Windsor Tomcats

Annual Big Net Night is in the books. Making a fearless start on Big Net Night was Bagz. After a couple year hiatus from Tomcat hockey, Bagz showed up to protect the pipes and showed no rust. “I think he can flash the leather faster now than years before,” exclaimed Chico (and Chico would know a good leather flash when he sees one). “He shut me down all night,” Chico said further.

While looking a bit smaller between the towering black pipes of the big nets, Bender also made great save after save. Most players were surprised the extra real estate of mesh did not make scoring that much easier. “I was expecting a hat trick every period personally’l said a disappointed Soupy. “My scoring average only went up .03 percent,” said a disheartened Soupy.

Teams:

Bagz’ Brigade – Shack, Soupy, Kamikaze, Animal, Rocky and Matador (.5)

Bender’s Battleships – Chico, Tonto, Hurricane, Green Giant, Bullwinkle, Cribzie

Fairly close games with only a small increase I scoring due to the bigger nets…Battleships took the first game 7-6 while the Brigade took game two 10-7.

Holiday Party:

While the Tomcats will do pizza downstairs on the final night of hockey (Dec 20), we are considering a gathering of Tomcats and significant others on an upcoming Friday. We are poking for options on venues and likely will be informal but will look for commitment to attend and make it a fun evening. More to come shortly.

It was a record setting night thanks to Bullwinkle. Not because he set a new single night scoring record (totally plausible but that did not occur), but instead because the Bullwinkle Fan Club (known as the Moosekateers) showed up in droves, setting an all-time Tuesday night attendance record. Too bad the Bullwinkle Bobblehead night is three weeks from now.

Black Cats – Rocky, Chevy, Soupy, Killer, Terror, Shack, Hurricane and Beep.

White Sharks – Big Ned, Bullwinkle, Stevo, LaBamba, Bender, Chico and Animal.

White should have also had Tonto, but he was a no-show. Tomcats later found out he had an unfortunate over-sleeping incident.

First game was a 5-4 tilt for the Black Cats and the second game got slightly out of hand at the end due to Bender being under the weather. All-in-All, good hockey.

Shout out to Animal for being a fairly new guy but immediately helping set up when he arrived.

Also, Doc made an onstage appearance after hockey and brought a case of MGD for the boys. Nice work Doc!

New net weights were used for the first time and players and goalies alike seemed to think they helped keep the nets in place better.

Speaking of nets, Tomcat Management has declared next Tuesday Big Net Night. Big scorers may want to take notice.

Until next week,

Tomcats forever!

Despite the ‘Google’ search which; according to the National Confectioners Association; says 35’million’ pounds of the stuff is sold annually, I have ‘yet’ to meet anyone who says they actually ‘like’ the candy.  

You know what else I haven’t heard: players who complain about the ‘lack’ of spares on a bench.  It was sure ‘thin’ ranks in players this week – 1 spare for Matador’s’Monsters’ and 2 for Shredders (Aka – Bullwinkle’s) ‘Shriekers’.  

The Shriekers wound up with Sparky, Chevy, Green Giant, Skippy and Hurricane (Chico in net). Matador’s Monsters had Sunny, Kamikaze, Tonto, and Animal (Falcon in net).

Funny thing about few spares:  the unassuming player ‘steps’ up; and some 4th liners get more ball handling opportunities.  What does this mean for the poor goalies – a ‘shooting’ gallery.   

The guy who really stepped it up?  Bullwinkle.  I’m telling you since COVID the man’s beefed up, and upped his cardio game (Hence the nickname i now call him:   The Shredder).  Bender ‘stood on his head’ for his team and the crossbar is owed a defensive contract ‘post haste’.

Not to be outdone the Matador must have had multi goals in each game. When it was over it was close with the Shrieker’s eaking out the first game by a goal and teams tying the 2nd game.  OT? – Yeah right.  Both benches were ‘gassed’ and only too happy to take a sit down with a cold one while still muttering incredulously that Skippy even scored a goal.  Few spares = unlikely guys having more time to set up shots is what I say…..

Based on players already indicating they won’t be attending next week; I anticipate another upcoming night of few spares….and no ‘mini tournament’ (3 team night) likely to happen anytime soon.  

Don’t forget to get your tickets for this Fridays ‘Night of Music for Ukraine’.  ‘Ghost Crossing’ will be in the house and you’ll get some good grub.  

While your thinking ‘I actually like Candy Corn’; and I will get a pasta dinner this Friday; I noticed Yuri Handzonmecac.  

Yurri

While we await a report from last night’s action at the Kapusta, here is a message from Stevo and reminder about an important event Tomcats should attend or contribute to this Friday:

I made an error in who the money will go to in the fund raiser that my brother is organizing, proceeds of the event are being split between WESUN (Windsor Essex Supporting Ukrainian Newcomers) and Heart of the World Ukraine ( which purchases drones, vehicles, meds etc for soldiers. )

Tickets are still only $15 and with that you get a pasta dinner, salad and a roll. It is at the Legion and drinks are relatively inexpensive. If you plan to eat on Friday November 4, why not eat at the Legion and support a fellow Tomcat and his quest to make the world a bit better for the Ukrainian soldiers.

Thanks for reading, thanks for helping out.

A week after the algorithm was questioned, but ultimately proved itself, it appears it may have failed. The games last night were lopsided. Was the algorithm used? Well yes…sort of.

Up until about 4pm, there were two full teams (4 subs each). The algorithm was used to pick teams. However, between the team it selected two teams, 3 players dropped and one was added. As such, changes had to be made on the fly at the Kapusta to account for these cancellations/adds. So human intervention was applied. The teams ended up looking like this:

Black – Terror in net, Hurricane, Bullwinkle, Green Giant, Beep, Cribz, Rocky and Kamikaze

White – Bender in net, Jingles (late add), Big Ned, Killer, Sunny, Sparky, LaBamba and Animal

Pretty fair teams on paper, I think all would agree. White scored no goals in the first game, and only two in the second. Black scored at will. Cribz was the hot hand for Black firing laser beams from the blue line all night.

While the algorithm factors in many things, it runs on the assumption players play at or near their potential. It can’t account for players having an off game, nor can any Tomcat making selections ahead of games. Maybe a guy had a bad day at work, and their mind is not in it. Maybe they downed two double Big Macs and a litre of Pepsi prior to the game and now their stomach is in knots. There are just some nights where the playing surface will be tilted despite the best intentions of the algorithm or human’s making the team selections.

Message from Stevo

My brother…YOUR brother, Hollywood is organizing a charity event on November 4. Proceeds of the event are being split between WESUN (Windsor Essex Supporting Ukrainian Newcomers) and Heart of the World Ukraine ( which purchases drones, vehicles, meds etc for soldiers. )

My brother has done a great deal for Tomcats over the years, please support him in his present day quest.

Tickets are only $15 and with that you get a pasta dinner, salad and a roll (take a couple of rolls if you want)

If you can’t go, then please consider just buying a ticket.

Its at the Legion on Howard and the Legion offers inexpensive drinks.

Thanks for reading, thanks for helping out.

There were doubters when the night began. Looking at the teams, one very prominent Tomcat inquired of Rocky if the teams were chosen by a person or if the Tomcat Algorithm was used. Rocky confirmed the teams were selected by the algorithm. Here is what this genius piece of code created for the night:

White Sequencers – Falcon, Kamikaze, Chevy, Tonto, Animal, Hurricane, Cribz, Soupy, Snowpants

Black Iterations – Bender, LaBamba, Killer, Green Giant, Jingles, Shack, Bullwinkle, Matador, Rocky

What is the Tomcat Algorithm you ask?

During the pandemic. While the Tomcats were shutdown, Rocky enlisted some computer engineers to develop code that could be fed a list of Tomcats and use a rating system devised by Rocky to select the most even teams possible for a night of two-team hockey. Each year, the player ratings need to be updated based on how the person’s game changes, what their top skills/weaknesses are, their age, etc. The code makes sure each team is balanced with play makers, scorers, big shooters, lockdown/shutdown defenders and balance between the pipes. Once the final list of players is confirmed, the names are fed into the algorithm and two teams are generated.

To date, the algorithm has been very accurate. Rocky only uses on nights he is there as he likes to see when teams are picked by a person, how it compares. It is considered ongoing validation by not using the algorithm on those nights.

So back to this past Tuesday….once the boys had on their colored shirts, there were skeptics over the team balance., mostly saying the Black team was clearly stronger.

Game 1 started off with Black getting a big lead, and Rocky feared the algorithm may be failing. However, the game ended in a 7-7 tie, with Black squeaky out a victory in the 1-minute OT period. 8-7 final.

Game two was more back and forth with white winning 9-8 after each team scored late to make it a nail biter.

In the end, the real winner was the algorithm. Despite early read on the teams, the algorithm clearly creates two even teams. “And the First Star (le premiere etoile) goes to number 3.14159…The Tomcat Algorithm!”

The “Soupy Era” began last night, as both Rocky and Stevo were not in attendance. Soupy took charge, delegated, and lead by example, like all great leaders do. Some chatter among Tomcats afterwards compared him in the likes of JFK, Stephen Harper, and Napoleon. He declared at the start, we are playing “Soupy Hockey” tonight. So, slap shots and cherry picking were encouraged. Tuesday also saw the season debut of Labamba and fresh off his Portuguese Sexcation, the Hurricane.

Hurricane Viagra’s – Soupy, Shack, Kamikaze, Bullwinkle, Animal, Hurricane, Tonto, Falcon in net

Chevy Cialis’s – Sunny, LaBamba, Big Ned, Killer, Skippy, Chevy, Green Giant, Snowpants, Chico in net

The first game was a close matchup with the Viagra’s taking it 5-4, with both goalies making some phenomenal saves!

In the second game, the “stacked” Viagra’s came out rock hard and ready for action, taking the game 6-2. I believe Soupy scored every goal for the Viagra’s, and even assisted on a few too. It was a performance for the ages. Bob Cole was quoted as saying, “Never have I seen such a dominant performance in one night of tomcat hockey. Most evident was the blazing speed, lack of passing, and stick handling so well he broke his stick, Soupy is a Hall of Famer in my books!”

Shout out to Skippy for bringing balls, as Soupy left his at home. I believe it was the first pink ball night in Tomcat history.

After hockey, laughs could be heard miles away. Snowpants is working on planning dates for the Tomcat Xmas Party so keep an eye for an email on that. Word is there will be a game where every Tomcat has to take a picture from Nipples to Knees, and the wives have to guess which Tomcat it is…not sure how this will all shake out, but Shack gave a demonstration on what it will look like last night, and it ain’t pretty!

In closing, it was another fun night of hockey, but Soupy will be relinquishing his duties as President and handing them back Rocky, so he can focus more on being a better Cousin to his life hero, Sunny Solaris.

Guest Column by Haida d’Salami

A two team night on a beautiful October Tuesday. Felt more early September in the Kapusta.

The Tomcat Team Selecting Algorithm was called into action and did not disappoint with creating two very evenly matched teams. Each team won a game and both teams had a good distribution of beauty goals and amazing saves.

Teams were:

Terror’s Trojans – Terror, Snowpants, Beep, Rocky, Shack, Soupy and Jingles.

Bender’s Battalion – Bender, Animal, Green Giant, Sunny, Sparky, Chevy and Tonto

Beer List – Please check the beer list and if you can’t make your week, try to provide the beer early (give to another Tomcat to bring). The Tomcat surplus was already dry so thanks to Soupy, for stopping to get some beer before arriving even though it was not his night. If you have missed your night already, bring in your case next time you play and for future nights that will be missed, bring the case early.

Special shout-out to Bender and Terror. Both goalies arrived early and had the Kapusta set up prior to anyone else arriving. They are true Tomcats!

Reminder – if you haven’t yet purchased your tickets to Hollywood’s Ukraine fundraiser, reach out to him.

Teams:
Green Giant Giants Green Giant, Beep, Stevo, Big Ned, Chevy, Animal and Bender in between the pipes

Kamikaze Pilots: Kamikaze, Jingles, Sunny, Snowpants, Sparky, Tonto and Terror in between the pipes

In the first game, the Kamikaze Pilots took it to the Giants, winning 6-4. IN the second game, the Giants fought back hard and had, at one time a 7-2 lead and then hung on with a 7-6 win. Very good hockey, no shinangetns to speak of.

ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED

Although I have only been covering the Tomcats for a short while one of the things I have noticed is that it is always the same people that take the third set of tee shirts home. Why is that? Is it the cost of washing and drying 7-8 more shirts? What could that cost be, 20 cents? Is it the sweat and you don’t want your wife falling in love with another Tomcat, or is just plain old laziness and leaving it for the next guy? If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem, no truer words have ever been said….

IN FOR NEXT WEEK

Rocky is back taking over the operations, please let him know if you are in for next week.

REPAIR

A few of the fellas attempted to get the light working in the Tomcat Room…..no luck as of right now, but they do know, there is no power coming to the light in the room,

Hollwood’s EVENT FOR UKRAINE

The money raised from this evening will go to Ukraine to purchase body armour for Ukrainian soldiers.

CHARITY EVENT

THINKING OF BUYING AN ELECTRIC CAR

IN ENDING

Personally if you have two nick names, Sunny and Husky Eyes and are so good looking, how many clubs do you break in a year beating the women away, in my opinion he is a dreamboat. LOVE YOU SUNNY/HUSKY EYES, Thanks for reading, I’m Ophelia Butts.

The Tomcats kicked off 2022-2023 with a mini tournament. Tomcat historians indicate it is the first time a mini has been played on opening night.

The teams were:

Sunny’s Black Diamonds – Soupy, Skippy, Chevy, Kamikaze, Shack, Sunny and Bender in net

Bullwinkle’s White Pearls – Animal, Chico, Rocky, Big Ned, Bullwinkle and The Terror in net

Beep’s Red Rubies – Killer, Tonto, Jingles, Snowpants, Stevo, Beep and The Falcon in net

As you can see, these were annual tournament caliber teams. The games were low scoring and close, and even included 2 overtime games since teams were tied at the end of regulation.

It was a hot one in the Kapusta, and the first 3 games ended at 8:05. With three games left to play, a decision was made to only play 2 more games of one period each. As such, no mini winner was decided. Cold beers were calling on stage so the night was ended.

On stage, thanks to Stevo and Soupy for reading the blog and bringing their beer as scheduled, the true Tomcat experience started. If you haven’t looked at the beer list, look now and mark down your days. Also shout out to Hollywood who is on IR bit stopped by with a 12 pack and some snacks for the boys.

Also making an appearance was returning player, Green Giant, as he has been traded back to the Tomcats after a stint with the Big River Beavers. Green Giant will be back on the Kapusta floor soon!

Rocky have out the start of year gift to all Tomcats paying their $50 start fee. Check out these leather stamped Tomcat drink coasters:

After a few brief announcements by Rocky, Stevo took the floor. Stevo told a story about money he collected from Tomcats 22 years ago as a way to start a fund to invest (or gamble) and turn into enough funds to purchase a To cat facility. Well those dreams never panned out (damn you financial crisis of 2008) but Stevo kept the money and decided to use it this year to have Ukraine shirts made for the Tomcats to show our ongoing support of their battle vs. Russia. So why this now? Well Stevo informed the Tomcats that this will be his last season and will fully retire from the Tomcats at the end of this season! Yes, take a moment to catch your breath.

Tomcat Management will begin a search for event planners capable of putting together a retirement celebration for Stevo’s retirement.

Stevo is running the operation next week in Rocky’s absence, so pay him your fees (annual or nightly fee). Let Rocky know by Sunday if you are in or out next week.

Ukraine Charity Concert:

Hollywood is hosting a fundraising musical event in November. Great cause by a great guy trying to help those in need. Please purchase tickets and take part. The Tomcat House Band, Ghost Crossing, will be performing. See below.

Thanks to some really fine Tomcats, the Kapusta is ready for the season to begin. Make sure to Thank the fine gentleman you see below in the pictures for coming out and helping get things ready. True Tomcat Spirit flows in their blood!

Good morning Tomcats!

In less than a week, Tomcat Hockey returns to to the Kapusta floor! An email asking who will be attending is coming shortly. Please reply quickly so we can plan for opening night festivities.

Later today, several dedicated Tomcats will be preparing the Kapusta for the season so everything is ready for next week.

Here are some things to remember:

1. Beer list is up. Check out the Beer List link at the top of this page and make note of your night. If you already know you miss your nights, bring the beer ahead of that date and let me know.

2. Season Dues. Have $50 ready for me on the first night. A sweet start up gift coincides with your $50 payment. No $5 nightly fee when you pay your $50. I hate chasing these payments for weeks on end. Let’s have it ready day one.

3. COVID Protocol. There is no official protocol this season. However, common sense is expected. If you have symptoms or have had a recent exposure (within 5 days of a Tomcat Tuesday), stay home until you are certain you are not positive. Ideally, test after a recent case or exposure before you return. Again, just common sense.

4. Have fun. Goes without saying, but I will say it anyways….Tomcat hockey exists so a group of good guys can enjoy some friendly competition and few cold ones. Come out and play hard, but never take it too seriously and never play in a manner that may injure a fellow Tomcat. Our NHL chances all passed many years ago so come prepared for a little exercise and a whole lot of smiles.

See everyone next week!

Tomcats Forever!

Yours in ball hockey,

Rocky