Manatees hook Barracudas, 5-2 | ||
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By TidalsharkThe weather has actually been very pleasant in the Magic City the last few days, still very warm but not exceptionally hot. If �acts of war, or threat of violence� were continuing in the area, you couldn�t prove it by me.Got to the game early and waited until seven before I went over to get hassled by security. �I�m sorry, but no cameras are allowed.� I plucked out the e-mail I�d had from Mark that stated otherwise and read it to him in case he was illiterate, and then handed it to him so he could read it for himself in case he wasn't. Right about then, one of the security managers came over and asked it there was a problem. �Oh, no sir,� the guard answers. �She was just showing me a letter that she had permission to take her camera into the Arena.� �Is it a video camera?� the manager asks. �Yes,� says the guard. �It is not a video camera,� I inform him. �It is a professional grade still camera.� �Well,� the manager explains to the guard, �It can have a 50,000 zoom lens on it but as long as it�s a STILL camera, it�s allowed in. Just no VIDEO cameras.� I took my letter back, snapped shut my camera bag and entered the building. Maittee called Shawn and found out which table I could have as a booster club table, and so I set that up. Once Tony came in I made my lap around the arena to ensure a victory (hockey fans being very superstitious people). I left Tony in Eric�s section, even though Eric wasn�t there yet. Eric showed up shortly thereafter at the booster club tabled, twisted Thomas� arm to get him to sign up for the booster club, and got Tony�s description from me. Tony had acquired a Manatees T-Shirt and was no longer sticking out like a sore thumb. The memorabilia auction consisted of a puck signed by Kevin Swider, a signed stick, a Zac Boyer Bobble-head doll (also signed), and a framed Manatees inaugural season poster and news clipping. One concession stand on each side of the arena was open again, plus Miami Sammy. Although they had added Bud (no Bud Lite, just Bud) to the list of beers they were selling. (Well, it's a start.)
Unofficial Boxscore:First Period � Scoring:1, Miami-Kiley (Power Play) (Doulebenets, Nowicki) 2:21 2, Miami-Hewer (McCarthy, Perricone) 8:22 3, Miami-Perry (Power Play) (Nowicki, Swider) 18:33
Penalties: The first goal was called with assists to Nowicki and Johnson, but I knew that was wrong. Dmitri, who was tangled up with a Cuda, chipped it acrossed the ice to Ryan and one timed it past the Snee for the goal. I�m glad to see they changed the scoring. There was a nice little scrum down in the corner at 3:34, which resulted in the coincidental minor calls. Baker and Johnson�s first tangle set the tone for what would be an ongoing theme through out the game. They actually played some clips from the Metal Blade sampler on sale at the merchandise stand for $5.00, including some of the vomiting lyrics songs. The owner of Metal Blade records did the ceremonial first drop of the puck. Tony took some of the boxscore for me while I was at the Booster Club table (or in route to) and changed all the scoring to Kiley from Perry and Johnson. I asked Tony how the Zooperstars were and he said �Funny. Good for kids. The kids loved them.�
Second Period � Scoring:
Penalties: The fourth goal was announced as Picard (his first of the season) from Kiley. It was later changed to Kiley from Perry and Johnson. At 9:07 of the period, Neil Wilkinson rode a Manatee�s player into the boards. As they crashed in, Wilkinson�s face shield contacted with the Plexiglas and he was spun around and thrown back by the impact. He ended up lying on the ice, not moving at all, and it was a very scary moment. The Jacksonville trainer, Greg Sieg was out there in a heartbeat followed by Manatees� trainer Daniel Henry as well as the physician on duty. I believe he was knocked out cold and when he came too, was in a good deal of pain as you could see his breathing suddenly become very labored. They finally got him up and escorted from the ice, but I�m sure he�s concussed. I hope the Cud�s fans will give us an update on him. I had to see the Zooperstars from myself, as did the fellow watching the memorabilia auction, so we caught a bit of it from the door over by the tables. They were HYSTERICAL! These are big inflatable mascot costumes and much of the humor is very slap stick � bashing their heads against the glass and all -- but it was still very funny. If you�ve ever seen the Hooters� Owl mascot at a football game you know the sort of costume I�m taking about. Mario LeMule and Clammy Sosa doing the YMCA. And they can�t get their arms over those HUGE heads. LOL! Brendon Snee was lifted form the net and Nate Ziemski took over the goaltending duties for the Barracuda for the first period. I caught RJ in hall again and got him to sign my hat. He was happy to see we were trying to make an effort to get a booster club going, noting their importance to minor league hockey teams.
Third Period � Scoring:
Penalties: Phenow�s goal spoiled Sean Weaver�s shut out bid and Weaver really deserved to get the shut out, he played BRILLIANTLY. I show the first goal as Phenow from Steenbergen and Hellegards, but evidently, it was changed or the Jacksonville roster I�ve got is wrong. For the second goal I have Miller from Steenbergen and the Capson. �Boston� won his fight against McCabe. I have shots of the Perry-Lecoist fight, which I�ll go see about getting up shortly. I do not know what Vanc�s penalty was as they never got around to announcing it before �The BRAWL� started. As for how the Brawl got started, one of the Cuda�s players challenged Johnson, who dropped his gloves, but the Cuda player backed off and the linesman restrained Johnson who figured since his gloves were on the ice, he was going to fight SOMEONE. Keep in mind, I�m sure all sorts of insults were flying back and forth between the teams as well, but Darcy was sure steamed about something. Darcy tried to go for another Cuda, but that was quickly broken up While Darcy was being restrained, Baker showed up and jumped Darcy and his linesman (who got the hell out of there) and the two went at it. I think Baker got the game for �being the third man in� although I�m not sure there was ever really a second man in. Now, in looking at the scoring from Howe Sports off the WHA2 website, they have Zanc listed as having 14 PIM with two minors and a game. I only show Vanc with the one penalty, so I�m not sure where the other minor and the game came from? Tiger Woodchuck was in the stands during the third and thrilled the kids to death when he shot silly string at them. Manny and Mandy need to learn some skits and routines or something. All they do is walk around and wave. Manny was messing with one of the security guards, but was kind of minor. Scally was sitting a couple of rows in front of me during the third period, so I gave him a hug after the game and wished him well and told him to call over to ECHL Florida as Rob Zepp was called up to Lowell and I think Lietza is still on the IR. I won the Zac Boyer bobble-head doll with a high bid of $25.00. I got five back out of forty and told them to keep the extra ten as a donation to Hockey 4 Kids. Shots on Goal: Jacksonville 15 14 10 -- 39 Miami 10 6 15 -- 31 Miami had some good scoring opportunities in the third but couldn�t convert and while I�d like to credit it all to Ziemski�s goaltending, several were real groaners that the boys just screwed up themselves.
Power-play conversions:
Goalies:
Referee: Galloway After the game we went out to Bayfront, which was packed. Drove around for a good half an hour looking for a parking spot. Ate at Sharkies. Tony had a taste of my grouper, which he described as a sort of non-descript fish, and I learned that Snooker is a different game from Billiards, even though it is played on the same table. Jason Jersey award to our long haired friend for the Atlanta Knights� jersey.
Web posted on Nov. 16, 2003
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