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Bulldogs bring home the GOLD |
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GAME RECAP |
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BULLDOGS |
CANADA |
Date/Time |
Rink |
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2 |
0 |
05/04/2008 |
Las
Vegas Ice Center |
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May
9th,
2008-
For the third consecutive year in a row, the Chicago
Bulldogs have made the Ultimate sacrifice and head out
to Las Vegas. This time, it would be for the 2008 CAN/AM
Challenge Cup.
The last
couple of the trips to Sin City, the Bulldogs had no
problem fielding a team, but not this year as they would
be going short handed and even calling up Maher Karim
from there affiliate, the Milwaukee Milk Shakes. The
Few, the Loud, the Bulldogs would take 7 skaters and 1
goalie.
Short of the
Dirty Dozen and just a little more than the Three
Amigos, the Bulldogs roster would consist of Alex
Martinez, Darren Diamond, Maher Karim, Ryan Scanlon, Ted
Markos, Bill Nolan, Mike Farias and last but not least
Tony Feeney.
The trip to
Vegas started off on a good note. The team bus picked up
everyone, most everyone paid, the luggage was taken care
of and the Bulldogs had plenty of time to kill. Well
that plenty of time went by fast, as a few beers later,
a few trips to the bathroom and overall jaw-jacking
almost had them missed there flight. As they approached
the Gate to board there was plenty of people upset at
the stand-by area as these buzzed Bulldogs slowly
boarded the plan.
As they were
all seated all over the plane thanks to the logistics
Guru Darren Diamond, everything seemed fine. So they
thought. At the Airport was a nice surprise waiting for
them. That's right, the amazing lost hockey bag
incident. As everyone had there luggage and hockey bags,
#4 Ted Markos stood waiting and waiting, like a prom
date being stood up, the Hockey Bag never showed.
Trying to get
their minds off the subject the Bulldogs checked in and
headed to the Las Vegas Strip.
Margaretaville would be there 1st stop as already it
seemed to be a custom.
After a nutty
night in which it will be mentioned in a special edition
of the Sin Bin at a later time, the Bulldogs took on the
Colorado Hose Hounds.
They quickly
learned that with 7 players and a local named "Rob",
that it was going to be a rough weekend. Tired and Hung
over, the Bulldogs played a close game till the scoring
opened up in the second period with goals from Mike
Farias and Ted Markos. Tony Feeney and again Ted Markos
would close out the third with a goal a piece and in the
end the Bulldogs would take game 1 of the tournament
beating Colorado 5-1.
The Bulldogs
hockey would not be over, once done the Bulldogs
switched locker rooms, rested for less than an hour and
headed back on the ice for game 2 against a dirty team
from Canada named Randell Rebels.
The Canadian
team was old but stacked. They also hired the services
of a former NHL player and it showed. Still the Bulldogs
played them tough and took the early lead in the second
period thanks to a goal from Ryan Scanlon.
The lead would
be short lived on a controversial goal. Goalie Alex
Martinez would made a spectacular glove save, but the
lying Canadian Hoosers would convince the Ref that the
goal was in and pull out by Martinez. Livid and pissed
the Bulldogs kept there cool and played on, but not
before the Canadians would once again score.
The Bulldogs
made a nice try at the end but not enough as the Randell
Rebels would win it 2-1.
After game 2
the Bulldogs could not wait to hit the bar. They drank,
drank and drank and since Farias and Karim were not
drinking some stepped up and drank, drank and dranked
for them as well.
Drunk as
monkeys and in Las Vegas meant only one thing, hit the
strip. The Bulldogs all headed out in there respective
"Court Clothes" and went out on town. I want to add here
that some Bulldogs stayed at the hotel and slept as they
wanted no part of what Las Vegas had to offer
(HAHAHAHAHAHAHA) if you believe that one I have a bridge
I want to sell you in London.
On Sat, as the
Bulldogs arose from what appeared to be the almost dead,
they headed out to a key game. A win would land them in
the GOLD Medal game and a lose would send them to fight
it out for third.
The Bulldogs
faced a game Flying Jorge's of Arizona, but again the
Bulldogs shorted handed would it the win 5-2 with goals
from Ryan Scanlon, Darren Diamond, Mike Farias and
rent-a-player IGOR.
Happy to be
playing in the Championship game against the undefeated
Canadians, the Bulldogs wanted some pay-back.
The plan in
the beginning was to go back to the hotel and rest, but
come on... I mean were in Vegas..
Once again
dragging there asses up from there 2 hours of sleep via
Maher Karim's Waky Waky. The Bulldogs would play the Big
Game.
If I sat here
and typed everything that happened, this recap would be
a book. For the full story hit us up at the bar after a
game, but I can say this. The Bulldogs fought hard with
the few players they had. The game itself was scoreless
going into the third and then the horrible happened.
Ryan Scanlon would break his leg with under seven
minutes remaining in the third and both goalies playing
great. Mike Farias would also leave the game for getting
blasted in the chin with a puck and bleeding. With both
players heading to the hospital the Bulldogs looked to
Maher, Bill, Tony, Ted, Diamond and "Rob" to keep it
close and get lucky.
With everyone
tired, Martinez stepped up stopping everything. Ted
broke loose and scored!!!! The Full Benched of 16
Canadians looked shocked as well as there fans in
attendance. Facing pressure and bleeding, tired and
looking more the Spartans of 300, these crazy few got
lucky again, with Ted breaking loose again and scoring
again. That would be the nail in the coffin as the
Bulldogs held on to the lead and beat the Canadians
Randell Rebels 2-0 and win there 1st ever Las Vegas
tournament.
In all it was
the best time I know most of us had out there and even
though we lost one of our best players, in the end it
was nice taking home the GOLD and the good times.
Next for the
Bulldogs, Play-offs May 15th, but not before the
All-Stud on May 9th. Joe Koehler, Ted Markos and Alex
Martinez will represent the Chicago Bulldogs.
The
Good:
Depending on who was playing up, the Bulldogs did
enough to put pucks in the net. It did not help
that they were short handed.
Defense-
Everyone played "D" especially when it counted the
most.
Goaltending-
Martinez had the best goals against in the entire
tournament averaging 1.25 per game and earning a
shut-out in the Gold Medal game. His inspiration?
Another Mexican/ Polish goalie in attendance.
Rob-
No way the Bulldogs win this tournament without
the help of this Rink Rat.
CAN/AM-
Most fun tournament we ever had. Great people
running the event.Good
Times-
Overall good times, private screening of the
evidence coming soon.
The
Bad:
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No Gift for you-
Alex who was handling the tournament management
duties ended up not reading all of the material in
the hand-book. There was suppose to be an exchange
of gifts after every game and this goof made us
look bad by not bringing anything.
The
Ugly:
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Coming Soon-
Look out for the
latest edition of the Sin Bin.
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Bulldogs
Scorers |
Points |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Ted Markos |
6 |
4 |
2 |
|
Ryan
Scanlon |
6 |
3 |
3 |
|
Mike Farias |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
Darren Diamond |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
Robbie Ray |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Tony Feeney |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Maher Karim |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Igor Szazko |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Penalties |
Minutes |
Notes |
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Darren
Diamond |
7.50 |
-- |
|
Ryan Scanlon |
3:00 |
-- |
|
Maher
Karim |
3:00 |
-- |
|
Mike Farias |
1.50 |
-- |
|
Joe
Koldziejczak |
4:00 |
Roughing and
Inference |
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Maher Karim |
2:00 |
Interence |
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