I have lots
to cover in today’s blog so keep reading until the very end, you won’t regret
it!
Saturday’s
playoff Game #2 against the Alaska Aces was a Must Win. It would have been
fatal to allow the Aces to get ahead in the series by two games. Because of the
Bulls determination, skill and hard, hard work, they SHUT OUT Alaska 1-0. That’s
right! Not only was this the team’s FIRST SHUTOUT, but they shutout Alaska on
their home ice!
Please take
a breath and realize how HUGE of a victory this is for the Bulls. Before
Saturday night, only Idaho had been able to shutout Alaska in their home arena.
The game was the perfect example of how great things can be if the basics are
followed: aggressive offense, tight defense and thoughtful play.
 |
| Victory at Park 77 |
There were
several moments when the team could have lost their cool, especially when
penalties were not called on Aces players like Chris Clackson. To me, he’s Public
Enemy Number One for his goonish behavior on the ice. I will boo and boo LOUDLY
(!!) whenever his name is announced at the barn. And Alaska took to diving, a
lot. But hey, if this hockey thing doesn’t work out, the Alaska Aces can always
join the Olympic Diving Team.
 |
| Park 77 with Ian Schultz & the Bulls Crew |
A large
group of us fans watched the game in the outside garden of Park 77. I want to
thank Tom and the club’s most gracious hospitality for making us feel right at
home. He had already scheduled a large birthday party months earlier, but for
the Bulls, he created space at the last minute. And all the hard work he did to
make us feel welcomed was most appreciated.
HORNS OF THE
GAME: Even though Falite scored the one and only goal of the game, it was
Thomas Heemskerk’s goaltending that won the game for the Bulls. He stopped all 32 shots the Aces fired at him. They were relentless but so was Heemers. So, for this
victory in the Second Game of the playoff series, Heemskerk gets the Horns of
the Game.
 |
| Thomas Heemskerk wins Horns of the Game |
+++++
On the way
back to San Francisco, the team took overnight flights home Sunday morning,
arriving back at the barn, bleary eyed and disheveled. The Matadors Club had a Welcome
Home Breakfast of coffee, bagels, pastries and fruit for them if they wanted
something before passing out. It was a very thoughtful thing to do for the guys
and most appreciated by the team.
 |
| Simon Danis Pepin |
 |
| Taylor Nelson & Christian Ouellet |
 |
| Kris Belan |
+++++
Now I want
to recap all of the First Round EHCL series.
Western
Conference:
#2 Ontario
Reign vs #7 Utah Grizzlies – Ontario swept the series 4-0. Two of the games
went into overtime, but in the end, Ontario was the dominant team. Ontario
moves on to the Second Round.
#8 San
Francisco Bulls vs #1 Alaska Aces – games are tied up at 1-1. They now move to
San Francisco for three games starting April 11.
#3 Idaho
Steelheads vs #6 Colorado Eagles – Idaho leads series 2-1 games. Games 4 &
5 are Sunday, April 7 and Tuesday, April 9 in Colorado.
#4 Stockton
Thunder vs #5 Las Vegas Wranglers – Stockton are ahead in this series 2-0
games. Game three is Monday, April 8 in Las Vegas.
Eastern
Conference:
#1 Reading
Royals vs #8 Greenville Road Warriors – Reading is leading this series 2-0.
Game three is Wednesday April 10 in Greenville.
#2
Cincinnati Cyclones vs Toledo Walleye – Cincinnati leads Toledo 2-0 games.
Third game is Wednesday April 10 in Cincinnati.
#3 Gwinnett
Gladiators vs South Carolina Stingrays – Gwinnett leads series 2-0 games.
Wednesday April 10 is the next game in South Carolina.
#5 Elmira
Jackals vs Florida Everblades – Series tied 1-1. Game three is Wednesday in Elmira.
+++++
Game three
of the Bulls playoff series against the Alaska Aces is Thursday, April 11. I
hope many of you will be there. And if you’re going to the game, WEAR YOUR
ORANGE!
BULLieve!
GO BULLS!
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