Frederick Stars Hockey

I was just reading the news and saw an article on CNN.com about a pediatrics group that says we should have labels on certain foods warning that they pose a choking hazard, similar to labels on toys.
http://us.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/22/children.choking/index.html?hpt=C2

So next time you're out there eating hot dogs in the lot... remember, it's DANGEROUS!

Okay, we lost our first game of the session. Fireworks?!?!? Yeah we had some but, we are the only ones who can call "Bullshit" on each other no one else has that privilege. We lost a close game 8-3, yeah that is close. Trust me, I am a Government
Contractor!!!!!

I am looking forward to our meeting with our favortite team, "The Blues" on thursday 2/11/10 at 10pm (2000 for military and Europeans!)

So, what team will show up? The one with sore backs from shoveling snow for three friggin days? Or the one with swagger???

You can tell I have the swagger but, my fellow STARS can you still dial it up?

BTW, I have had a coupla of Yuengling's, so as we use to say "I am talking smart!"

No talk just bring it!

Ending the painful eleven month estrangement from the world of ice hockey, James Pryor (Frederick Stars, 77, Defense 2005-2009) stepped onto the frozen surface of Eissporthalle Mainz on Wednesday night for a session with the Mainz Midnighters.
The Midnighters run a tight ship with set drills and iron fist discipline. The extra 13 feet of width of the international rink is just as unlucky as the numbers make it out to be. Especially if one has not skated in nearly a year.

After a series of drills designed to break the spirit of the weak, the Midnighters form teams for a nearly hour-long scrimmage. A scrimmage void of any breaks. "Bring it all, or go home!" They say.

The session ends at 15 minutes before midnight, promptly. By 14 minutes to midnight, the German-born beer is flowing in the locker room and shower area. A stern lecture from the teams patriarch regarding more serious preparations for an upcoming international tournament ends with a hearty "Prost!"

Drink up boys! It's good to be back on the ice.

After a 3-0 start and a combined 24-5 gf/ga the Frederick Stars are once again the top of the SFAHL hockey league. It would be nice to think we all worked out and improved our game over the month long mid-winter hiatus, but in reality it must be due to the blockbuster layer acquisitions that part-time player/GM Steve (the rocket) Vandeventer was able to pull off.
We welcome Eric, Bryce, Sam and all other newcomers to the squad.

Of course there is always the concept of addition by subtraction... I won't go there, but wish Scott and Scott a restful winter, we hope you rejoin the team in the spring/summer.

See you at the rink.

HAMMERTIME

We opened a couple of boxes that finally arrived in the mail today.
My first present?
A Blue Snuggie from my wife's grandma! Awesome!
I've been drinking coffee in bed in the mornings lately and this is just what I needed to make the chilly experience a little better.

What did you guys get?

Here we are two weeks into the NHL Regular Season. I've watched a handful of games. A couple Caps wins and a couple of losses. I'm halfway through what I believe is a Caps defeat at the hands of Detroit. I haven't finished watching yet so don't confirm that for me. My ESPN360 subscription is working out fine so far.

I've never been so excited for October to come in my life. Being away from hockey for the last six months has been a real test of endurance for my entire being. My body, flabby from the lack of any real exertion, longs for the ice, the sweat, and the beer. My mind longs for the exercise of statistics and schedules. My eyes; Oh my eyes; as the European sun rises to lower and lower apogee every day, my eyes long to squint at the bright glare of NHL-white ice on a huge High Definition television.

Alas, living in Europe has become painful. No local adult recreational hockey leage, no American HD TV, no vitamin D created by exposure to the sun's lucious UV B rays. Fifty degrees north latitude is only joyful in Canada.

I'll still be watching NHL hockey. I've purchase the ESPN 360 streaming NHL package. I'll watch a few games live (they'll start at 1 or 2 am for me) and the rest I'll see on an 18 hour delay.

Let's just hope the bandwidth holds out!

All right all you Europe-based Stars Hockey fans... Get ready to pull an all-nighter! In a press conference held at Noon CEST on Monday the German based ESPN8 "Die Acht!" announced the station had finally settled a long standing contract dispute with the Frederick SFAHL Division C ownership and players association allowing them to televise games live and with minimal commercial interruption.
As a result, Monday's Stars/Huskies matchup will be shown nationwide in Germany starting just after 1AM Tuesday CEST.
So have a nap and prep your Bier Stein for a late night hockey fest!
GO STARS!!

From the heart of Rhein Main hockey region... this is James... signing off.

I was shocked to read this morning that cocaine use (along with ethyl alcohol, hydrocodone, oxycodone, tramadol, Xanax, and Valium) was a factor contributing to the death of legendary pitchman Bill Mays. Well, maybe I wasn't shocked, or even surprised. Actually, I'm relieved. Knowing now that Billy Mays was artificially hyped up about all those products he hawked lets me know he was a real human being. You'd have to be pumped full of drugs to get that excited about fabric adhesives, two-part epoxy putty, and questionable health insurance. So here's to better advertising through chemistry! Bottoms up!

Taking advantage of a powerful line-up (well at least there were a lot of us) and a bitter taste in their mouths after the loss the last time they played the Red-Bullz, the Frederick Stars steam-rolled the multi-gendered Red-Bullz 10-1. The list of goals and assists would be attached, but it is easier to list those that didn't score (namely Mark) who apparently has "Hammeritis" an affliction known to infect those who try hard to carry the rest of their team and subsequently fall short of the high-expectations they set for themselves (examples Tiger Woods, Tim Tebow). I am sure he will recover quickly.
It was nice to play a clean game (don't remember the last one) not even Scott G got a penalty last night, possibly impending fatherhood (again) was the cause for his calmness. Speaking of children, there will be several new additions to the Frederick Stars this Fall after The Campbells, Guenthers and perhaps others have their babies this fall, Congratulations to all.
A special thank you to Roco for showing up for last nights game, he seems to be our lucky charm as we always win when he is there. Possibly we could get him to show up for a Blues or Capital Punishment game and stop cherry picking the Thrashers and Red Bullz? Not sure why his girlfriend hasn't shown up lately?
Keep the Miller High Life Flowing. I will see you at the Rink.