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After extensive contract negotiations, the Mighty Pirates organization is extremely pleased to welcome back Howie for another season of insightful, amusing, and extremely addictive commentary! Yes, Howie tells it like it is!

You'll find links to each and every Howie Report right here after each game.

Might Makes Right (or Light)
2004-11-15: Mighty Pirates 3 at Komets 1

Last Monday night, the Mighty Pirates proved conclusively that Might Makes Right (or Light), as they took their first game in the Coors Light Division against the Komets by a score of 3-1. That makes the boys in yellow and black the proud owners of a two game winning streak, and something to build on as they try to make their way in the lowest division of the TNHC organization.

As expected, the game was much closer than the fact that the Komets sit in last place would have suggested. And with the exception of some desperate hacking and stickwork (born mostly of frustration on the part of the Komets as the Mighty Pirates skated through, by and around them), it was a clean game. There was definitely an initial air of over-confidence in the locker room before the game, which Captain Mola was quick to nip in the bud, advising the boys to play Pirate Brand Hockey® and focus on their game rather than their opponents.

Blessed with strong turnouts for the last few games, Captain Mola has had the luxury of keeping his forward lines together for several games, so with Matthew Lella in net again, the three forward lines were as follows: John Mutch centering Vito Mola and Shaun Leggett; Nick Perri centering Auby Mandell and Mark Sager; and Jonathan Gallivan centering Dave Turner and Jim Jezioranski. Defense was manned by Todd Kitchen, Rob Kwinter, Jim Butler and Les Klein. Blair Dimock, suffering from a bout of "too sick to play," and Richard Bingham (AWOL but presumed okay) were scratches.

The first period was marked by tentative play on both sides. The Komets have the second lowest Goals For Average in the Division, suggesting a less than potent offense, but they also boast the third lowest Goals Against Average as well, pointing to a solid defense and netminder. The play was very even through the first ten minutes, much of which was highlighted by the stellar play at both ends of the ice from the wingers and centres, who came back and covered their point men and the goal when the Komets brought the play to the Pirates. Of special note was the extraordinary effort of Shaun Leggett, who seemed to be always in the right spot, driving to the corner or the net, covering the board on defense, and taking the place of a rushing left defenseman in a seamless display of heads-up hockey. The first goal was finally notched with just over one minute to play when Vito Mola grabbed control of the puck in the right corner, passed it (VERY slowly and carefully) to Les Klein at the point, who took a shot which was deftly deflected into the net by John Mutch, who finally broke through a five game scoring drought to renew his assault on the Mighty Pirates all-time scoring title currently held by the legendary Mike Stein.

The second period was a far more disciplined affair. Early in the frame, Klein sent a clearing pass along the boards to an always-in-position Nick Perri, who in turn carried it across the blue line and fed John Mutch his second goal of the day, making it 2-0. Marked by superb passing, puck-handling and control of the play, the Pirates dominated the Komets at both ends of the ice. Aside from the on-going efforts by all the boys in yellow, and the on-going exemplary teamwork of Shaun Leggett, there were also some remarkable saves by Matthew Lella at the goal line; a heart-stopping moment when the puck, having slid through the legs of the goalie, lay interminably at the goal line until Todd Kitchen reached far behind him and dragged it out of danger; and the sound of post after post behind hit at the other end by power-shooters Auby Mandell, Jim Jezioranski and Jonathan Gallivan. Even when the Komets' captain undressed Klein at the blue line and scored a goal with 1:16 left, the Pirates kept their cool.

It was into the third that things seemed to unravel a bit. There is always a fear that playing less skilled teams brings down your own game, but this night, it appeared that your heroes simply began to lose focus into the third. Perhaps it is a holdover from the Molson Dry days when the Pirates' opponents took advantage of a tired squad and peppered them with goal after goal, but the discipline began to break down. Shifts began to stretch rather than shorten, passes bounced off sticks rather than sticking, forwards collapsed into the net instead of minding the blue line, and other basics of hockey were neglected in a rush to do all of the work yourself rather than depend on teammates and teamwork. Luckily, Mutch was "en fuego" and just 1:20 into the period, he combined with Mola and the ever-working Leggett to pot his third goal and put the cap on a natural hat trick. While putting the game virtually on ice, it was still a struggle to keep the boys in check, especially when the Komets pulled their goalie and the rush was on to try and get a free one.

In the end, the conclusion was that the boys are happy in the Coors Light, but that they had better be ready for some stiff competition on their way to the playoffs. A huge help to this will be the start-up of the Wednesday Night Pirate Skate™, which starts this Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. at Fenside Arena. This long-standing tradition and part of the Pirates' vigorous training program has held the key to player development and the awesome physical stamina of every player to wear the black and yellow.

And if you can, be sure to catch the next regular season Pirate game on Monday, 22 November at 11:00 p.m. on RINX 3 as your heroes face another Coors Light Division rival, the first place Original Chiefs for the first time in franchise history. Be sure you don't miss it — especially if you really love old-fashioned love-of-the game hockey NOT brought to you by the NHL!

GO PIRATES!!! VIVA LOS PIRATAS!!!

Howie