The 2026-2027 Windsor Tomcats season is officially underway, and it opened like a man who actually read the group chat. First puck drop at 6:32pm — the quickest start in twelve years. No wandering around looking for sticks, no prolonged debates about new rules to make sure Soupy never gets interrupted when he does his dupty-do moves. Just pure, efficient chaos. Snowpants, Soupy, and a few other early birds rolled in and cleaned the place like they were expecting royalty. The nets? Fixed over the summer and now rock-solid. No more leaning towers of terror (notice the subtle references in those sentences). The Palace was ready.
Too many bodies showed up for two clean teams (eight runners + goalie is the magic number, people). Rocky took one for the team and sat the night out so everyone else could play. Skippy got the ultimate double-agent assignment: one game with Black, one game with White. His name appears on both rosters like a man who refuses to pick a side.
Start-of-the-year gifts were handed out to every Tomcat who paid their deposit — fresh new trucker hats. Looking sharp, boys. Rocky also flexed and brought two cases of beer instead of the usual one. They sat untouched for now, just waiting for the stage portion of the evening. Restraint is a beautiful thing… until it isn’t.
Wearing White – The Interns & The Old Guard
Bender in net, The Professor, Big Ned, Doc, Soupy, Bullwinkle, Animal, Chevy, Hobbs, and Skippy. In the second game Doc did the ultimate dad move and gave his spot to his son, The Intern, for the kid’s first-ever Tomcat appearance. Welcome to the litter, Intern. Hope you brought knee pads and thick skin.
Wearing Black – Sweets’ Early Contenders
The Flower in net, Sunny, The Foreman, Sweets, Shaft, Killer, Snowpants, Waldo, Smiley, and Skippy (again).
Rocky and Soupy’s team algorithm was on point. Game One finished in a hard-fought 5-5 tie. Game Two was pure chaos — Black took it 7-6, but White staged a furious late comeback that got them within one. The kind of game that leaves everyone gasping and already arguing about who should’ve scored the equalizer.
TopCat of the Night went to Sweets. Stellar play from start to finish. The man looked like he’d been training all summer while the rest of us were still negotiating with our lower backs. He got the necklace and the glory.
Special appearance by The Falcon, currently on IR. He showed up anyway and ran the clock for both games like a true professional. Still no sighting of the mythical Sparky Clock or Sparky himself. The legend continues.
Post-game the stage filled up, hats were adjusted, beers were finally cracked, and the usual mixture of war stories, draft talk, and gentle roasting filled the Palace. New season. Same energy. Same sacred ritual.
Welcome back, Tomcats. The floor is open. The beer is cold. The kids are faster. And the trucker hats look damn good.
See you next Tuesday.
Lonnie Grokstein
