December 10, 2006 - Tokyo, Japan

10-4 Good Buddy!

As a Monday morning quarterback can attest, it is much easier to analyze the game the day after the fact. Before separating the two teams based on who the defencemen were, maybe a better situation might have been dividing up teams based on who was at the all-you-can-eat bonenkai the night before. As the team met in Omotesando the night before for a feasting on red meat and all-you-can-drink, the lasting effects could have and may have been the deciding factor before the game even started. Nine out of the eleven members of Red feasted the night before, whereas, only six of the twelve for White took part in the annual feed. Still, the final Red-White game for 2006 was full of thrills and spills...but mostly spills.

An offensive attack by White lit up the back of the Red net like a Christmas tree as White downed Red by a score of 10-4.

With trade talks coming to an end at the opening face-off White came out skating and put pressure on the solid D line up of Young, Heather, Takagi and Horsman. Veterans May and Didcott passed the puck nicely in the White zone and it wasn’t long before Didcott fired his first of many past a cold and shaky Warbinek early in the contest. Didler looked to be back in pre-Bangkok form as scored his first hat-trick since the Reagan administration. White continued their assault popping in three more before Lindsay tallied for Red, on a smooth feed from Knox.

Brian May was set up by Harrison and Vincent for his first of two and to force goaltenders to switch ends in hope of a more balanced game. This proved to be the case as Red continued to rally when Meehan and Kobayashi started to hit their stride. Within a few minutes of the goalie swap, White saw its lead dwindle to 7-4.

Thirty minutes into the game, Warbinek finally warmed up and stopped a barrage of shots from Red and brought the White bench to their feet when he made a great save by placing the blocker in front of a Horsman shot from the slot and sending the puck into the corner. Warbinek also stopped Knox and Baxter on separate breakaways. But with failed attempts by Red, White’s defense of Antonelli, Holt, Carlson and Smaal were able to clear the puck out of their zone and then send in many odd man rushes against White tiring defense. At the other end, Wonderkid Tastumoto was injured mid way through the 2nd, going down awkward and twisting his knee, but in true hockey form (back in the 80s and 90s) stayed in the game. Stay tuned for more information on what they are calling a lower body injury.

Already down by several goals, a dejected Team Red could only watch in disbelief as even veteran D-man Rob Smaal made his way into the crease and popped in a goal. Red fought back several times, only to see Didcott score on just about everything that he directed within meters of the net, and May hammering home everything that Diddler missed.

Guy Roberge continued his point streak to 6 games and blueliner Brent Carlson added one with beautiful tic-tac-toe passing along with May and Kimoto. Frank Harrison, called up from the minors earlier in the year and playing along side Chuck Vincent (who recently had a wooden leg replacement), added one each.

Game notes:
Dave Lindsay accounted for 50% of Red's scoring production, with 2 goals.
Tatusmoto was feeling the Christmas spirit giving White gift after gift of openings for easy scoring chances. Later Wonderkid was reported to have a strained knee. Dennis Waecther, also suffering from various injuries and the TCHC goalie manager will have to keep an eye on Tatsu’s status.
Mike Slaton has missed every game of the 2006-2007 season so far. Slaton was seen at the rink two weeks ago but did not skate in the game. A lower equipment problem has hindered this sniper since October.
Scott MCackie will visit a specialist in Vancouver this month to determine if he is fit to return to the TCHC lineup. When McCaskie is healthy he has known to have a scoring touch so stay tuned for more word on this journeyman center.
Arron Dobrescu was a last minute scratch due to an illness.

Game Stars:
1st Star – Mark Didcott – 3 goals and 2 assists
2nd Star – Brian May – 2 goals and 3 assists
3rd star – Guy Roberge – 2 goals 2 assists

Warbinek and Antonelli Stun Red

April 9, 2006, Tokyo

Before the puck was dropped Sunday night for the TCHC’s monthly scrimmage, it appeared White was finished before the game started. That is only if the game was to be played on paper. However, this game was played at Jingu Arena that saw a team of blue collared hockey players in White out playing the larger, more skilled men in Red.

In net for White, Lyle Warbinek, who got his 2nd start in 3 weeks and tending goal for Red, Dennis Waechter. Waechter coming off a victory Friday night versus the Monsters faced a borage of shots in the opening minutes as White’s forwards fore-checked Red’s defence, causing a few errant passes to picked off in the high slot, but Waechter was up to the challenge in the early going.

At the other end of the ice, Warbinek’s flopping, kicking and sometimes guessing playing style seemed to be working as he stopped a blast from Chuck Vincent from the right hash marks. Brian May, Vincent and Michael Baxter had many scoring chances but Warbinek was up the task making miraculous save after save. The stellar play of White’s D-men, Carlson, Yama and rookie Anthony made many clearing plays giving Warbinek time to get up and be in position for the next barrage of shots. Warbinek carded his first ever shut out, playing 45 minutes and blocking 34 shots.

Chris Antonelli (AKA The Cat), ex-goalie now turned power forward, must have taken a page out of Slaton’s playbook, as he pounced on a rebound, labeling the top corner over Waechter glove side. Antonelli’s wingmen, Kimoto and Chawanya were able to force turnovers that allowed the Cat to capture his first career 4 goal game. Chawanya (49 years of age) netted his 759th career goal and Kimoto added 2 of his own.

The French Connection of JO Caron and Guy Roberge, along with red-hot Ogiso tallied 4 goals as well, 2 from Ogi and 1 a piece from Caron and Roberge.

It wasn’t until the 5 minute mark in the 3rd period when Red finally got on the board. A good play by Chuck Vincent, and a lucky bounce saw him pick up his own rebound and score on the netminder “Sauve”. After a remark on the age of two skilled veterans from Antonelli, Brian May carried the puck into the White zone and found a wide open Vincent you rippled the mesh for his second of the night. The final score White 11 Red 2.

With only a few weeks before the TCHC departs for the World Hockey 5’s in Kuala Lumpur, Ogiso and Anotnelli look to be in top form. Ogiso has had 4 goals and 9 points in the last 2 games and Antonelli had 7 points last night.

3 Stars (picked by Stutercane Productions)

1st Star – Lyle Warbinek –0 goals on 34 shots. (1st career shut out)

2nd Star – Chris Antonelli – 4 goals and 3 assists

3rd Star – Ogiso – 2 goals and 2 assists

Game notes:

A combined total of 28 shots missed the net for Red.

Rotoworld Update:

Mike Slaton, who has been MIA for the past 2 games was seen at JO Caron’s fashion show, trying to pick up on the latest styles in funky wear.

Mike Treytiak missed the game to due to an undisclosed hair problem.

Rob Smaal has missed 3 games to other commitments, but it has been reported he might be retiring from hockey and trying to organize a bowling team. Stay tuned for more information on this.

Cam Knox, preparing for the World Hockey 5’s in KL, went back to his roots and where it all began and has been seen lacing up the skates in the Comox Valley.

Hiratsuka Celebrates With Chung and Ogiso

April 7, 2006, Tokyo

Joji Hiratsuka, one of the Tokyo Canadians founding members, and a stand out for the Monsters squad celebrated his 44th birthday Friday night scoring his 50th career hat-trick against Dennis Waechter and the Tokyo Canadians. Hiratsuka’s first goal came as he emulated his favorite Russian rookie, Alexander Ovechkin, cutting out in front of the net from the right side of the net, unscathed from defender Jamie Heather, and beating the sprawling Waechter. Monsters held onto the lead until Stu Kimoto’s coast to coast rush late in the first period, evening the score at one a piece.

After Heather’s gift to Hiratsuka in the first, big Jimmer hammered home to consecutive blasts from the point giving the Canadians a two goal cushion. But it would be Hiratsuka who could only score on Waechter and keeping the Monsters in the game with two more goals.

Ogiso, the smooth skating Japanese player and also a recent acquisition for the KL tournament, notched his 7th career hat-trick and also adding 2 helpers. Bobby Chung, playing his off wing on the left side, tallied 3 consecutive goals for his 3rd hat-trick in a Tokyo Canadian uniform.

The Canadians won the game 12-3. Also scoring for the Canadians, Satoshi Chawanya, Dave Lindsay and Kevin Meehan.

3 Stars (picked by Stutercane Productions)

1st Star – Joji Hirastuka 3 goals

2nd Star – Ogiso 3 goals 2 assists

3rd Star – Bobby Chung 3 goals 2 assists

Stuterworld Update:

Dave Lindsay, playing 44 minutes, had 78 shots on net, notching only 1 goal. This ageless wonder is surely to get back into scoring form soon.

Scott McCaskie has now surpassed his record of missed games with games played. Until the Tokyo Canadians get a female water girl, it is safe to say, Scott will continue to miss games.

Patrick Morris, a recent graduate from Kellogg Univeristy in Hong Kong missed the game due to his graduation ceremony. “I wish I could be there playing but I am in Hong Kong right now. We need to get a team road trip to Macau in the new future”, Morris stated via before the puck was dropped.

Satoshi Kobayashi missed last night’s game with an upper body injury.

Red, White, and More Red

March 19, 2006, Tokyo
The Tokyo Canadians took to the ice Sunday night for their monthly Red - White game. The boys were in good spirits, and had for the most part shaken the effects of St. Patty's Day. While most Canadians turned up as expected, veterans Scott McCaskie and Jason Young were nowhere to be found.

As the puck was dropped, right winger Mike Larose skated into the Red zone and banged a low slapshot by Dennis Waechter. As if to say, "It's going to be a high scoring game," White answered back on the next shift with a tic-tac-toe goal converted by the line of Cam Knox, Kevin Meehan, and Chuck. Several players turned in top performances, including Cam Knox (2 goals), Mike Larose (3 goals, 1 assist), and Brian May (2 goals, 2 assists).

The game was of secondary importance, however, after two consecutive incidents involving the combination of Mike Doris (White) and Mike Slaton (Red). Thirty minutes into the game, Slaton attempted to complete a backdoor pass to a streaking May, however, the puck deflected off Doris' stick and connected on his right cheek. The small pressure wound was nothing compared to the incident that followed. Upon intercepting a pass in the offensive zone a few shifts later, Slaton wound up for a shot that again hit Doris' stick and careemed up into his face. This time, however, there were several large gashes around Doris' eye area, and plenty of blood on the ice. Both teams rushed to Doris' aid, with Satoshi Kobayashi, a veteran of late night emergency trips himself, volunteering to transport his injured teammate to the hospital.

After the blood had been scraped off the ice, the teams managed to resume the game, though the intensity was at a much lower level. The teams traded goals in the waning minutes, with Waechter turning away a last second shot by Larose to preserve a 7-7 tie.

Three Stars:

1. Mike Doris - 6 stitches, a bloody cornea, 2 blocked shots with his face, 2 blocked shots with his ankles, and the quote of the night, "I guess it's time I start wearing a visor."

2. Satoshi Kobayashi - Volunteered to give up 30 minutes of ice, drive Doris to the hospital, translated for 4 hours, tried to help Doris hit on the "hot eye doctor," and got pulled over on the way to drop Doris off at his house

3. Mike Larose - 3 goals, 1 assist

Canadians Crush Monsters

February 10, 2006, Tokyo

The Tokyo Canadians took the ice Friday night in a friendly game against Joji Hiratsuka's Monsters. The Canadians displayed plenty of emotion after the return of veteran Dave Lindsay, who had been hiding out in the desert much of the past three months.

The Canadians had plenty of legs with three full lines, and skated to a quick 3-0 advantage on goals by Mike Slaton, Cam Knox, and Brian May. With the outcome all but decided within 15 minutes of the opening faceoff, two dramas surfaced: which line would score the most goals, and could Dennis Waechter stand strong enough to earn his first career shutout?

The scoring battle was tight, with the line of Knox (2), Lindsay (2), and Kevin Meehan(1)/Stu Kimoto (1) outscoring Slaton (3), May (1), and Satoshi Kobayashi 6-4. Defenseman Mike Doris (1), visitor Yakumo Sugiyama (1), and Stu's buddy from Canada (1) also tallied for the Canadians.

The shutout bid for Waechter also provided for plenty of suspense, as Waechter made several key saves through the first two periods. As the third wound down, the Canadians seemed to forget about defense, leaving Waechter to fend for himself on three breakaways and several second and third-chance opportunities. With six minutes remaining, a penalty shot was awarded to the Monsters' Hiratsuka. Waechter remained unfazed in turning away Hirasuka's five-hole attempt. WIth under two minutes remaining, the Monsters' finally broke the Waechter Wall by popping in two tallies to end the shutout bid.

Notable plays deserving mention include a no-look backhand pass by Kimoto that sprung Slaton for a breakaway goal, and a (slow motion) crushing bodycheck by Meehan on an unsuspecting Hiratsuka.

Final Score:
Canadians 13 - Monsters 2

Three Stars:
1. Dave Lindsay - 2 goals, 3 assists, emotional return from Middle East
2. Cam Knox - 2 goals, 3 assists
3. Dennis Waechter - 37 saves on 39 shots

Meanwhile, power forward Mike "Rubes" Rublack extended his absence from the ice to 218 days, 6 hours, and 30 minutes.

Rubes could not be reached at home, but when tracked down at Mully's (the first place we had to look), his only comment was "There is no truth to the rumors, I have never placed a bet on behalf of Janet Jones!"

Tokyo Canadians Tame the Beast

January 28, 2006, Tokyo

A week before the All Star selections are going to be announced, the Tokyo Canadians took to the ice Friday night to face their long time foes, the Monsters. The Monsters, who were without two of their star players (Hiratsuka and Roberge) gave a valiant effort against a full Canadian squad, but came up short, as the Canadians went to a 13-5 victory.

The line shuffling of May (2), Knox (2) and Kimoto(3) proved to be a winning formula as the three notched 7 goals in the win. Mike LaRose also netted a pair receiving passes from Kobayashi and McCaskie. But it was veteran blueliners Rob Smaal and Jason Young, both celebrating birthdays this week that kept the Canadians in the game. Smaal buried a shot passed the Monsters’ keeper early in the 2nd frame and Young recorded his 7th career hat-trick for the Canadians a few days past his 31st birthday.

JO Caron, a gritty power forward for the Monsters was in top form, scoring a pair of his own in a losing cause.

Dennis Waechter with the win, leaving him with a record of 7-3-0 for the 05/06 season.

Game notes:
J. Hiratsuka, M. Slaton, M. Doris, S. Chawanya, C. Antonelli reached the finals in the Mongolia International Tournament on Saturday. Smoke signals are still making their way across the sky to announce the winner.

1st Star - Jason Young – (3 G, 3 A)
2nd Star - Brian May – (2G, 4 A)
3rd Star - JO Caron – (2G, 2 A)

White Holds Off Red Comeback

January 22, 2006

The Tokyo Canadians returned to the ice on Sunday, Jan 22. With a draw of the cards, the boys split into two teams -- Red and White. Both teams had full benches and lots of energy, as the long holiday vacations are finally behind us.

The first shift was an indication that it was going to be business as usual, as veteran centerman Cam Knox made his 2006 Red/White debut by creating several immediate scoring chances, and dishing out several of his patented hooks to the midsection.

Both teams ran each of the three lines through scoreless first shifts, but White took advantage of it's second runthrough as Mike Slaton capitalized on a Satoshi Kobayashi rebound. As if to say one was not enough, White quickly built upon its lead, extending the margin to 3-0 on two Stu Kimoto tallies - both on Kobayashi assists. Following Chris Antonelli's top corner rocket, White sat pretty at 4-0.

But Knox was determined not to let his return be ruined by a quick White start, and answered back by out-muscling defenseman Kevin Holt and buring the puck top corner over Lance Leeder, who had been stellar in net to through the first 30 minutes. Red rode Knox's powerful stride to another quick goal, this time cutting the lead to 4-2 on a Scotty McCaskie rebound conversion.

At 4-2, the game turned into a seesaw battle that saw goals by veterans Jason Young (White) and Mike Larose (Red), newcomers Brian May (Red) and Mike (White), and a tic-tac-toe tally by Mike Treytiak (White).

WIth the game winding down and White leading 6-5, Red mounted one last stand with goaltender Hiroki Narushima on the bench in favor of an extra attacker. The line of Knox, McCaskie, Larose, Killer Carlson, James Heather, and Steve Chianese generated constant pressure, and finally capitalized on a Larose tally to tie the game.

This iteration of Red/White seemed destined to end in a tie until, with less than 30 seconds to play, White forward Mike took one last desperation slapper that beat Narushima low to the glove side. Final score: White 7 - Red 6.

Three Stars:
1) Mike - 2 goals (incl GW), 1 assist
2) Satoshi Kobayashi - 3 assists
3) Cam Knox - 2 goals, 2 assists

Notables:

• Star forward Aaron Dobrescu phoned in before the game to report, "Slates, I've got a pulled groin, but don't tell anyone. Ah shit, you're gonna tell the boys, aren't you?"
• Lance Leeder was outstanding in goal for White, stopping 30 of the first 32 shots he faced
• Scott McCaskie set a personal best for consecutive Red/White appearances with two

Canadians Show They Mean Business in 2006

January (Friday the 13th), 2006

To ring in the new year, the Canadians took to the ice in a friendly game against the Monsters. Facing jetlag, lack of exercise, and two regular teammates dressed in the opposing team's uniform, the Canadians came out flying. Two minutes into the game, Stu Kimoto took a pass from long-absent Scott McCaskie, and buried a wrister over the glove-side shoulder of the plastic blue goalie. The following shift, Kimoto was on the giving end, feeding Mike Slaton with a breakaway pass that Slaton converted over the same shoulder as Kimoto's goal. With the first period winding down, Chris Antonelli grabbed a loose puck off of an Aaron Dobrescu forecheck and buried it high over the goalie's other shoulder.

Following a brief intermission that saw the teams trade goalies, the Canadians picked up where they left off. Shortly after the period started, Slaton fed Kimoto with a long breakaway pass that Kimoto converted behind a live goalie for his second goal of the new year. In the face of intense Monsters forechecking, the blue plastic goalie stood strong, allowing the Canadians to continue the barrage. To the delight of the six fans on-hand, Scott McCaskie showed the grit that made him one of the leagues fiercest forecheckers in years-past. Controlling play in the Monsters corner, McCaskie and Kimoto ran a cycle the likes of which hadn't been seem by Canadians faithful in years. McCaskie eventually delivered the puck to veteran defenseman Killer Carlson, who fired it at the net. The shot was deflected by Slaton for a 5-0 Canadians lead.

The lone Monsters bright spot in the period occurred when veteran defenseman Rob Smaal rifled a long wrister over the blocker shoulder of the blue plastic goalie to cut the deficit to 5-1. Asked where the sharpshooting came from, Smaaly replied, "It's this new diet she's got me on; I've lost four kilos since the new year." The momentum was short-lived, however, as Killer Carlson buried a slapshot off a faceoff on the very next shift.

The rest of the game was a seesaw battle that saw the teams trade three goals each. The line of Slaton-Kimoto-McCaskie continued their production, as Slaton converted two goals, and McCaskie was rewarded for showing up with his first goal of the year.

Final Score:
TCHC - 9
Monsters - 4

Three Stars:
1) Kimoto - 2 goals, 4 assists
2) Slaton - 4 goals, 2 assists
3) McCaskie - 1 goal, 4 assists

Noteworthy -

• Several members of the team have proposed a New Years Resolution that the team lose 100 lbs (collectively) prior to April 1. Smaaly, this total can be retroactive to Jan 1 - your 4 kilos count...
  
• Infrequent skaters Dobrescu and McCaskie have pledged to "come on out a little more often."
  
• Veteran Canadian (and Monster) Joji Hiratsuka took a nasty spill into the boards in the second period, but emerged unscathed

West’s Whites Whip Past Enduring East

December, 2005

The return of Lanny “the Black Lion” Cooney highlighted the match-up of the Tokyo Canadians' final game of the year. Cooney, after a seven-month hiatus, faced fifty-two shots leading the West to a 11-5 victory.

The East opened the scoring with a great passing play from Brian May, to Chris Antonelli who touched it over to Dave “the French guy from the English speaking area of Quebec” who re-directed the pass past a sprawling Lanny Cooney. Dave scored twice for the East.

West answered when Mike LaRose fired a shot from the right hash marks beating Narushima on the short side. West tallied another when Joji Hiratsuka notched his first of two for the night. East again was quick to answer when James Heather brought the puck over the blue line, moved right in, with all defenders scattering out of the way, wound up and blasted a shot through Cooney.

New Brunswick native Michael Baxter allowed East to go ahead once more with his goal that saw Cooney save the first three shots but was unable to stop the fourth. Hiratsuka’s hustle paid off when he out skated Narushima to a loose puck just inside the East’s blueline, deeking the Japanese netminder to go in unscathed and tie the game at 3 a piece, his second of the evening.

Kimoto, just back from the Kyoto temple tour, helped West’s cause when he fired a shot through the five-hole giving the West the lead 4-3. Kobayashi’s feed to LaRose allowed Mike to score his 2nd of the night and now West was starting to open up the game.

A scary moment in the game happened when Bobby Chung let a howitzer shot go deflecting off veteran d-man Rob Smaal’s ankle. A loud scream was heard throughout the sold out arena at what looked like a shattered bone. Smaal, did finish the game.

Brent Carlson, recalled to the West after spending the past 2 months in a Thai jungle, returned to the defensive line adding some offensive arsenal as well. Carlson netted 2 goals in the Red’s victory. A goal worthy of an honorable mention was Yamamoto’s 1st goal of the year from another nice pass from the fast skating Kobayashi. Koby assisted on 4 goals for the night.

3 Stars (picked by HeatJam Productions)

#1 Lanny Cooney – 52 shots (5 goals)

#2 Mike LaRose – 3 goals 2 assists

#3 Joji Hiratsuka – 2 goals 2 assists

Rotoworld:

Brian May continued his point a game streak with a nice, individual effort in a losing cause for the East.

Satoshi Chawanya, the oldest player on the Tokyo Canadians, fired a goal past Narushima, showing that his the ageless wonder.

Satoshi Kobayashi playing alongside ex-Vanguard teammate Larose, assisted on 4 goals and was a threat in the offensive zone all night.

Stu Kimoto added to his goal totals by scoring twice and adding a couple of assists. When Knox returns to action, you can be sure Kimoto will continue adding points.

Mike LaRose carded a hat-trick last night giving him the 1st star honours.

Joji Hiratsuka, who has been in a scoring slump as of late, scored twice and added an assist and is definitely worthy of having in your fantasy pool. If you don’t have him, activate him now.

Cam Knox missed last night’s game with the stomach flu. Consider him day-to-day.

Scott McCaskie is still bothered by his bad knee. Doctors advised him to stay off that knee and if he insists on proposing again, to go down on the other one.

Furious Red Comeback Sets Stage for Thai

October 2005

With only ninety minutes of hockey remaining before hitting the road, the skaters of Team Red came out flat on Sunday night, prompting concern from both Thai-bound players and their counterparts in White. From the initial face-off, White pressured Red, sending several scoring opportunities at goaltender Hiroki Narushima. Newcomers Chuck and Brian May applied a heavy forecheck, resulting in several defensive zone turnovers by Red. Despite Narushima's acrobatics in repelling White's barrage, White jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals by Brian May and Jason Young.

After a quick team huddle, to regroup, veteran Mike Larose madeWhite take notice of his return from the Injured Reserve List. Playing with one good eye, and another that felt like a bad contact lens was in it, Larose single-handedly turned the momentum back into Red's favor. Taking a pass from longtime linemate Scott McCaskie, a surprising presence in the lineup after Friday's absence, Larose walked in alone and picked the top corner over Dennis Waechter's glove. A few moments later, Larose showed Waechter that his blocker side could also be beaten, rippling the top corner with another picturesque blast. Of greater significance than Larose's second goal of the night was an injury suffered by McCaskie. After spending a year rehabbing a knee injury suffered while digging for a loose puck in the 2004 Thai Tourney, McCaskie tweaked his knee on the scoring play and was relegated to coaching duties.

What ensued was a see-saw battle that saw both teams throwing their full arsenals at Narushima and Waechter. The goaltenders were equal to the task, turning away one scoring opportunity after another. Red was the first to capitalize on a defensive zone breakdown, as Cam Knox and Stu Kimoto cycled the puck down low. Knox eventually spotted Mike Slaton sneaking into the slot, and Slaton buried over Waechter's glove, for a 3-2 Red lead. White was quick to answer, with goals by the French Canadian Connection J.O. Caron and Dennis for a 4-3 lead. Joji Hiratsuka answered for Red, tying the game after sneaking a puck past the helpless Waechter.

All the while, goaltender Narushima was solid, using his glove, blocker, both feet, and even his head to turn away White's shots. To support Narushima, a cast of solid D-men: veterans Killer Carlson, James Heather, Ken Takagi, and rookie Mike Doris fought to keep White off the scoreboard. Carlson, Heather, and Doris sacrificed their bodies for the good of the team, diving or stepping up to block numerous shots, and clearing the physical White forwards from the front of the net. Takagi was solid on the breakout, quickly transitioning rebounds and loose pucks into odd-man rushes the other way.

Despite Red's defensive efforts, White managed to recapture the lead as Chuck buried a rebound for a 5-4 lead. Red was quick to tie the game, as Slaton again capitalized by banging home a rebound off pressure created by Knox and Kimoto.

With the score tied at 5, Red would get the boost it needed as McCaskie returned to action, possibly motivated by the game at hand, possibly wanting to impress the pink-clad woman in the second row. In either case, McCaskie showed the resolve that made him one of the top players in the league when healthy by scooping up a loose puck and burying it past Waechter. Jason Young was quick to respond, burying the tying goal with only 13 minutes remaining on the clock, and notching his first hat-trick since coming off the South Beach Diet. Despite the setback and the tie game, Red continued to chip away at the White defense. After generating numerous shots on goal, the puck finally found itself on James Heather's stick with only one man in front of him. Heather ripped a quick snapshot that beat Waechter, but hit the cross bar and settled in the crease. Standing alone beside the net, Slaton tapped it home for the game winner.

Final score: Red 7 - White 6.

Three Stars:

3 - Larose (2 goals, 2 assists, while injured)

2 - Young (3 goals, 2 assists)

1 - Narushima (47 saves)

The Tokyo Canadians fight off the NHL

With the NHL lock-out over, and the constant threat of Tokyo Canadian players signing pro contracts, the club is happy to announce that they now have (under the table) deals with every player from last year’s roster, plus have added two new players.

Joining the elite squad are rookies Brian May and Chris Antonelli. May is a solid centerman from Toronto, and could prove to be the best two-way player on the team. Antonelli already has proven that he can play a big game as either a forward or a defenseman, and will be assigned the task of giving Ogi a Boston accent. Welcome aboard boys.

The Tokyo Canadians also have re-signed the missing Hanson Brother, and last year’s rookie sensation, Mike Slaton. Although a goalie for most of his hockey career, Slates was a goal scoring machine in the December 2004 Tokyo Charity Tournament, and took home MVP honors, along with several stitches and wired front teeth.

Other rookies that are back for a second season with the Tokyo Canadians are:

Mike Rublack, who has come off of the injured reserve list after recovering from a (1982) knee injury. Rubes is back in fine form, but will definitely challenge teammate Mark Didcott for leading the team in the consumption of ice-packs and Tiger Balm this year.

Jean Olivier Caron, who has added both youth and speed to the Tokyo Canadian offense, not to mention French. Although J.O.’s tendency to back-check doesn’t resemble the team’s normal style of play, we are confident that this will change as the Tokyo Canadian matures (i.e. gets old and lazy like the rest of us). Hanging with the team surely also provides J.O. with far more artificial intelligence than he is mastering at Tokyo University.

Soybean entrepreneur Mike Treytiak, already a veteran of several Tokyo Canadian road trips, who joined the team last season after taking a few years off from hockey in order to give himself more time to test-drive various hair products through the Tokyo nightclub district.

Austrian play-maker, Dieter Haberl, who claims that playing for the Tokyo Canadians fills The Gap that his day job doesn’t fulfill.

Newlywed Patrick Morris, who hasn’t let married life slow him down, or fatten him up ….. yet.

Time for another Tokyo Canadians hockey season, it should be great year!

Red and White Action

You Gotta have Wa (echter)

On the same evening Oji Paper won the All Japans in Nagano, the Tokyo Canadians took to the ice for their February match-up at Jingu Ice Arena. With all the
hype and emotion of the professional league, but without the spectators. Tokyo Canadian Red held on to a 8-5 victory that had referee Jason Young stating, “It was a pretty good game actually.”

Donning the original classic jerseys of the 1990s, Dave “I’m back” Hilson and Dennis “Don’t call me Bubbles” Waechter combined for 5 goals with Hilson notching his first hat-trick after returning from retirement on an empty netter late in the game. Waechter demonstrated great patience, as he circled just outside the crease and waited for a momentary pause in goalie Lyle Warbinek's flopping and twisting before rifling home his first goal of the evening.

A scary moment in the first period happened when a centering pass from the corner boards was deflected by goalkeeper Lance Leader. The puck deflected from Leader’s goal stick and smack dab into James Heather’s snoz. Big Jimmer went down to the ice like Akebono in a K-1 match, bleeding profusely from the bridge of his nose. Getting up on his own, he skated off the ice and then taken by ambulance to a hospital for a few stitches.

At the halfway point of the game, the ritual of switching goalies was preformed but not before Red had a 5 to 1 lead. In the latter portion of the game, with White hungry to tie it up, Warbinek made some key saves to keep Red in it. With three minutes left in regulation and White pulling their goalie for the extra attacker, Joji Hiratsuka’s pass to a wide open Mike LaRose could have tied it at six a piece. LaRose’s shot went wide and into the corner allowing for Hilson to pick up a pass at the centerline and go in all alone to the empty net.

3 Stars (picked by Stutorcane Productions)

1st star – Dave Hilson 3 goals 2 assists
2nd star – Dennis Waechter 2 goals 2 assists
3rd star – Lance Leader allowing 2 goals on 45 shots

Unofficial games notes

Dober: 1 blocked shot
Chuck the picture hanger: 2 goals 1 assist
Caged center: 1 goal 2 assists
Dave Lindsay: 1 goal
Satoshi Kobayashi: 1 goal
Brent Carlson: 1 goal
Mike Larose: 1 goal
Stu Kimoto: 1 goal

Mike Slaton – missed game due to flu
Ken Takagi – missed game due to flu
Kevin Meehan –sent to farm team in South Africa
Scott McCaskie – knee injury
Jason Young – knee injury
Mark Didcott – undisclosed reasons

January 2005

The Tokyo Canadians Hockey Club have raised 300,000 yen for a Tsunami Disaster Fund which has been donated to the Red Cross Thailand in support of their tsunami relief efforts. Thank you to all of the players, and friends of the team, that were kind enough to make donations.

The Tokyo Canadians are proud to add this donation to the contributions raised by the Bangkok Flying Farangs Hockey Club, through their charity fundraising "Canada vs. The World Hockey Match" held on January 16. For more about the charity hockey match, see the articles on the NHL's website (www.nhl.com).

Gold in Nagano