Easter Sunday found me, and MOL at mothers for a lovely ham dinner. I am pretty sure I ate about 2 pounds of that thing. It was quite tasty. I told the dinner table about Brendan Walsh being a Lockmonster, and no one really seemed to care. MOL even backed out of coming to the game. Oh well. Solo again.
I headed up to the Paul, and took my usual position for the warm ups. The first thing I noticed was #15 was absent from the Lockmonsters side of the ice. I was thinking, maybe he isn’t taking warm ups? Nope. Manchester’s call to the league the previous night did him in. Apparently he wasn’t eligible to play because he was retired. I guess in order to play after clear day rosters come out, you have to have played at least 8 games during the year? Some shit like that. One day, I really need someone to explain the AHL clear day process to me. I’m serious. There is no sense to it.
What the hell does Manchester care if Brendan Walsh is in the line up anyway? Especially against Providence. Provi needed the points to go in front of Manchester for playoff standings, I would think Manchester would have welcomed the distraction of Brendan Walsh with open arms. Not so. Oh, and another thing. Do you think the call would have been made if it wasn’t Walshie involved? Or, if the AHL would have even cared? No way. Anyway, thanks for letting the air out of the tires Manchester. Again.
After I got the news Walshie wasn’t playing, I headed to my usual spot where I bumped into Tweener. He must not have seen the depression on my face, as we had the following discussion.
Tweener: This must be a tactic.
Me: What? Walshie not taking warm ups?
Tweener: Yeah, they must be trying to fuck with em.
Me: He’s not playing. Manchester called the AHL.
Tweener: Stunned silence.
I have seen grown men cry before, and I have seen grown men enraged before. It has been a long time since I saw the look of rage in Tweener’s eyes. There was cursing of Manchester, and swears about a ruined Christmas. I know Tweener. I feel your pain. So the anticipated Brendan Walsh/Matt Goody fight wasn’t going to happen. Or the anticipated Brendan Walsh stirring the pot against his old team all game wasn’t going to happen. Who cares? There was still a game to play. I’m depressed all over again.
The Lockmonsters won their final game as a Carolina/Colorado farm Team 7-3. It was a pretty boring affair, although it was nice to finally see Matt Goody. This kid is going to be a stand out in the AHL next season. Big guy, can skate, and from what I hear can fight. I would say the highlight of the day was the playing of Brass Bonanza as homage to long time Hartford Whaler, and departing head coach Tom Rowe. Every time the Monsters scored it was played, and Tom really got a kick out of it.
Every season the Lockmonsters have a party for season ticket holders after the final game. Last year saw me drinking about 912 beers with Mike Commodore, and he and I ruining a picture for a Booster Club member because Mike insisted I be in the shot. This season was a little more tame in the amount of beers, but fun none the less. I am not an autograph hound. I do not wear game worn jerseys. I don’t understand the fun in it, but if you dig it, more power to you. It is amazing to me how these guys deal with all the people coming up to them. Some of them are very strange as well. I have always said, there is not a more approachable pro athlete than a pro hockey player. These guys proved it time and time again.
At the party, I hung with Mitch Love mostly. Brendan Walsh came in for a beer as well. What a great guy. He is just as funny off the ice as he is on. He was telling a great story about being in the building last year with Providence when he got into it with Gordie Dwyer, and Brantt Myhres. I guess they were getting very hurtful in the verbal abuse department, and there was some bad blood between Walshie and Myhres. Well, Walshie is an Assistant Coach with Northeastern, and was out in Western Canada doing some recruiting. He got picked up by his buddy Steve Parsons, and guess who was in the back seat of the car? Brantt Myhres. I guess Parsons had picked him up from the hospital after Georges Laraque knocked him out in pre season. Walshie said it was pretty uncomfortable, but they are pals now. Mitch Love is a good kid too. We talked for a long time, and had a few beers. Love, Dan DaSilva and myself were the last to go. I was invited to the after party, but alas, has to work on Monday so I took a pass.
So, there it is. The final weekend. I want to wish all the Carolina and Colorado boys’ good luck. I am excited to see them come in to the Paul next year with Albany. This off season can not go quick enough for me. New Jersey has always had a tough team, and I hope they bring the same attitude with them to Lowell. I know the Albany/Lowell rivalry will be one of the best in the "A" next year. Plenty of good American League Hockey to be had in the next couple of months. I was thinking of shooting down to Providence for some of the Portland series. I hope Manchester doesn’t get past the first round. They just made the list.
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