Tom's mustache, a symbol of all that is unwavering and true, yielded to the frigid presence of the Puck Ewes. With the Comrades in desperate need of a hero, they got one.

On an innocent looking play, King received a pass from Breiterman in the neutral zone and led the rush into the offensive zone. With Hendricks on his wing and being covered, King elected to take it wide on his defender and take the shot himself. The shot was kicked aside, but King out muscled his defender and got his own rebound before firing a shot again. At nearly zero angle, King's snapper still managed to squeeze past the goalie and wrip the top shelf so hard that it knocked the towel off of the net. It was by far, the toppest of shelves.

The Comrades believed, and rallied.

King was on the rink for the next three goals as well (Odell's, Hendricks', and Breiterman's), meaning that not only did he score a goal when his team needed it most, but in the final period of the season, and a few minutes of overtime, when nearly three months of work were on the line, King was a +4.

You don't lose when that happens, you just say "check mate king me."

Regular Season: A+
Post Season Rounds 1 & 2: A+
Championship Series: A++

PW Game Footage

Here is the link to a few videos and several pictures from last season's semifinals game.