Dragons Hockey

Last update 12/6/2006

Dragons history goes back over 6 years in time from this writing and was known then as the Horde. From the sparse history known of the club then the Captain was a guy named Keith Little. But sometime around 1994 a pair of players joined the Horde and that's where this story begins.

The pair of players which joined the Horde were Rit and Laura Carter. They wanted to keep active and DEK hockey seemed to be just the thing given their passion for the game of hockey and their beloved NY Rangers.

Well they played together for a number of seasons and the physical wear and tear put an early end to Laura's career. As these two played, Rit's brother watched from the afar and was midly interested in playing. And after watching a "game" (One of those classic late season forfeits), was interested enough to want to join in and start playing.

The Horde suffered through some growing pains through the 95-96-97 campaigns. First time players coming and going, mostly going. But there was enough interest in the team that for a couple of seasons there were actually two Horde teams. While neither franchise reached a championship series the foundation of the Dragons team was layed in those teams.

Players contributing to the team back then were Keith Kittle (since playing only Roller Hockey), Stan Funk, Craig Belanger, Rit and Dave Carter, Dave Spencer, Dave Posadas, Nigel Mohr and Shawn Zenuh. There were many others who contributed also.

In 1997 Little having run the team for as long as anyone can remember, decided that he was not going to captain the team any longer. At which point no else stood up and took the bull by the horns, so this writer then had a go with at least getting the roster together. Players added in the first couple of seasons include current mainstays Jim Gaglione and Mike Connors. Soon there after a former Hordesman, Dave Spencer, returned to the fold after playing a number of seasons with the Avalanche.

The next major point in Dragons history was the addition of 5 key players from a squad called "The Zoo", these players are Keith Burr, Kathleen Higgins, Doug Stewart, Steve Lamonica and Chris Szymula. They were added sometime around 1999.

By now the complete foundation of the Championship team was in place. But in December 2000, the Dragons took a major blow, injury forced the retirement of one of its main components. Major contributor Rit Carter retired before the winter 2000 season. And Keith Burr announced that he would be going to part time status the season after that. Things looked bleak for Dragons Inc. With the way the team was going thru goalies the team the captain was begining to wonder if that elusive championship would ever be captured.

But the return of another former Horde player, Rob Wisniewski, turned out to be the missing link. For in July 2001, Rob garnered the contracts of Mick Pechenuk and Mike Ugliorolo. Mike had played a season or two with the Dragons earlier in the late 90's. These two pickups for the Dragons played key in their first Championship season.

The Summer 2001 season stared not unlike many before it. With 2 consecutive losses and a new goalie in game 2 (Dr. Todd Albala) things looked bleak at best. But rebounding with 3 wins to leave them 3-2 things were starting to take shape.

In Game 3 though, forward Dennis Connors received a four game suspension and the Dragons were now without their second center. The team responded with 5 wins in 6 games the Dragons were now 5-3. One of the most compelling victoies came in Game #5 against Team USA. Down 3-0 during the second period, the Dragons playing with 6 players, charged back hard and won 6-3.

A hard fought loss to the Wolfpack (6-5) deemed important to the standings and could have really deflated the egos of the squad. Closing with 3 wins placed the Dragons in second place and a first round game against Team USA in the playoffs.

A 3-1 regular record against Team USA, the Dragons won handily 6-1. This was to be only the second time in the history of the squad that they were making an appearance in the final series. The opponent this time would be the #1 seeded Wolfpack.

The finals began without Dennis Connors, but Chris Szymula filled in at the second center and held their #1 center in check until they moved him out to the wing. And the Dragons won game 1 3-2. Game 2, was completely different. what was expected to be a defensive struggle on both sides of the ball turned into an offensive night. Dragons striking first in the first 2 minutes for a 1-0 lead.

But as you'd expect of a first place team the Wolfpack came stroming back to take a 3-1 lead midway thru the second period. With no quit in them the Dragons came back to tie on a goal by Connors on a breakaway up the middle. The Wolfpack came back almost immediately to take a 4-3 lead going into the third period.

The score stayed way until the halfway point of the third when Gaglione scored a Power Play goal with about 4-5 minutes left. The intensity on both sides rising with each passing tick of the clock. Then with a minute on the clock, Connors scored his second goal of the game giving the Dragons a lead they would not relinquish. Fifteen seconds later Dennis added an empty net goal to seal the victory and the championship!

Since the first Championship the Dragons have continued their winning ways, taking two of the last four Championships in the F Division. They also received a blast from the past. Assistant Captain Rit Carter came out of retirement to begin playing again.

What's been up with the Draogns since last updating this page. Well, the second championship was won and then a playoff appearance (brief, losing to eventual champion Fishsticks). And that's where the latest chapter begins.

Having added goalie Jim Marks in the prior season, the Dragons had the makings of a special campiagn. Opening 8-0-1 the Dragons went wire-to-wire to take their first ever #1 seed in the playoffs. Meeting and defeating Tsunami in the first round left the Dragons to play Team Arctic in the Finals.

In a very hard fought 3-game series, the Dragons won their 3rd Championship in 5 seasons. And the reward for this season was to be moved up to E Division! Not having played in E for 7 seasons, the Dragons were not expecting much of a season. Other teams from F had done the same only to go back to F after a brief appearance in E after a less than stellar season. This was not to be the case for the Dragons as they finished a respectable 3rd with a 7-4-1 record, meeting and beating the Whalers (lost 2 of 3 to in regular season) and then facing the fourth seeded Greenchiefs in the finals. Game 1 went to OT as Dennis Connors scored the game winner on a breakaway, and game 2 had the Dragons blow a 3-goal lead to fall behind 4-3. They tied it and then won their 4th Championship in 6 seasons on a goal with 1:14 left in the third by Mike Connors.

Well its been almost two years since the last update to this page, and 4 years since the last championship. We've had some players leave and some new additions and some new returns to action. The 5th Championship also occured.

Folks that have flown the nest as you will, Kathy Higgins, Dave Spencer, Jim Marks, Chris Szymula, Joe Morrisey and Eric Vieweg, all parts of at one or more if the prior titles all departed the team since the last update. Returning after long layoffs are Doug Stewart and Jim Hannon both integral in garnering the 5th title. Chad Hosegood also returned, playing a single season and then leaving for two or three to rteturn when his other team folded. Joining the Dragons family recently have been Dave Shelto, Tony Moura, Dawn Ladd, George Dunnery. Also having played for the Dragons were Chris Pelletier. There were many others who played roles for the team and we wish them well.

But now on to the recent history, the Dragons in the Fall of 2006 came away with the E Division regular season and playoff titles. Playing majors roles in the season were old-timers Mike Connors and Jim Gaglione and new comer netm minder Tony Moura. With only 4 teams in the division, the schedule called each team to play everyone 4 times. Not only that but only 3 of the 4 would make the playoffs. The Dragons started slowly with a 2-2 tie to last place Agent Orange. After going 0-10-2 the prior season and having a winless streak reach 15 games going back to the spring of 2006 things were looking gloomy. But the team went on to finish 10-1-1 overall to finish in first and take the first round bye going into the playoffs.

Facing an old foe in the Big Dogs, who knocked off the Dragons in the finals two seasons ago; sweeping no less. Things had a sureal feel of deja vu all over again. But the Dragons were very resilient and swept the Dogs to finally gain their 5th crown and first in 4 years.

This is not the end for the Dragons as the team continues to play. Stop back again and see what has unfolded for the team.

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� 2002 Blue Hand Pub.