It would appear The Cowboys (2005 RIHL Champions) avoided any rust build-up over the summer, beginning their 2006 campaign with a lopsided victory.  After sweeping the Raiders to claim the championship last spring, they easily defeated the ’06 edition of the Eagles 9-3.  It took some time for the Cowboys to get their legs, but after a 2-2 first period they scored 4 consecutive goals, trading soft goals, allowing one deflected from behind the net, before adding 3 early in the third to coast to a 9- 3 win.  The game wasn’t as lopsided as the score may indicate, as the Eagles’ were visibly deflated after giving up 4 quick goals in the second.  The Cowboys D played a key role in the win, with Terry Z scoring 2, Derek M adding another and Adam F making several defensive saves as well as chipping in a few assists.  Up front, Dave K. stood-out, carrying the puck effortlessly into the offensive zone and looking dangerous on most shifts.  As time wound down, tempers flared when team leader Doug C. got into what can only be described as one of the more awkward verbal exchanges with several Eagle players near their bench.

- Terry Zulynik

A strong dose of reality was being served by RIHL newcomers, The Islanders.  Humbly, the Cowboys, who never lead in the game, knowingly took their medicine.  To their credit, the Cowboys didn’t take it lying down, fighting back to tie the game on 4 separate occasions.  After tying it at 4 , an ill-timed defensive zone collapse, followed by some clock watching The Cowboys gave up 2 quick goals which all but cemented the Islander victory, who didn’t surrender a goal in the third.  The Cowboys best chance at a comeback was during a brief 2-man advantage late in the third.  But give the Islander forwards full marks for clogging up the lanes as well blocking shots this early in the season.  Once again, Derek M. led the way scoring 2 goals and displaying the intensity far too many Cowboys were lacking on this night.  Although guilty of several lapses, the Cowboy D continued to contribute offensively, scoring 3 out of the 4 goals.  If the Islanders are the new look of the RIHL, the Cowboys will need some of their stalwart forwards to act accordingly and pressure what looks to be a mediocre Islander defence.

- Terry Zulynik

Cowboys 5 Blackhawks 1

- Terry Zulynik

Raiders 5 Cowboys 1

The Cowboys may have forgotten who they beat last year to claim the RIHL championship, the Raiders, however, did not.  With a bolstered, speedier roster, the Raiders came seeking revenge and played with an intensity usually reserved for the playoffs.  Before many of the Cowboys had even touched the ice the Raiders scored 2 quick goals and never looked back.  After hitting the post and reacquainting themselves with the Raider-style of play, the cowboys scored 4 on 4 to make it 3 -1 partway through the second.  But with Terry Z. serving the second penalty of a double minor, the Raiders scored to regain a 3 goal advantage.  An outstanding performance by Cowboy’s Goalie Al went to waste.  Facing a barrage of shots, many of them quality scoring opportunities, Al held the fort valiantly but no cavalry came to the rescue.  Frustration set in when Norm W. took some of it out on an unwilling Raider player and was ejected from the game midway through the third.  The sticks got higher and uglier as the game wore on and culminated with a dangerously hard body check on Cory M. into the Raider bench.  Although the game evened out, the only Cowboy to beat an unknown Raider goalie was Derek M. who continues to put in great efforts on a nightly basis

- Terry Zulynik

Guns 2 Cowboys 0

The Cowboys turned in their best game of the season, but fell short to arguably the newest and best team in the league The Guns.  Despite dominating the play in the first, including a great power play early, the Cowboys found themselves down by one due to a pretty or lucky deflection.  Physical play was par for the course with both teams trading multiple power plays in the second including a Gun player getting 14 min and leaving the game.  True to the game plan the Cowboys, got in their way, played physical and introduced this new upstart team to Cowboy hockey.  The Guns made it 2 – 0 in the second, when a Cowboy D-man failed to clear the puck and screened Al H. on a wrist shot from the slot.  As the game wore on it became apparent the Guns may have discovered their rivals as the game continued to be fast-paced and physical.  The Cowboys appeared to have tied it on a rebound after a great low shot by Dave Fair. but to everyone’s surprise it was overruled by the far ref and declared no goal - due to the net coming off prior to the puck crossing the goal line.  The huge momentum shift didn’t deter the Cowboys from continuing to pressure the Guns goalie with a number of great chances down low.  Although rebounds existed, none could be converted.  The Cowboys continued to press to the dying minute getting several more chances after pulling their goalie for a sixth attacker.  The outcome may not have favoured the Cowboys, who’ve now fallen 1 game below .500 but the effort was there, the proof that the legs are still there, and on any other night with a few bounces, a victory could have easily been theirs.   


-Terry Zulynik

 

Cowboys 8  Eagles 2

It was truly May-Day on the Pond as the Cowboys beat-up on the Eagles 8-2.  A member of the May clan was in on every goal and combined for ten points.  The Cowboys took an early two goal lead, but then licked the stamp and tried to mail in the win.  After an Eagle goal the Cowboys found themselves standing around, and if not for some great saves by Cowboy goalie Dave H. the game’s complexion could have taken a turn for the worse.  The first period ended with the Eagles down by only one.  After killing off a double minor, The Cowboys shook loose the cobwebs and scored two more near the end of the second to make it 4-1.  The barrage of chances continued as the Cowboys peppered the Eagle’s goalie, who managed to stop veteran Doug C. on back-to-back breakaways.  The night, however, was ruled by the line of Cory M., Lawrence B., & Dave K., who did most of the damage and looked dangerous on nearly every shift.  The Cowboys overwhelmed the Eagle goalie for 4 more in the third on way to an 8-2 victory.  The prettiest goal of the night; a short side ‘roofy’ over a sprawling goalie, off the crossbar and in - courtesy of Lawrence B., who skated his best game.  The Cowboy power play also clicked, including 2 tic-tac-toe goals orchestrated by Norris Trophy candidate Derek M.  The men in black should enjoy their rest, and there .500 status but they shouldn’t make any assumptions that their next game will be as enjoyable as their last.

- Terry Zulynik

Islanders 5 Cowboys 2

Power plays were the Cowboys downfall on this night, when they failed to capitalize on a parade of Islander penalties in the second.  The Cowboys scored first but an overzealous forecheck resulted in an Islander 2 on 1 and the tying goal only moments later.  With the score tied 1-1 in the second, the Islanders’ took a stream of undisciplined penalties giving the Cowboys over 4 minutes with an 5 on 3 man advantage.  Unfortunately, the Cowboys couldn’t even get the wrapping paper off their gift, squandering the entire power play without any really good scoring chances.  Adding insult to injury were the mistakes, and blocked shots from a confused defence resulting in 2 partial Islander breakaways.  The game remained fast-paced and close, with the Cowboys generating numerous shots on goal but few quality scoring chances.  When they did, a steady and amazingly lucky Islander goalie was up to the task.   Ironically, the Islanders scored the winning goal on the power play with about 4 minutes left in the game.  As was the result in the previous 55 minutes, the Cowboys pressed but couldn’t find the back of the net, only the mid-section of the Islander goalie.  Glaringly absent from the Cowboy line-up was all-star Defenseman Derek M. who was nursing a pulled groin.  It’s hard to imagine what was more painful, his injury or being forced to watch the Cowboy power play in action

- Terry Zulynik

Cowboys 10 Raiders 6

This wasn’t a pretty game.  On a night when the Raiders dressed only 8 skaters, the score shouldn’t have been even close.  The Cowboys did their part scoring 10 goals, and could have easily scored more.  Unfortunately, the Cowboys forgot nearly every defensive responsibility allowing 6 goals on many an odd-man rush as well as lapses in puck support.  It wasn’t goalie Dave H’s, best game either, allowing a couple soft goals in the first – on shots he’d tell you he should have had.  Near the end of the second, with the score tied at 3, the Cowboys finally realized that they better take this opportunity and by early in the third were up 7-3.  Each time the Cowboys stopped skating, the Raiders decided to mount a comeback and came within 2 on several occasion, the last scare coming midway through the third we they made it 8-6.  With some relief the Cowboys scored 2 more and pressed the Raider goalie to the end resulting in a 10-6 victory.  A game where the Cowboys dominated, and outshot their opponents by a huge margin, may just have been the tonic some of the Cowboy needed to regain their ‘touch’.  Skilled forwards Dave K, and Lawrence B. both performed nicely, the latter doubling his goal output for the season scoring 4 times - just missing the natural hat in the second.  Plenty of other Cowboys were in on the scoring and as ugly as the game itself may have been, it’s always fun to score a few goals.  

- Terry Zulynik

Cowboys 4  Islanders 1

Like a good service in a restaurant, it should be efficient but unnoticed; unfortunately neither ref deserved a tip on this night as they handed out 22 minor penalties in a game that wasn’t really that rough.  Void of much flow, the teams traded power plays most of the game with the Cowboys scoring on one early in the first, then adding another before the Islanders replied on a power play when a shoulder high shot was deflected past a screened Dave H.  It would be the only shot Dave H. couldn’t see as the Cowboy’s D-men did a terrific job minding the front of the net and keeping the shooting lanes clear.

The recipe for success this night was pretty evident; work hard when penalty killing, and hope your best players play well, and Derek M. did just that scoring 3 times and controlling the puck for much of his time on the ice.  New Paul also had a great game, making several near-perfect passes to team mates in the offensive zone.  Only through the ineptitude of his line mates was he kept off the score sheet.  Although their record hovers around the .500 mark, when the Cowboys are able to dress the right line-up and show some determination they are a formidable opponent. 

- Terry Zulynik

Guns 5    Cowboys 3

Reminiscent of previous losses (see Nov. 9^th), the Cowboys lacked depth on this night.  It’s apparent, that without a full roster and the ability to wear opponents down with hard work and hustle, the Cowboys are mediocre at best.  To their credit, no group of players define more accurately the meaning of the word “team” like the Cowboys - whose players truly become greater than the sum of their parts.  Tonight, parts were missing; the smooth puck-control skills of Lawrence B. on breakouts and the powerplay, the booming shot of Norm W. the hustle and grit of Rob M., whose physical play consistently irritates opponents and the rock-steady play of underrated veteran D-man Rich S.

The Cowboys did score first on a shot from the slot by Dave K., beating the Guns goalie that played the shot embarrassingly out of position.  That was a rare bright spot for the Cowboys, after which they collectively abandoned Al to fend for himself - allowing several breakaways in the first period.  The Guns lived up to their name, firing 5 unanswered goals past Al who must have felt like Custer at Little Big Horn.  The Guns used the long pass to perfection, capitalizing on turnovers to spring players in on breakaways or 2 on 1’s seemingly at will.  The Cowboys were repeatedly guilty of poor defensive, and trapped D-men inside the Guns zone on more than one occasion.  After the bleeding had stopped, the Cowboys did manage to play some hockey, kill off several selfish penalties and score a late goal to make the final 5-3.

After reviewing the tapes of this game, Lawrence will have plenty of material for chalk-talk when next the Cowboys play with Guns.

- Terry Zulynik

Cowboys 4   Raiders 3

Cowboys 7   Islanders 1

Cowboys 5  Gun 5

The Cowboys accomplished what they wanted, earning a single point and ensuring themselves at least a spot in the post season.  No, it wasn’t a win, and no it wasn’t really their best game ever.  But, like a lot of good teams, they found a way to get a point on an off night.  On a night where they didn’t play that well, on a night where goaltending was also an issue, they managed a 5-5 tie after trailing 4-1.  Regardless of outcome, this game demonstrated the Cowboys dislike of losing.  It would have been easy to fold the tents and go out with a whimper, but after some heated exchanges on the bench, the Cowboys battled back.  Keeping their composure, the Guns were made to pay dearly for their forays to the sin bin.  The Cowboys scored twice on a 5 on 3 powerplay and scored another with the man advantage later in the third

The Cowboys may have held the edge in play, but were exposed twice on poor face-off assignments, one resulting in an easy tap-in by a Gun winger untouched at the side of the net.  The Guns goalie played well, making several good saves, most notably “flashing the leather” off Derek K. during a power play.  The Guns are a well rounded team, with few weak spots; mobile D, good goaltending, and puck control in the offensive zone, if they’d got a chink in their armour its small.  Like a fighter without knockout power, the Cowboys fought well, and more importantly relentlessly.  It may take the Cowboys longer to beat the good teams, but hard work on the ice is almost always rewarded. 

- Terry Zulynik

Cowboys 5   Raiders 4

Raiders 6   Cowboys 3

Cowboys 4  Raiders 2

Facing elimination, it was understandable the Cowboys came out apprehensive.  Surprisingly, the Raiders also looked a bit nervous as the teams traded dump-ins and took turns coughing up the puck in the neutral zone.  The Cowboys dressed another full platoon and were the better team in the first.  They opened the scoring 4 on 4 on a nice low shot from the slot by Cory M.  Cory M made his presence felt on the score sheet and in front of the Raider net where he was assaulted on more than one occasion.  The Raiders tied it up before the end of the first and went up by one on a Power Play in the second.  Dave H. played a solid game, not only stymieing Raider forwards, but helping the Cowboy D by manoeuvring the puck out of harms way on multiple shoot-ins.  The Raiders were then content to trap for most of the second and part of the third.  The neutral zone was thick with Raider jerseys and the Cowboys spent most of their time chasing the puck.

One note of concern, Raider center man, #10, was hit in the nose with an errant puck, was cut badly and forced to leave the game – we hope it’s nothing to serious.  With the absence of their #1 face-off man, the Cowboy centers ruled the draws creating a handful of chances off the draw and ensuring puck possession.

The ice tilted slowly in the third, as the Cowboys stayed the course, held their tongue and continued to work hard.  Glen M. tied it up on a rebound midway through the third and Cowboy pride prevailed as any talk of a tie was quickly quashed.  With a shortened bench, the Cowboys continued to press and were finally rewarded when Terry Z. scored from the point on a Claude Lemieux special, giving the Cowboys a 3-2 lead with only 3 minutes left.  The power play was courtesy of yet another trip to the Raider goalmouth by Cory M; where he continued to receive less than a cordial reception.  Lawrence B. added some insurance, scoring on a great individual effort, putting one up high on the short side to seal the victory.

- Terry Zulynik

Cowboys 5  Raiders 4

It was the showdown at the forum last night as the Raider and Cowboys clashed in the final game –winner takes all of the best of three semi-finals.  It was the Cowboys who swept this same smug squad in last year Championships.  The victory would ensure the Cowboys place in RIHL record books with their 7 straight appearance in the coveted final.  The Raiders weren’t taking any chances this time, dressing a full crew including a couple of rarely seen seedy wingers.  Neither team was as anxious as the previous game and both skated well resulting in a fast paced period.  With the Raiders down 2-men, the Cowboys drew first blood on the powerplay when Derek M. converted a beautiful cross ice pass from Lawrence B.  The Raiders answered with a powerplay marker of their own then fell behind again when the Dave K. converted a Terry Z. dump-in making a tape-to-tape pass to an open Lawrence B. who was left unaccosted in front of the Raider net.  The Raiders capitalized again on the powerplay to even the score at 2 after 2. 

What at first appeared to be a costly penalty by Dave F. for holding the stick, ended up contributing a highlight reel goal for Norm W.  With the game tied at 2, with about 15 min left and the Raiders on the PP, they skated with a swagger of confidence.  Jumping on a turnover in his own end, Norm skated the puck through the neutral zone looking to dump it in.  After beating 2 Raiders and gaining the blue line, one could see Norm enter that elusive physical/mental zone where he had nothing to lose, was eating up the clock and decided to take a chance going to the net.  With too many Raiders watching the puck, including the last 2 defensemen Norm swooped in on his wrong wing hanging on to the puck thorough the crease and after several jams at it was able to push the puck between the Raider goalie and the post to give the Cowboys the lead 3-2 with his solo shorthanded tally.  The Raiders protested vehemently that the puck didn’t cross the line, but to no avail.  Furious with the call the Raider were able to storm back and tie the score on the remaining powerplay.

With time dwindling, Derek M. caught the Raider goalie badly out of position and wristed a 35 ft shot past the stunned netminder.  Pumped from the goal and from the loud Cowboy fan contingent, complete with air horn, Doug C. scored again to make it 5-3 which turned out to be the game wining gaol.  The Raiders did manage to turn up the heat in the last 45 seconds scoring with their net empty to pull within one, but the Cowboys weathered the storm and calmly skated out the remainder of the game on route to a 5-4 victory and a birth in their 7 consecutive trip to the RIHL championship.

- Terry Zulynik

Guns 10  Cowboys 1

The Giants beat Seattle 9-1, the Mariners lost 14-1 and the Cowboys lost 10-1, these outcomes occur at all levels of sport.  The Cowboys were well aware of whom they were up against, the upstart Guns who joined the RIHL this year have been the team to beat all year.  Losing only 4 games all season, none to the Cowboys, the Guns lived up to their moniker playing a run-and-gun style of hockey reminiscent of the mid 80’s Oilers.  Utilizing the long pass, the Guns created more odd-man rushed you could count naked.  With so many opportunities the Guns’ forwards, several of whom finished in the top ten in scoring, made no mistake twinkling the twine repeatedly.  Plain and simple, the Cowboys took a drubbing at the hands of the Guns on this night.

It was a game for 15 minutes, with the Cowboys getting the first good scoring chance in close.  After scoring 2 goals off the rush, the Guns got lucky when a centering pass from behind the net deflected off Dave K.’s lower body into the net behind an oblivious Al H.  By the fourth Guns goal, the Cowboys were thrown far enough off their game plan to realize the slim chances of a comeback.  Uncharacteristically, the Cowboys didn’t put up much of a fight, save for a few spirited shifts by Glen M, Derek M. and a lopsided tussle involving Norm W.’s right hand and a nearly KO’d Guns forward.  Unfortunately, the spirit wasn’t contagious and the game continued unchanged for the remainder.

The only bright spot may have been the return of quiet team leader Hap M. whom tallied the lone Cowboy goal.  The Guns kept the throttle wide open assaulting the Cowboy defence with wave after wave of 2 on 1’s.  Not for lack of good play, after 6 goals, Al M. was replaced with Dave H. who made a handful of saves before succumbing to the Gun barrage which saw them run up the score to 10-1.  To their credit, the Guns played well, and refused to engage the Cowboys in any scrums after the whistle.  The Guns clearly demonstrated why they finished first overall.  The Cowboys, however, didn’t demonstrate any of the grit, determination, or hard work, quintessential to the “Cowboy Hockey” ideology.  For this series to go 3 games, the Cowboys will have to tap into that rich history and play one of their best games to date.  

- Terry Zulynik