The result:  Blackhawks 11 Cowboys 1

Disappointing to say the least.  But the game was not all Blackhawks.  Steve Tomicki opened the scoring, giving a glimmer of hope that maybe we had enough to go the distance against this team (who were also short a few bodies).  For ten minutes, the Cowboys were looking pretty good, but we just could not sustain the pace with such a short bench.  By the third period we were only playing for pride, trying to make it respectable, but by game end there was little left.

The bottom line:  The Cowboys are not a closed shop. We need players!  Not only quality players, just bodies would help.  If there are any hockey players out there 30 years or over looking to play some clean competitive hockey (perhaps a little more competitive than Tuesday's game), please call me at: 323-8077 or just show up for Monday Night practice at 9:30 on the Colesium at Richmond Ice Centre.

- by Doug Collins

Calling all Cowboys!!

In any case, players are needed. Any hockey players out there 30 years or over looking to play some clean competitive hockey, please call me at: 323-8077 or just show up for Monday Night practice at 9:30 on the Colesium at Richmond Ice Centre.

- by Doug Collins

Also joining us from the spare list were Walt Judas and Ken Seidel - two talented players the Cowboys would like to sign up full time.  But despite a full field, the end result was not much different.  

With all the players on the bench, only two would call themselves defencemen.  We managed to hold our own for the most part. Deadlocked until the third period, we failed to deliver good quality shots on goal. We also allowed Skyhawks' ringer, Mitch Ward too much room and the game slipped away.

The final goal was scored into an empty net, not because we had pulled on goalie, but because the referee felt it was necessary to relieve goaltender Andre Retel from his duties with 1:44 still remaining.  Apparently, Andre had become enamoured with one of the Skyhawk players and kissed him on the cheek a little too hard.  The ref called a major penalty for head butting!  

Twenty four seconds later, the Hawks easily found the open net after the linemen allegedly temporarily abolished the off-side rule.

With only a 1:20 remaining, the officials suddenly realized it was past their bedtime, and called off the rest of the game.  I was furious because I felt 1:20 would be plenty of time for 3 more goals.  The fact that they would more likely be scored in our goal rather than theirs was of no consequence to me at the time.

Calling all Cowboys!! (especially defensemen)

As always, players are needed. Any hockey players out there 30 years or over looking to play some clean competitive hockey, please call me at: 323-8077 or just show up for Monday Night practice at 9:30 on the Coliseum at Richmond Ice Centre.

- by Doug Collins

Unfortunately, I don't believe this is possible until we get a couple key defensemen back in the picture.

Calling all Cowboys!! (especially defensemen)

As always, players are needed. Any hockey players out there 30 years or over looking to play some clean competitive hockey, please call me at: 323-8077 or just show up for Monday Night practice at 9:30 on the Coliseum at Richmond Ice Centre.

- by Doug Collins

The Cowboys defeated the Skyhawks 6 - 4 but sweetness of the victory should be taken with a grain of salt. The Skyhawks barely had enough players to play the game and their top scorer was missing.  Of course, the Cowboys' top scorer was missing too and has been for quite some time - so fair is fair.  It seems the battle for supremacy between these two teams may not be decided by who is the best team, but by which team manages to get the best team out for the game.

Not to take too much away from the Cowboys win, it is fair to say that the team played very well. Some credit can be given to goaltender/wanna-be coach, Andre Retel who led an inspiring practice Monday night with his "triangle" strategy. Unfortunately, with the absence of Andre and his visual aid, much of the theory was left on the bench.  Even more unfortunate was the fact most of the game's players were not even at the practice. I don't even think there were enough players there that have ever seen Andre's black triangle, let alone form one.

Calling all Cowboys!! (especially defensemen)

As always, players are needed. Any hockey players out there 30 years or over looking to play some clean competitive hockey, please call me at: 323-8077 or just show up for Monday Night practice at 9:30 on the Coliseum at Richmond Ice Centre.

- by Doug Collins

We managed to stay in the game midway into the third period.  Captain Ron Fontaine (making a rare guest appearance this year) unleashed a quick snap shot from the slot that fooled the Raiders' Goaltender by actually reaching the back of the net. This brought us to within two goals, with the Raiders leading 5 -3.  Then, with less than six minutes remaining, the Cowboys found themselves with a two man advantage and a legitimate chance to tie the game. 

The advantage was short-lived. A minute later the "even-up" call came after Dave Fair tapped a player on the shin.  But then, "the Champ", Rick Oswald loses it!  This questionable slashing call sent Rick into a third party frenzy that ended with the tables turned and the Cowboys eventually being  2  men short!  For a grand finale, Rick did what he should have done much earlier in the game - he got himself ejected.  We had a nice even ten skaters now, but unfortunately we would be short-handed for most of the remainder of the game.  Spirits dampened, out-manned and out-gunned, the Cowboys allowed Raiders' leading scorer, Darrel Phillips, to respond with a natural hat-trick to finished with the Raider 8, the Cowboys 3.

It may not a been a game we were supposed to win, but it was a game we could have won.  There are many areas the team can improve on, but we must begin with discipline.  We must start by showing up with a team, and then we must be prepared to play the entire game, particularly the third period. All games are won and lost in the third period and the team that plays the best in the third period usually wins.

The same old bottom line:  The Cowboys are not a closed shop. We need players!  Not only quality players, just bodies would help.  If there are any hockey players out there 30 years or over looking to play some clean competitive hockey (perhaps a little more competitive than Tuesday's game), please call me at: 323-8077 or just show up for Monday Night practice at 9:30 on the Colesium at Richmond Ice Centre.

- by Doug Collins

It was a crushing blow from which the Cowboys did not recover.  But not all the blame should be carried by the goaltender.  Despite solid forechecking and some good play making in the opposition end, the team still failed in many attempts to get the puck out of our own end.  And when the puck was cleared, it all too often resulted in an icing call that brought us right back in our own end.

The final score: Skyhawks 4  Cowboys 3

If we can continue to get a full squad of players out to games and practices we will continue to improve and victory will come our way.  But before that happens, the Cowboys need to learn the basic fundamental art of completing a pass, partcularly in our own end.

Once again:  The Cowboys are not a closed shop. We still need players!   Also, current players had best beware that this new influx of player could jeopardize their position.  It's almost Christmas, and it's time to start thinking about playing hockey before it's too late!

If there are any hockey players out there 30 years or over looking to play some clean competitive hockey (perhaps a little more competitive than Tuesday's game), please call me at: 323-8077 or just show up for Monday Night practice at 9:30 on the Colesium at Richmond Ice Centre.

- by Doug Collins

It's true that we were defeated before the game even began, but it was not because nobody cared.  It was because we are a team that has lost confidence.  The lack of focus I perceived was perhaps a defence mechanism.  No one was willing to face the reality of the task at hand and we went into the game unprepared, understaffed, without confidence and without leadership.

I don't think anyone had fun that night (maybe not even the other team), but some good came out of it.  In the dressing room afterwards, nobody was happy.  Even the usual slagging of our goaltender was absent.  Some players were down right angry.  This is all very good.  

It's about time somebody got mad!  When players get mad, things change.  Sometimes the change can destroy a team, but if a team is strong, and has some history, the change is usually for the better.  I say let's all get mad, and then let's start to do something about it.  Next game I want all our players to be mad - but before the game, not after it.

In the meantime, let's look forward to better times.  Have a Merry Christmas and we'll all come back in the New Year for a fresh start.

Looking for players: Monday night, December 20th, the Cowboys will be scouting for new recruits in our annual Father-Child Hockey Game.  Word is that some of the youths looking good enough to sign up.  Hope you can all make out.

- by Doug Collins

The only regrets were from coach Cruickshank and Mike Molema.  Also missing, but obviously not regreting it were Goaltender Andre "Red Neck" Retel and Derek May.  Andre was busy in Hawaii trying to even out his suntan to match the burn on the back of his neck from the goal light.  Derek (who is still on the injury list) is not missing us in the Carribean, with his girlfriend, who (if the rumour is true) will now be referred to as his fiancee!  Congratulations Derek!

With as good a team present as we have available right now, we got the job done on time and under budget.  Hap May opened the scoring with a goal that surprised him more than anybody.  The very slippery, Lawrence Bourke gathered the loose puck and, from behind the net, flipped it over the net and goaltender onto Hap's stick.  The second period was a Cowboy disaster.  The play got scrambly, players got out of position and we watched Hillcrest score two breakaway goals (one short-handed) to jump into the lead.  In the third period we turned it around and the game was all ours. The May, Bourke, Tomicki line was red-hot with each of them scoring a goal.  Rich Skapski floated in his first of the season from the blueline for insurance to make it 4 -2.  And with 37 seconds left, Rick Oswald who follows instructions like a cat learning to sit, risked an icing call by firing it into the open net vacated by the goalie for a sixth attacker.  Rick is still my hero even though he doesn't come when you call him.

It was a game we needed to win, it was a game we should win, but best of all, it was a game we did win.  Whether or not we can continue the pattern against the Skyhawks next week is entirely dependent on the will of our team.  If we can see as many players at practise and the game, we will have something to build on. 

Looking for players?  Maybe yes, maybe no.  We still have a couple spots left on our roster, but the roster deadline is January 31. If you want to be on that roster, or if you just want a skate, show up any Monday night at 9:30pm on the Colesium

- by Doug Collins

Having spotted the Skyhawks two goals, we now had a difficult, but not insurmountable task ahead.  In fact, although the Skyhawks had a goalie, they only had three players on the bench and at least two of their top players were absent.  With that in mind, and the overconfidence of having a fully equipped goaltender, the Cowboys quickly slipped into slow motion and allowed 2 more preventable goals.  Down 4 -1, the Cowboys crawled back, but not far enough. 

Trevor Harris doubled his output a the season with a stellar performance assisting on all three goals. I also found some good fortune in the goal scoring department with a rare two goal game. (It's a good thing I don't do that very often, because every time I do, we seem to lose.)

With less than a minute left, the last man to arrive was the first to leave as we pulled the goalie in favour of a sixth attacker once again. With 5 seconds left, Lawrence Bourke hit the goal post, summarizing the entire evening.  Fate was not on our side.  But the real problem is that we did not take control of our destiny.  Even from a three goal deficit we had the man power to win the game.  We have mastered the art of playing to the level of our competition.  We had played better without the goalie when there was some desperation. The moment we were back to full strength, we let up.  It is much like our power play. Almost every game of late has yielded a shorthanded goal against us.  It's getting to the point that we should decline penalties!  Last night we did not get scored on during our power play, but we did give up two breakaways.  Any advantage we ever get is quickly given up as we relax in a comfort zone of false security.

This was an unfortunate and further devastating loss.  Perhaps it just wasn't in the stars.  Perhaps we should begin looking to the heavens for some divine guidance.  At best we could use the services of a good sports psychologist.

The slippery slope gets steeper.

Players needed?  With so many Cowboys wandering back to the trough these days, it's hard to understand why we still have difficulty getting them all to show up at the same time. Until that happens, we are still actively looking for new (and old) players.

If there are any hockey players out there 30 years or over looking to play some clean competitive hockey (perhaps a little more competitive than Tuesday's game), please call me at: 323-8077 or just show up for Monday Night practice at 9:30 on the Coliseum at Richmond Ice Centre.

- by Doug Collins

It was the emergence of a dirty gray boot that inspired the challenge to become an annual event.  Allegedly once belonging to the mythical Maurice May, the boot was mounted on a wood block and now stands as a symbol of great Cowboy tradition. 

After two contests, the power of the boot has leaned in favour of the old-timers.  Undefeated in the Challenge, the team of 21 years past, stepped onto the ice determined to prove once again that the body ages faster than the heart.

The so-called Cowboy Rookies (most of these rookies have been playing for the Cowboys for several years now) had something to prove too.  They had sufferred the brunt of too many years of bragging rights and it was clear early in the game that they were not about to hear any more of it.  Youth spoke loudly in the first period with brothers Derek and Corey May combining frequently to lead the Rookie's onslaught.  It was quickly 2 - 0 and the relentless youth continued their thrust opening up a 4 - 1 lead.  But the old men were not yet about to roll over a die just yet. 

I suspect many were looking over their shoulder waiting for the ghost of Maurice to appear as many swear he did last year, but Maurice was not to be seen.  But that wasn't to say he wasn't there in spirit. 

Before anyone knew it, the Originals had tied the score.  Moments later they found themselves with a 5 - 4 lead.  But the Rookies too, were not without heart.  They tied the score, then reclaimed their lead.  But it was not enough.  Then again maybe it was just enough.  The game ended in a 6 all tie. It was enough that the Original Team could still carry the pride of having not yet been defeated, and it was enough that the Rookies would not have to listen to another year of ridicule.  Something was proved by both sides, and even if the Great Maurice did not show himself, the great Cowboy spirit of old was showing clearly in the hearts of all Cowboys that night. 

The aftermath of the game is somewhat sketchy.  Duncan May provided the traditional toast to the late Bob Jenns (a faithful Cowboy fan of years gone by) in the form of a bottle of Royal Reserve to be drank from the boot. Corey May was selected by the Originals as Rookie Player of the Game for his two goal effort.  Hap May, who scored the tying goal was selected by the Rookies as Original Player of the Game.  The celebrations moved from the dressing rooms, to the hallways and upstairs to Stanley's bar & Grill.  Finally, in what seems to be becoming an Old Boot tradition, the party invaded Derek May's house where the die-hards overstayed their welcome until the early morning.  All in all it was a night to be remembered, but in typical Cowboy fashion, much will not be recalled.

- by Doug Collins

We are still missing key players like Derek May and Glen May, but the team Thursday night was about as talented a team as the Cowboys are capable of dressing.  With the rosters closed as of January 31st, it puts us in a difficult position. We need players like Ed Dowling to make every game to be eligible for play-offs.  We need players like Dave Fair to play every game so that we have a chance to make the play-offs.  We need players like Lawrence Bourke to stay healthy so that we can complete in the play-offs.  Most of all, we need all our players to play better.

I am convinced that the motivation it will take to get everyone to step it up a notch was lurking in the dressing room Thursday night.  For a player to try harder, he must first care.  In a team sport, a player will only care if his teammates care.  There were indications on and off the ice that night that the guys want to and can do better.  It will be up to each and everyone one of us to start to care enough to try, but that just won't happen without support.  If every player in the room decided that they would care enough just to show us to every game for the rest of the season, we would have something to build on.

We will see.

- by Doug Collins

You know it's a sad year for scoring when I am leading the team in points.  That is largely because I play twice as many games as the rest of the squad, but that is always the case.  We suffer greatly from the absence of Derek May.  You take a 2 point per game player out of your line-up and it's got to hurt.  We had hopes of having Lawrence Bourke filling that void with his abilities, but he doesn't seem to know when our games are played. Hap May hasn't gotten into the groove yet this year either, and when Ross Hillman returned to the team after 18 years we expected more than just one goal out of him this year!  Perhaps that is indicative of a problem with the team.  Ross shows that he can still play the game, but it isn't showing up on the score sheet.  I do believe it is time the Cowboys learned how to score goals.

This is a deep rooted problem.  For years, the Cowboys won because of their defensive play. We could keep the score down to 2 or 3 goals against, and we always had a Terry Dennis and later a Derek May to bag a couple to put us on top.  That defensive play has gone out the window in recent years. The "dump and chase" game has deteriorated into just "dump".  The only time we see backchecking is when the player didn't have time to reach the opponents end, and they are passing him on the way out again. We used to ask our goaltender to stop the first one and we would clear the rebound and traffic in front of the net.  Now we wait for the third rebound before politely asking the other team's player if they wouldn't mind moving so we could have a turn at getting the puck.

Our team's goals against average is 5.57.  That means to consistently win with our style of play, we have to score 6 goals!  We have done that this year, hmm let me count...once - a 6 - 4 game against the Skyhawks.  So you tell me, with 6 games left in the regular season and our roster closed, what would be the better strategy?  Turn someone into a dedicated goal scorer, or perhaps improve our defensive play?

At very best, Derek May could be miraculously healed and return, Lawrence Bourke would take a serious look at the Cowboys schedule, and the Longshoremen would go on strike again with Steve Tomicki continuing to be a goal scoring marvel.  I vote we take the goals where we can get them, and pick up the slack in the defensive department.

Does anyone know what a natural zone trap is?  It sounds easy and it can't hurt ticket sales.

- by Doug Collins

By the end of the game I was furious.  Entering the dressing room I listed 5 players as AWAL and announced that they were no longer on the team.  After two beers, I mellowed a bit and my position softened.  I decided I would give them all one last chance, but it was going to cost them. Every player who was not there and did not call me would be obligated to honour the standard case of beer penalty before playing another game, plus they would have to pay a $50 fine!

After a night's sleep my position softened further.  I decided to at least inform the absent players of the new penalty before imposing it.  So, consider yourself informed: If you miss a game or practise without a phone call or a very good excuse it will cost you $50 more to play for this team.

Some may consider this to be harsh, but the bottom line is nobody should ever have to pay this fine.  There is absolutely no reason why you cannot notify your team of your absence.  If for some extrordinary reason you are unable to make the call, you had better be on the phone as early as possible to plead your case. And, regardless of your excuse, you'd best be sure to remember to bring your case of beer!

By the way, despite the score, I felt the 7 players present played pretty good - except for Andre. (Just kidding Andre - If you think I was mad, read Redlight's Triangle)

- Doug Collins

This was a very big point for us.  Earlier in the week, Hillcrest defeated the Skyhawks drawing them back within one point of us.  With this tie (I almost wrote victory) we are back two points ahead of Hillcrest and just three points behind the Skyhawks.  With two games left, we are within striking distance of third place!  Who'd of thunk it?

The important thing here is not taking third place.  That would just boost our pride a bit.  The important thing here is that we are showing signs of making a play-off drive.  Nothing behind us matters anymore.  There is a glimmer of hope flickering in the future. We just have to build on this, get a little bit better and, by all means, please, please show up to the game with a team.

- by Doug Collins

Now I could have made a big issue out of the this, but I chose not .   If we could finish third, we would face either the Raiders or the Blackhawks - two very strong teams. A fourth or fifth place finish puts us in a single game elimination play-off for the right to play the first place team - again, either the Raiders or the Blackhawks. To win the final two games would only be for pride, and perhaps a confidence builder.  

A confidence builder was what I was looking for.  If we played Hillcrest the last two games of the season, we would only gain ground if the Skyhawks lost all three of their remaining games.  In all likelihood, we will face Hillcrest in the elimination game, so why give Hillcrest (the only team we have handled all year) an extra opportunity to gain any confidence against us?  You could look at it the other way; We could boost our confidence and diminish theirs by beating them twice in a row, but then with the elimination game, we would have to win three times in a row.  We haven't done that all season.  No, at this point, I prefer a two game series over a three, because we have to have something left for the real play-offs.

This is all about confidence, and the Cowboys are just now slowly starting to gain it.  A win against Hillcrest would boost confidence moderately, by a win against the Raiders would be huge.  In any case we would be playing Hillcrest two more games this season, and two wins there would prove just as much, and put us in the same position.  I say, "roll the dice".

Okay, so we lost.   

They left the door open by showing up with just 9 players, but we fell 6-3 in a hard fought battle. We still were lacking the scoring punch necessary to win in this league, but our failing was again in our defensive play.  We just gave them too much room. We were 1 player away from a full squad and lacked the manpower to wear them down.  We moved the puck out okay, and sustained pressure, but we broke down on the backcheck.

Losing that game basically closed our regular season.  The final may boil down for a fight to stay out of the basement, but it is otherwise meaningless.  It's just a matter or pride, and that all-important confidence.

I'm not one to recognize a loss as anything more than a failure.  That might make me a poor loser, but I also think that's how you become a winner.  One of the most disturbing things to me in this Cowboy's season was how happily the team has accepted defeat (as I pointed out at the last game in 1999).  But there seemed to be a strange feeling of optimism in the room following the loss. I shared it, and for a while I wasn't sure why.  I know why now.  For two games in a row, for the first time this year, we had basically the same team.  Finally - something to build on!  It's amazing that after just two games a team can start to become a team.  A seed of unity has been planted. Shall we nourish it?

Tune in next week to find out!

- by Doug Collins

On paper, it was really a "nothing" game.  But in real life, it was far from nothing.  Both teams knew they would be facing each other next week in the play-offs for a single game knock-out.  Hillcrest needed to prove they could beat us, and we needed to rise to the occasion.  A look at the penalty column on the scoresheet will tell you this game was not without emotion.  Hillcrest proved to be a worthy opponent, but the Cowboys were not about to let this one slip away.

Cowboys opened the scoring with their leading goal scorer, Lawrence Bourke. But Hillcrest battled back quickly to tie.  I made my quota by scoring my 10th of the season, but two goals was not going to win this game.  Hillcrest tied it at two.  Hap May scored our third and by now we knew we would have to score the next one to win.  Ross Hillman doubled his season output with his patented low blast to the far corner (just when I was beginning to think that patent had expired).

It was a good win in an important game.  It was not just a battle for the basement.  It was a battle of team survival.  It was indication that there is still life in this waning Cowboy team.  Whether or not it is too little too late will be decided at a later date.  But for now, we have set the momentum in the right direction.

- by Doug Collins

There is no question we would have had more success with these players on our play-off roster, but what of the players we had?  Hillcrest is a team we consistantly handled all season long with the same players or less. And after soundly defeating them last week, we were the odds on favourites.

Earlier in the game things were looking good.  Jack Zellweger opened the scoring with a single handed effort that would make him the Cowboys number 1 play-off point getting in the 99-00 season. That was it.  We had nothing left!  Hillcrest started rolling in the second period and continued into the third scoring four unanswered to abruptly end the Cowboys season in the single knock-out elimination.

Why, in this very big game, did we fail so miserably?  Simply because we played poorly.  I didn't see it as a question of desire or ability.  It was just one of those games where we just could not do anything right.  We couldn't get a bounce. (Of course the team that plays better always gets the bounces.)  Certainly things might have been different if we had a couple extra bodies on the bench, but maybe not.  We have always played as a team, and sometimes we play badly as a team.  It was just unfortunate that it had to happen on the most important night of the season.

We can now look forward to next season... or can we?  That will be a question of priorities. I, for one, will be there.

- by Doug Collins