It was a valiant effort as each and every Grinder was up for the game. The plan to shut down #85 (almost) worked, positioning was sound, shifts were short and the frozen pucks helped us in puck-control. The effort was big, the beer was cold and the smokies were hot; what else could you ask for? A win, maybe, but alas it was not in the cards. Gord set-up two winngers with saucer-like passes at point blank but to no avail - who were those wingers anyway? Grinders lone goal cam from a shot at the point by Troy Houghton, whose slap-shot sailed by Trainor’s screen and careened off of Triggsy’s fist into the top right corner. This pulled us to within one and we smelled a comeback was possible with the way that Peter was keeping us in the game. 6, 7, 8 breakaways? and he stopped them all, including a couple from #85. Unfortunately of of 85’s breakaways rebounds got lost in Peter’s feet for the trailer to bash in, but the Grinders were still in it until, you guessed it, a penalty. The Cougars got their first goal on a power-play and they would end the Grinders hopes of a third-game on a power play too as they ran out the last 2 minutes while the Grinders played short-handed.

Tanchak, Frank, Tidy … we tried man, we wanted that 3rd game for ya, but it wasn’t in the cards.

The tailgate under the freezing April full moon was a classic, with Triggsy bringing the heat and Trainor bringing the dogs. Nice way to close out the season boys. See you all at summer hockey.

Grinders fall hard (7-2) during the first game. Next game is Saturday at 7pm. A must win game for the Grinders who are facing elimination.

She’s a Grinder Fan!   What more incentive do you need?

The netminder plays a conn-smythe-trophy like game, but the players manage to blow a 3-0 lead and just can’t hold it together long enough to eake out even a single point. Sound familiar? Of course it does but we’re not talking Luongo and the Canucks, we’re talking Hogan and the Grinders. (Hogan’s Heroes perhaps? It was sit-com-ish)

Peter plays a text-book game, making glove-hand saves, pad saves, sprawling saves and saves off his own defensemen. Grinders get 2 short-handed goals and a power-play goal to go up 3-0. Peter continues to play a text-book game, making glove-hand saves, pad saves, sprawling saves and saves off his own defensemen. Grinders take him for granted and think they have the game wound up…. uh uh. Following a ridiculously bad call by the ref, they count a goal for the other team (unmentionable bastards) and thats when it all fell apart. Afore you knew it it was 3-3 and heading into overtime. Overtime lasted mere seconds before the other team (unmentionable bastards) took the puck from the red-line un-accosted all the way for a break-away goal.

Pete we owe you one. But in honour of a stellar performance, by special request, here is Peter’s own Grinder Girl!

The Grinders played a hard game with a few unlucky bounces that sank them, but there was a solid effort by Everyone, and I mean everyone including non-Grinders to make this game the best it could possibly be.  Gord shows up with the line-up - where would be without that line-up? Goats shows up to the game as part of a double header!  He finishes his 8:15 game as ‘Tender for the Burn, and then slaps on the player pads to skate as a Winger for the Grinders.  Fired up he was. hustling and grinding and bringin his “A” game.  Tidy gives his bunged knee a try and manages to make it through the whole game, even as the pain became noticeable in the third.  PSP, a last minute phone call and takes on the roll of spare without hesitation, then proceeds to take a spear in the chest. And Stace.  He didnt even play, but he managed to go beyond the call the duty and lend Trainor a sweaty right skate in the third when Trainor’s blade snapped in half.

THIS is teamwork. This is commitment. This is what it’s all about.  Even though we lost. We worked hard. We moved the puck. We hit at least a couple of posts. No whining, just one big solid team effort. It felt good.

From one team member to the team as a whole - “thank you.”

Let’s do it again and put 2-points in the win column!

After a four-game losing skid the Grinders faced off against the first-place Albino Crackers and emerged victorious with 3 goals over their meager 2. The Grinders first goal came on almost the first shift of the game with Santa’s blast careening off the end boards, and then something happened, it either bounced off the back of the goalies legs or Rob tipped it in. Jury is out on that one. The second goal was a purty one. Father Williams loaded up at the point and out of shear terror Jason tipped the oncoming puck away from his rib cage and into the net.

The game winner, contrary to scoresheet, came from Gordie ho planted himself on the edge of the crease and awaiting the perfect pass from PSP. Gordie’s shot went right through the legs of the keeper for the final tally.

[GORD’s EDIT]Close….me from andy and paul. Andy headmannned it to paul who took it into the zone, circled the net and passed it in front to me for the one-timer. They actually screwed up all the goals so I have sent the changes into Dave. I had a goal and an assist and don’t think they credited me for a point!

Guy had lots of chance to break out of his lone point for the season, but had no luck again. That was a great game by us eh? Quick shifts, everyone skated hard and got back….fun to play.

For that I present to you, Snowflake… (Albino, white, snowflake… gawd my Google foo is hawsome)

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