This was the first year of the PNESHL (Prudential Northeast Sled Hockey League) and this was the first year we were going to be in a league where everything was organized.  Officials, scorekeepers, and structured games Oh, my!!!  We were very excited to get this season under way to get our program off to a big start in the inaugural league.  We lost Joey Leg and Mike Geary but gained a G-unit in Garrett Stephens, welcomed the return of Andy Moore, and added Dan “The Postman” Sousa.

The season got off to a great start and we came out fighting. The first weekend of play we tied PA in a 1-1 dogfight (just because bug-fight doesn’t sound right) and beat up on a NH squad 4-0 that had learned to expect it after a while.  After the first week we were feeling good with our 1-0-1 record. 2-0 would have been nice but definitely better than 1-1.  It was during this first week that we realized nothing had changed with Brett, and we needed to make the usual extra stop because he couldn’t seem to manage himself and kept forgetting his diapers.

Game Day 2 turned out the same as Game Day 1.  We beat up on CT in a big way and then ran into a good NY team who we should have beaten, but tied them 1-1.  We were 2-0-2 after Game Day 2.  Things were looking good. Then Game Day 3 happened…….

Game Day 3 is when we, as a team, got a harsh dose of reality.  In our first game we beat up on NH 5-0 as usual, but Pa brought us back to reality in our second game of the week.  We were up 2-0 with about 5 minutes left in the game when the wheels just came off. PA scored 3 goals to take the game and eventually the cup away from us. We win that period and we win the cup walking away.  But we got a bitter taste from the first losing pill we’ve had to swallow in over a year.  I think it’s safe to say there is a Maine vs. PA rivalry forming. After Game Day 3 we were 3-1-2 and needed a lot of help to win the Cup.

Game Day 4 came and we needed a lot to happen.  First was we needed to win both games. We did our job by beating a NY team looking to win the cup and squeaking by a CT team that definitely came out loaded for Bear and turned in an incredible performance. Jerry Badalucco played his first game for us against CT. Then we needed PA and NY to tie for us to take the Cup; otherwise the winner of the game won the Cup.  Unfortunately PA won the game and the Cup.

Finally, after the PNESHL season ended, we went to Utah with a few added NH players.  We took the fight west and handed out an East Coast Pirate whooping on Utah, Colorado, and Sacramento as the New England Bruins.  So for us Maine players we didn’t leave this season empty handed.  As a team we learned a TON over this season and I’m looking forward to handing out many, many more Pirate butt-kickings next season.

End of Season Awards:

Most likely not to work for Yellow Pages – Brett “Hoters” Goodnow

Most likely to live on an Indian reservation – Brett “flailing hands” Goodnow

Most likely to get thrown out of a rink – Craig “Blow the whistle Dumb Ass!” Gray

Most likely to score in rain, sleet, snow, or hail – Danny “The Postman” Sousa

Most likely to mess his sled in a game – Garrett “I just shat myself” Stephens

Most likely to be mistaken for the Pirates logo – “Salty Pete” Grosso ….   Or is he?

Most likely to make a pee break before Brett – Andy “I got to go” Moore…  (No pun intended with the last name)

Most likely to save our bacon (and eat it) – Jeff “And his Labz’ Ladies Harem” Labbe

Most likely to fall asleep on the ice – Dave “I work 16 jobs” Dittmer

Most likely to be found at a Portland Pirates game – Jerry “Pillow Butt” Badalucco

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Maine Sled Hockey Program
255 Pine Point Road, Scarborough, ME 04074
207-883-0420    207-885-5593 Fax
www.mainesledhockey.org
MaineSledHockey@maine.rr.com
Copyright © 2005, Maine Sled Hockey Program

Fast Facts: Sled hockey is one of the fastest growing disabled sports in the world with new sled hockey programs and sled hockey teams showing up everywhere. There are about 50 adult sled hockey teams and junior sled hockey teams in the USA. Sled hockey is played in several countries. Sweden claims to have originated sled hockey. The US Sled Hockey Team won the gold medal in the 2002 Paralympics. The Prudential Northeast Sled Hockey League is the first organized adult sled hockey league in the USA. Sled hockey players are extremely committed to the sport of sled hockey and regularly teach sled hockey clinics and participate in sled hockey outreach events and sled hockey exhibitions. Anyone wishing to try sled hockey should have ample opportunities to play.