Coach Ray Conway gave the keys to his bright, shiny car to Assistant Coaches Todd Hutsko, Erik Galis, and Chris Johns for the weekend with the same look as a father would give to his children. One simple command followed. Put it back in the garage when you're done and there better not be any dents or scratches.
We'll leave the vehicle inspection to Coach Ray at Friday's practice, but the car drove very nicely in Rochester and the Kids endured a weekend filled with all the highs and lows one can expect while growing as youth hockey players. Great wins and tough defeats, all with a definite sense of continued teambuilding.
The club reached the semi-finals on Sunday morning as the top seed and seemed intent on capturing their first championship of the spring season. Unfortunately, a 2-1 lead midway through the last frame could not hold up and the team was edged by the Upstate Lakers by a final score of 3-2. The weekend closed a little early for all, but the journey was full of some great accomplishments. It looked something like this...
Game 1
The club hit the ice hard and fast and never looked in danger as they bested the Might Buffaloes by a 4-1 count. The win set the tone for the weekend.
Game 2
In what some said was the best '98 matchup they had seen in their 14 months of travel, the Kids used a late rush and goal with 1 second left to best the International Selects, sponsored by Montreal Metro, by a 3-2 score. The Kids fell behind early by a 2-0 score and showed unrivaled grit and determination to get back in the game. A fantastic win for the club.
Game 3
Saturday morning came and the club had its first match of the year against a club from the Great Northeast. The team made quick work of the New England Generals by a 4-1 score.
Game 4
The last match of pool play saw the Mega Men battle the Jr. Kings from Hollywood. The Kings forged ahead very early by a 2-0 count, but Coach Conway's club, inspired by his appearance on the webcast, answered with 4 goals to take a commanding 4-2 lead. Unfortunately, nobody knows what happen to the inspiration at that point and the Kings closed late to force a shootout. After a round of 6 or 7 shooters, the Kings got the game winner for a hard fought 5-4 win. The victory in the stands looked similar to something you'd see in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but what do you expect? They just beat a group of kids with one of the best reputations in the '98 birth year, The Pittsburgh Mega Men. What a nice car it is...
