Aesop’s fables have been told and re-told; passed down from generation to generation, and nary do the lessons need updating in this ever increasingly digital age. The Tomcats are really no different. Entering their 25th season, rumors and innuendos have cropped up in the typically quiet summer months; that time of the year when the players are finally able to wind down. Fans will recall last year there was a mandatory ‘ask’ from Management to the players to create weekly blogs. The twittersphere and other social media sites lit up with each Tomcats player settling back and letting the fans know what hi jinx they were up to in the off season. This year has been a bit different; the players aren’t leaping to the keyboards or grabbing their high tech gear and looking for a satellite signal to upload their stories. So instead the focus has been on the ‘Stevo’ drama – Will he or won’t he retire after the 25th season?
Remember the drama surrounding Razor and his apparent ‘Retirement’ dilemma last year? It made for good press – and that’s about it. Razor returned and was just as solid as the year before. He even captured another ring in the annual tourny. I will say it now – loud and clear; Stevo will NOT be retiring any time soon. While age may be catching up to the leader of the organization; the itch to play hasn’t left, nor has that competitive spirit. Kudos to Stevo for looking forward and realizing EVERY player eventually has to hang it up; but like some other long term players I think they’ll be prying his cold dead fingers from that hockey stick prior to him actually leaving the Tomcat fold. It will be a SAD day in Tomcat history when he does leave; but several other key players have quietly been stepping up to ensure Tomcat hockey is played for another 25 years when he does.
Speaking of player’s summer news, sources have it that Skippy has confirmed his playing time come the start of the new season will be downgraded due to his daughter’s birth. “I plan on playing when I can; and I’m committed to being there at the start of the season, on my beer night, and at ALL major tourny’s – but beyond that I gotta play it by ear.” Apparently fatherhood has taken its toll in terms of Skippy’s time, and the limited time he does have outside of his regular job duties is filled by his second job – Being a father; which Skippy has described as ‘Exceptionally busy’. With the glut of top quality goaltenders the Tomcats have, along with Bearcat looking to break back into the fold; Skippy’s reduction in playing time may be a blessing in disguise. When questioning the time downgrade Skippy was quick to point out he felt he had earned some small measure of players and fans respect this season with his MVP nod at the outdoor game. The next major piece of hardware Skippy has his eye on is the Major Tislton Challenge Cup; which if indications via the St Felix are correct remain in limbo. When asked about the prospect of losing the annual dust up between the Tomcats and Skipjacks Skippy stated: “I’ve said my piece to the Tomcat powers that be – and now I will try to sell it to the players as management has indicated the games fate rest on a vote. I believe with some of the ideas in place this year this game and many future rematches will remain in place.”
Time will tell on many fronts what is yet to be written in the Tomcat history books – Will this be Stevo’s last year? Will Bearcat come back and recapture some of that old magic in net? Will there be a Tomcat/Skipjack game? And will all my articles always end off with ‘Yuri HANDZONMECAC?”
Well, at least some things will never change…
Yurri
