90 minutes until the puck drops...Will Wilkes Brarre take a second Win?

Powderhornhockey
There was joy a plenty in Mudville last night. Local hero and goalie mighty Curry far from struck out, with the score a tenuous 3:2 he hung on and denied the Wolves over time. In short the Wilkes Brarre Penguins tasted victory for the first time in the Calder Cup Finals.

The game was not without it's controversies, first referee Dean Morton awarded Chicago 28 minutes for 10 infractions, Wilkes Brarre-Scranton 14 minutes for 7 infractions. Possibly a bit lopsided, however worth nothing more than a raised eyebrow. But it is worth mentioning with 4 minutes left in the game Chicago Center Andre Deveaux was again singled out when he was cross checked into the glass by WBS Ryan Stone and lay on the ice motionless for by my count 20 seconds. Referee Dean Morton had a clear sight line 1/2 way to the blue line, on the same side of the ice. Maybe his head was turned, his attention was else where, however as Deveaux was within a few feet of the puck the lack of a call is is glaring. Andre Deveaux did not return to action for the rest of the game. Tonight Brian Pochmara will be the main man in stripes, in the best of all possible worlds Candide, Dave Andrews would open his wallet and spring for another referee to partner him on the ice. Well, we can live in hope.

This morning my favorite collegiate nettie Larissa Gazinski and her mother Kristine called from Wilkes Brarre with the local news. They report it is hot, hot, hot with a lack of air conditioning in the local hotel rooms. Ouch! The crowds at the Wachovia Center largely have been knowledgeable and friendly with the expected idiots mixed in. Most of the local fans seemed to think the series was over as the game started last night. With many of the numbered 6718 fans coming dressed as blue seats. Yet as the game wore on these same depressed fans created such a din my friends "ears were still ringing" from all the noise. Now that's the 7th man I have heard so much about! They had to cut their conversation short as they had to check out this morning. It seems all the visitors including the Wolves will be leaving right after the game, all hotel rooms in WSB and Scranton are going to be filled with NASCAR fans and a local event. Hope they like it hot.

Lastly on a personal note a Wilkes Brarre-Scranton journalist and blogger Jonathan Bombulie is reporting that he is the last " professional hockey beat writers in North America who covered a game on opening night in October and are still covering games on June 7. Go me. (Thanks for the plug, Mike)." Woops, hate to burst your bubble Johnathan but there are at least two other hockey beat writers still standing. Kissaine and I cover our favorite sport as you all know for the Chitowndailynews.com as well as our own blogs. Do I need to mention that our season started for the last two years in September at the Redwings Rookie Tournament and not at an opening game in the middle of October? Ah, the pond is much bigger than the east and those that cover it, wake up and smell the West boys!

The morning before the Big Dance!

This morning all over the Chicago area Wolves fans are rising, counting the hours until game time and wondering just like kids on Christmas Eve if they can make it til puck drop...Somewhere along route 90 is a bus load of some of the most dedicated hockey fans in the AHL the Wilkes Barre Scranton Boosters. The famed 7th man of the line and a force to be reckoned with. I for one can't wait to see these professional road trippers again, they are some of the best fans in hockey and bring knowledge and infectious enthusiasm to any arena they visit. You can be sure I will be capturing a few images of these folks for their friends back home.

On a historical note, although most of us clearly remember the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans two years ago. In 1972 Hurricane Agnes came through Northern Pennsylvania and Central New York, inundating the towns of Corning, Horse Heads and Wilkes Barre, 117 people were killed . It took years for these towns to recover physically and economically. To those of us in the Midwest and West we often think of hurricanes as a problem of the south. However, for those of us old enough to remember those long days in June 1972 when everyone in Pennsylvania and New York cancelled weddings,graduations, prayed and prepared to do the dirty work ahead we know better. As one of the legions of volunteers sent by various organizations in 1972 to clear,clean and rebuild these small cities the the memories I carry of devastation wrought by rising water are unforgettable. The work and dedication to bring a community, it's heart and livelihood back after such an event speaks volumes of the character of it's citizens.

Wilkes Barre is a town that survived and thrived through mining disasters, strikes, flood, now has a great hockey team and boosters that will be arriving on our doors in the next few hours. As a Chicago fans let's treat them well and give them great memories to take back to the gentle hills of Pennsylvania with them.

The site below has many photos of the flood damage and cleanup after Agnes in WB.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nepaphotos/morepictures_from_hurricane_agnes.htm