The Pirates Look Great in 08
Off Season News:
During the break prior to the Spring/Summer 08 season the Pirates captain received notice that 2 of the crew were moving onto more advanced ships. Ray (11) has moved onto the Dirty Dozen Silver B team and Sean (7) has moved onto the Rumrunners Gold A team. Funny how they both chose teams that sound like they could be actual ship names within a Pirates fleet. Additionally Sun (95) announced that he would only be playing half the season for the Pirates due to moving to Florida in the summer. With all that said Greg the Captain of the Pirates has stressed that the Pirates need to continue on with their journey with the current crew. Greg has expressed that this will bring additional playing time to each crew member and will help everyone to improve their skills. This will also require crew members to step up in roles and positions that they have not done in the past.
Pre-Season
The first pre-season game pitted the Pirates against the Foothill Flyers. The first score of the game was provided by Jason (18) on an assist from Christian (22) late in the first period. The winning goal (okay I don't score much so I have to make it sound good) came early in the 2nd period as Chris (8) found Jim (17) mid zone who was able to put a backhanded one timer into the net. The Flyers then answered back within the next minute pushing the score to 2-1 in favor of the Pirates. The Pirates then scored two more times in the second period with one of them not making the stats sheet. The Pirates third goal was provided by Kirk (14) providing the Pirates with an insurance goal. The final knockout punch came mid way in the second period as Christian (22) capitalized on a return favor set up pass from Jason (18). When all had been played the Pirates had won the opening pre-season game by a 4-1 margin.
The second pre-season game matched the Pirates and Bad Medicine (The newly graduated learn to play team). For this game there is just too much scoring to go thru one by one nor do I remember how all of it happened. A few items to note were that all but 2 of the Pirate skaters scored in this game and most of all Kirk had his first hat trick. The Pirates worked well together in the game and controlled the puck for a majority of the game and finished with a 12-1 victory to close out the pre-season. As lopsided as this pre-season score was it is not a good indicator on how Bad Medicine will end out the season. They have several good players and as they get playing time together this season they are likely going to play the role of spoiler later in the season.
Regular Season:
The season opener :
set the Pirates against another startup team the NorCal Crossovers. The NorCal Crossovers are not your average startup team as they have played Roller hockey for several years. During this game they showed that they can control the puck and position players for accurate and effective passing. In the first period the NorCal Crossovers scored first and then added a second goal in the second period taking a 2-0 lead. The Pirates first goal came mid way into the second period from Sherri (2) which was a huge boost to the Pirate team. Sherri took a breakaway straight down the center of the ice as NorCal defenders flanked her on each side trying to force Sherri off of the puck. Sherri dug in and took the puck to the net and lifting top left side at the last second putting the Pirates on the scoreboard. The Pirates were then able to tie the game at 2 less than a minute later as Gary was able to put an empty net shot into the goal. The third period went scoreless and forced the game to a shootout. The Crossovers took the first penalty shot and scored putting them up 1-0 in the shootout. Both teams went scoreless until the final hope for the Pirates their captain Greg (82) tied the shootout score and forced it to an extended shootout. The Crossovers then again took the first shot and Rich (goalie for the Flyers) made another exceptional save setting up a chance for the Pirates to walk away with a victory. Kirk (14) got the nod and delivered giving the Pirates an amazing win in the opening game of the season.
A special thanks to Rich of the Flyers for filling in as goalie for the Pirates.
Game 2:
of the season matched the Pirates and the Rotties. The Pirates got on the scoreboard first in the last seconds of the first period as Sun (95) scored on assists from Kirk (14) and Michael (43). The second period went scoreless giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead going into the 3rd period. The Pirates second goal of the game came from Todd (24) as he accepted an outlet pass from Jim (17). Todd worked the puck up the ice and made several nice moves before lifting the shot to the top left of the net. The next Pirate score came less than 20 seconds later as Chris (8) hit Jason (18) with a pass and again Jason delivered with a goal. The final goal of the game came late in the third as Kirk (14) scored on assists from Todd (24) and Gary (28). This game was much closer than the final score indicates but all in all it was a strong 4-0 win for the Pirates.
Game 3:
was a rematch between the Pirates and the Rotties once again. By this time I think Jason must have been tired of hearing the team talk about Kirk's hat trick and his game winning shootout goal as Jason lit up the scoreboard 4 times in this game. The Pirates scored early and often jumping out to a 3 nothing lead in the 1st period.
The first goal was provided by Brad (85, filling in as Forward) who received a great crossing pass from Gary (28) and Brad wasted not time putting the puck in the back of the net. The second score was provided by Jason (18) on a cleanup from assists from Chris (8) and Gary (28). The final score of the third period was a great play from Greg (82) while the Pirates were short handed. Sun (95) sent an outlet pass to Greg on a break away and once again the Pirates were able to find the back of the net. The Rotties scored first in the second period pushing the scored to 3-1 but the Pirates struck back again just more than a minute later. On this play Jason (18) received a pass from Gary (28) and he threw the puck to the net. At this time there were plenty of bodies in front of the Rotties net but the puck just seemed to work its way to the goal. Jason (18) then struck again less than 4 minutes later completing his hat trick for the game. Jason took the puck to the left side of the zone and put a shot on net that went off one of the Rotties defenders skate and into the net giving the Pirates as 6-1 lead at the end of 2 periods. The Rotties then scored first in the third cutting the Pirate lead to 6-2. The Pirates delivered the final blow late in the third period as Jim (17) and Jason (18) fought the Rotties for the Puck on the Rotties blue line. Jim came out with the puck and pushed the puck towards the left side and spotted Jason pushing forward up the center. Jim was able to hit Jason with a back handed crossing pass and again Jason wasted no time putting the puck in the back of the net. Even thou this goal meant nothing in the overall outcome of the game the father/son combo happens to be this dad's most memorable moment of the season and is one he won't forget any time soon.
And if we are doing a beginning of the season wrap up we certainly cannot close this out without mentioning the exceptional goal keeping that Chuck (97) has provided for the Pirates. In 4 games Chuck has only given up 4 goals and also has a shutout against the Rotties in game 2 of the season. In the 2 regular season games Chuck has played he has faced 58 shots from the Rotties and has only given up 2 goals with a save percentages of 96+ percent.
