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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.

Howie Report, Game 1, 2007-2008
2007-09-17: Mighty Pirates 3 at Steelheads 1

Knights of the Black and Gold!!!

Welcome to Season 15! Wow - you guys look as young as when you first donned the uniforms!!! Howie certainly does not feel any older - slower, maybe, but not older!!!

There is great news coming out of the Mighty Pirates front office and the MP locker room as well. As the rosters were set, the fact that there was only one change is the regular lineup from the 2006/2007 season is a huge vote of confidence in the squad that carried the colours last year. While it was with regret that we saw the departure of veteran rushing defenseman Paul Matusek, CEO Roger Jolie only had to look into the deep pool of talent at his disposal and persuade veteran rushing defenseman Richard Bingham to come out of retirement to fill out the team.

So we welcome back Goalie Matthew Lella (15 year veteran); forwards Turner (15 year veteran), Mola (captain), Perri (alternate captain), Sager, Phillips, Mandell, Gallivan, Leggett, Mutch, Phillips; and defensemen Kwinter, Bingham, Besant, Jezioranski, Mintz and Klein (15 year veteran).

In addition, in recognition of the fact that the Pirates seem to function best with a full bench, the front office has lined up an impressive squad of subs who can pitch in wherever and whenever they are needed. The fact that they are all now veterans of either the affiliated Summer Pirates, the Mighty Pirates or both, makes their integration into the roster for any game an easy one for Captain Mola. The subs are Tim Sturgeon (goalie and forward), Mike Sousa, Giovanni Tassone and Adam Brown.

All in all, the boys are looking good for 2007/2008. With their fan base speaking loud and clear through the poll on PirateHockey.ca as to what they want to see for the 15th Anniversary Season, we can expect the Mighty Pirates to make a serious run for the championship - and to unveil new jerseys in time for the playoffs! The first game of the season certainly set the tone for this new season. Veterans goalie Matthew Lella and left-winger Mark Sager had to miss the first tilt due to other obligations, but The Sturgeonator stepped in between the pipes and Gio Tassone stepped up to man the blue line, so El Capitano Vito Mola was able to send out three full lines. Jim Jezioranski, Rob Kwinter, Chris Besant, Evan Mintz and Richard Bingham joined Tassone on defense; centres were Jonathan Gallivan, John Mutch and Nick Perri; left wingers were Dave Turner, Allan Phillips and Les Klein; and right wingers were Shaun Leggett, Auby Mandell and the captain.

While the Pirates have a commanding lead in the historical head-to-head record between the two clubs, the Steelheads have always proven to be formidable opponents who give their all every game, period and minute, and who are gentlemanly in play as well. Everyone expected a tough, grueling 32 minutes of hockey, and no one was disappointed. While it was true that many a Pirate had not seen ice all summer except in their drinks on the dock - and it showed - the Steelheads seemed in mid-season form from the first face-off. The first period was an end-to-end battle, with numerous well-executed rushes and play-making. The Steelheads were connecting with their passes, and when they dumped, they rushed. It was only by the cool heads-up play of the Pirates' defensive squad that the score was held to 0-0 at the end of the first 10 minutes.

The second period promised more of the same, but with almost two minutes gone, a horrible line change by the MPs left them hopelessly outnumbered in their own zone. Gallivan claims that he contributed to the breakdown by not getting to his check in the slot in time, but Howie did not see that, and in any case, Sturgeon made a great save and the puck rebounded back to the Steelhead in the slot. Alas, his second shot found the top-right corner of the net. The tight, scoreless game was finally broken open - Steelheads 1, Pirates 0.

Now this is the type of situation that in past seasons would have led to the classic Pirate second period melt-down, and it certainly looked like the Mighty Pirates were never going to beat the solid skills of the Steelheads goalie, but they didn't give up, building up their shots-on-goal total as the period progressed. Finally, with just 1:40 left in the second frame, and as the Steelheads applied pressure, Jezioranski won a crucial race to a loose puck along the side boards and then smartly flipped the puck up the boards and out of the zone. Gallivan picked the puck up, carrying it unopposed all the way down to the Steelheads' faceoff circle. Spotting Mola charging into the slot like a vicious bull, Gallivan quickly slid the puck over. Mola's quick blast actually deflected off a defender's skate, and the puck found its way between the goalie's legs. What a relief as the Pirates gained a goal and the tie, 1-1.

However, it all looked to unravel early in the third period, as the Steelheads set up a 2-on-1 rush, with Klein late to get back after covering for a rushing defenseman, but Sturgeon, staying with the shooter, made a huge TSN Highlight-of-the-Game style toe save! Then, with the clock winding down on the game and less than three minutes left on the clock, sophomore superstar Mintz started a simple breakout play, but suddenly found room to move the puck out of the zone on his own. His swift strides and amazing speed soon found him zooming across to his off-wing, flying into the Steelheads' zone and hitting Mola with a beautiful, long, cross-ice pass, and the Captain made no mistake with the yawning cage for his second goal of the game, giving Los Piratas a 2-1 lead. However, as you would expect, the Steelheads did not give up, even after picking up an unfortunate penalty with 2:07 to go in the game. They still managed to apply pressure during the dying seconds. With their goalie pulled, and the Steelheads looking to even the score, Mintz won the puck deep in the Pirate zone, and calmly skated the puck forward, and just before he was swarmed by Steelheads, let the puck fly as he was falling to hit the empty net from his own blue line with 3 seconds remaining, capping a 3-1 victory for the Buccaneers.

This was a game that smacked of Pirate Brand Hockey®. Strong defense, opportunistic scoring, short and effective shifts, smooth line changes (with one notable exception!) and 100% effort on the ice - and, Howie is proud to report - off the ice. A good turnout at the post-game Howie's press conference and post-game beer-and-wings-fest proved that the Pirates have not lost sight of their priorities, even after a 10:00 p.m. game start. It was noted that the Rinx bar has made some changes, expanding their menu with features like spring rolls. They also seem to have covertly replaced traditional Pirate Mead (Rickard's Red) with Alexander Keith's Red. While smiling Maritimer John Mutch did the ordering, suspicious Pirates claimed the beer tasted "unusual" - "fizzy" was how one described it! I'll bet a dubloon that something sinister is afoot. Maybe a strongly worded letter to RINX and TNHC is in order. This correspondent will monitor the situation and report back.

In the meantime, the Pirates and FOPs (Friends of Pirates, Former Pirates, Offspring of Pirates, Original Pirates and others) await the decision on the traditional Wednesday Night Skate from Ice-master Dave Turner. He is to report to Roger Jolie shortly on his negotiations with the Ice Queen herself regarding time and price. Stay tuned!!!

But if you are - as Howie is - itching to see the boys back in action, be at RINX 2 at 6:10 p.m. next Monday, September 24 as they face off against the Toronto Blades, another powerhouse team that is a force to be reckoned with. It promises to be an interesting match, with Captain Mola and star centreman Mutch both scratches for the contest. It certainly looks like the TNHC Monday Rickard's Division is up for grabs, at least as far as the preseason goes, and will - as far as the Pirates go - depend on whether or not PBH is in the house or not.

See you there - and welcome back!!

GO PIRATES!!! VIVA LOS PIRATAS!!!

Howie