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Jim Henderson  7/26/2004 6:27:00 AM  Email	Team Lightning is in need of a goalie for the coming fall season. If anyone has any leads of whom we could contact, please email me or call me @ 516-4407. posted by jamesh@softplantech.com
Patrick Burke - Warner  6/29/2004 2:10:00 PM  Email	I would like to add my support to Jim's crusade. I've had the pleasure of playing with and against all you guys for a few years now, and I too have seen the negative trends mentioned below. I've even had to switch to a full facemask from my half-shield because I'm tired of getting stitches in my face. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to fix the problem. USA Hockey's no-check rules provide for a lot of gray area, and many instances where contact is allowed. I also agree that officiating is not the problem. If we as players didn't make the questionable plays, we wouldn't have to worry about missed calls. This is especially true when we only have on official for a game. In that instance, it is nearly impossible to catch any plays that are away from the puck. Here are some possible minor fixes (none of these will solve everything, but they can all help). 1. Have Frank meet with the team captains and clarify what it means to play "no-check" hockey. Lay out, in no uncertain terms, what contact is illegal, and use that to define what is acceptable. Make team captains responsible for passing this message on to their teams. 2. Start assessing double minors for plays that are clearly intentional, even if the infraction is not severe or doesn't result in injury. Maybe the big boys only get 4 minutes when the other guy gets hurt, but none of us are getting paid to bleed. This is especially true in the case of intentional hits where a check is finished, and aggressive stick infractions such as slashing and high sticking. 3. Post the names and penalties incurred of repeat offenders. Maybe if you know that the whole league will think you're a goon, you'll think twice about that two-hander. This will also give our officials a "scouting report" of sorts, so they have an idea who to watch before the game starts. 4. Good players - police your own guys! Some of our teammates are new to the game, and weren't raised around it. As such, they don't know the unwritten rules of hockey. Some players may just be trying to emulate the pros because that's their only idea of how the game is supposed to be played. If we've got a teammate who plays in a manner unfit for the league, we should make an effort to nip that in the bud in the locker room. That certainly beats the inevitable beatdown that comes from hacking the wrong guy one too many times. Don't take this the wrong way, but it seems like a majority of the problems come from guys who are very intense, but lack the hockey skills to turn their intensity into something positive on the ice. Maybe it's frustration, maybe it's a conscious effort to help the team however possible, I don't know. If this sounds like someone you play with, take a little time to make him a better player, and perhaps that intensity can be used for the benefit of the team, as opposed to the detriment. Let's get some ideas out there for improving our league, and then act on them. I'm happy to help in any capacity I can, and I know many other guys are. Patrick Burke, Warner Chappell posted by patrickburke7@comcast.net
bobfunk-warner team  6/29/2004 11:50:00 AM  Email	Response to Jim Henderson's "call for responsibility"-amen,brother!! Frank Wright can attest to the fact that i have bugged him about this topic repeatedly-and i'm sure it would delight him if we all stopped complaining to him,and organized some sort of league committee to deal with the problem.In three years I have seen some chippy play,but there is a distinct trend in the last year towards a complete disregard for the concept of a noncontact league,in part created by notable repeat offenders who are easily identified.Our(warnerchappell) most volatile player in the past has been an inspiration to our team over the last year in the strides he has taken to control his play to reflect league ,and team ethics,and code of conduct-while other players in the league seem to have no concept of a "friendly game".there should be no pride in intimidation,or physically agressive play in adult hockey-the one big issue is making sure noone gets hurt- whether you think you're doing anything wrong or not!-if in doubt,let it go!Is getting there first worth somebody going headfirst into the boards,or getting a stick in the face(even if you didn't actually do it to them)?let's organize a league meeting and try and set some parameters to agree upon-BOB FUNK-warnerchappell posted by bobfunk@comcast.net
Jim Henderson  6/29/2004 9:36:00 AM  Email	A call to responsibility, Fellow B-Leaguers, I am writing this note out of concern for what I and others I have talked to, perceive to be an ever increasing rise of deliberate violence in this league. It appears that from discussions with others that the most significant part of the equation appears to be: what are the proper standards and intensity of play for this league. It appears that these may not have been clearly defined. I do not through any stretch of the imagination believe that lax referees are the problem. The problem seems to be that there is not a clear and uniform understanding of the appropriate intensity of play. In a nutshell, are we a “skate around, pass around and shoot around league” or are we a “go for the puck, drive to the net and score league. Personally I prefer that latter. I play the other in a weekly pick up game. If we are the latter, does this justify the actions of some? Saturday’s games both had to be called early for varying reasons, but the sum being that players could not handle their tempers and went outside the boundaries of decency to avenge how they felt. We already have one player laid up with a broken jaw, nose and missing teeth. How do you explain to your kids that what happened there is just part of the game? I can’t even explain that away to myself. I certainly couldn’t from my last game. The other Ice House where I live in Franklin is still trying to get out from under the shadow of a player intentionally injuring another player on the ice, for which he was charged. Put it in perspective guys. It is a game. Many of us play in this league for the competitiveness as well the comradeship of it, but at the end of the day, none of us are going to make a living from it. Perhaps it is time for each of us to address our teams, and lay that out, lest they have forgotten. I moved up from C- League for the challenge. I make no bones about it I have been schooled many a night by many of you, but just as quickly have been able to turn the table. I joke and compliment many of you during the course of the game. Why, because tomorrow it doesn’t matter that much if we won or lost. I did the same thing when I was playing for a team in C that had not won a game in 2 seasons, so don’t hold it over my head that it is because I play for one of the better teams in this league right now that I am taking the high road. That does not hold any water. Perhaps something as simple as the captains meeting before the start of the game for a good luck handshake, etc with the referees would put a face to the game. Or perhaps it is time for a league meeting of team representatives to hash things out, with level heads, no agendas please.I welcome your input or feedback. posted by jamesh@softplantech.com
Jon Cummings  5/8/2004 2:00:00 PM  Email	Just wanted to post a message to everyone I know, to tell you all I said hello while I am away in Kosovo! I am in definate hockey withdrawls and in need of ice time! I will be around the rink in July and hope to see you all on the frozen pond. Till then, take care!! posted by jcummingskosovo@yahoo.com