GAME RECAP BULLDOGS Buffet Boys Date/Time Rink 1 4 06/28/2006 @ 8:10pm Johnny's Ice House

June 30th, 2006- I find it impossible to believe that anyone can say there is no racism in Hockey. I am the first to admit that hockey players are no angels no matter what color they are, but there needs to be a fine line between yelling at a player to take a hike and yelling at a player racial slurs. I mention this, because I personally have experience this throughout my playing days and witnessed it again this past Wednesday night in a Bulldogs 4-1 lose to the Buffet Boys.

The game in itself was close and hard nosed, with both teams inflicting hit after hit and both teams getting their fair share of scoring opportunities. Goalies stood tall keeping their respective teams in the game. That is until the deadlock ended in the second period from a shot from the point catching the Bulldogs goalie asleep at the wheel.

The Buffet Boys would score again in the second this time a deflection shot from the point taking a 2-0 lead. The lead was threaten late in the second when Joe Van Grimbergen took the puck from one end of the ice to the other and used the Defensemen on a screen to give one to the Bulldogs “Top Shelve Baby”.

As the game became closer, the hitting and cheap shots intensified for the remainder of the game. Perhaps “letting them play” was not a good idea on the part of the Referees, as Racial slurs started to surface from the Buffet Boys bench.

Racial remarks, names, slurs or whatever you want to call them, overshadowed what was a good tough game and a win for the Buffer Boys. While shaking hands at the end of the game words were exchanged with regards to the ethic/racial remarks that was said during the game and both teams ended up in fisticuffs.

In the end both teams ended up looking immature and small.

I want to add that this isn't a black and white issue in Hockey and it's not just a case involving a few Native Americans or a great many more Jewish or Hispanics or Asians or others of non-Anglo-American descent. It's not just about name calling either. Racism has many forms, insensitive remarks, illegal and immoral hiring practices, discrimination and exclusion are all a part of what racism is all about. Overall, racism is about power and inflicting pain, a great injustice fueled by ignorance, prejudice and, sometimes, hatred.

The Bad: No passing, pinching, not covering the slot, not covering the points, no back checking, no fore checking, no basics which caused the Bulldogs defeat.