August 2006

BULLETS SEASON ENDS MINUS A CHAMPIONSHIP

August 15th, 2006

The opportunity for the Bullets to capture their first championship will yet again have to wait for next season. Sadly, the Bullets lost game two of the finals 4-2, meaning that the Cronic are the 2006 league champions.

For the third straight week against each other, these two teams played a high tempo game with loads of intensity.

It was a see-saw game all night, with lots of scoring chances for both teams. Dustin Stroll looked much more confident in goal, stopping 23 of 26 shots thrown his way.

Jordan Roberts opened the scoring with his first of two goals while using defensemen Mike Adelson's stick. He had broken his own stick earlier and received a minor penalty for throwing it at an opponent.

After Roberts scored late in the first, the Cronic answered with a pair of goals early in the second. The Bullets tied the game later in the period, but the Cronic scored a key goal with only 14 seconds left in the middle frame.

Content with a one goal lead, the Cronic sat back for most of the third. They clogged up the neutral zone and forced the Bullets fierce attack to scramble.

With time running out on the Bullets season and needing two goals (to win the game and force overtime), Stroll was pulled from the net. Things didn't follow as planned, and the Cronic scored into the empty net and put the Bullets dreams of being champions on hold.

The Bullets were a dismal 0 for 4 on the powerplay. Should that have been better, you may have been reading about a completely opposite story.

Unfortunately, no Bullets players were available for comment after the game.

The Bullets will now disband for the winter training months in preparation for next years season. Many Bullets players join teams in other leagues for extra practice.

Keep logging on to the Bullets website for updates on the team throughout the winter months.

BULLETS BLOW LEAD AND LOSE GAME ONE

August 8th, 2006

The Bullets are going to have to pull out a big win next Tuesday, as they have lost game one of the finals by a score of 6-4.

The game definitely started out in the Bullets favour. A goal and an assist for both Captain Brandon Spears and Assistant Captain Mike Adelson had the Bullets out to a 3-1 lead midway through the game.

"We sticked to our game plan tonight, yet their shots just somehow sneaked through", Hartley Blumenfeld told reporters in an eerily quiet Bullets dressing room. Blumenfeld finished the game with two assists.

The Bullets have been working on clogging up the neutral zone, making quick plays, and forcing shots from the outside all week long. They were pretty effective, as a lot of the Cronic's shots were by a lone attacker and from the outside.

But still, there are some components to a highly important game that can't be perfeted in practise.

The Bullets once again flew out of the gates in this one. But after taking that two goal lead, the Cronic replied with three goals, one of which was shorthanded.

"That shorty really took a bit of spirit out of us, but we tried to keep it together. We were almost fully out of it when they took the lead", Troy Climans explained.

As the game was nearing completion, the Bullets looked to their captain for leadership. Spears didn't let the team down, as he tied the game up with only 2:48 remaining. "That was a real captain's goal, his third point of the game and a real momentum builder", Adelson said.

Unfortunately, the tie would be shortly lived. Only 16 seconds later, the Cronic scored the go ahead game winner on a slapshot from the blueline. "It was just one of those pucks that I didn't fully see. It raised a bit funny and went right over my shoulder", a clearly dejected Dustin Stroll told the media.

The Cronic put the game away less then a minute later, ruining a glorious powerplay opportunity for the Bullets which could have tied the game.

"That was disgusting", coach Mike Cohen said.

The Bullets were outshot 29-18 in this one, and received only two penalties (both were 4 minutes long). Mike Adelson was called for roughing after he nailed a Cronic player on a rush. "It was a bit of redemption for the slash and bodycheck they threw on us down the ice. I let my discipline slip for one second. I'm just glad it didnt cost us", Adelson explained. Forward Max Shuster was called for high sticking. "I accidentally caught him under the visor when I was trying to steal the puck", Shuster recalled. "The boys bailed me out nicely", he continued.

The Bullets are going to have to play the game of their lives next week. Facing elimination, they need a regulation win to force a sudden death overtime. Should the game get to the overtime period, the team who scores first will win the championship.

Brandon Spears was optimistic for victory next week, "Its do or die for us, and I choose do".

THE FINALS EXPLAINED

August 6th, 2006

As the Bullets players continue to prepare for the championship, the league has released the rules for the upcoming two game mini series.

The winner of the series will be the team who has the most wins.

Should the teams be tied after both games are played, a sudden death overtime will be played to determine the winner. The overtime will be played starting as 5 on 5, with a player being removed from each side every three minutes. Should the teams still be tied after 1 on 1 play has occured, a five player shootout will take place.

The Bullets main goal will be to win both games, however should they lose one, all hope will not be lost.

Remember fans, goal differential is not counted in these games, so a 2-1 victory is as good as 7-0 one.

GO BULLETS GO!

BULLETS CLINCH SPOT IN FINALS EVEN WITH LOSS

August 2nd, 2006

Although dropping their final game of the playoff round robin by a score of 6-3 to The Cronic, the Bullets have still qualified to compete in the championship finals.

Coming into the game with a +11 goal differential, the Bullets were all but a lock to qualify for the finals, regardless of tonight's score. That said, a win tonight would have allowed the Bullets to compete against the Rottweilers - a team they pummeled 10-0 earlier in the round robin. Instead, they have lost home ice advantage and will have to yet again face The Cronic - a much quicker and overall tougher opponent.

Assistant Captain Mike Adelson shrugged off the preceeding facts, telling reporters, "It doesn't matter to us who we face. We're upset we lost tonight, but now we know their style and will adapt accordingly. Regardless of if we have to play the top or worst team in the league, we have to be mentally and physically prepared otherwise we won't win".

Captain Brandon Spears echoed Adelson's sentiments. "We hadn't even thought about the finals until it was guaranteed. Now that we know we're in and that we are facing The Cronic, we can work on what needs to be done".

The game itself was played at a very high tempo, with both goalies bailing their teams out when needed.

The Bullets outshot The Cronic 28-23, however it was penalty trouble which cost the Bullets the game - and home ice advantage in the finals. The Bullets were called for 8 penalties, which is "unacceptable" according to forward Joey Evans. "That is something that we for sure need to work on", he told the media.

Mike Adelson picked up two assists in this one. Mark Leibtog tallied his second goal of the year while shorthanded.

After the Bullets fell behind by one with under five minutes left, they just couldn't come together and tie it up - instead allowing two empty net goals.

"We didn't play bad at all. We got into some penalty trouble and it cost us big. Lightstone was solid for us as always, as were our forwards. Our defensive play was also strong", veteran Steven Spears explained. He continued, "They may be a faster skating team then us, but if we continue to clog up the neutral zone they will be forced to take perimeter shots. That along with us staying out of the box should equal victory".

You do not want to miss the next two games, as they promise to be as exciting as ever. The puckdrop for the first game of the finals is next Tuesday at 10:00pm.