By Carson Reider '15
“Brooms” replaced sticks. Simple orange balls replaced pucks. Penalties resulted in shots from six feet out instead of a trip to the sin bin and a man-advantage. The two classes squared off in an activity that is a layman’s version of ice hockey: broomball. A men’s game preceded a co-ed game, in which a goal by a girl was scored as 2.
The first half started fast as the second-years showed that they had previously participated in this “sport”. A few minutes in, the second-years scored a goal.* Good for them.
Outstanding goaltending by NHL HOFer Patrick Roy –er, Sam Morgan (‘15)– kept the first-years in the game. Two tripping penalties were generously given to the second-years, but Pat Scott (‘14) and Ian Bruckheimer (Jerry’s long-lost nephew thrice-removed and MSA (‘14) exclusive)) were stoned from point-blank range.
The first-years were fueled by the momentum their goaltender provided them and later equalized the contest. Brent Miller (‘15) lit the lamp with a clapper from the left circle after Carson Reider (‘15) put some sauce on a three-quarter ice laser for the apple.
It was 1-1 at intermission. Throughout much of the second half, the first-years had difficulty clearing the ball from their defensive zone and weren’t able to generate offense on the forecheck. The intense contest became a bit chippy, and frustrations boiled over when bruisers Aaron Henderson (‘15) and Ian Brauksieker (formerly Bruckheimer) were tossed from the game after a brief altercation and a standoff in the corner.
Ebb and flow. To and fro. The competition continued.
With seconds remaining, the first-years had what seemed like their only rush in the second-half. A risky pokecheck by Joseph deGuzman (‘14) preserved the tie.
The 1-1 score carried over to the co-ed game, in which the second-years held possession most of first half. Saves by some guy wearing a jersey with the Twitter handle “@r_shulman” (presumed to be Ryan Schulman (‘15)) kept the game tight for awhile, but The Stranger Presumed To Be Schulman had difficulty blocking over his left shoulder. Two redirected goals in that wretched spot were scored by second-year girls.* Preston “GQ” McClellan (‘14) had a high stick penalty –which occurred more frequently than it was called– that put Brent Culver (‘15) on the charity stripe, but the shot rolled wide right. Nothing was going for the first-years as they entered the half down 5-1 (goals by girls were worth 2, remember?).
The first-years came out of the break with gusto. An odd-man rush into the attack zone resulted in Chris O’Shea (‘15) feeding Kenisha Webb (‘15) across the crease to bury the biscuit between the pipes. The collaborative celly was conspicuously stupendous. Energy enveloped a once-flustered squad; however, missed opportunities and a late goal against* sealed their fate.
As with all proper endings to sporting contests, there was a winning squad and there was a losing squad. The scoreboard read a final of 6-3 in favor of the Class of 2014.
Like the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, who fought back from a 3-0 series deficit to win the Stanley Cup, the Class of 2015 looks to storm back from these past three setbacks.
September 29th may turn out to be a pivotal day in the O’Malley Cup.
*Dear Reader, If you’re really, really wanting to know who scored for the Class of 2014, it was Matt Gottfried in the men’s game, and Caitlin Munchel, Lindsae Lowrie, and Lucas Topolie in the co-ed game.
Respectfully,
Carson Reider (‘15)
