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Moura Leads Shutout to Title (10/4) The Dragons took their 7th title in team history Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 shutout of the Titans in game 2 of the best of three. Netminder and top goalie winner, Tony Moura stopped all 36 shots today, while the defense led by MVP Mick Pechenuk, held firm throughout the entire playoff series (the team only allowed 2 goals in the three games played). The game was scoreless until midway point of the second period and had the look of a repeat of game 1, but Chad Hosegood scored with 4:58 left in the second and then in the third Dean Waller knocked one home in a flurry of activity in front of the net and Pechenuk netted an empty netter with less than 20 seconds to play. Adding assists today were Waller, Hosegood, Rit Carter and Mike Ugliarolo. this is the second time in team history that the blanc et rouge has gone back-to-back (the first was in 2002) and the 7th title in team history. All this means is that the first game of the next season is that much closer to being played - Wednesday 10/8 at 10PM.
One Win From Title (9/30) The Dragons played their best game in many seasons tonight and are one win from back-to-back titles in the F2 division. Behind the stellar goaltending of netminder Tony Moura and goals from Chad Hosegood and Mick Pechenuk the Dragons took the fight to the Titans and outplayed them with only one sub. Adding assists on the night were Mike Connors and Dave Carter. Moura stopped 36 of 37 shots. With game 2 set for Saturday (10/4) at 4pm the Dragons can clicnh their seventh title and win back to back for the second time in team history (previously done waaaay back in 2002). Many rinkside inthe media pool felt that the outmanned Dragons were in for a long night before play began but the longer the game went scoreless the better their cahnces got. But giving up the games's first score in the third period with 4:22 to play left the blanc et rouge down but not out. And Hosegood's goal :59 later tied it up and set up Pechenuk for the OT winner.
Looking for 7th Title (9/27) The Dragons are in their second condecutive final series as they bested the Dirt Devils tonight 4-1 behind a two goal night from Rit Carter. Also scoring were Mike Connors and George "The Condor" Dunnery. Netminder Tony Moura (winner of the division's Outstanding Goalie Trophy) stopped 13 of the 14 shots on net for the game. Adding assists were Carter and Mick Pechenuk. This puts the Dragons in line to seek their seventh title in team history as the finals begin on Tuesday September 30th at 6PM against the top seeded Titans.
4-6 And Third Place (9/24) The Dragons finished the regular season Tuesday night by losing to the division leading Titans and losing 5-3. This places tehir regualr season record at 4-6 and in third place. The means a matchup with the Dirt Devils in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday. Playing without many key members in the wrap up game, including netminder Tony Moura out on Sick Leave and defensemen Mike U and Mick P. THe Dragons were forced to play with back to the backup to the backup in net namely captain Dave Carter. And it worked for a while, sort of. After shutting out the Titans for the first period, the lack of subs and and the lack of net experience began to show. And the Titans rallied from 3 goals down to win 5-3. After the rousing forfeit win to the Dirt Devils last week this almost feels like a letdown. But hey the playoffs begin on Saturday.
.500 for the Week (8/24) The Dragons split two games this week as they beat the winless team, and lost to a division leader. With team attendance a an all time low on Saturday, and once again playing with a backup to a backup in net the Dragons were beaten into submission by division leader Dirt Devils 9-0. Now while this colun is not usually the place for Dragon editorials, this reporter (filling for the regular beat writer whil covering the Olympics) will make a stab at it. There is a time and a place for humliating a team, this was not it in this writers eyes. Apparently some teams feel its okay to continue full bore on a team that went down 4-0 in the first period and had no subs and a third string goalie in net. Enough of that, the Dragons also beat cellar dwelling Sporty's by a 6-1 score. Documentation for both games has been shredded so no record of the hihg lights or lowlights are at hand at the moment. Next game for the blanc et rouge is not until Tuesday September 2nd at 7PM.
Good Food and Good Company (8/17) The Dragons gathered for a mini celebration after the game on Saturday for some food and beverage at a local establishment (if they were a team sponsor they's get a mention by name). Attending were Mike Connors, Mike Ugliarolo, Chad Hosegood, Dean Waller, Rit and Dave Carter. Up for discussion were many topics including tax what not to do's from our resident tax man (name not able to be mentioned here), Dragon history - what a history it is, and quite the incredible movie, Seinfeld, Sopranos, mentions. Those not attending till the very end missed out on a lot - including the talk of the banning "Play 2" and installation of the "Statue of Liberty" play. Talk of another gathering did ensue and has been considered by team officials for a future date.
Still No Offense (8/17) The Dragons lost a pair of games this week. Playing with only one sub in both games and a backup to a backup goalie in the second game of the week against the Tians, suffice it to say it was a lost week. Losing 6-4 and 6-1 this week places the Dragons in a must win situation against Sporty's on Tuesday, but the added influx of players coming back from vacations for the games this week should help and the return of starting netminder Tony Moura will definitely help. Scoring the goals this week were - Mike Connors (2), Mick Pechenuk, George Dunnery and Dave Carter. Adding assists were Chad Hosegood, Connors and Pechenuk. Netminders for the week Moura and Hosegood stopped a total of 58 of the 70 shots on net. Up next is a pair of games this week - Tuesday against Sportys and Saturday against the Dirt Devils.
No Offense on This Day (8/3) The Dragons were shoutout on Saturday afternoon in the second game of the season 3-0 by the Dirt Devils. Being outshot 48-20 and also being shorthanded were major contributing factors in the loss. With the core of the team spread to the four corners of the globe the remaining members did not muster any offense to match the deep bench of the opponent. There were no highlights except to say that in the post gaem discussions that a night out after the next saturday game is in the works. The next two games are not until Tuesday August 12th at 7PM, and Saturday August 16th at 6pm both against the Titans. There is talk that a post game meal somewhere in CT is being planned for the 16th after the game, so please leave that night open for some post championship festivities.
No Post Championship Blues Here (7/29) The Dragons held their long awaited championship ceremony thiseveing after they dispatched Sporty's in the frist game of the summer season 5-1. With almost everyone in attendance, only missing members were Eric Titus (away on a fact finding mission to Eastern Kazakstan) and Chad Hosegood (still awaiting a visa back from southern Prussia). As the blanc et rouge opened the summer season, the current challenge was to aviod the championship blues that seem to follow this team each season after a championship. They did that in fine fashion 5-1, four different Dragosn scored, led by Chris Roman with 2 goals. Also scoring tonight were Rit Carter, Dean "MVP" Waller, and the East Hartford Mafia made an appearance as Mike Connors scored. adding assists were Roman, Mick Pechenuk, Mike Ugliorolo and Jim Gaglione. Netminder Tony Mouraonce again solid in net as he stopped 17 of the 18 shots Sporty's took. As with any new season it appears that the Dragons have had some subtractions for the summer season as Dave Shelto has elected to exercise his player option (the only contract on the team worded that way) and elected to sit out and wait to see if any better offers come his way. And Eric Titus apparently was only a one season rental as he has elected to also go the free agent route and sign up with another squad in the F1 division. We wish players well and one day hope to see them back in the balnc et rouge down the road. Coming back this season is center Chad Hosegood, if he can get out of Prussia in time for the third game. Up next though is a matchup on saturday with the Dirt Devils at 6PM.
Another Long Layoff (7/16) The summer schedule is out an dthe Dragons are on a looooong layoff again. The first game is not until July 29th. It's hard to say right now if its advantageous or a hassle. All games are on eitehr Tuesday or Saturday and of course there are only 10, so that makes every game important if the franchise is to defend its recently won playoff title. Go to the Schedule link to see the complete schedule.
Whalers Ruled Out by Rink (7/14) The spring campaign ended on a high not today as the Dragons were crowned F-2 Playoff Champions. Due to the admiistrative illegalities by the Whalers the rink officials have forfeited them out of the playoffs and crowned the Dragons champs. What with many memebres taking advantage of the week layoff between playoffs games and spreading to the four corners of the country for some R&R, pictures and trophies will be done at the occasion of the first game of the next season. As stated previously in this column, the new schedule is due out on Wednesday and our schedule link will be updated soon after that. Congrats Dragons!
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