Windsor Tomcats

Do you recognize the ‘weapon’ that felled the Tomcats former President and marquee player? If we were playing ‘Clue’ you may have found it in on the Kapusta Kow Palace Tuesday night wielded by a VERY unlikely suspect/player……

Funny thing I’ve noticed over the years of covering Tomcats hockey – it often seems that first game back to ‘regular’ play after the ‘Stanley’s Cup’ Tournament has several players missing. I reason it has to do with the players going all out at the tourny and simply needing a week to recover. What this typically means for play after the tournament is you’re likely to get an old fashioned Two team game played with a few spares a side.

This Tuesday was no exception and I think each bench had 3 spares a side. Also funny is how you’ll see players come out of the woodwork and play whom are naturally seen in other positions. Case in point – Skippy visited and actually played out as a defenseman. Rumour has it he reached out to Stevo (Who is still covering for an injured Rocky) looking to play net. On this night the Tomcats already had 2 tenders prepared to go and Management based their decision on attendance; of which Skippy’s has been spotty at best this season. Skippy expressed a desire to still want to come out and of course Stevo agreed. More interesting is upon seeing Skippy dressed to play out Falcon was heard muttering he would have likely taken the night off had the opportunity been known to him….

History will show Skippy has played out on maybe 2 other occasions in his entire Tomcat career; first trying a forward position before realizing defence may be a better fit. More surprising is he actually had a decent night – blocking a few shots and making good passing decisions. Alas it would all come crashing down in the second game…

First; let’s look at those games with the traditional Black verse White. Black had the steller scoring trio of Soupy, Chevy and Sunny – which is likely why they won the first game handily 11-5. I mean watching the game tape it was near cringe worthy to see Sunny and Soupy carve thru defensemen single handily and score. Even better was watching the highlight reel of passing and scoring between Soupy and Chevy.

White, consisting of scoring threats Matador, Snowpants and Slim Jim responded in the second game and with about 9 or so minutes left were up 6-5 – a drastic reversal of play for the team and players. It was like they transformed into a new team, intent on showing that first game was a fluke.

Here’s where that ‘killer stick’ comes in. Skippy was alone near his goalie and Slim Jim made a beautiful pass to a wide open Stevo. Stevo started his highlight reel dekes on poor Terror when out of nowhere Skippy lays out in a defensive desperation attempt to catch Stevo and…….DOWN goes Stevo. That’s right folks – the unassuming Skippy nearly ended the playing career of the most coveted player in Tomcats history. Understandably the entire sellout crowd and all players aside held their collective breaths as poor Stevo was assisted to the bench. In a true leader moment Matador called the game; later stating, ‘When your Captain goes down; is in pain; and has to sit it out – the entire team goes down’.

As Stevo sat on the stage icing a knee and was asked about the incident he replied, ‘Well, I guess I wasn’t meant to go dancing tomorrow’. When asked about Skippy playing out Stevo responded; ‘He’ll play in net next time for sure’. Few other players said anything. I spoke to Crcibzie sitting nearby who said, ‘We all saw it – I think Skippy needed to let Stevo finish that move – He had a breakaway’.

When questioned Skippy was at a loss for words and simply stated, ‘I’m confident I made contact with the ball first – I think Stevo didn’t see me there and wound up falling over my body’. ‘I reacted to the play without thought – and I’m sure Stevo knows it was not intentional at all’. ‘On a side note – did anyone mention I did bring out a 12 pack for the boys?’.

I don’t think players or fans question the act as being intentional or purposeful; I actually saw Skippy hugging it out with Stevo afterwards. The status of either player is currently unknown; but rumour has It Skippy will likely miss the next several weeks with a bruised rib. Stevo’s status is less clear and fans the world over will be counting the days down till next Tuesday to see if he returns. The league so far has remained mum on any sanctions being considered against Skippy as it is understood the play is still being reviewed. My money is on Skippy not returning to play defense anytime soon – no fines will be levied and both players in time will return to play.

While you are thinking, ‘Are you sure Skippy killed the President’; I noticed Yurri HANDZONMECAC.

Yurri