Gentlemen of the 2003-2004 Mighty Pirates
2003-09-22: Mighty Pirates 0 vs. Mooseheads 5

Welcome to the first Howie Report of the season. It has taken your intrepid reporter some time to catch his breath after last night's game. Subject only to selective memory engendered by age, I do not remember a worse turnout for a season opener than last night. It started badly, as I arrived at the arena with just two minutes left in the second period of the game before ours and found that I was the only Pirate there. Wondering whether I was the brunt of a cruel practical joke or just poor schedule management, I looked around to see if I could draft five or six strangers to carry the flag for the black and yellow.

In the end, eleven skaters and the valiant goalie, Matthew Lella, did ultimately show up, and put on a great show against the Mooseheads (where would TNHC be for team names if they didn't have beer and cigarette papers?) for the myriad of fans jamming the stands. From the start, the game was fast-paced and the teams well-matched. Newly minted captain, Vito Mola (Man of Peace), set up his lines with emphasis on strong defense, a trademark of Pirate Hockey. Two forward lines consisting of Rob Kwinter at centre, with Mark Sager and Michael Levine (the only rookie on this year's squad), and John Mutch leading Nick Perri (recently activated from the long-term DL) and Les Klein. The defense included Il Capitano Mola, Richard Bingham (immediate past captain), Blair Dimock, Kapil Khatter and Jonathan Gallivan (Webmaster). The play and score were very even in the first half of the game, but eventually the full bench, relative youth and high NCR ("no cage ratio") of the Mooseheads took their toll on your heroes, and the final score was a decisive 0-5 against the home town favourites. The game, on the other hand, was relatively clean, with only one penalty (admittedly, that one penalty was for a vicious act of interference against Klein, who was clearly set to blow by the last defender on his way to delivering a blistering slap shot on the goalie from point-blank range - or was it just that two slow skaters got their sticks tangled up and the one who was bigger got called?) during thirty-two very intense minutes of hockey.

The general consensus at the post-game beer-and-wings press conference was that the Mooseheads were a worthy opponent, and that with a full bench, the Pirates could have given them a run for their money. All of the players who suited up were awarded "Darin Barney We Few Men Awards for Ice Time Above and Beyond the Call of Duty." However, of particular note were the three stars identified in the closed locker room meeting after the game:

1. Blair Dimock, who anchored the defense through numerous relentless attacks from the Beer Bellies and managed to do it aggressively but without undue violence or malice.
2. Vito Mola, who captained his first game with finesse and fine leadership skills, and led by example by playing hard but with peace in his heart.
3. New Pirate Michael Levine and Returning Pirate Nick Perri, who each showed in their first game that they intend to contribute to the Pirates' success in this, their 11th year.

So let the Mooseheads move themselves up into the next division and let the Pirates warm up during the preseason, as they formulate the strategies that will lead them to the top this year. Be at the next game next Monday, 6:00 p.m. at RINX 2, as the Pirates take on the Goldmembers. In the meantime,

GO PIRATES!!!

Les/Howie