Stats Through Two Games

	Games Played	Goals	Assists	Points	PIMS
Hendricks, Mark	2	5	3	8	0
D'Ignazio, Mike	2	4	2	6	2
Hand, Steve	2	2	3	5	2
Odell, Ryan	2	1	4	5	2
King, Pat	2	1	3	4	0
Collis, Pete	1	0	3	3	0
Horton, Tony	2	0	0	0	0
Merold, Dan	1	0	0	0	0
Breiterman, Ben	0	0	0	0	0
Kelly, Drew	0	0	0	0	0
	Games Played	Wins	Losses	GA	GAA
Simek, Jamie	2	1	1	14	7

1-1

The Red Army wanted to avenge last week's season-opening loss by playing a more structured game tonight. They wanted a more potent offensive attack, a stingier defense, and a more reliable goaltender. Well, they got all three of those for parts of the game, but lacked 45 minute efforts on all three fronts. Even so, the Comrades logged enough minutes of hustle to rack up two points in a game that had a bit of everything, and as every hockey expert will tell you the Capitals will never win a cup with Ovechkin a win is a win.

Ten notes on the Comrades' first win of the season:

• I think every fan is salivating over the "second" line right now. Captain Steve Hand and newly acquired Mike D'Ignazio each set the other one up twice tonight to combine for eight points. In what surely will be the first of several times I ask the question this season, "Can ya D'Ig it?"
• The so-called first line did their thing too. Mark Hendricks had a pair of goals (as well as one that mayyyyyybe was in) and Pat King had a goal and a couple of assists as well.
• A problem (or blessing) that the Comrades have this season is that they have more true offensemen than defensemen. The revolving door of players over the past two seasons has seen more blueliners leave and more wingers enter. The result? A lot of guys playing defense who normally don't. Tonight it was Dan Merold and Pete Collis' turn, and they did an admirable job. It will be interesting to see what happens when Benny B gets back (if he is let out of Chinese jail) and if Drew is still alive on the team. (Yes, I fucking love the strike-through text).
• I could compliment Ryan Odell's goal and assist tonight that supplemented his stellar defensive play, but the bullet #14 gets was about his through-the-legs-spin-a-rama move he pulled off in the first. Not sure the physics behind it, or if anyone else saw it, but wow... I'll be getting me a set of those wheels and bearings.
• Jamie Simek started strong, then gave up a few soft goals, then was able to tough it out in the end for the win. Though it's only the second game, it's important for him to win a game like this where the bounces just aren't going the goalie's way. There will be other nights like it...such is the life for a roller hockey goalie.
• Man, if Hendricks had scored on that shot that would have capped off the greatest goal of his career. Gahhhh....
  
• Interesting stat on the night: Three power play opportunities for the Red Army, zero for the Lame Ducks. One power play goal for the Red Army, one shorthanded goal for the Lame Ducks. Special teams were not so special tonight, but at least the Comrades are drawing penalties, right?
• Tony Horton continues to improve on the back end, which is good considering how, as mentioned earlier, he is one of the veteran blue liners now. How many, more, commas can I, put into, one sentence?
• Play of the night? D'Ignazio's deft saucer pass to Hand and Hand's finish.
  
• Tenth note is always the hardest (can you tell I mailed it in on eight and nine?), but I'll bring attention to face-offs again. The game winning goal came on the direct result of a won face-off and a quick pass. Often times in hockey it is the small things that, well, don't end up being so small.

Stats:

Goals:
FIRST PERIOD
1: Odell (Hendricks)
2: Hendricks (King)
SECOND PERIOD
3: Hand (D'Ignazio, Collis)
4: King (Hendricks)
5: D'Ignazio (Hand, Collis)
THIRD PERIOD
6: D'Ignazio (Hand)
7: PPG Hand (D'Ignazio, Collis)
8: GWG Hendricks (King, Odell)

Penalties:
Hand (roughing) two minutes

THREE STARS:
3: Mark Hendricks
2: Mike D'Ignazio
1: Steve Hand

0-1

The Soviets faltered in their season opener tonight, losing 8-5 to Trailside. There were several chances for the Comrades to capitalize, but a penchant for hitting iron coupled with stellar goaltending did the Red Army in, and perhaps more importantly, proved that Silver South is the right division for Mother Russia.

A brief recap and some stats before the work week begins:

• Mike D'Ignazio shone in his first game wearing Neal Hendricks' a Red Army sweater. The forward had two goals, created chances all game long, and drew a penalty. Oh wait, no, no, he took a penalty. He's also left handed. Cut him.
• Perhaps the strongest player for the Red Army on this night was none other than Pat King. The offenseman turned defenseman for the evening was a shut down machine. He single-handedly broke up three quality scoring chances in front, and chipped in on the offensive as well, setting Mark Hendricks up with the easiest goal #18 will ever score.
• Speaking of #18, he netted three goals and an assist tonight. He also drew a penalty. But he also had a few costly turnovers in dangerous parts of the rink and was lacking in the backchecking department.
• Jamie Simek had an up and down game of his own, which is to be expected for a goalie playing in his first game in several months. He let in a few he would like to have back, but also made a few key saves to keep the Comrades in the game.
• The Captain was doing all the dirty work tonight, but the bullet he earns is about his wheels. Why? Because he put the two biggest wheels in the middle two slots of his skates, and that's just terrible. What do we always say kids? Never drink and do skatenance.
• Tony Horton was sick. I don't mean that in the sense that he dangled around nine guys then put a backhander to the roof. I mean that he was physically sick, but he played through it valiantly and had a solid game considering he was battling something (symptoms indicate Syphilis).
• Ryan Odell made up for a wide open one timer miss in the first with a gorgeous set up feed to Hendricks on a shorthanded two-on-one rush. He also slashed Celenski back after Celenski gave him a whack, and I've never seen that before. To the history books you go, Odell!
• Five goals on the night. One on the power play, one shorthanded, and three even strength. That's interesting, don't you think? Just me?
• Something that doesn't get enough attention is faceoffs, and I would like to give a shout out to Hand, who probably won about two thirds of the draws he took tonight. Lost a few in the defensive zone a bit too cleanly, but for the most part, when the Captain was in the dot, possession was Mother Russia's.
• D'Ignazio and Hendricks went a combined 1 for 24 on breakaways. Here's hoping the Comrades can avoid the shootout.

Stats:

Goals:
First goal: PPG D'Ignazio (Odell, Hendricks)
Second goal: SHG Hendricks (Odell)
Third goal: Hendricks (King)
Fourth goal: Hendricks (Odell, Hand)
Fifth goal: D'Ignazio (unassisted)

Penalties:
D'Ignazio (high sticking) two minutes
Odell (slashing) two minutes



(Every couple games or so, I'll put a stat sheet up on the blog with goals/assists/points/PIMS. I will try to update the blog a lot more this season. I'm trying to continue the trend of each year having more posts than the previous. The year 2007 had 9, 2008 had 37, 2009 had 83, and 2010 had 115. So far 2011 only has 6, so expect a heavy dosage of reading material as I try to play a little catch up.)

New Rules

This coming season there will plenty of new rules that players, coaches, and referees alike will need to adjust to. While I could list them out here and explain some of the rationale that went in to making these decisions, I'd rather just post a link and let you guess the reasoning. Why? Hey, I'll be the one asking the questions around here.

Aforementioned link.

(By the way, the entire "recommended equipment" section is priceless, with ample opportunities for innuendo).

T-minus two days until the puck drops on the Winter Season. Tape those blades Comrades, Silver South beckons.

Soviets Land D'Ignazio

A few moments ago, the Red Army validated all of the rumors that have been floating around the hockey blogosphere for weeks: Mike D'Ignazio is a comrade.

Per the team's official press release:

"The Red Army and Mr. D'Ignazio agreed in principal to a deal in late December. The talks took place in a seedy motel on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. At the time of the negotiations, the exact terms of the contract, as well as the whereabouts of Andy Schram's pants, were unknown. Today, both parties met again and were able to agree on terms that were mutually beneficial."

There was no word on whether or not Mr. Schram's pants had been located.

So, it looks the roster has been finalized, with 11 players lacing them up for this season's run at the Jenkin's Cup. I'll try and get a few quotes from players on the upcoming season for an article to come during the work week.

2011 Winter Season Roster:
#29 Breiterman, Ben
#7 Collis, Pete
#3 D'Ignazio, Mike
#17 Hand, Steve
#18 Hendricks, Mark
#52 Horton, Tony
#88 Kelly, Drew
#57 King, Pat
#59 Merold, Dan
#14 Odell, Ryan
#6 Simek, Jamie