Potato Skins

From Montreal to Florida, the Alliance had become a borderline laughing stock up and down the eastern coast of North America. We were a good ending to a bad joke. A crap team playing a mediocre style of hockey for a few months before heading off to a competition we had no business being a part of.

The greatest example of this was the Floridian debacle. Balls being shot at refs and an endless barrage of major penalties was the background noise to a Utah based goalie controversy. This tournament gave credence to seemingly objective opinions that winning wasn't taken seriously enough. It was the justification of the belief that we would never be able to compete at a high enough level to achieve the unthinkable. Perhaps a bogus gout filled thought, but a belief nonetheless. After this embarrassment the Alliance Team was on the brink of dissolving in the Arabian Sun. A lack of interest from a majority of players to ever playing in a tournament again was prevalent. It was the tipping point, the final straw. Tournament play seemed like a dead concept.

Despite the epic tournament failures the passion to keep on going burned in a few. The PlayOn hockey tournament was a chance to move on from the past. A desperate attempt at getting back into the competition. And the first roster showed it. If you had passport and a hockey stick, you were in. If this tournament had failed to live up to the hype many believed that hockey would have been relegated to two hours on a Sunday every couple of months. That despite a love of the game our collective bitterness, anger and disappointment would have closed the door on Tournament play, at least for a little while.

But that first group that went to Montreal changed everything. The dynamic was completely different after that. And that team set the tone for the three tournaments that followed. It was a team that was centered around Larry Bird like respect, steroids, an unbelievable comeback that was thought to be never be topped, and many Frendon-isms. The first year's loss stung but with the team we had, could we really have expected more?

The second attempt in Canada was the year where that hype, excitement and thought into building a roster started on the ride back home the year before. And sadly that roster didn't live up to the effort that was put into it. It didn't work, though partially because of injury and a ref that hated our cameraman. Despite the number one seed and +/- of over 20 goals, that team lost its composure and collapsed under the playoff pressure. Jack did his best to save us that final game with 36 total wrist-shots (and two or three of them were on net), but it wasn't enough. Another failure.

But blindly still everyone thought that last year was the year. It was deemed the dream team. At the time the recap read: "This was the year. This was the team. We had the offense we wanted. We had the defense we wanted. And we had a goalie. What could go wrong?".

It ended up being another epic fail, a team was left at odds during a timeout. A bitter taste was left in your mouth. Another year, another ride home with that "why bother?" feeling.

And still, all of that could be erased in 30 minutes. Those past failures as a team, as teammates and as captains would be great backdrop to the narrative of a championship win.

30 well played minutes would define not only this year but also gloss over every heartbreaking attempt before it. In fact, you could argue, those numerous agonizing defeats makes a championship win that much sweater.

It all came down to this.

The Finals:

The team we played in the semi-finals was possibly a better team than the one we played for the trophy. Bruce the Goose was a good team, don't get me wrong. But they didn't do anything that special. They weren't very aggressive, with a weak game plan of "hanging out" behind the net as they waited for something to happen after every cover up. They weren't overly physical, which was personified by their captain flopping twice. Their stick work was far from the strongest we faced, and neither was their "board" play. What they were good at was collapsing on a shot attempt, fundamentals, playing "safe" hockey and oh yeah they had a very good goalie to lean on. Though not as good as ours.

There is no "I"

The first goal of the game was scored by the Goose (i like the ring of that) on a broken play toward the center of the rink. Bad defensive positioning along the fence lead to basically a two on none and an easy goal.

But we managed to counter strike quickly. Our first goal by Griff was awesome. Despite a shootout win, it was our only example in the game where an individual effort was more impressive than the team effort. It was gritty and it was tough like Mike D at center. Literally a defenseman and second winger watched as if players on the bench. A hard fought individual effort that lead to a tie game and multiple aggressive fist pumps on the way to the bench. Can we pan that camera on Griff?

1-1 Game.

Why can't I get chances like that?

Ok, I admit that Borges had some sweat shot opportunities that lead to comment that I regretted the moment I said it because Griff made sure i'd regret it. But my point was valid, right? Right? Anyways...I wasn't talking about the goal he had in the finals, it was far from cheap. It was a long range shot, like the other side of rink long. A Beautiful shot that found a corner of the net through multiple screens. It really was a reflection of Borges' shot throughout the entire tournament.

And with that, ladies and gentleman, the Alliance had a lead in which to blow.

2-1 Alliance at the half.

Imminent Collapse

From there, the nightmare began. The collapse was in full motion. The flood gates poured. The devastating ending was just ten minutes away. The video was set to blame. Another roster shuffle was coming. The scape goat list was growing:

1.Darin wasn't an elite goalie
2.Perhaps Jimmy Nelson made Eric what he was last year
3. Brett never gets the patented clutch Johnny Riley goal in a tournament
4. Nick will never contribute on offense.

The next three goals went to the Goose, a 4-2 deficit. And to top it off, the fourth goal was perhaps the worst goal of the entire tournament. Scratch that, the worst goal of Darin's life.

Real weak.
A slow roller.
It never should have went in.

But he more than made up for it.

It is time.

Has a timeout ever worked? Ever? I got to be honest every time I hear the word "timeout" I want to throw up. The phrase "listen to him you guys" pierces through my mind like the laugh of the crypt keeper. All I can think of is the hypocrisy of the "defenseman don't forecheck, but you need to be more active in the offense" mantra. Stop the game! Time out! Defenseman on offense for back to back plays! Oh NO! Did someone call timeout????

But seriously I'm over it.

Anyways...this timeout went a lot smoother. And with the hundreds of babies with us there has to be a "smoother than a babies butt" joke in there somewhere, right?

The subject of the timeout? A game plan? Get real we're the Alliance. We don't game plan. Instead we stood around, breathing heavily, searching for blue powerade bottles, as Borges made fun of Nick for a play that happened like four years ago. Another productive timeout.

"Give it Everything"

It was decided when the game became a two goal deficit that we needed Borges' shot out there. He gave us the best shot at scoring. Its was that simple. Basically it was cutting Nick's minutes to a minimal amount. Thats a nice way to put it, right? Yeah, minimal ice time for the betterment of offense.

No issue. But I think people forgot about a certain defenseman's passing skills.

With the clock dwindling down Borges decided to take one of the few changes he took in the last 7 minutes of the game. Nick came in to replace him and made an impact...offensively. The ball went to the right side of the rink. Shins pads were just calling to be hit for a ricochet the other way. It was a perfect opportunity for another intentionally wide shot. But against the odds, the scouting reports, and his own instinct, he didnt shoot it. He passed it.

And what a pass it was.

Brett scored on an awesome shot, but who really remembers that? It's all about the pass that will in infamy.

Yay me!

Let the comeback begin.

4-3 Goose

Free for all

With less than a minute to go, the Alliance were on the brink of another disappointment. Another debacle. Another pathetic ending to another sad adventure.

The goalie was pulled. The stage was set. And we weren't going down without a fight.

It was a free for all. An endless barrage of shots that seemed to only get interrupted by tests of fate. A ball that was pegged for the net was picked off by Eric in mid air with a stick he should have never had. Hopes kept alive for literally seconds longer.

After a couple more battles in the corner the ball came out in front of the net. Borges, was pounding at the ball like an animal, hoping that it would pop loose to one of our guys.

It squeaked out to Brett.

And he scored.

Tie Game with one second on the clock.

This Trash Can Dream Come True

For the first time, everything was literally in the hands of the best we could offer. No matter the outcome, whether credit or blame was to be spread, it was all on our best players to win it. The second line could only watch and hope.

The Goose shot first, the pressure was on Darin. He responded by stoning them on all three attempts.

Epic.

It's rare to say that a goalie played a fantastic game when giving up four goals, but it truly was an elite performance. Darin did his job, he gave us a chance.

It was up to Jared, JB, and Brett to make it count.

Sadly, though, our first two attempts were not that great either. Jared barely got a shot off and JB fell for the disappearing 5 hole trick.

It was up to Brett to finally finish off what was started...

"Mission Accomplished"

Perhaps the corniest statement in the world and yet it's so gratifying to hear. For the first time and probably the last, the Boston Alliance are champions. A true team effort.

Congratulations to Darin, Jon, Brett, Jared, Griff, Eric and Nick for doing the unthinkable.

1-0 in tournaments without Johnny.

The Proof: