We are now just one month away from the start of the Winter 2010 season. Team fees have been set at $200 for this year. Your full payment is due no later than the third regular season game, but if possible getting a partial or full payment in to Jay before the start of the season would be appreciated.

The Broadstreet Bullies are proud to announce their award winners for the Summer 2010 regular season.

In their final regular season game of the 2010 season, the Broadstreet Bullies went in with a hunger for a victory. A win would clinch a playoff berth and a chance to redeem a disappointing season. With the final standings so close the Bullies really had no idea how the final standings would shake out and were counting on the victory to seal the deal. As it stood, a finish anywhere between 11th and 16th was possible, with only the top 14 making the post season. Unfortunately, after a very hard fought battle the Bullies fell 4-3 in overtime to the Berserkers. The loser point they picked up was good enough to push them up into 13th.

Both teams had a lot to play for - the Bullies were fighting for their playoff lives, and the Berserkers were fighting to get a bye through the elimination games. The Berserkers looked a bit better early on, and got on the board first, scoring with 13:38 remaining in the first to put the Bullies behind. As he has done all year long, though, Darryl Paget led the counterattack and got his team back in it. With 7 minutes left in the first he evened things up on a statement goal. The teams went back and forth with the Bullies holding the edge in shots in the second half of the period as their forecheck finally got going. At the buzzer, things were tied at one a piece.

In the second, Paget blew the game wide open, scoring a pair of goals thirty seconds apart in the first minute to put the Bullies up 3-1. It was another natural hat trick for Paget, as well as his 150th career goal and 300th career point. From there, the Bullies tried to hold on as the Berserkers tried to even the game up. They inched closer halfway through the frame getting within one, and eventually tied the game 3-3 with 5 minutes to play. From there, the Bullies threw everything they had at them trying to retake the lead but even with a shortened bench couldn't get the go ahead goal and the game went to OT.

It was the Berserkers who got the game winner, though, with 1:21 remaining in OT as some post line change confusion left a seam that got taken advantage of. This sent a very dejected Bullies back to the room until it was discovered that the loser point (and some key losses by rivals close in the standings) had bumped them back into the playoffs. Despite the game result it was a solid Bullies game, and a great way to finish off the regular season. Dejonghe had another exceptional game between the pipes and the D continued to play well - especially Chris Talbot, who had an outstanding game.

The Bullies will play a single game elimination on Sunday, July 25th at 8pm at the Sportsdome for a chance to advance to the round robin quarter finals. They'll play the Super Troopers, with the two teams splitting the season series. It should be a high scoring affair, with a total of 29 goals being scored by the two teams in the pair of matchups this season.

Fighting for their playoff lives, the Broadstreet Bullies remained in the mix with a decisive 5-2 victory over the Tin Bashers. The win snapped a three game losing streak that had put the Bullies on the brink of elimination. For now they remain within striking distance of a playoff spot, and with one final victory and a little help from the teams ahead of them, may be able to sneak into the post season. More specifically, it was an impressive effort as the Bullies were once again short benched and had another solid victory at the Sports Dome while only being able to run three defencemen. Andy Dejonghe played a huge game as well to preserve the win.

Both teams were a little light on bodies, but the Bullies even moreso. Still, they looked good early on and had no trouble attacking. They got the benefit of a lack of discipline by the Tin Bashers, who took a pair of misconduct penalties, and made it count on the man advantage. Less than half a minute into their first powerplay, just before the halfway mark of the first, Cordell Ferguson sniped one to make it 1-0. Darryl Paget followed up thirty seconds later to extend the lead to two, and then Ferguson added his second two minutes after that for a 3-0 Bullies lead. The Tin Bashers broke the shutout bid shortly thereafter, but before the period was over, Don Hinks had a beauty of a tip to make it 4-1 heading into the break.

The Tin Bashers narrowed the gap to two once more with 13:27 remaining in the second, but the Bullies responded yet again as Paget's second of the game made it 5-2. The Bashers had a little more life in the second after serving their misconducts, but the Bullies caught a few breaks and were able to stave them off and hold on for the win.

Hank Ford, Darcy Skish, and Nicholas Paufler were worked hard all night patrolling the blueline, doing a great job despite double shifting every second shift. Up front, the Paget/Hinks/Ferguson line contributed 15 points on the 5 goals. The second line of Day/Daniel/Gilbert was held off the scoresheet but had their share of quality opportunities as well. It cannot be underestimated how important Dejonghe's performance was as well, with his glovehand being red hot.

It's fair to say their final game is must win, as they get a rematch versus the Berserkers on Thursday, July 22nd at 8:15pm at West.

The Bullies relentless march up the standings continued with their fourth win in a row, now 6-1-1 in their last 8. This time it was the Usual Suspects who couldn't deny the Bullies in a very closely fought 2-1 final. It was a cleanly played and tight game with both teams clearly wanting the win - certainly one of the best matches of the year in that regard. In the end, though, the Bullies got the job done and earned a very valuable couple of points. The playoff race is heating up with only 5 games remaining and there is no margin for error now with at least half of the playoff spots up for grabs.

The Usual Suspects played a strong game, especially in the opening period where they largely dominated for the first half of the frame. The Bullies looked a bit out of sync to start as they struggled to find their rhythm, with Andy Dejonghe keeping them in it while they found their legs. As the game wore on, the play started to even out but not before the Usual Suspects got on the board first, putting in a screened pointshot just after a faceoff for a 1-0 lead with just over 6 minutes remaining in the period. The lead would be short lived, though, as the Bullies drew their only man advantage of the game and took full advantage. After a slick passing play, Darryl Paget blasted one through the Suspects keeper, trickling through the other side, sending the game to the intermission all squared up at 1-1.

Things really started to open up for the Bullies in the second half as they began to press the attack. Posession and time in the opposing zone went up as they were successful at both cycling the ball as well as just dumping and chasing and making things happen. Sonny McDermott continued his own scoring streak, adding his third goal in two games on a bit of a fluke goal that still counted all the same. It was the only other goal the Bullies would need, though not for lack of trying. They controlled the pace of the game more and more, limiting the Suspects chances and supporting Dejonghe in net. They survived their own penalty kill, and even in the dying minutes with the Suspects looking to pull their keeper, kept the pressure on and ate the clock. It was another solid team effort all around with everyone having strong games once again. All the little things were being done right.

Standings wise, the Bullies will face their highest ranked remaining opponent on Thursday versus the second ranked Moose (14-3-1). Game time is 9:30pm at West.

It was with great disappointment that the Broadstreet Bullies announced the retirement of founding Bully Aron Nenninger, who's 89 goals and 100 assists in 239 games put him fifth in alltime games played and fourth in alltime points. His 28 penalty minutes over the same span demonstrated why he was a perennial Lady Byng candidate, never having taken more than 6 PIM in a single season. Nenninger is hanging up his shoes and retiring from hockey as his family had to come before his hockey career. His two-way game and his unmatched ability to pick the ball out of the air will be missed. His #18 will become the first retired number in Bullies history.

Fortunately, 'Nenny' got one hell of a send off, as a ridiculously short benched Bullies squad came up with an absolutely epic 5-2 win over Mean Machine. With late scratches coming right up to game time the Bullies were only able to field 8 players, and facing a near full bench on the other side, things were not looking optimistic from the start. A brief strategy meeting before the game set the focus and game plan, and the Bullies executed it to perfection. They are the hottest team in the division, with a 5-1-1 record in their last 7 as they continue to storm up the standings.

Jeff Pejs got key goal just past the opening minute when the Bullies were able to press the attack and Pejs was able to jam one home for the early lead. Despite the difference in numbers, the Bullies were able to set the pace and slowed the game down and were keeping the shots close. Good defensive play in their own zone kept most of the Mean Machine shots to the outside, allowing Andy Dejonghe to see everything as he had another great night. The Bullies got into a bit of penalty trouble midway through the frame with back to back minors, the second of which Mean Machine converted to even the game 1-1. James 'Sonny' McDermott was then the hero as he played his best game ever as a Bully, filling in on forward. At 5:43 he finished off the play to restore the Bullies lead, which they held through half, even after another late penalty kill.

The Bullies refused to relent in the second as they stuck to their game. Dumping the ball out when necessary, holding the line, and using their speed up front for quick transition attacks. Robbie Farhat added a little insurance early in the second as he rang a hard shot off the crossbar and in - with his goal standing as the eventual winner. The Bullies were anything but done. After the Mean Machine captain got tossed, the Bullies moved in for the kill. After three identical shots from the same spot, Jay Gilbert finally finished lifting one high on the PP to blow the game open 4-1 with 6 minutes to play. McDermott tallied his second goal, and third point on the night, with just over a minute on the clock to make it 5-1, before Mean Machine got a late one in the dying seconds to finish things off 5-2.

It was an unbelievable effort by everything in a huge, huge game. It was the Bullies first three game winning streak this season and allowed them to inch even closer to the middle of the pack. All the more impressive with the short bench, especially missing two of their top three scorers. Everyone stepped up and left nothing on the floor. Just a textbook game for the Bullies.

With the long weekend the Bullies will get a break, playing at East on Monday, July 5th with a late 9:30pm start versus the Usual Suspects. A win there would allow the Bullies to leapfrog another few teams in the standings in the push for playoff positioning.

It was with no small amount of satisfaction that the Broadstreet Bullies took down the Warriors by a 3-1 final. After their classless behavior earlier in the season as they shelled a goaltender-less Bullies squad, the Bullies were looking for some payback - and they got it, and more importantly, the two points. The middle of the standings are quite densely packed and if the Bullies can continue rolling they will have a good opportunity to move up the pack. The current record of 4-1-1 in the last six has been an excellent start on that front.

Andy Dejonghe once again led the way for the Bullies squad with a near perfect game in net, only marred by the single goal against. The Bullies offense continued to show up as well. Jeff Pejs put the Bullies ahead first as he was able to jam it in the side of the net early in the opening period. Halfway through the period, Randy Moisan's one timer found twine to put the Bullies up 2-0, with that goal standing as the eventual game winner. The Warriors did get their own chances in the first, but the Bullies matched them chance for chance and only some luck both ways kept the score so low.

The second period continued that level of play, with the short benched Warriors trying to find a stretch pass to get on the board. They eventually beat Dejonghe just passed the halfway mark, but the Bullies were able to lock things down. Cordell Ferguson added the insurance goal with under six minutes to play, with the lock running out and the Bullies picking up the 3-1 victory.

The Bullies are a much more confident team of late with some great play in both ends. That's been even more impressive with the huge amount of roster flux from game to game. Dejonghe and his blueline have been getting the job done, and with four forwards clicking at better than a point a game pace it has bought time for others to break out of their slumps and find the scoresheet.

The Bullies get another chance at a three game streak on Monday, June 28th for an 8:30pm game at the Sportsdome. They'll take on Mean Machine, and will be looking for a better result than the 4-3 loss earlier this year.

It has been an up and down season for the Broadstreet Bullies, as they've been on the wrong side of a few too many blowouts. Thus, it was all the more satisfying when they finally got their opportunity to return the favour, crushing the 3rd place Flint Tropics 9 to 4. The Bullies have had some success versus the Tropics, tying them 1-1 earlier in the season, but this was as dominant a game as the Bullies have had in ages.

The first period was a very tight affair, with the Bullies holding the scoring edge, but arguably with the Tropics having more chances. Andy Dejonghe was a rock in net and the Bullies blueline managed to keep most of the shots to the outside, but there were a few tense moments. Scoring wise, though, the Bullies came up big, with a few players finally getting the bounces that had eluded them all year. Despite fighting a cold, Aron Nenninger found the score sheet for the first time as he opened the scoring at 13:33, kicking off a four point night. Five minutes later, Cordell Ferguson made no mistakes in making it 2-0. The Tropics got a lucky break a minute later to narrow it to 2-1, but Darryl Paget continued his remarkable scoring streak to get the margin back and make it 3-1. The period scoring close with the Tropics again closing the gap at 3-2 less than a minute later.

Goals continued to come in batches in the second frame. The Bullies tried to stretch their lead again, with Paget's second of the night making it 4-2, only to have the Tropics reply seconds later. With the score 4-3, the Bullies then blew the game wide open with five goals in a five minute span. Clint Wilson notched his first, with Jeff Pejs making it 6-3, before Wilson added his second, with Jay Gilbert finding the twine, and then Pejs capping the Bullies scoring at 9-3. This seemed to completely suck the life out of the tropics as it seemed like every time the Bullies had the ball they were a genuine threat to score. They were definitely getting the bounces, but it was good hard work and smart plays that were keeping the pressure on. In the dying minutes the Tropics took advantage of a miscue to tap one home and make it a 9-4 final but the game had long since ended in all but name.

The Bullies have always been a second half team and rarely has it been more apparent than in this game. They outscored the opposition 6 to 2 in the second half and never let their feet off the gas. Scoring leaders Paget, Ferguson, and Pejs continued to do their thing, but it was equally important to see Gilbert, Wilson, and Nenninger also combine for 9 points. Dejonghe's game in net also cannot be overstated as his glovehand denied the Tropics time and time again. It was his work holding the line early that eventually gave his team the opportunity to take a stranglehold on the game. Rich Kirchener and Randy Moisan's return to the blueline was also notable, as they nicely complimented Nicholas Paufler and Darcy Skish in eating up the defensive minutes.

With that win, the Bullies record improves to 4-8-4 and leapfrog a few teams in the standings. They'll face the Warriors on Tuesday, June 22nd at 7pm at West. The Bullies will be hungry for payback after the Warriors ran the score up on them in their previous meeting, playing half the game without a goaltender.

The Broadstreet Bullies and the Carnage Canines met for the first time since a 4-3 Bullies win last winter, with the Bullies once again prevailing with a 3-2 overtime win. It was a very close game, and despite the Bullies trailing for the majority of the game they easily had the better chances throughout the game. It was a lucky bounce that finally settled the game - proving the theory that it is never a bad idea to get a shot on net.

Both teams were a bit short benched for the game, but it was an aggressive start for all involved with chances going both ways early. The Bullies had a few breakaways and a post, but a long shot eluded Andy Dejonghe to give the Canines a 1-0 lead halfway through the first. Neither team was able to find the twine, even with the Bullies having to kill a late penalty. In fact, some of the Bullies best offensive chances were on that PK, as they controlled the ball deep in the Canines zone for the first half of the kill. At the buzzer, the Bullies remained down 1-0.

The Canines capitalized early in the second on a bit of a defensive mess in the Bullies zone, extending their lead to 2-0. The Bullies attack then continued but just couldn't convert until Darryl Paget notched his team leading 12th. After all but calling the upcoming goal, Paget came on for a line change and rifled one, beating the Canines keeper cleanly to narrow the gap to a 2-1 deficit. The Bullies got a golden opportunity late in the game with a powerplay, and were unable to score, but the momentum carried through and two minutes later, Jeff Pejs outworked everyone to even the game with 2:12 remaining. They then pressed to win it in regulation but the game ended up going to overtime once again.

The overtime finisher was not exactly the perfect play that had been drawn up on the bench, but they all count the same. Darcy Skish picked up his first of the year as his low point shot deflected off a Canines player and rolled past their netminder. It was a huge two points for the Bullies on the back of another hard fought win. Dejonghe had a very strong night between the pipes and Derrick Mertz was a machine on the blue line. The Paget/Pejs/Hinks connection continues to pay dividends up front as well.

The Bullies will be looking for some payback versus the division leading, and undefeated, Dirty Hoes on Wednesday June 9th. Game time is 7pm at the South Soccer Centre. The Hoes shelled the Bullies 8-0 earlier in the season, an experience the Bullies would not care to repeat.

An explosive night for Darryl Paget led the Bullies to an 8-6 victory over the Super Troopers. It's been a disappointing first half for the Bullies with a roster that has never really settled down, but things have been looking better recently and the on ice results are demonstrating that. It was a bit of a gunfight with the two teams racking up 14 goals but overall it was one of the more in control games the Bullies have played in a while, especially after an extended losing streak.

The Bullies stunned their opponents early in the game with Jeff Pejs squeezing one by the keeper for a quick 1-0 lead. The Troopers responded on the powerplay, and then a minute later at even strength to take a 2-1 lead. Darryl Paget's five goal outburst got going as he put one away to even things up. From there, it was back and forth for the remainder of the period, with the Troopers going up 3-2, only to have Jeff Pejs notch his second of the game on a beauty of a steal, and then the Troopers sending the game to half ahead by a 4-3 margin. Despite the score, the Bullies were getting more chances - the Troopers were just capitalizing when they got the opportunity.

That all changed in the second as the Bullies found a whole other gear. Paget scored two goals 9 seconds apart early in the second to complete his hat trick and gave the Bullies a 5-4 lead. Late in the frame, Jay Gilbert made it 6-4, before Paget made it an even five as he picked up two more goals two minutes apart. The Bullies held an 8-4 lead until late with the Troopers adding two more of their own, but were unable to complete the comeback.

It was an explosive night for the top line, with Jeff Pejs filling in for Cordell Ferguson. Don Hinks had 6 assists to go with Paget's 5 goals an an assist, with Jeff Pejs tallying a pair of goals and a pair of assists. They were dominant every time they were out on the floor and were freely scoring from everywhere. The defence stepped up well, despite some miscues, as they generally kept the ball moving in the right direction. Robbie Farhat played his second game as a Bully, and despite being kept off the scoresheet, was a huge factor in the win.

The Bullies will hope to carry the momentum into their game versus the Carnage Canines on Wednesday, June 2nd. It's an early start - 6:30pm at the Sportsdome.

The Broadstreet Bullies have had a rough couple of games after an encouraging start, dropping an 8-0 decision to the Edmonton Wolfpack, followed up by a 6-2 loss to the Berserkers. A number of fundamental mistakes cost them both games, with errors at both ends of the floor being equally glaring. There is little to say about the Wolfpack game, where the Bullies were just completely outworked and were never even really in the game, but the Berserkers match was not as lopsided as the score might indicate.

The first half of the game was an absolute disaster for the Bullies, surrendering four goals with nothing to show for their own efforts. The Bullies were getting chances - sometimes even second and third chances - but just couldn't convert anything. A goal or two there might have salvaged the game, but as it was, the Bullies were down 4-0 by the break.

The second period was a bit more of an even affair. The Bullies chances were there, but their execution was lacking. An early second period goal against had them behind by five. It took a Berserker penalty halfway through the frame for the Bullies to find some life. The Bullies were able to move the ball around a little bit and open up some seams for shots, with several getting through to the net, before Nicholas Paufler teed up his first of the season and beat the goalie through a heavy screen. Finally breaking the goose egg, the Bullies tried to make a game of it with Gaetan Daniel backhanding a rebound over top of the Berserker's keeper to make it 5-2 with 6:36 remaining. That was as close as they got, though, with the final few minutes being a bit of a fire drill. The Berserkers capped the night with a breakaway goal, resulting in the 6-2 final.

The Bullies are looking for some of the confidence they had early in the season where they were shutting teams down and at least keeping it close. Lately defensive lapses and a lack of goal scoring has had a major effect on their results. Everyone is going to need to start stepping up to ensure this losing slide ends at two.

The Bullies get a week break, playing on Wednesday, May 12th at 7pm, as they host the Warriors at West.

The Broadstreet Bullies matched a season high goal output, picking up their first win of the season over the Cashstore Canadians by a 5-2 margin. It was a particularly strong outing for the Bullies and was arguably the first game this year where they truly imposed their will and set the pace all game long. Darryl Paget, Cordell Ferguson, and Hank Ford (filling in for Don Hinks) combined for 8 points, with Jay Gilbert also finding the net in back to back games. The blueline also did a stellar job, despite being undermanned, with the rookies coming up big, despite the increased icetime. Andy Dejonghe continued his high level of play, as he maintains a career best GAA at the quarter mark of the season.

The first half of the opening period was probably the closest stretch of the game as two short benched teams seemed to be trying to get a feel for how the game was going to play it. The Bullies began to put on more and more pressure as the game wore on though and eventually blew the game wide open. Hank Ford scored, unassisted, at 10:35, before the Bullies attack forced the Canadians keeper to force a play, putting the ball over the glass less than a minute later. The PP turned out to be a quick and effective one, with some strong work in front of the net put the ball on Ferguson's stick to stake a 2-0 lead. The Canadians weren't yet out of it, though, as they forced a turnover and got within one late in the frame.

The Bullies responded quickly in the second though, with Ferguson's second of the game at 17:14 to restore the two goal margin. Jay Gilbert shoveled an ugly one in at 12:37 to add a little insurance. With the clock winding down, and the Bullies up 4-1, the Canadians pressed hard to get back into the game and were rewarded when some blown coverage in front of the net let an unimpeded shot past Dejonghe. The Bullies didn't relent, though, and kept the Canadians hemmed into their own zone for the bulk of the final five minutes. A bizarre coaching decision let to the Canadians pulling their goalie with a minute left and a faceoff in their own zone. A little hot dogging of a tic tac toe play ensued, with Paget finishing it off with an empty net goal.

Special teams were a huge factor for the Bullies this game. They only got one powerplay, but made it count, and were a perfect 3 for 3 on the penalty kill - including back to back penalties at the end of the first. Aside from that, a strong effort from all involved, despite playing with just two lines.

The Bullies will face the 3-1-0-1 Edmonton Wolfpack on Sunday, May 2nd at 9:15pm as they get a chance to pull back up to .500.

The Broadstreet Bullies continued their odd start to the season, picking up their third tie in their first five games. It was a great bounce back game for a blueline that had a bit of a rough go in the previous game with all three pairings playing their lanes well and limiting chances. Andy Dejonghe also had a standout game, especially with a monstrous game saving pad save late in the game. The netminding and defensive corps managed to hold the Mad Cows to just a single goal, but despite buzzing around the net and springing a few breakaways, the Bullies only generated one goal themselves, resulting in the 1-1 tie.

The Mad Cows took the lead just before the 5 minute mark, with Dejonghe partially screened on the play. It took the Bullies 10 minutes to strike back, with Jay Gilbert finally tallying his first of the season, completing a nice passing play. There was no scoring in the second. Likewise, neither side took a penalty in what was a particularly clean and well reffed game. The overtime had a little bit of excitement but neither team got the go ahead goal and had to settle for just the single point.

The Cashstore Canadians will visit the Bullies on Thursday, April 29th at 7:45 for an early evening game at the Sportsdome.

A couple of mental breakdowns late in the game cost the Bullies their first win of the season as they fell 6-5 to Team Goodtimes. The Bullies never trailed in the game until the final minute, making the disappointment all the more noticable. It was a fast paced game and one that the Bullies could have, and should have, won.

The Paget-Hinks-Ferguson line was on fire, accounting for all 5 goals and a combined 14 points on the night. Unfortunately they were the only ones who got the job done offensively, as they continue to be the only forwards with points this season. Darryl Paget opened the scoring five minutes into the game, as the teams traded goals back and forth, with the Bullies holding a 4-2 lead until late in the first, when the Goodtimes got back within one by half.

In the second, Goodtimes evened things up early, but Paget restored the Bullies lead halfway through the period. The game was steady at 5-4 until the final two minutes. Goodtimes tied the game again with two minutes to play, before getting the heartbreaker of a goal with 30 seconds left to steal the win. It was a disappointing, though not surprising, loss for the Bullies as they never seemed to be able to fully take control of the game and put it away for good. Some miscues, missed assignments, and bad passes led to far too many Goodtimes goals.

The Bullies will get yet another chance for their first win on Sunday, April 25th at 8pm (at West) vs the Mad Cows.

Roster difficulties continue to plague the Broadstreet Bullies as they have been unable to field a full lineup this season with many starters missing games for various reasons. Despite that difficulty, they have been holding it together, and managed to draw a very tight game versus the Flint Tropics. Andy Dejonghe was easily the first star as he was lights out in the first when the Bullies were having difficulty generating any offence, and then held the fort to preserve the tie late.

The First period was mostly controlled by the Flint Tropics, though both teams found the scoresheet. The Tropics got on the board first, halfway through the period, before Cordell Ferguson got hit first of the season five minutes later. Despite the fatigue, the Bullies forwards got better as the game went on, playing strongly in their own zone as well as generating offensive rushes. The first ended with the teams tied 1-1.

In the second it seemed like the only way the game would be decided would be once one team made a mistake. Surprisingly, neither did, with both netminders make some huge saves as both sides locked it down and did their best to blunt attacks. Not even overtime could settle it, as the Bullies took the point and their second tie in the opening three games. Defensively the Bullies are getting the job done, and the goals should start coming once some bodies return to the lineup, so all in all, this is an encouraging start to the season.

Game 4 goes on Wednesday, April 21st at 7pm versus Goodtimes at the East centre.

It was one of those games that the Bullies seem to go through every season where nothing went right and mistakes cost them every time. Falling 6-0 to the Landscaping hoes, it was one of the Bullies more uninspired efforts in recent memory. Brutally short benched due to the late start time the Bullies were hurting going in and their own play did little to help that.

The Landscaping Hoes netminder was fantastic at playing the ball on dump ins and completely neutered the Bullies attack as they were rarely able to gain zone with control. Missed assignments and mixups in their own zone were also frequent - though with a number of players playing out of position it was not unexpected. Worse, the Bullies couldn't stay out of the box, losing Hank Ford to an ejection and Darcy Skish to a 10 minute misconduct further messing with the lines.

All in all it was the sort of game the Bullies would just as soon forget. They get a chance to right the ship on Sunday at 4:45 as they take on the Flint Tropics out at West.

The Broadstreet Bullies battled back from some early struggles to open their Summer 2010 season with a tie versus the Autobots. It was a very depleted Bullies lineup, missing a substantial chunk of it's regular blue line but it was a solid showing all around - at least once the rust got shaken off. Andy Dejonghe was huge in net, holding his team in the game until the new units started clicking and were able to generate some chances.

With a number of new faces it definitely took the Bullies a little while to find their legs. The Autobots pressed hard early, but were stonewalled by Dejonghe as the Bullies netminder kept them in the game. As the game wore on, things started looking better as the Bullies were able to press the attack. Gaetan Daniel and Jay Gilbert were forechecking monsters, with Darryl Paget and Don Hinks driving hard to the net, and Aron Nenninger and Clint Wilson sniping shots from all over. The scoring chances had finally started to even out, though, when the Autobots found the back of the net to go up 1-0 late in the first. They held that lead through the balance of the frame.

The Bullies had a little more confidence going into the second as they started to generate their own odd man rushes. It was Darryl Paget who scored the first goal of the season to even it at 1-1 just over 6 minutes into the second. Just seconds later the Autobots thought they had retaken the lead, but a blatant high stick called back the goal and gave the Bullies the only powerplay of the game. They got a few looks on the man advantage but weren't able to convert, and it was the Autobots who ended up ahead just past the halfway mark. Don Hinks, on a beautiful solo effort, roofed it over the sprawling Autobot goalie to tie things up with less than six minutes to play. A minute and change later, Darryl Paget gave the Bullies their first lead of the game in the final five minutes. Things seemed to be well in hand, but a scramble in front led to an own goal and a 3-3 tie in the last minute.

The Bullies were not deflated, though, and instead pressed on for the win. With a minute left in regulation, they got 4 or 5 quality scoring chances with the Autobot netminder freezing the ball repeatedly. It was more of the same when it went to overtime with several Bullies getting multiple chances to pick up the extra point. Darryl Paget nearly completed his hat trick as he had three seperate shots, collecting his own rebound each time, on a single sequence. Neither team was able to get the extra goal, so both settled for the single point.

It wasn't a perfect game for the Bullies, but it was an encouraging one. The team showed a good level of battle and improved as the game went on. Chris Talbot impressed in his Bullies debut, and former Bully Sonny McDermott returned and also impressed. This is shaping up to be a season of transition where some new faces are going to need to step up and fill the voids so things look promising.

The Bullies are back on action at the Sports Dome on Thursday, April 15th at 10:15pm vs the Landscaping Hoes.

Our Summer 2010 schedule has been posted with opening night coming on Monday, April 12th at 9:30pm at East versus the Autobots. Also, please remember to get your team fees into Jay on opening night.

The Broadstreet Bullies Winter 2009 season came to a disappointing end with a 3-2 loss to the Knowlton Gnshers in the first round of the playoffs. It was by far one of the Bullies best playoff games and it was close to the end, with the eventual game winner only coming with 30 seconds left in the game with the Bullies down a man. The best news for the Bullies is that summer season is just around the corner so they'll be right back at it shortly.

On another matter, the awards voting is completed and the results are in. There weren't many huge surprises this year but there were a few tight races, and a few ones with a lot of nominated players showing how much respect the team has for each other. But now, on to the results.

The Knowlton Gnashers beat the Rebels in OT in the last game of the regular season to finalize the standings leading into the playoffs. By stealing the extra point in OT, the Rebels were able to hold onto 4th spot, dropping the Gnashers to 5th and a first round date with the Broadstreet Bullies. Courtesy of their own regular season capping victory the Bullies pulled themselves into the 8th seed.

It's a single game elimination for the opportunity to advance to the quarterfinals as the Bullies look for their first ever playoff series win. Gametime will be 8pm on Tuesday March 23rd.

It was a must win game for the Broadstreet Bullies. With the potential of missing the 'A' playoff pool entirely staring them in the face, the Bullies bore down and got the job done with their special teams being huge factors in the victory. After losing a tough one to the Carnage Canines 4-2 earlier in the season, the Bullies responded well as this time they took down the 2nd ranked team by a 4-3 final.

The Bullies didn't get the start they wanted with a deflection just squeezing between Andy Dejonghe and the post just over a minute into the game. They then spent 8 of the next 10 minutes killing penalty after penalty and really putting the game result in doubt. The PK units stood tall though and held the line - even generating some short handed offence late in the kills. After weathering that storm, the Bullies were glad to have kept it within one. The other specialty team finally got an opportunity to go to work with 90 seconds left in the period. After a quick timeout to set things up, the Bullies got off to a great start as they got several shots through, before Aron Nenninger tied it up 1-1.

The Carnage Canines responded quickly early in the second, though, with the ball again just barely eluding Dejonghe to restore their lead. Then, oddly enough, the Canines imploded. They took 12 minutes of penalties in a 7 minute span all but gift wrapping the game for the Bullies. Hank Ford and Jay Gilbert both tallied a minute apart, the first on a 5 on 3, to even things up and then give the Bullies their first lead of the game. The short benched Canines were looking a bit fatigued after the extended kills and the Bullies were fully in control of the game with the clock winding down. Hank Ford added some much needed insurance with four minutes remaining, again blasting a shot that beat the keeper cleanly. The Canines made it interesting a minute later, getting back within one, but the Bullies ate the clock well and held on for the win.

The Bullies were perfect on the PK, not allowing a goal against on 4 chances, and went 3 for 7 on the PP. Dejonghe had a fine outing, cleanly stopping three breakaways. The blueline had an exceptional game, despite one of their best being conscriptedf or forward duty making key offensive and defensive plays all game long. All three scoring lines were also able to generate pressure. It was the perfect kind of game to end the season on and a decisive win in a key playoff setup game.

It is a short break for the Bullies with the playoffs starting on Tuesday. Game till will be either 8pm or 9pm versus (most likely) the Knowlton Gnashers or the Rebels. The schedule will be updated accordingly as soon as the final bracket is entered.

We're less than a month away from the start of the Summer 2010 season so you all know what that means. Team fees are now due. Your full $230 must be in no later than the end of April, but please get at least the first half in to Jay as soon as possible to confirm your intention to play.

The Broadstreet Bullies lost two consecutive games for the first time since the New Year with an ugly 7-2 loss to the Moose, and a strong, but not strong enough 4-2 effort versus Team Goodtimes. The match versus the Moose was a collective failure where little went right and the Bullies just got outworked from start to finish. Versus the higher ranked Team Goodtimes, though, the Bullies played hard but came up against a hot goalie.

Don Hinks was the only one to light the lamp, sniping two very similar goals. That is not to say the Bullies were not shooting, though, as they out-chanced the Goodtimes by a wide margin. There were quality first and second opportunities all over the place but the Bullies were unable to solve the keeper. It was a good effort from start to finish from the entire team with everyone stepping up with some big plays at key times.

With just two games left in the regular season, the Bullies will face their toughest matchups yet as they take on two of the top ranked teams. First up will be The Hoffs on Sunday, March 14th at 3pm.

After a disastrous loss to the AGS Kobras where little went right for the Broadstreet Bullies, they bounced back in fine form to dominate the Coolies 6-1. A few late scratches left the bench a little short in key areas, but everyone showed up to play with everyone involved offensively. With just four games left in the regular season every game is even more important withthe middle of the standings packed tightly.

The Bullies got just the start they wanted with Darryl Paget beating the Coolies netminder cleanly for a 1-0 lead just under a minute into the game. Unfortunately a fire drill of a line change hung Andy Dejonghe out to dry, letting the Coolies tie it up two minutes later. Richard Kirchener started off his monster of a game potting the game winner just before the 7 minute mark. The score stood at 2-1 Bullies for the balance of the period, but not for lack of trying. The bullies were snakebit despite crashing the net and getting multiple chances in close. Two goals were even debatably in, but could not be called definitively by the ref and were waived off.

It wasn't until late in the second when the floodgates opened, but the Bullies did add a little insurance early. Darryl Paget netted his second, and eighth of the year in the early goings to set the tone before a late powerplay sealed the deal. Clint Wilson found twine at 6:40, before Don Hinks and Gaetan Daniel also tallied 30 seconds apart to cap the night. A 6-1 win almost makes up for the disappoint 6-3 loss the previous week, and the two points were huge.

Dejonghe had another brilliant game where he wasn't challenged often, but did have to make several difficult saves at key times to keep the Coolies shut down. Aside from that it was a smart game all around with both great passing and individual plays. The D did a solid job at shutting down the attack and getting in the way and the forwards didn't let up.

With the end of the season approaching, the duration between games is getting shorter and the Bullies are back in action on Wednesday, March 3rd. They'll play the Moose at 10pm, as the Bullies attempt to move two games over .500 for the first time this season.

After an embarassing showing the previous week, the Broadstreet Bullies came out ready to play, as they lit up the AGS Kobras for 11 goals, for their most convincing win of the season. Jeff Pejs, in a season long scoring slump, got the hat trick on a four point night, with several other players having multipoint nights, as all but one player found the scoresheet. The AGS Kobras deserve credit for not quitting and playing hard to the end, but it was a night where the Bullies just weren't going to be denied.

For such a high scoring game, things actually started relatively slowly as the Bullies were getting chances but not converting. With the lines finally set after a late player arrived, though, things started clicking. Jay Gilbert broke a 9 game scoring drougt of his own, completing on the wraparound to open the scoring eight minutes in. The Kobras responded, though, with a misplay in the neutral zone eventually finding it's way behind Andy Dejonghe on a lucky, but still impressive play by the Kobras, tying the game at 1-1. It took just over a minute though for the Bullies to respond, as the flood gates opened. Hank Ford blasted one from just outside the circle, beating a screened keeper to put the Bullies ahead once again. Aron Nenninger did the dirty work in front of the net, notching the eventual game winner with under 10 minutes remaining in the first. Richard Kirchener, playing his 200th career game, picked up his first goal of the season - his 50th of his career, again, beating the goalie cleanly from the point. With the Bullies already up 4-1, Aron Nenninger dug out a point shot to add his second, before Jeff Pejs finally snapped his goalless drought with 90 seconds remaining in the half. The teams went to the intermission with the Bullies ahead 6-1.

Some penalty trouble gave the special teams a workout early in the second, though, as a couple of consecutive penalties put the Bullies down two men for a full minute, with the second penalty being 4 minutes, forcing them to kill for over 5 straight minutes. The line was held, though, with Dejonghe turning away everything that came his way. The offence then went back to work couresy of Cordell Ferguson, now a 7-1 game. Jeff Pejs roofed his second of the game to make it 8-1, but a careless penalty by the Bullies gave the Kobras another man advantage. They struck quickly, taking just 20 seconds to pick up their second of the game. With the clock winding down, the Bullies had one last offensive flurry. Jeff Pejs completed his hat trick with just over three minutes to play, and then Don Hinks made it 10-2 with two minutes remaining. Jay Gilbert added his second on an embarassing play as he took a stretch pass well offside, sullying what was otherwise a good five hole move to make it 11-2.

Absolutely nothing wrong in the Bullies effort in this one. Despite the score, they didn't let up and played hard every shift. There were no signs of bad habits and the team worked well at both ends. After being hung out to dry last game, Dejonghe was sharp once more, continuing his career season.

The Bullies will get another crack at moving up into the top tier of the standings, taking on the Knowlton Gnashers on Friday, February 19th at 8:30pm. The Bullies have played well against them in the past, and this is a huge game in terms of the playoff standings.

We finally have the complete balance of our schedule and it has been posted on the site. Of note are two weeknight 10pm games (our only two late games of the season), as well as four of our final eight games being weekend matchups. The winter 09/10 regular season will wrap up on March 20th, giving just enough time for the playoffs before the summer season starts on April 5th.

Riding a three game winning streak, the Bullies faced their toughest test thus far versus the Super Troopers. It was a battle for 7th place, with the Bullies continuing their climb up the standings. Even with some adversity brought on by some disputed calls, the Bullies dug deep to earn their hardest fought win of the season.

It was a rough start from even before the opening whistle, with a ref calling an equipment foul on the Bullies, sending Andy Dejonghe to the dressing room before the ball had even dropped. Unable to call their timeout until the play had officially started, the Bullies were forced to play well over a minute without a goalie. They held the line, though, keeping the ball deep, before eventually a stop in the play allowed Dejonghe to return between the pipes. The scramble to start got the Bullies a bit confused, though, allowing the Super Troopers to open the scoring just under 3 minutes into the period. Their lead did not last long, though, with the Bullies scoring one of their more unconventional goals. Scott Gervais, mired in a season long scoring slump, continued his stellar play of late as he busted in alone and shoveled the ball in one handed up and over the Troopers' keeper to knot the game at one a piece two minutes later. The Super Troopers retook the lead just before the halfway, but again, the Bullies countered. Darryl Paget blasted one home to even the game up with 9 left in the half. It was then Hank Ford who gave the Bullies their first lead, converting in the final five minutes of the first to put the Bullies up 3-2. The back and forth continued, though, as the Super Troopers once again got back on the board in the final minute.

The first period was a battle from start to finish, featuring six goals. Despite the second only having a single goal, it was just as tough a period. Both teams had their chances, both at even strength and on the powerplay, but despite some tense moments neither team seemed to be able to take the lead. It seemed like the Bullies caught a break halfway through the period when one of the Troopers top scorers got called for 2+10. The Bullies couldn't convert on the man advantage, but it did keep a scoring threat off the ice for the remainder of the period. They did get a second man advantage, though, in the final 5 mintes a second powerplay got the job done. Hank Ford and Darryl Paget broke in on a 2 on 1, with Ford choosing the shot instead of the pass, beating the goalie cleanly to restore the Bullies lead, 4-3. It was then a matter of killing the clock, and then killing a late delay of game penalty and holding on with the goalie pulled. It was a rock solid kill, though, capped by a glorious sliding save by Dejonghe.

The Bullies are finally rolling along well with all of the lines clicking and playing to their potential. Goal droughts are being snapped and all of the lines are looking like threats to score.

A chance to go for five straight is just a week away versus the 3-7-0-1 Raging Bulls. Despite their record, the Bulls have wins over 2 of the top 5 teams so should not be taken lightly. Gametime is 7pm on Friday, February 5th.

The Broadstreet Bullies extended their winning streak to three with a decisive victory over their longtime foes, The Rebels. It was another defensively strong game for the Bullies, but even more importantly, it was the first time the offence has been able to break out since the start of the season. Even scoring five goals, the Bullies had even more great chances as all three lines threatened all game long. It was easily the Bullies most dominant performance of the season.

That being said, the game did not start well. A little bit of confusion and some missed assignments led to an early 1-0 Rebels lead, just over a minute into the game. The Bullies responded accordingly though, as that instantly got the entire team into the game. The offensive chances started coming off the backs of some great work by the Bullies blueliners to hold the line and keep the pressure on. Hank Ford rifled one home off of a turnover to draw the game to even with 18:28 remaining in the first. The Bullies continued to look dangerous and came close on a few chances before Clint 'Pops' Wilson took the lead. It was a beautiful tic-tac-toe play with Wilson standing alone, slapping one home from just outside the crease. Don Hinks then set a Bullies franchise record with a third consecutive game winning goal in the final 5 minutes of the period. The Rebels called their timeout, but weren't able to muster much of an attack, so the Bullies held onto their 3-1 lead going into the break.

The Bullies did not sit back though and continued to press the attack into the second. The forecheckers were winning every race and battle, and the D held the line so well the time on attack was heavily skewed in the Bullies favour. Cordell Ferguson added a little insurance thanks to his three point night, finishing off another tic-tac-toe play. The Rebels crawled back within two, beating Dejonghe on a long shot after a long period of inactivity with 8 minutes to play, but the Bullies responded immediately. Hank Ford tallied his second of the game, capping the score at 5-2. There was one final bit of excitement, with Dejonghe making a very dramatic sliding pad stack to eliminate any chance of a late comeback for the opposition.

It was a rock solid effort all around as the Bullies completely neutralized the 7-1-1-1 Rebels. The Rebels really only got their chances off of mistakes by the Bullies, and teammates were covering for each other so well there were rarely any moments of panic. It was also very good to see some of the Bullies guns firing again, with multipoint nights from 4 players. Perhaps it is no coincidence that one of their most complete games was on the first game in ages featuring three full lines.

It's another 10-day break before the Bullies get another match versus the 5-3-2 Super Troopers. Gametime is 9pm on Friday, January 29th.

The Broadstreet Bullies brought another strong defensive effort, as Andy Dejonghe backstopped them to a 2-1 regulation win over the RC Connection. Goals are not plentiful for the Bullies of late, but they continue to shut down the opposing offence and get the goals when they need them. This is just the Bullies first pair of back to back wins, and more impressively, came against a team with only a single regulation loss so far.

The Bullies went with three all new lines for this game with a number of key players missing. The struggle to get quality shots and second chances continued, but all three lines did have a number of great shifts in the first period where they were able to sustain pressure. The Pejs/Draginda/Day line especially had a very notable shift late in the first where they nearly capitalized a few times. The shots were relatively close though as the clock wound down, but the Bullies found themselves short handed on a very close high sticking the ball penalty to Don Hinks. The Bullies nearly killed it off, but in the final 30 seconds, a Connection player narrowly beat Dejonghe on a redirection from the side of the net, sending the Bullies to the break down 1-0.

The goal against definitely ramped up the emotion for the Bullies as they wanted to get one back for their netminder quickly, and it was Randy Moisan who made it happen. His point shot beat the Connection keeper from near the blue line to even the game 1-1 just under 5 minutes into the second. Defensively, the Bullies gave up almost nothing for the remainder of the game as the Connection team, despite their longer bench, seemed to be slowing down a bit. Still, neither team was able to draw ahead, with the game seemingly destined for overtime, when the Bullies took another penalty with under 5 minutes to play. A textbook perfect penalty kill shut them down though and gave the Bullies all the momentum heading into the dying minutes. With under two minutes to play and an offensive zone faceoff, the Bullies called a time out to try and set things up. It was a lost draw, but it did not matter, as Don Hinks repeated his heroics from the previous game, once again stealing the ball on a turnover and blasting it home. There were a few hairy moments after that, with the Connection goalie pulled for the extra attacker, but the Bullies kept the crease clear and held on for the win.

This was a much needed win for the Bullies, as they move just one game under .500. Dejonghe's netminding has been nothing less than superb in the last 7 games as he's done everything in his power to keep his team in the games. If the offence could get going a little more some of the pressure might get taken off of him, but timely goal scoring has been the key of late as well.

The Bullies will face another longtime rival on Tuesday, January 19th at 7pm versus the Rebels. The Rebels are 6-1-1-1 through their first 9, but the Bullies have had great success against them in the past so it should be another competitive game.

The Broadstreet Bullies finally got another notch on the win column after a few weeks of solid play where they were just not being rewarded for their efforts. It was a big 3-2 overtime win over the Piranhas, and a couple of valuable points in the standings. The Bullies brought another stellar defensive effort, with Andy Dejonghe leading the way between the pipes, but the sleeping giant that is the Bullies offence may be starting to wake up as well.

The first period ended up being a quiet one on the score sheet as neither team was able to break the stalemate. The Bullies were holding the line well and not allowing many offensive chances for the Piranhas, but were also unable to generate many quality chances, either. They played the patient game though and didn't try and force the play, trusting in their ability to capitalize when they had the best chances. They did get a pair of powerplays in the frame, and were able to get some shots away but were unable to finish. The game went to the break with the teams scoreless.

The Bullies were able to carry that momentum into the second, as the Piranhas took their third consecutive penalty just over 5 minutes into the frame. In the latter half of the PP, the Bullies finally struck, with Don Hinks tipping Hank Ford's point shot home for the game's opening goal. This gave the Bullies a huge boost as they started getting more odd man rushes and more controlled time in the attacking zone. Just before the halfway mark of the period, Darryl Paget made it a 2-0 lead as he was rewarded for his strong play through the neutral zone. The Bullies held their two goal margin until late in the game when they took a pair of penalties. The PK units killed off the first with ease, and almost finished off the second one before a Piranha player was able to bat the ball out of the year with 5 seconds left on the kill. Two minutes later, they evened the game at two as a bit of a breakdown after a faceoff caught the Bullies running around a bit. Despite coughing up the lead, the Bullies showed no fair as they went back on the attack. A late powerplay opportunity almost sealed the deal, but the game went to overtime with the game knotted at two.

It was Don Hinks, potting his second of the game, as the overtime hero as he intercepted the ball on a turnover and wired it home to seal the win with a minute left on the clock.

After a rough start where the team wasn't clicking well and was giving up too many goals against, Dejonghe has settled in fantastically well in net. He has a sterling 2.33 GAA in the last six games and the team has been playing some of their best defensive hockey in years. Goals have been scarce lately, but there are signs that some players are ready to break out of their slumps, and if so, the Bullies will be well poised to make a charge up the standings.

The Bullies play their third game in 9 days on Sunday, January 10th at 10pm vs the 5-1-2-1 RC Connection.

Our game versus the Carnage Canines on Sunday, November 13th has been postponed due to heating issues at the rink. As soon as we have an update on when the game has been rescheduled to it will be posted here.

It was a tough and physical battle, but the Broadstreet Bullies and the Hoffs opened up their retiered schedule with a 1-1 draw. It was a very tightly checked game by both teams without a huge number of quality chances for either side, but both goaltenders were very solid and held the line to keep the game close.

The Bullies were a few men short due to illness, along with a few other players playing either sick or banged up, so the lines weren't ideal but they still played an excellent defenzive game. Also, down to just two D-pairs for the match, all four 4 defencemen were rocks at taking away the shots and holding the line. Andy Dejonghe had yet another lights out night in net, as he probably could have pitched a shutout were it not for a weird bounce after an ugly line change.

With such a lower scoring game, it did take a while for the teams to get on the board, but when they did, both goals happened quickly. The Bullies took the lead in the latter part of the first as Don Hinks picked up his first of the year, tucking one home with his linemates crashing the net. Unfortunately, the Hoffs struck back just over two minutes later as Dejonghe thought he had the ball frozen only to have it trickle loose with nobody nearby to sweep it away.

The Bullies are 1-1-1 in their last three, but the effort level has been there every night and the team seems to be rounding into shape. With the newly retiered division, the Bullies will need to start racking up some wins to start moving up the standings but they are well positioned to dos o now that they have found their game.

They'll try for their third win of the season on Sunday, December 13th at 5pm as they take on the 4-0-1 Carnage Canines.

The first two games of the retiered schedule are now posted. We don't play again until December 8th, but then we play later on in the same week on December 13th.

In their first meeting in a couple of years, the Broadstreet Bullies came from behind to retake the alltime series lead 4-3 over the Karachi Vice. The victory returns the Bullies to .500 through the retiering round, with game #5 going next week. It was a very strong effort for the Bullies and a great bounce back game after the beating they took last week.

The lines were a bit mixed up with a number of players out, forcing the Bullies to move rookie defenceman Shane Day to forward to fill out the lines. Darren Lamble also dressed in his first game as a Bully and made a great first impression as a centre. The whole game was a bit of a penalty filled mess, with some bizarre calls going both ways throughout the game, as both teams had more than a few calls they'd dispute. Unfortunately for the Bullies, the penalty trouble cost them as they gave up a pair of powerplay goals in the first 10 minutes to dig a bit of a hole, despite, overall, playing quite well. When they did finally get a man advantage of their own, though, they quickly capitalized. With some good ball movement they were able to setup a cycle and get a few point shots through, before Aron Nenninger tipped one home to get his team within one with just over 5 minutes remaining in the first. The first period ended with the Bullies down by a goal, but feeling confident.

That confidence continued into the second, despite the deficit, as they seemed to be playing with a bit more poise. The team was patient, waiting for their chance rather than panicing, as they were consistely able to break out smoothly thanks to some good team defence. Darren Lamble evened the scores at 2-2 just over 10 minutes into the second, continuing the comeback. The Bullies were unable to convert any of their powerplays in the second, but they didn't need to when defenceman-turned-Holmstrom Shane Day found himself alone in the goal crease and tapped one home to take the lead with the eventual game winner with 7 minutes to play. The Bullies then held the line, fending off a late Karachi Vice powerplay to preserve the lead. In the dying seconds, with Karachi netminder pulled for the extra attacker, Don Hinks outworked his opponent on the boards and broke into the zone, dropping a pass to Cordell Ferguson who made no mistake in burying the insurance goal with 1.5 seconds remaining.

The Bullies battle through the adversity of a string of penalties, including an extended 5 on 3, with Andy Dejonghe being exceptional between the pipes to keep his team in the game, at least until the goal scoring machine woke up, with four seperate players tallying. It was a big win for the Bullies who needed a bit of a confidence boost after a couple of losses, not just for the two points, but also for how well they played as a team in both zones.

The retiering round closes out on Saturday, November 28th for a 3pm start vs the undefeated 4-0-0 Cobra Kai.

A few last minute scratches left the Bullies short benched, especially on the blueline, where there were also a few injuries being nursed. Still, it was a decent effort, despite the loss, with a three goal rally showing some good determination from the Bullies. Richard Kirchener and Scott Gervais both got their first games of the eason, with Richie having a solid game on the blueline, and Scottie having one of his best defensive games ever.

Things actually looked decent for the Bullies in the early goings of the first with a few solid shifts to start things off. That carried through until Jay Gilbert was able to tally on a nice wraparound and tucked it just inside the post for the go ahead marker. Unfortunately it took the Moose a mere 45 seconds to even the game up. Seemingly finding their legs, the Moose amped up the pressure and were able to hem the Bullies in on several shifts, but the Bullies held the line until late in the first. With just over three minutes remaining the first, the Moose took the lead. Worse, they kept the pressure up, drawing an interference penalty just as the whistle blew to end the first half.

Starting the second on the PK, the Bullies got a huge emotional lift with a spectacular kill, with Scott Gervais leading the way. Some excellent stick work kept turning the Moose away at the line again and again as the penalty was killed off with ease. The pressure kept up though, as they were able to convert on two chances to extend their lead to 4-1 early in the second. The Bullies started to right the ship, though, with Clint Wilson picking up his first of the year to start the comeback. Aron Nenninger, the third of the three linemates, closed the gap to one with under 9 minutes in the period. A careless high sticking the ball penalty finally gave the Bullies the man advantage, though, and it did not take long to make it count. After some excellent cycling and a few shot/tip attempts, Darryl Paget hammered one home to even the game at 4-4 with 6:18 to play. Both teams had opportunities to retake the lead, but the Moose eventually scored the game winner in the final 3 minutes to retake the lead, 5-4. They added an empty net to finish it off 6-4.

It was another imperfect game, but the signs are good for the Bullies this season with a lot of players stepping up their game. With a little fine tuning and improved own-zone play the Bullies should be able to cut down on their goals against, as obviously their goal scoring has not particularly been a problem.

Game 3 goes on Saturday, November 14th with an early 3pm start versus the Regime.

The Winter 2009 Broadstreet Bullies lineup features the same core that has been there since the beginning, with a number of players returning for another stint including Hank Ford, Jeff Pejs, Don Hinks, and Cordell Ferguson. Also, the blueline is bolstered by the addition of Shane Day and Simon McNeil. Opening the season in the newly opened (but still under construction) Edmonton Sports Dome the Bullies managed to open the season with an all important win, even if they very nearly gave the game away.

The Bullies did get the start they wanted, at the very least. Despite not playing in over 3 months and trying to re-integrate 5 players back into the roster, the Bullies didn't miss a beat. All three lines were generating scoring chances early and the D pairings seemed to be holding the fort. It took just under four minutes to open the scoring with Hank Ford firing one of his patented blasts. Nearly five minutes later, the Piranhas evened the scoring as they scored their first of the season, but the Bullies weren't done. Jay Gilbert responded a few minutes later to restore the lead, and then with under seven remaining in the first, newly signed blueliner Simon McNeil continued another Bullies tradition of rookies lighting the lamp in their first game. The game went to intermission with the Bullies ahead by a 3-1 margin.

The scoring by comittee continued in the second with a couple of quick Bullies goals. Aron Nenninger roofed one just 19 seconds into the second, before Gaetan Daniel made it a 5-1 game before the second was even four minutes old. Unfortunately, some bad old habits started creeping into the Bullies game. With their opponents short benched, rather than pressing the attack, the Bullies let their foot off the gas and paid the price as they got caught standing still a little too much. The Piranhas got closer with a 5-2 goal, before Darryl Paget, after promising a goal in the intermission, restored the four goal margin a minute later. Unfortunately, the wheels fell off the bus a little bit for the Bullies as they surrendered three unanswered goals in the first half of the second period. Clinging to a 6-5 lead and back on their heels, disaster struck with the tying goal in the final 3 minutes. The Bullies did hold on though, despite some tense moments and were able to stick around for overtime.

Fortunately, the Bullies overall superior play won out as Jay Gilbert tallied his second of the night 22 seconds into the extra frame. It could have been a highly disappointing, almost Oilers-esque collapse, but experience won out with the Bullies hanging on.

Some errors can be forgiven because it was the first game back, but the Bullies will need to remember that nothing comes easy and that you can't take a single shift off, let alone an entire period. With any luck it is a reminder that will stick with them as they go into game two next week.

Game two goes at 5pm on Saturday, November 7th versus the Moose.

We have a practice booked on Sunday, October 25th at 11am at the Sportsdome. We're hoping to get as much of the team out as possible, especially the new guys, before the season starts next week. Please RSVP on the forum.

Our Winter 2009 schedule has been released and we're now just one short week away from starting our 12th regular season. There are a lot of returning players as well as a few new faces, both full and part time, to round out the roster. The season will start with a five game retiering round, after which it looks like the balance of the season schedule will be released. For the retiering round, it's one game a week, and conveniently enough they are all Saturday afternoon games. The schedule can be found both on the BHE Site as well as on our own.

Also please don't forget to get your team fees into Jay as soon as possible.

The 2009 Summer season was full of ups and downs for the Broadstreet Bullies. It was very much a year of transition as while the veteran core remained, there was huge turmoil in the roster due to injuries, scheduling delays and so on. This is also the first season that the Bullies have not had a single player who played the entire season. This was their worst regular season finish since Summer 2005 but there is always the chance to make a run in the playoffs which will pick up this Sunday.

That all being said, the awards feature a few surprises this year where the voting was very close in several categories.

After a disappointing loss driven largely by an inability to stay out of the box at key times, the Broadstreet Bullies got back in the win column with their first shutout of the season. It has been a huge turnaround for the Bullies and their trouble season as they finally have gotten back to the teamwork and defensive awareness that led them to a five game winning streak earlier in the year. Their 2-0 win over a short benched Heat squad was more of the same as they played the game exactly as required to pick up a pair of valuable points and hold onto a playoff spot.

Recognizing how tired the Heat players were going to get the Bullies came out quickly and were moving the ball around well. Only some excellent netminding by the Heat keeper prevented the Bullies from opening the scoring up early. With the Bullies a little light on bodies themelves, both lines were still looking decent, even with a pair of forwards playing defence for the night. The Bullies' keeper, Andy Dejonghe, has been exceptional through the last few games and absolutely earned the shutout when he was challenged. Neither team could find the twine by the end of the first, even with each team getting a late man advantage.

In the second, though, the Bullies slightly fresher legs started to give them a little more room and their barrage of point shots finally paid off. Jay Gilbert got a solid tip on a Derrick Mertz shot to redirect it home for the game winner early in the second. Mertz popped in his first goal of the season, continuing a streak of blueline goals of late, as he blasted one cleanly past the Heat keeper with 8 minutes to play. The Bullies penalty killers then got put to work after an accidental high stick put them in the box for four minutes straight, though they did catch a break when a Heat penalty in the second minor made it 4 on 4 hockey. They were able to maintain their discipline otherwise and kept the shots to the outside as they killed off the clock.

It was encouraging to once again see the Bullies playing loose, smart hockey and getting their jobs done at both ends. If they were going to peak during the season, the leadup to the playoffs was the perfect time. Dejonghe's stellar play between the pipes has been no small part of it, but everyone has really stepped their games up when it matters most. And now, with some injured players possibly returning to the lineup soon, things are looking quite promising for the playoffs.

It was en embarassing 4-1 loss to the Electric Dream Machine that finally woke the slumbering Bullies out of their funk, ending the ten game slide on the very next game, so the Bullies will be hungry for vengenace as well as a chance to clinch a playoff spot. Game time is 8:15pm on Tuesday, July 21st at 8:15pm for our final regular season game at East.

After an absolutely brutal stretch of games, arguably the worst in Bullies history, that saw them lose ten consecutavie games, morale was low and absolutely nothing seemed to be going their way. Especially after losing a couple of games to the handful of teams behind them in the standings, the Bullies went from a comfortable first seed to barely holding on to a playoff berth. As has been the case in the past, though, the Bullies can rise to the occassion when facing tough opposition and they certainly did so last night. The Carnage Canines were sitting tied for third place in the tightly packed top half of the division, and had already shut out the Bullies 4-0 once this season. Despite having just two lines, though, the Bullies showed up in a big way for a well deserved win that should bode well for the final stretch of the season.

Again, injuries and the late release of the schedule continued to play havoc with the Bullies roster as they were only able to dress ten players, with several key components missing from the lineup. It didn't seem to negatively affect them, though, as they got off to a decent start. The Canines, however, were playing very aggressively, likely attemptign to bury the Bullies early and take them out of the game. Running a very deep forecheck they were able to get on the board first courtesy of a fluke goal that deflected in from behind the net. The Bullies were not to be denied tonight, though, and they were able to take advantage of the open spaces with Jay Gilbert breaking free and evening the game just over a minute later. It was an instant response on the back of hard work play by that entire line. A weak slashing call put the Bullies down for four minutes midway through the first, allowing the Canines to capitalize and retake the lead, but the Bullies were still looking confident on the floor. They were effectively countering the forecheck and counterattacking themselves quickly, taking advantage of their own odd man rush opportunities. Still, they weren't able to even it up by half.

It did not take long in the second for the Bullies to get the chance they needed. After getting their own four minute powerplay, they took advantage in a matter of seconds with some crisp passing finding Nicholas Paufler open at the point, who's screened shot beat the keeper cleanly. The second half of the powerplay was not as effective as the Bullies couldn'g get the breakout they wanted, but shortly after it ended, they finally took the lead. Darryl Paget's line was a force all night and finally converted, with Paget one-timing a bouncing pass to make it a 3-2 Bullies lead. Things could have been a little hairy after that, as the Bullies once again went on the penalty kill, but a lack of discipline from the canines mostly evened thigs up, though filling the boxes notably. The Bullies held the line, even against with the extra attacker on the floor and got a very much needed win.

After a stretch where nobody was particularly happy with their game it was an excellent team effort where everybody was definitely playing well. Andy Dejonghe, having served his suspension, returned between the pipes and had what was probably his best game of the season. Both defensive pairings worked very well, with some players bouncing back after rough outings recently, and both forward lines seemed to be clicking and playing to their strengths. Good intensity all around and a reminder to every team that if you don't battle every shift you are not going to win.

The tightly compressed schedule continues on Sunday for a 1:30pm matinee versus the top ranked Mean Machine, for the first of three consecutive games at East.

As the Bullies continue sliding on a bit of a losing streak, they were unable to close out the Mad Cows, eventually falling 4-1 and extending their winless streak to 4. The score was not entirely indicative of the closeness of the game and it was really only a brief period early in the second where the Bullies let up a bit and let the game slip away.

The first period was near picture perfect for the Bullies, and was easily the best frame they've played in quite a while. Everything was working well and the Bullies were able to sustain some good pressure while maintaining control in their zone. Darryl Paget scored a nifty goal as Gaetan Daniel stole the ball and made a beauty pass to Paget as he beat everyone to move in unupposed and beat the Mad Cows keeper for a 1-0 lead. The Mad Cows would eventually tie it up late in the first, but overall, the Bullies had the better chances of the first.

Early in the second, things weren't so pretty. Stuck killing a four minute penalty, the Bullies killed off the first half, before a bad angle shot eluded Darcy Holden to give the Mad Cows their first lead. They extended their lead to 3-1 shortly thereafter, before the Bullies were able to find their legs again and start exerting some pressure. The final 10 minutes of the game was better and closer to their play in the first, but the Bullies just couldn't get another goal. Paget had another chance on the breakaway and barely missed getting his shot away.

There is little to be discouraged about for the Bullies as even in their losses they are improving. The divisional parity this year is very strong and easy games are few and far between. With a short bench and a goalie who hadn't played in a month it wasn't an auspicious start but the Bullies did a lot of very good things. Darcy Holden, returning to the Bullies fold in a backup capacity, had an exceptional game as well, and looked much sharper than his layoff would have you assume.

The best news for the Bullies is that a mere 22 hours after their loss, they get another crack at the Marauders in the first back to back game in franchise history. Game time is 8:15pm at West.

The Broadstreet Bullies fell prey to a pair of Mean Machine's snipers and a rare off day by Andy Dejonghe in net, as they lost by a 10-5 final. It just wasn't the Bullies night as they got caught chasing the ball a little too much against a couple of players that were quite adept at finding gaps to shoot through. Combined with some bad bounces and missed chance it was just an ugly effort all around.

The game got off to a miserable start, with Mean Machine short benched but still able to pot a goal in the first minute. Jay Gilbert evened it up a minute later, but the Bullies then proceeded to surrender four straight goals before the end of the first half. Almost all of the goals against were identical, one shot goals either right in or ringing in off the bar.

The second period began almost the same way as the first, though this time, the Bullies coughed up a short handed goal just 30 seconds in, to get down 6-1. Again, Jay Gilbert responded though, popping in his second on the powerplay. John Hollinger make it 6-3 a mere 15 seconds later to give the Bullies a little false hope, but things went from bad to worse after that. Mean Machine added another three goals by the halfway mark through the second for a 9-3 lead. Clint 'Pops' Wilson and Jay Gilbert, completing his hat trick, each scored late in the frame to make it marginally more respectible, before a goal in the final minute made it the eventual 10-5 final.

Things haven't gone the Bullies way the last two games as they've gotten into the trap of trying to play their opponents game. Defensive zone coverage also hasn't been as good, so they'll need to simplify their game and stop chasing if they want to get back to their winning ways.

There is one final game before a lengthy layover preceeding a 3 games in 5 nights stretch. That game goes this Friday, June 5th, at 9:30pm versus the first place Mad Cows.

The Broadstreet Bullies five game winning streak came to a screeching halt as they were shut out by the Carnage Canines 4-0. Not a lot went the Bullies way, as they were never able to convert any of their grade A scoring chances, and got victimized badly on slight miscues on all of the goals against. It was definitely one of those nights where they didn't get a fortuitous bounce all game.

It was another up-tempo game, with the Canines aggressively forechecking all game long and being both skilled and a little bit lucky at breaking up plays i nthe neutral zone. They eventually converted that into the first goal of the game late in the first, before popping in three more, the last on a powerplay, through the second. All in all there weren't too many things to be excited about for the Bullies so they'll need a big rebound game next game.

The second run through the schedule begins on Tuesday with a rematch versus Mean Machine. The Bullies beat them in the season opener, and with them just a point ahead in the standings, this is a significant game. Game time is again 7pm, but back at East for the next three.

The surging Broadstreet Bullies improved their season record to 6-3-0 with a 3-1 victory over the Electric Dream Machine. Currently riding a five game win streak, the Bullies continued to inch closer to the top of the standings. Despite the heat, it was a very quick game, especially the first half, with very few whistles slowing the play. The Electric Dream Machine did their best and rode a very hot goaltender, but the Bullies were able to keep the attack up for most of the game and picked up the win.

The first half of the game was a very dominant one for the Bullies, at least in terms of time in the attacking zone. They were able to keep posession for nearly the entire first half of the first period, including a powerplay where they kept the Dream Machines hemmed in for the entire duration. With so much time in the attacking zone, the period went by very quickly, with the Bullies holding the edge on shots but unable to get the opening goal.

It did not take long in the second half, though. Just 29 seconds in, Aron Nenninger, with two defencemen draped over him, took a pass and drove it home to put the Bullies up by one. The Electric Dream Machine stepped their game up a bit, though, and were actually able to generate some chances before they were able to convert on one. A bad pass turned into a 3 on 2 rush and a bad angle shot that just eluded Andy Dejonghe. It was the only goal that would slip past him in another game dominated by his glove hand. The Gilbert/Nenninger/Wilson line once again struck to give the Bullies lead just before the halfway mark, with Gilbert shooting five hole and then picking up his own rebound to stuff it home. The Bullies PK was then put to work, killing off two minors in the following five minutes, but they held fast and held the lead. With 90 seconds left in the game, Darryl Paget added some insurance as he received a beautiful pass from Randy Moisan and broke in alone to make it a 3-1 game. After that, Dream Machine pullled their netminder to try to get back within one, but were held at bay.

There has been a little bit of everything on this five game winning streak, but the common factors have been excellent team play, adaptability, and timely scoring. Tonight, perfect penalty killing and absolute dominance in the faceoff circle were also key parts in the win. Despite being short benched, the four Bullies defenders did an excellent job. Dejonghe's goals against has been an exceptional 1.80 through the last five as well, also a huge part. With balanced scoring from the forwards, the Bullies offence has also been very hard to shut down.

The Bullies get an opportunity to take the game winning streak lead on Thursday versus the Carnage Canines (5-2-1). Gametime is 7pm with another visit to West.

It has taken almost a third of the season, but the Bullies offence finally got a chance to open the floodgates and let Andy Dejonghe breathe a little easier in net. This was a textbook example of the Bullies completely running the table and dictating the flow of the game. It was a slow start, but the Bullies finished strong for a very convincing 7-2 win, extending their win streak to four and improving to 5-3-0 on the season.

Two Bullies who had been held goalless through the first third of the season finally got a chance to break out tonight, though it took the bulk of the first period for the lamp to start lighting. The Bullies pressure and ability to keep the ball in play got progressively better as the game went on, and late in the first, they started converting. First, Gaetan Daniel scored his first of the season to make it 1-0. Just over a minute later, Clint Wilson tallied to put the Bullies up by a pair. With just seconds left in the first, the Bullies missed an opportunity to clear the zone, allowing the Mammoths one final rush during which they were able to put the ball behind Dejonghe to get back within one.

Unfortunately for the Mammoths, that was as close as they'd get. The Bullies cranked the heat up in the second and didn't take long to get back to finding the net. Darryl Paget picked up another game winner just seconds into second as he was sprung for a perfect breakaway by Randy Moisan, deking backhand and lifting the ball into the net. With the Bullies already up 3-1, Jay Gilbert finished another rush initiated by Derrick Mertz who was pinching in deep to make it a 4-1 lead. Another rare ugly play in the Bullies zone culminated with them putting it in their own net to narrow the gap back to 4-2, but the Bullies weren't done. Jay Gilbert added his second of the night with ten minutes left, scoring from behind the net. Then on a Bullies powerplay, Nate Draginda also notched his first of the year, one timing a slap pass home. Darryl Paget iced the cake with his second of the night a minute later, making it a 7-2 final.

The Mammoths put up a good clean fight, but this was a night when everything was going the Bullies way on the back of hard work and team play. The defence was exceptional at shutting things down in their own zone, starting breakouts, and holding the line to keep attacks going. The forwards were all flying back defensively and cycling the ball impressively. Dominant on the dot, and supported by more excellent netminding by Dejonghe, the Bullies couldn't have asked for much more tonight.

The Bullies get a chance to make it five in a row on Sunday, May 23rd with a game versus the bottom seeded and winless Electric Dream Machine. Game time is 5:15pm for the Bullies first game at West in quite some time.

In probably their toughest and most hard fought win of the season, the Bullies extended their winning streak to 3, climbing back above .500, as they took down the Dirty Old Bastards 4-3. Nothing came easy this game and every Bullies goal came through nothing less than will and determination crashing the net. Andy Dejonghe was also brilliant in net, holding the fort when the Bullies were being pressed by a relentless forecheck. Despite playing a strong team, the Bullies never fell behind and it was a much appreciated win for the boys in orange.

Early on in the first, the Bastards were generating more scoring opportunities off of a fierce attack. The Bullies got caught running around a bit, forcing Dejonghe to be sharp to keep the game scoreless. Eventually the Bullies got their transition game going and were able to start counterattacking on some crisp breakouts. There was only eight minutes left in the first half when the deadlock was finally broken, with Darryl Paget picking a bouncing rebound out of the air, up and over the keeper for a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, the Bastards responded quickly as they evened it up just two minutes later - and that's how things stood at the break, even with the Bullies taking a late penalty in the period.

The second period featured a bit more in the way of scoring action. The Bullies retook the lead early in the second as Richard Kirchener just wouldn't be denied as he was able to bang loose a rebound after a spectacular save by the Bastards netminder. That put the Bullies ahead 2-1, until just before the halfway mark of the second when the game again got tied up. With just under five minutes to play, the Bullies finally managed to stretch out a lead. First, Jay Gilbert made it 3-2, and then it was Derrick Mertz leading an end to end rush that culminated in Aron Nenninger finally tucking the ball home for a 4-2 lead with under 4 minutes to play. Things got interesting when the DOBs made it 4-3 with 2 minutes on the clock, especially when the Bullies took their fourth minor of the night with 90 seconds to play. Fortunately, they held the line, even in a 6 on 4 situation with the goalie pulled, as Scott Gervais did some excellent work on the boards to eat the clock and preserve the win.

Also of note, Darryl Paget played his 200th career game, picking up a pair of points for his efforts. The so-called "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda" line clicked for a pair of goals, with all three linemates in on each. The Bullies PK was also excellent, killing off all four, none of which were taken at opportune times in the game. All in all, it was a great character win, especially for one that kept the streak alive.

Next up will be the Mammoths at 9:30pm at East on Wednesday, May 20th. The Mammoths are just 1-6-0 on the season but with the way competition has been in the division this year, there will be no easy games. The Bullies want to keep their run going so expect them to come out flying.

The Broadstreet Bullies have continued to improve their team game over the last few weeks and they're finally getting results to go along with it. A big 3-1 win over the White Phantoms brings them back up to .500 and their first winning stream of the season. The Bullies were incredibly patient and disciplined as they continued their excellent play in their own zone. Their new defensive system is paying big dividends as they've been able to cut their goals against average substantially through the last two games.

Once again dressing a full bench, the Bullies showed the advantages of having set lines who are comfortable playing with each other. With no time wasted adjusting at the start of the game, the Bullies were able to get on the attack early, managing a few shifts of sustained pressure where they pressed the attack so long they had multiple line changes. Their best chances came midway through the first on the powerplay, as it was played in a textbook fashion. Lots of shots, tips, and rebounds, but they were turned away. The scoreless stretch finally ended up the final 5 minutes of the first half with the Lady Byng line converting first. John 'Jay' Gilbert took a nice pass from Clint Wilson to make it 1-0 heading into the break.

In the second, it was the Paget/Kirchener/Daniel line that seemed to be getting some of the best chances as they were just outworking the Phantoms, forcing turnover after turnover. They were unfortunately stymied, though not through lack of effort. From the Phantoms perspective, they started playing a much more aggressive game in the second half, looking for the long stretch pass, and often crashing the net with 3 and 4 guys at a time. The strategy worked once, as they were able to draw even, but it began to backfire as the over aggression led to a parade of penalties. With Darcy Skish drawing a holding call, it took just 34 seconds for Scott Gervais to take a couple of whacks at the ball in front and net the game winner. Less than a minute later, the Phantoms took a very undisciplined unsportsmanlike penalty after taking a bodychecking penalty, the Bullies were given a full 2-minute 5 on 3 to try and add some insurance. It took almost the entire time to get it done, but Jay Gilbert added his second of the night with 8 seconds left in the two man advantage. With just over four minutes to play, the Bullies were able to lock things down, even with a late penalty kill.

Gervais goal stood up as the winner in a 3-1 final on another stellar night by everyone. All three forward lines looked great and probably all would have had a few more goals on any other night. Likewise, all three D pairings were working perfectly together at both ends. Dejonghe didn't get tested much in net, but was fully in the zone and was not remotely at fault on the sole goal that eluded him. Solid team play continues to define the Bullies this season and it's amazing what a difference it has made in how they games are being played out.

The Dirty Old Bastards (3-2-1) are next, as the Bullies return to East for a 7pm game on Wednesday, May 13.

As has often been the case in their history, the Broadstreet Bullies love nothing more than ending team's undefeated streaks. The Super Troopers came into the game with a 5-0 record, with 34 goals for and 9 against. A late goal in their favour prevented the Bullies from ending the streak in regulation, but some great hard work got them the win in the extra frame. The Bullies played a very strong defensive game, but were also able to generate more quality scoring chances, at least in the first half. Additionally, the defence was able to shutdown the Super Troopers top scorer who was held pointless after picking up 17 goals and 20 points through the first five games.

Thanks to the tightly packed schedule of late, the Bullies were immediately able to pick up where they left off the previous game and didn't miss a beat. With the forward lines continuing to gel, especially the Gilbert, Wilson, Nenninger line, it was another strong start. Nenninger's hard work resulted in a 1-0 lead just over 7 minutes into the game. Despite coming close a few times, the Bullies couldn't extend their lead and in the final third of the period gave up the tying goal. Jay Gilbert dug out a point shot rebound though and jammed it home to make it 2-1 heading into half. The Super Troopers looked a bit slow in the first as it was a strong first half effort for the Bullies.

The second was a little less kind to the Bullies, especially as the game wore on. They got caught standing still a little bit in the second half, and combined with a couple of penalties, got back on their heels a bit. Still, they only bent but did not break as they weathered the storm. It very easily could have been a regulation win save for the Troopers tying it up with under 3 minutes to play. Neither team was able to go ahead, though, so the Bullies headed to their second overtime game this season.

In the final two minutes of overtime, the Bullies had two glorious chances to pick up the extra point - and on the second attempt, did. First, Darryl Paget almost ripped one home and then mere seconds later, setup Richard Kirchener in the same spot in the slot to pick up the game winner. It was a perfectly placed shot and a satisfying end for the Bullies afternoon.

The Bullies are still one game under 500, but handing the first place team a loss tightens the standings up a little bit. The schedule picks up again on Thursday, May 7th at 9:30pm with the Bullies taking on the 1-3-1 White Phantoms.

The Broadstreet Bullies dropped their third game in a row in another game they felt they probably should have won. They had the better chances throughout the game, but in a game full of some weird bounces, the Marauders got one more bounce going their way on the way to the win. The good news was that the Bullies played a much better defensive game, correcting a lot of the glaring deficiences from their previous loss. A little more finish around the net and the outcome could have been more satisfying for the home team.

The Bullies did look sharp coming out of the gate as they set a good tempo for the game. Despite missing their most reliable faceoff man, they did particularly well on the dot which was a huge help in taking control of the game. Despite the quality chances they'd had up until that point, it was a flub by the Marauders goalie that gave the Bullies the first goal of the game. Heading off on a line change, Scott Gervais dumped the ball in on net where it was misplayed and trickled in for a 1-0 game halfway through the first. That's how things stood for the remainder of the half.

Similarly in tyhe second, the scoring didn't start until around the halfway mark. The Marauders tied it up, and then took the lead a minute later, just after the Bullies had completed a penalty kill. Dejonghe was unfortunately the victim of some unlucky breaks in an otherwise strong game. The Bullies didn't take long to answer back, though, with Jay Gilbert picking up the rebound on a hard point shot. The Bullies just couldn't get the go ahead goal and once again got at least a little unlucky. With 6 minutes in the frame, Dejonghe made the save on a Marauder shot only to find it popping straight in the air off his toe and dropping just out of reach behind him. The Bullies did get their sole powerplay of the game in the final 3 minutes but were unable to convert, with the Marauders adding an empty net buzzer beater to close the game ahead 4-2.

The Bullies really wanted this win but it was at least as important that they were able to play a better team game. It's clear the lines still need a little more time to gel, but there was a lot more effective communication, fewer odd man rushes given up, and better man on man coverage in the defensive zone. The better play in their own zone also led to a better transition game, and once things are dialed in a little better, the offence should start clicking at a higher rate.

Next up is the undefeated 4-0-0 Super Troopers on Sunday, May 3rd at 5:15pm for another game at East.

This was definitely a game the Bullies would have liked to been able to do over. Some strong play and the beginnings of line chemistry got thrown away when a couple of minor mistakes cost them the win in overtime. It was a back and forth game all the way through with the teams trading goals, but in the end, it was the Mad Cows who got the only one that mattered.

Both teams scored a goal a piece in the first, with Darryl Paget capitalizing for his side. Much of the middle part of the frame was spent on the penalty kill though, one of which was converted by the Mad Cows. The extended penalty killing took the Bullies offensive flow away, but they started to get things back in control by the end of the first. Dejonghe was solid as usual between the pipes, especially with the crease being crowded, as he kept his team in it through the half.

Just over 5 minuets into the second, Richard Kirchener gave the Bullies the lead on a nifty play generated by some hard work by Nate Draginda. The lead didn't last long, unfortunately, with the Mad Cows responding a minute later to tie things back up at two a piece. Neither team was able to get the go ahead goal until the Bullies finally caught a break, getting their first man advantage with under five minutes to play on a high sticking double minor to the Mad Cows goalie. The Bullies couldn't score on the powerplay, but just six seconds after it expired, Tony Kudryk hammered a point shot home to put the Bullies back on top 3-2 with 34 seconds to play. The game seemed to be in the bag at this point, but with the Mad Cows goalie pulled and some ugly defensive zone coverage, they were able to tie things back up and send the game to overtime.

In the five minute extra frame, it was unfortunately a similar play that cost the Bullies even the single point. Bad coverage handcuffed Dejonghe and handed the Bullies their second loss in as many games. It was certainly disappointing as this was easily a game the Bullies should have won.

The only good news is it is they'll get an early chance at redemption as they play again on Tuesday, April 28th at 9:15pm. They'll take on the 1-3-0 Marauders at East.

Game two of the Summe 2009 regular season did not go as well as opening night for the Broadstreet Bullies as they fell by a 4 to 1 score to the Heat. There weren't too many glaring mistakes, but there were lots of little things that just didn't click for the Bullies as they were never really able to exert control over the game. Full credit to the Heat, they were a very quick team and were aggressive at getting into passing lanes and taking away options.

Defensively, the Bullies played a decent game, though ball retrieval was a problem all game. Combined with a brutal night on the dot (the Bullies missed Richard Kirchener's faceoff prowess badly) and a nearly nonexistant breakout and it just was not the kind of effort the Bullies wanted. Dejonghe had another strong game in net with his glove hand continuing to be red hot and certainly was not at fault for the loss. He surrendered one powerplay goal, another just seconds after a kill ended, and then the final 4-1 goal came with just seconds left in the game. Offensively the one bright spot was Scott Gervais' beauty of a shot on a Bullies powerplay.

The Bullies will play the 2-0-0 Mad Cows on Friday, April 24th at 8:15pm at East. That will be followed up by game four, four days later.

One last reminder to everyone to get your team fees in. Your full payment of $230 total is now due in to Jay so please bring it to the next game. For all part time players, the fee is $10 per game played and you can pay in $50 increments after you've played 5 games.

Despite losing a substantial chunk of their goal production this season, a very new look Broadstreet Bullies team opened up the summer season with a convincing 5-3 win over Mean Machine. Neither team looked particularly great in the first half, as both were attempting to find their legs, but the second frame was all Bullies as they proved they still had the ability to put up goals when they counted.

The Bullies spent much of the first period trying to get back into groove of summer hockey and the big surface, as well as adjusting to new linemates on every line. It took a bit of time for the lines to start to gel and the Bullies found themselves down a goal seven and a half minutes into the first. That seemed to be the wakeup call they needed as their game got a lot better very quickly after surrendering the first one. There was no further scoring in the first, but the Bullies started to get some chances.

The Bullies played a very patient game in the second, knowing it would take just one goal to get right back into it. Their opportunity finally came on the powerplay just over eight minutes in. Darryl Paget notched the only PP marker on the game to even things at one a piece. Clint 'Pops' Wilson, now fully recovered and back in the lineup, gave the Bullies the lead just over a minute later. The three goals in three minutes spree was then completed by Johnny Chernyk with his first goal as a Bully. Wilson extended the lead to 4-1 with under 6 minutes to play courtesy of his second of the game. Mean Machine got back within a pair as they scored a minute later to make it 4-2, but Jay Gilbert's unassisted goal with three minutes to play put the game out of reach. In the dying seconds of the game, Mean Machine did score a short handed goal after having two of their players ejected but when the buzzer went, it was a 5-3 Bullies win.

Even with the feeling out period in the first half, this was an excellent start to the Bullies summer season. Mean Machine played the Summer 2008 season in Division 7 so they were a good test for the new look Bullies. Likewise, the Bullies had three rookies dressed, another player returning from almost two seasons off due to injury, and another winter player getting his first taste of summer action. Everyone looked great, though, and there were some hints of chemistry forming between some players. It was great to see the rookies fully committing, blocking shots, making plays, and being involved at both ends of the ice. They all look to be great additions to the team, and the team is happy to have them. Andy Dejonghe also picked up his first summer win as starting goalie in a game where he wasn't called on often, but looked sharp when he was.

Due to the Easter long weekend, the Bullies have a bit of a break before game number two, which goes on Tuesday, April 14th at 9:30pm at West versus The Heat.

It's now exactly one week until our Summer 2009 gets started. We'll open up the season at the West soccer centre for a rare Sunday matinee. The first Division 10 game of the season features the Broadstreet Bullies versus Mean Machine at 11am on Sunday, April 5th.

In a nearly identical repeat of their regular season ending match versus the Metal Militia, the Bullies fell in overtime after their second consecutive epic comeback. It was a much stronger game for the Bullies as they played with a level of grit and determination that just hasn't been there more often than not through the regular season, making game two in the Bullies first ever 3-game series one to look forward to.

From the start of the game, things looked quite a bit better for the Bullies. They looked a lot more cohesive and the lines seemed to be clicking as they started racking up the shot counte without being rewarded. It took Hank Ford almost 17 minutes to light the lamp and break the deadlock, giving the Bullies their first lead over the Metal Militia. Unfortunately things came apart a little bit after that. The Militia scored 3 goals in a 3 minute span to take a 3-1 lead going into half. It was just some minor mistakes that were burning the Bullies, so they went to the intermission determined to get back into it.

The bad news was that the ugliness continued early in the second, with the Militia extended their lead to 5-1 before the second frame was four minutes old. Hank Ford began the comeback with his second of the night a few minutes later, only to have the Militia answer back, holding a 6-2 lead. With time running out, the Bullies knew they needed some goals to get back into it, and it was Captain Darryl Paget answering the bell this time. He notched a pair 45 seconds apart to narrow the gap to 6-4 - and better yet, the Bullies picked up a man advantage as the Militia goaltender lost his cool and took an unsportsmanlike penalty. As is often the case though, when the Bullies were unable to convert on the powerplay, despite numerous quality chances, the Militia scored themselves on their own man advantage. Down by three goals with just over two minutes to play, the Bullies began their second three goal comeback in as many games. With the Militia keeper taking a four minute double minor for slashing, the powerplay went to work. Darryl Paget completed his hat trick 30 secons into the PP before beautifully setting up Richard Kirchener who wired a laser of a shot top shelf to make it a 7-6 game. With under a minute to play, and Andy Dejonghe on the bench for the extra attacker, Hank Ford blasted his own hat trick goal home to even things at seven a piece and send it to overtime.

In OT, the Bullies lasted one shift longer than their last meeting, but some confusion in their own zone after a play everyone thought was dead cost them the game. It was a truly wild affair as the Bullies proved they are now officially in the head of the Metal Militia netminder, scoring 6 goals in the final two minutes of each of their last two meetings. The powerplay was humming along, going 2 for 3. Hank Ford's hat trick and four point night was only bested by Paget's six point outburst. The three forward lines all showed chemistry at varying times and the centres were all especially dominant, winning a huge majority of the faceoffs, with Kirchener leading the way. Dejonghe got a piece of almost all of the shots he faced, with his glove hand being especially sharp.

Game two is on Friday, March 20th at 10pm as the Bullies hope to stave off elimination and get back into the series.

With the Broadstreet Bullies finishing in 5th spot, they'll take on the 4th place Metal Militia in a best of 3 series. The first game is next Tuesday, March 10th at 11pm. It's a length break before game two on Friday, March 20th at 10pm. If neccesary, game three goes on Saturday, March 28th at 7pm.

In a very tight game, the Bullies found themselves down 4-1 with two minutes to play, before rallying to tie it up and send it to OT. Unfortunately the come back wasn't quite complete, as the Metal Militia scored 45 seconds into the extra frame to pick up the second point. It was a highly entertaining game, though, especially the final flurry of goals by the bullies to get back into it. Despite the loss, it was an overall positive effort to send the Bullies into the playoffs, likely with a matchup with the same Metal Militia, or Balls Deep.

Rolling three forward lines for the first time in months, the Bullies attacked right from the first faceoff, sustaining pressure for an entire shift but were unable to capitalize. As is often the case, their failure to convert turned the play back the other way, surrendering an early 1-0 lead to the Militia, and then s second before the frame was five minutes old. The Bullies were entirely unable to score in the first, but not for lack of trying. Scoring chances were plentiful, but that final conversion just was not happening. On the game, the Bullies registered 43 shots, which was one of their higher margins for the year. Coming up blank, though, the game went to half with the Bullies trailing 2-0.

The Metal Militia stretched their lead to three with an early second period goal, but at last the Bullies responded. The Bullies were very dominant in the dot all game, and it finally paid off. Jeff Pejs won it cleanly back to Darcy 'Gouda' Skish who got it right on net to break the shutout. It was Skish's first goal since October 2007. Halfway through the period, the Metal Militia restored their three goal margin. Despite the deficit, the Bullies showed remarkable patience and did not give up on the game at all. They were attacking but just could not solve the Militia's keeper. They finally got a break when a Militia player took a four minute slash with under 6 minutes to play. Three minutes into the PP, another Militia player made a terrible play, throwing the ball away from the ref during runtime, drawing a delay of game penalty. This gave the Bullies a very abbreviated 5 on 3. Hank Ford took just 9 seconds to make it a 4-2 game with exactly two minutes to play. The pressure continued, as Ford blasted home his second of the night just 40 seconds later to make it a one goal game. The, in the dying seconds, Jeff Pejs found the twin to make it a 4-4 game, courtesy of three goals in under two minutes.

The Bullies were carrying all of the momentum going into the overtime period but the Cindarella story was not to be, with the Militia tallying 45 seconds in. Dejonghe got a piece of it but not quite enough, handing the Bullies their second OT loss of the season, given them an ugly 6-12-2 for the season. At the very least, the last two minutes were a huge confidence booster for a team that has struggled to find their game all season. Having almost the entire team out was a huge part of that effort though. The return of Richard Kirchener was big, as the trio of Pejs, Kirchener, and Ford were dynamite on the draw allowing the Bullies to play more of a posession game. Pejs picked up three points - a goal and two assists, to go along with Ford's pair of goals. Even the forwards who were kept off the scoresheet were clicking with a huge number of quality shots from all over. Clint 'Pops' Wilson made his triumphant return from knee surgery and was a rock back on D. Nicholas Paufler set a personal best with a three point night. Andy Dejonghe had a great night in net, stopping 38 of the 43 shots he faced, including a number of real beauties.

Playoffs are expected to begin late this week, with the Bullies finishing in either the 5th or 6th spot and a first round matchup versus either the Metal Militia or Balls Deep.

Balloting is complete for the Winter 2008 awards, so we now present your winners.p>

Just a reminder to please bring the first half of your team fees ($120) to Jay as soon as possible - preferably at one of the next two games.

In what was otherwise a very close and tightly checked game, the Broadstreet Bullies picked up a very disappointing loss courtesy of a disputed goal. Despite the loss, it was the first full 50 minute effort the Bullies have mustered thus far in the retiered round, and overall, carried the play save for a few minutes of hard attack by the Crimson Ghosts early in the second. Unfortunately the loss does drop the Bullies back to third place due to a two goal margin in goal differential, at least until the next game.

The Bullies dressed a relatively short bench which led to a little bit of fatigue at times, but kept everyone actively involved in the game as some good chemistry was demonstrated. The Bullies were notably faster than their opposition and used that to great effect on the attack, generating many quality scoring chances. Conversely, the Ghosts greatest strength seemed to be their goalie and some very fortuitous shot blocking as they got some very lucky bounces getting in the way passes. After almost 10 minutes of trading chances, the Bullies tallied first. At the tail end of a powerplay and with the second unit out, Jay Gilbert won a battle on the boards, putting the pass back to Nicholas Paufler on the point, who wired it home for the always important first goal. The Bullies were able to hold the lead through the remainder of the period, going to the break ahead 1-0.

Adjusting their play, the Ghosts were able to generated some real pressure early in the second as the Bullies struggled to clear the zone, eventually paying the price . Bullies netminder Andy Dejonghe got screened by his own player, allowing the Crimson Ghosts to tie it up just four minutes into the second frame. Darryl Paget scored his team leading 14th goal mere minutes later to restore the lead, beating the goalie cleanly. Unfortunately things took a very unlucky turn immediately after. A long shot got put in on Dejonghe who gloved it before losing control of the ball. The ref blew the whistle which should have killed the play, but when the ball eventually rolled into the net it was called a goal anyway. The Bullies disputed the call loudly but the ref refused to back down, making the game a 2-2 affair. Shortly thereafter, the Ghosts took their first lead of the game, again, on a screened shot Dejonghe had no chance on. With the clock winding down, the Bullies got a length four minute man advantage to try and draw even, but the Crimson Ghost keeper stood tall, turning aside everything directed at him. Even with their opponents in full on panic mode in the final minutes, the Bullies could not get the equalizer and had to take a disappointing loss.

The game was even enough that either team could have won it cleanly, with the only disappointment being the game being decided on a blown call. A number of players really stood out for the Bullies, including Gaetan 'GFunk' Daniel, who was forechecking like a demon all night despite being kept off the scoresheet. Point leader Cordell Ferguson played a stellar two-way game as some of his best offensive chances came on the back of a good defensive play he was able to make. Dejonghe was also sharp, stopping 35 of 38 shots.

Fortunately it is less than a week until the next game. Unfortunately, it is a ridiculously late one, with another 11pm start. The Bullies take on Balls Deep at 11pm on Tuesday, February 17th. Three more wins will be required for the Bullies to stay in the hunt for one of the top two playoff seeds.

With another two valuable points in the bag, the Broadstreet Bullies have moved up into a 3-way tie for first place in the division, holding on to the second seed based on goal differential. It was certainly not how they drew it up, but with a huge 5 point night from Hank Ford, some slick work on the back end by Randy Moisan, and some exceptional goaltending from Andy Dejonghe, the Bullies won the sort of game they were giving away earlier in the season.

The long layover since the last game seemed to have the Bullies looking a bit rusty early in the first as it took them nearly half a period to get their game plan going. Once they started executing though, they quickly built up a 2-0 lead. Cordell Ferguson scored his first of two, followed by Hank Ford's first of a pair. The Lumber Jacks weren't able to draw even until late in the frame with three minutes left in the half. A late Bullies man advantage came up empty, sending the game to intermission with the Bullies ahead 2-1, but down a man to start the second.

The Bullies started the second on the PK, before a slashing double minor to the Lumber Jacks made it 4 on 4. A defensive miscue cost them, as the Lumber Jacks drew back to even just as the Bullies penalty expired. Back on the man advantage, the Lumber Jacks found themselves down by two men when one of their players took a few swings at a frozen ball after the whistle, taking another 4 minute penalty. On the ensuing 5 on 3, Darryl Paget notched his 100th career goal to restore the Bullies lead. Hank Ford then made it 4-2 on his second goal and fourth point. The game seemed all but in the bag from that point, as the Lumber Jacks all but gave the game away, but the Bullies did their best to unintentionally make it interesting. A brutal butt-end with 8 minutes left in the game gave the Bullies their third straight four minute PP, and would have had a very extended 5 on 3 had they not started their own parade to the box. On the 5 on 4, Don Hinks took a stick to the face just under a minute into the powerplay to make it 5 on 3, but Gaetan Daniel's roughing minor quickly turned it into a 4 on 3. The Lumber Jacks then took a roughing minor, but seconds later, a shoving match in the defensive zone led to Richard Kirchener being called on an obvious even up call for an extended period of 3 on 3. Cordell Ferguson iced the game with a minute left, with Hank Ford's assist, his fifth of the night, having him involved in every Bullies goal.

As much as this was a game that the Bullies would like to replay, win or not, it was indicative of the improvement in the team from the start of the year. They are finally winning games, even when they are making it harder on themselves than it should be. There was some highlight reel plays that did make the game more memorable than it otherwise might have been - from Dejonghe's "look what I found" glove save on a backhand deked breakaway, to Jay Gilbert's Herber's Auto Body Hit of the Game chasing down a dumped ball. Still, a win is still a win, and is important, both mentally getting out of the funk they were in, as well as climbing the standings in an attempt to get the two round bye in the playoffs.

The good news is the gaps between games for the final four are much shorter, at 7, 6, 7, and 5 games respectively. It's exactly one week until the next game, as the Bullies take on the Crimson Ghosts. They are also tied for first place with 13 points, but sit in the third spot due to goal differential. That game is a big one for the Bullies and their playoff destiny. Gametime is the same, 9pm, on Wednesday, February 11th.

It's hard to believe, but the Summer 2009 season is almost here already. The season officially starts the first week of April, and if history holds true, we should play our first game towards the later part of the opening week. Winter season playoffs should be done by the end of March, giving us a relatively short break before we are right back into it.

Team fees went up slightly this year, though it was a relatively modest increase compared to previous years. Total fees for full time players will be $230. Jay has once again stepped up to the plate and paid our fees in full in advance to confirm our spot, but would like everyone's consideration with getting your fees into him. Everyone must have their full fees paid by the start of the season - which means you need to get the first payment of $120 in by the end of February, and the second payment of $110 in by the end of March.

In a game that was very similar to their first one in the retiered round, the Bullies came out of the gate strongly and built up a solid first period lead before letting up in the second and allowing their opponents to get back into the game. Hank Ford opened and closed the scoring on his way to the hat trick that lead his team to victory. Now 2-0-0 in the new tier, the Bullies are making a serious push for one of the top two spots and the two-round bye that would get them in the playoffs.

Unlike the first game, the Bullies weren't able to score early, but when they did light the lamp it opened up the floodgates. Hank Ford started things off 9 minutes into the first with Don Hinks following up 44 seconds later. Darryl Paget picked up his 200th career point assisting on the previous goal, before getting his own goal a few minutes later. Hank Ford's powerplay marker at 18:48 put the Bullies up 4-0. A defensive lapse with just over 3 minutes left in the half gave the Oreos their first goal of the game, but career goal #99 for Darryl Paget restored the four goal margin on the very next shift.

The Bullies were visibly slower and gave the Oreos a lot more room in the second half as they attempted to claw their way back into the game. The score turned to 5-2 early in the second, before a short handed clear eluded Andy Dejonghe in the Bullies net to make it 5-3. The Oreos called a timeout, thinking they were back in the game but it served as a good chance for the Bullies to calm their own nerves and get their heads back in the game. Hank Ford completed his hat trick with 9 minutes remaining to put the Bullies in front 6-3 for real, after a disputed call called back what would have been Paget's hat trick goal. The Bullies held on against some sustained late pressure as they killed a few consecutive penalties, and despite coughing up the 6-4 goal, held on against a pulled goalie situation to eat the clock and pick up the two points.

It wasn't a perfect game by any means but this was also the kind of game the Bullies were regularly losing earlier in the year. It was good to see them holding on, even if they should have been able to keep the game locked down better. With this being the Bullies final January date, their next match will be on Wednesday, February 4th vs the Lumberjacks, who presently sit in first place. That first place standing is only on the back of a pair of forfeit wins, though, and a Bullies win will at least move them into a tie for second, if not outright posession of first.

After an absolutely miserable 69 day long, 8 game losing streak, the Bullies finally got retiered and opened up their final 7 games with a strong, but not perfect, 8-4 win to snap the skid. It was as good a way as any to right the ship and try and gain some ground as the playoffs rapidly approach. A dominating first half was somewhat spoiled by a second half where the Bullies seemed to take their foot off the gas a bit and gave High Octane a little false hope, but a few timely goals sealed the deal, giving the Bullies their first win since November 8th.

The Broadstreet Bullies came into the game knowing they needed a better start - both in terms of not giving up an early lead as well as taking the lead for themselves. They delivered in a big way in the first period as they scored 5 straight goals. Darryl Paget opened things up quickly just under two minutes into the game as the Bullies took a lead they would not relinquish. The Bullies kept the pressure on, but were denied on the scoring sheet until just passed the halfway mark as they scored four goals in under 6 minutes. First, Darryl Paget converted on the powerplay to make it 2-0, before Jay Gilbert notched a pair, two minutes apart, for a 4-0 Bullies lead. Derrick Mertz capped the first period scoring with exactly 5 minutes left in the frame and the Bullies up by five.

The bad news from the game is that the Bullies couldn't keep up their aggressive attack in the second. Whether it was overconfidence or not, they let High Octane back into the game. Darryl Paget did score the 6-0 goal to complete his hat trick just under two minutes in, but High Octane responded with a pair of goals themselves to make it 6-2 and give them some life. Despite a timeout called by the Bullies to try and get their heads back in the game, there were a lot of legs that weren't moving with the energy they had in the first and High Octane got many more chances. Derrick Mertz restored the five goal margin with his 7-2 goal, before the opposition inched closer again. Paget picked up his fourth with three minutes left, taking a good few whacks at it to make it happen but he put the Bullies ahead by their biggest margin since mid-October. High Octane snuck one more in, but the score had the Bullies up 8-4 as the final buzzer sounded.

Aside from a slackened effort in the second half, the Bullies looked good for the first time in ages. Andy Dejonghe made some very sharp saves in net, and all of the D were highly effective at breaking up High Octane rushes with some well executed checking. The forwards obviously delivered, with Paget's hat trick, Don Hinks 4 point night, and Cordell Ferguson's 6 point night. Paget and Gilbert are both inching closer to the 100 goal plateau, as Paget is nearly at the bicentennial mark for points.

The Bullies will probably be sleeping a little more soundly after a win, but they'll need to wait 8 days until they take on The Oreos at 6pm on Saturday, January 24th.

Our first game in the newly minted Division 9 happens this Friday at 7pm versus High Octane, who went 3-7-3 in the first part of the season. The following two games are also posted on the schedule section of our site.

It was a game with a little bit of everything, but with 4 goals in the final 3 minutes and change the Bullies came up just short of snapping their losing streak. It really seemed like they'd be able to hold on after storming back from a 3 goal deficit but it was just not meant to be. With the second last game of the 'retiering' round behind them, the Bullies will look to carry some of that momentum into their final game before the divisional shuffle.

Things got off to a rought start with the Bullies surrendering the first goal just 10 seconds into the game. They then had to hold off some sustained Colossus pressure for much of the period, before they got behind 2-0 with 7 minutes left in the period. They did strike back though, with Hank Ford wiring a hard slapper in to make it 2-1. With just over a minute left in the period, Colossus responded to make it 3-1 heading into half. Despite the deficit, the Bullies confidence was rising as their scoring opportunities increased.

They were rewarded for their confidence with a quick goal by Cordell Ferguson a minute into the second frame to get back within one. Colossus notched a pair of goals four minutes apart to extend their lead to 3, but then the Bullies started their comeback. Don Hinks scored his team leading 8th goal early on in the Bullies only powerplay of the game to get the ball rolling. A minute later, John 'Jay' Gilbert joined him with his 8th on the season to make the game interesting, with the Bullies down by just a goal - the score at 5-4. Darryl Paget evened things up, 5-5, with just over 3 minutes left in regulation with Colossus quickly countering to take back the lead. In the final minute, Richard Kirchener banged home another tying marker with the score knotted at 6 a piece and overtime looming. Unfortunately, with just two seconds left, Andy Dejonghe made the final save of the night - sadly, with his glove in the net, giving Colossus the 7-6 win.

The so called retiering round has been a bit of a nightmare for the Bullies, but they'll be looking to making a positive statement once the new divisions take effect. Before then, though, there is one final game versus the Screaming Outlaws to give them one more shot at redemption before the standings get reset. Gametime is early, 6pm, on Monday, January 12th.

The Bullies losing streak stands at five games, their longest in recent memory. Between an inability to convert their opportunities and an unfortunate habit of getting behind early, the Bullies just haven't been able to put together a complete game in quite a while. The game versus the Goalbusters was a better effort than some others but just wasn't good enough to get the win.

At the very least it was good to have a clean game versus a respectful team where the officials were able to put their whistles away and let the game be played properly. The Goalbusters worked hard, and almost all of their goals were scored in goalmouth scrambles that the Bullies just couldn't clear. Jeff Pejs and Don Hinks were the only two to light lamp for the Bullies, with everyone agreeing that Pejs goal was easily the highlight of the night.

With 3 games left in the retiering round, the best case scenario for the Bullies would be to pull back to .500, improving on their current 3-6-1 record. Without a few more wins, it seems probable that the Bullies may find themselves dropped down a division. With more consistency, the Bullies should have been able to challenge for the division this year, but at the halfway mark and with things still not clicking, it may not be a bad thing to drop down.

The Broadstreet Bullies have had a rough stretch of three losses where a combination of scheduling and injuries has had them playing a very short bench for a good chunk of the season. With many key players missing for a variety of reasons it has been a struggle to find chemistry and adapt but things are finally starting to click a little bit. Things are also looking up defensively, after a stretch of the Bullies only having two full time defencemen playing.

Don Hinks and Jay Gilbert seem to be have found a groove playing together as they lead team scoring, with Cordell Ferguson just behind. Several other players snapped goal scoring slumps recently as well. Without being able to put together 2 or 3 complementory lines on any given night it is not of a huge surprise that the Bullies have had some offensive woes. The good news is that some system play changes were tried out in this week's 10-6 loss that, while disappointing, did feature the Bullies scoring more goals than they had in any game this season, save the 8-4 drubbing of the Piranhas earlier in the season. This was also more goals than any other team scored versus Powerhouse thus far. With some continued refinement, the Bullies may have found a way to be more successful in winter (i.e. offside-less) ball hockey.

The roster should get an infusion of bodies soon with the extra few days off before the next game. Hank Ford has finally completed his three game suspension and will be more than ready to go. Derrick Mertz, held to just two games played due to a lower body injury, is expected to return for the next game. Darcy Skish will also be back on the roster, likely for the December 18th game. A somewhat earlier schedule should also mean the return of a few players who can't make the later games, allowing the Bullies to dress more than just 2 of their regular defencemen.

With just 5 game left in the "retiering" round the Bullies will hope to get back to at least .500. It will be a tough stretch with games versus the #1 and #3 teams in the division, and then two mid-pack teams near the Bullies in the standings. With a longer bench, the Bullies will be looking for a solid finish to the retiering round so they can see where things shake out after that.

The league has finally posted the final 5 games of our "retiering" schedule. After our game this Thursday, our next two are December 10th and December 18th, before we get two games in early January. After that the divisions will be shuffled based on record for the final 7 games of the regular season.

In a game that should have handily been in the bag for the Broadstreet Bullies, some lax and sloppy play in the second half very nearly cost them the game. 27 minutes in penalties in the second half sapped momentum, messed with the lines, and removed any semblence of flow from the game. The good news was that the Bullies did manage to kill off every Crunch man advantage, the bad news was a trio of costly turnovers that turned a 3-0 lead into a tie game. Eventually going to the shootout, the Bullies did hang on to pick up their third win of the season.

In direct contrast to the second period, the first half was one of the more dominant in recent memory. After killing a very early penalty the Bullies lit the lamp immediately after, courtesy of Jeff Pejs, playing his first game of the season. Less than a minute and a half later, Pejs made it 2-0. John 'Jay' Gilbert extended the lead to three with 8 minutes to play. The Bullies couldn't put up any further goals during the frame but were brutally dominant in shutting down the Crunch attack and turning it back the other direction for their own chances. Only a few misfired shots prevented it from being an early blowout.

Unfortunately, in the second half the wheels fell off a little bit. Perhaps getting a little too overconfident, the Bullies eased off the gas and slowed down to Crunch speed, and worse, started getting goaded into some bad penalties. As soon as they stopped playing their own game and slid back to their oppositions level, they allowed them to get back in the game. Two ugly and costly turnovers within the first 6 minutes made it a 3-2 game before the parade to the penalty box started making things even more complicated. It seemed like the Bullies would hold on, as they were pressing the attack even while killing and came very close on a couple of occasions to restoring the two goal cushion, but yet again, another turnover on an iced ball led directly to the 3-3 goal. This finally seemed to snap the Bullies out of the funk they'd been in but through both the final few minutes of the period and overtime, they couldn't get a lock on the extra point.

This sent the game to the Bullies first shootout of the season, and was a reminded of just how dull the ball hockey shootout can be. It took six rounds to decide things. Ferguson shot first, with the goalie sticking with his deke. Pejs was up next, ringing one off the cross bar. Captain Darryl Paget barrled down at the net and blew one by the Crunch keeper to make it 1-0 in the shootout. With the Crunch player needing to score, and Dejonghe standing tall on the two previous shots, it took an exceptional drag move by the Crunch player to keep the game alive. Hinks was up next, but he couldn't solve it, and then Gilbert, perhaps thinking more about his celebration move than his shootout move, fired it right into the keepers chest. Richard Kirchener took a page for Paget's book and didn't bother with a move - just a perfectly placed shot. Back to Dejonghe, he got beat on the shot but the ball was sitting just behind him and he was able to fall back, smothering it, picking him his first career shootout win.

This was definitely not the way the Bullies wanted to win this one, and they're going to need a consistent, 50 minute effort every night, especially against teams behind them in the standings hungry for wins. However bad their record, there are no 'easy' teams and nothing should ever be taken for granted. The Bullies will likely come out motivated for a nice early game on Wednesday, November 12th at 7pm as they take on the 2-3-0 Regulators.

The Broadstreet Bullies got some good news just hours before game time when Gaetan 'GFunk' Daniel returned to the lineup after a year long absence. He slipped right back onto the wing as if he'd never left and the Bullies could not have been happier to have him back with the team, even if he didn't show up on the scoresheet tonight. Three other Bullies did notch goals in a very controlled 3-1 victory over the Super Troopers where the Bullies set the pace and seemed to be winning every race. Andy Dejonghe only faced 20 shots but he was especially sharp with his glovehand when he was called upon, allowing the Bullies to play a very aggressive game.

Unlike recent games, there were no early goals for either side. It took nearly 10 minutes for either time to light the lamp but it was the Bullies who struck first. A textbook breakout from their own zone, with two quick passes culminating in the ball on the end of Richard Kirchener's stick right in the slot, where he put it up and over the goalie for his first of the year. That may have been the first goal of the game, but it was certainly not the first opportunity as the Bullies were able to apply constant pressure both before and after. The Super Troopers seemed to be a bit hesitant on committing to plays, allowing the Bullies to aggressively forecheck and keep up the attack. Several near misses and scrambles in front of the net could have put the Bullies ahead even farther. No one else was able to convert in the first, so the teams went to the break with the Bullies holding onto a 1-0 lead and the Super Troopers back on their heels.

Randy Moisan, on a great solo effort, carried the ball up the boards on the rush before getting hauled down early in the second. This put the Bullies on the powerplay for the second time in the game. Don Hinks made a stunning, highlight reel play to put a high rebound in the net without high sticking the ball to make it 2-0 just 45 second into the man advantage, and just 2 minutes 30 into the second half. Cordell Ferguson found the back of the net a few minutes later to add a bit more of a cushion with his team ahead by 3. Perhaps their aggressiveness started catching up to them, but the Bullies took a string of consecutive penalties that finally broke the shutout. Halfway through the period on yet another kill, the Super Troopers were finally able to crash the net and shovel one behind Dejonghe to make it a 3-1 game. There was no further scoring in the game for either side, even with the Super Troopers pulling their goalie for the final 90 seconds.

After some of their struggles in recent games in terms of imposing their will on a game, it was good for the team to have a very solid effort from everyone, allowing some good habits to start forming again. The back check was solid and the D were able to make good outlet passes as well as jump up into the play to generate quality chances. The shot clock read 30 to 20 in favour of the Bullies by the time the final buzzer rang. Dejonghe probably deserved the shutout, as well, but still finished with an impressive .950 save percentage. The Bullies also dominated on the dot, with both centres, Kirchener and Hank Ford, having great success. There are a lot of very positive things to take into the next game.

It's unfortunately a long layoff before the next one, a weekend game on Saturday, November 8th at 10pm vs the 1-3-0 Crunch.

We've got the schedule for our next 5 games. First up will be on Friday, October 24th at 9pm versus the 1-1-0-0 Horsemen. It was almost a year and a half ago when these two teams last met, with the Bullies handing their rivals a 7-0 drubbing - the first loss of the season, at the time, to the first place Horsemen. After that, it's a short break before we play the Super Troopers (also 1-1-0-0) on Wednesday, October 29th, also at 9pm. See our schedule page for the rest.

This was more of the start the Bullies were expecting coming into this season. After looking at everything they did wrong in their season opener, the Bullies executed particularly well, and save for two or three minutes late in the first, absolutely dominated the game. Not just on the scoresheet as well, as they controlled the flow of the game and really forced the Piranhas to try and adapt to their aggressive attack. Aside from their first win of the season, and Andy Dejonghe's first win in net as the Bullies de facto starter, John 'Jay' Gilbert's assist on the third goal was his 200th career point.

The Bullies played with a lot of jump right from the first faceoff and were rewarded quickly. Darryl Paget opened the scoring just over a minute into the game, before Jay Gilbert made it 2-0 on just the third shift of the game. The Bullies kept up the attack but it took a Piranha goal for them to start capitalizing again. Nine minutes into the first, the score narrowed to a 2-1 Bullies lead, but two minutes later the Bullies responded with a pair of quick ones, courtesy of Hank Ford and Paget's second of the game. Hank Ford made it 5-1 with 7 minutes left in the half before some scrambly play by the Bullies in their own zone let the Piranhas score twice a minute apart to send it to half with the Bullies ahead 5 to 3.

Goals came in bunches again in the second as it took over 10 minutes for either team to find the scoresheet as Don Hinks and Cordell Ferguson both tallied to restore the four goal lead. Tony Kudyrk's powerplay marker a few minutes later made it 8 to 3. The Piranhas scored a late one to get back within four but that was as close as they got. The Bullies got offence from a lot of sources as they finally started to adapt themselves to the winter style of game.

That was definitely the difference as the Bullies started to make offensive plays and were able to find the open man with much greater frequency. By no coincidence was their passing much crisper and their defensive zone play more effective as well. Justin Lellemand looked solid in his first game with the Bullies, as did Tony Kudryk who will step in defensively as a part timer when called upon. Things seem to be coming together and should only improve with dynamic speedster Jeff Pejs likely returning to the lineup next game, and Gaetan 'GFunk' Daniel's triumphant return to the country in a few weeks.

The balance of the schedule should be released sometime today, at which point it will be put up on the site.

The Broadstreet Bullies eventually fell 4-3 to the Beerhunters in overtime as they opened the winter season. It wasn't the start the wanted, both to the season and the game, as they had to shake off a serious amount of rust before they were able to get back into it. With over 80 days passed since they last played together, and only a partial lineup dressed, chemistry was lacking early on in the game. Despite that, and despite digging themselves a big hole, the Bullies did eventually draw even and should have a little momentum going into Saturday's game.

Right from the first draw the Bullies were a bit confused, having to get re-adapted to the ping pong like play of hockey without offsides and icing. They did manage to draw a pair of early man advantages but neither went as planned. On the second, with the Beerhunters sending the ball deep into the Bullies zone, an attempted pass behind the net took an ugly bounce off the boards and hopped right in front for an early short handed Beerhunter goal. Worse, with just over 10 minutes to play in the first half, on a very similar play, yet another bad bounce off the boards sent the ball into the slot leading to a 2-0 Beerhunter lead. They were clearly the more confident team as the Bullies struggled to get into the game and it took a three goal deficit before the Bullies turned it around. With two and a half minutes left in the first, the Beerhunters took a 3-0 lead, but just over a minute later, Don Hinks notched his first of the year to break the shutout and give the Bullies some hope going into the second.

The late goal did give them some life as they finally started to pick up their game and make things interesting. Cordell Ferguson made it 3-2 part way through the second as the comeback continued. It was rookie Scott Gervais, continuing the fine tradition of new Bullies scoring in their first game, who got the equalized after a great hard work shift by the entire line. With 16 minutes left in the game, it was up for grabs as the chances started to come more evenly for both teams. The best chances of all came last in the frame as the Bullies pressed even harder for the go ahead goal but just came up short. That sent the game to overtime where the Bullies had a few more solid chances before the Beerhunters took the extra point. Andy Dejonghe stopped the initial long shot but with the ball sitting loose under him a Beerhunter player crashed the net and poked it in.

The biggest thing for the Bullies as the season goes on will be adapting to the lack of offsides and icing. It gives them trouble every year as it makes for a more scrambly game that does not play to their strengths. Hopefully as the lines begin to gel more some effective strategies will be attempted to let them impose their will on the game. Part timer Scott Gervais did not look out of place in his first game, and Andy Dejonghe was solid in the pipes, with two of the goals being pure bad luck.

The Broadstreet Bullies will shoot for their first win of the season on Saturday, October 18th as they play the 0-1-1-0 Piranhas at 4pm.

The Broadstreet Bullies will open the Winter 2008 season as they visit the Beerhunters on Tuesday, October 14th at 11pm at the newly renamed Metro Sportsplex (formerly the Xtreme Zone). Please confirm your availability on the forum.

The Winter 2008 season brings with it very little change in terms of the roster. The biggest losses are Clint Lehune, who returns to ice hockey for the winter, and Darcy 'Monty' Holden who has passed the torch to Andy 'Abot' Dejonghe as the Bullies starting netminder. Monty will fill in as backup, but we all wish him well in his retirement. After a year long absence as he traveleld the world, this season will feature the return of Gaetan 'G' Daniel to the lineup sometime before the start of November. The only new faces will be ex-Caper Crew defender Justin Lallemand and new part time forward Scott Gervais. For the third year running, Clint 'Pops' Wilson has been lured back, resisting the siren call of retirement. Pops will fill in as a part timer, taking Darcy 'Gouda' Skish's spot on the blueline until he returns in December.

Your lineup for this year will be:

With generally positive news out of the team rep meeting last night, Winter league is good to go, commencing on Sunday, October 12th. Our schedule for the first few weeks should be released tonight and will be posted as soon as possible on here. Check the forum for the full breakdown of news from the meeting.

We've just been informed that the Winter 2008 season will begin on Sunday, October 12th. The team rep meeting will be happening on Sunday, October 5th, and within a day or two after that we will have the schedule for the first few games of the season. Check the forum for further details on the work done on the facility and what to expect for this season. Just two weeks to go!

Because it appears that Ball Hockey Edmonton will not, in fact, have their winter league ready to go this year, the Broadstreet Bullies have decided to cast their lot in with many of their friends and rivals on teams such as the Ultimate Warriors, Rebels, and Horsemen in Edmonton Metro Ball Hockey's 5 on 5 Winter league. Games will be played out of the building formerly known as the Xtreme Zone, though it sounds like fresh concrete, new boards and lights, and hopefully a greater emphasis on safety under the building's new management.

The season will likely start the second week of October once renovations are complete. Our fearless leader Jay 'Bobby Clarke' Gilbert has already paid our team fees so we are ready to go. Per player, the fees will be $200 each this year. The first $100 is due by the first game, with the second $100 by the end of October. Please contact Jay and make arrangements as needed. We'll be going with a new policy for part time players. The fee will remain $10 per game, but must be paid up at least every 5 games paid (i.e. a maximum of $50 owing to the team).

In other team news, Darcy 'Monty' Holden will be stepping down as the Bullies starting netminder, amassing a winning 76-66-9 record in 151 career games played, with a 3.62 GAA. Monty will be our backup as needed, but has handed off starting duties to Andy 'A-Bot' Dejonghe. Dejonghe has started 22 games for the Bullies over 5 seperate seasons, with an 11-8-3 record and a 3.95 GAA. This will be his first season as the designated starter and he is very excited, even if he'll be missed on the blue line.

Keep an eye on this page as well as the forum as more info comes out about our roster leading up to the start of the season.

For their fourth consecutive summer season, the Broadstreet Bullies failed to proceed past the first round, falling to Team Chaos 7-4 in game two of the mini-round robin. Unlike previous years, they did not fall apart, and in fact, played better as the game went on, but were just unable to crack the Chaos defence. Thus another season of ups and downs ended on a decidedly down note.

The broken record of early goal deficits continued with the Bullies gave up an ugly goal two and a half minutes in. Derrick 'T-Bone' Mertz got his team back in it just past the 10 minute mark with a powerplay goal late in the first half of a double minor. By this point the Bullies seemed to be picking their game up, and a flurry of goals resulted. With 4:15 remaining in the first, Team Chaos restored their one goal advantage, but a mere 20 seconds letter, Darryl Paget roared down the wing and blew one past the goalie to make it 2-2. Two minutes later, Jeff Pejs put the Bullies ahead by one for the first time all game. Unfortunately, mere seconds later, Team Chaos tied things up. The game was all even up at 3-3 going into the break.

The Bullies didn't seem to be able to carry that momentum into the second, as an early penalty put them on the kill. A backhanded shot from a bad angle made for an un ugly rebound that a Chaos player was able to pounce on to take back the lead. Five minutes in, they extended their lead to two, ahead 5-3. Things were looking even more grim for the Bullies when Team Chaos went up 6-3 with 9 minutes to play. There was a glimmer of light when Aron Nenninger popped one in to narrow the gap to 6-4, but the Bullies couldn't draw any closer. Even stacking their lines for the final five minutes, they just couldn't get the sort of quality shots they wanted. Pulling the goaltender for the extra attacker also failed, ultimately surrendering the empty net goal with a half second left on the clock for a 7-4 final.

Perhaps moreso than any other year this was a tough loss for the Bullies as they continue to struggle in the postseason. To Team Chaos' credit, they play one of the better systems in the division and they were always in good position to block shots and take away lanes making it very hard for the Bullies to control the play. Everyone honestly believed this would be the year but it seems it was just not meant to be.

With the summer season done for, and the Castledowns league shut down, the Bullies will be waiting patiently for the expected August announcement of Ball Hockey Edmonton's new fall/winter facility.

After a 5-0-0 start to the season, this was shaping up to perhaps be the best season in Broadstreet Bullies history. Things were still in good shape near the 3/4 mark, with the Bullies putting up a 12-2-3 record through the first 17 games. Unfortunately, a serious rash of injuries struck all at once, and combined with the usual abscences due to summer events meant an ugly stretch of short benched games and a 2-4-1 finish to the season. This dropped the Bullies from 2nd place all the way to 6th, and put them in a very tight quarterfinal pool with the Rebels and Team Chaos.

The good news was the Bullies roster was at last back to full strength, something they knew they'd need as they took on the 4th seeded Rebels. Things even got off to a promising start as they quickly drew a man advantage in the first two minutes of the game and hoped to break the curse that has hounded them over the last quarter season. The powerplay did look impressive as it was able to get set up and started to build some momentum, but was unable to capitalize. As is often the case, the Bullies found themselves on the receiving end of the next call. It was the only penalty they'd take all game, but as an early 4 minute disadvantage, they lost the momentum advantage they had. The Rebels made no mistake in converting quickly, just a minute into the kill, as the Bullies coughed up an early goal yet again, down 1-0 with the game not even 5 minutes old - and still on the kill for another two minutes. The second half of the PK went better and was finished off without further incident. The first 10 minutes has been the Bullies achilles heel for a while, and nowhere was it more evident than what happened next. The Rebels stretched their lead to 2-0 at 12:19 in the first and really put the Bullies in a tough spot.

But, as much as the first 10 minutes have been trouble, the subsequent 30 minutes have tended to be better for the orange and white. The Bullies started to get more chances and really started to take it to the Rebels and just narrowly missed on a couple of chances to break the shutout. Their perseverence paid off. Clint Lehune snapped a shot home at 8:32 to put his team back in the game. That gave the Bullies a huge boost and they were hungry for more. Drawing a goaltender interference call in the final minute of the first half, they pressed for the equalizer. It didn't happen by intermission, but they continued their strong play on the man advantage. This carried over into the second, and while they couldn't get it done 5 on 4, just 13 seconds after the penalty expired, Cordell Ferguson evened things up at 2-2. From there, it was a whole new game. The Rebels had the better chances in the first, but it was the Bullies who outchanced them in the second. Better yet, with the Bullies staying out of the box, it just turned into a tightly checked affair with neither team letting the other have an inch. The Bullies did get a third powerplay opportunity halfway through the frame, but it was probably their weakest effort of the night and the game remained knotted at two. With the way both teams were playing it was looking like overtime was a distinct possibility, but then, Lehune struck once more. With 2:52 remaining on the clock, he wired a laser of a shot behind the Rebels keeper, for a third unanswered Bullies goal and their first lead of the game. From then on, it was just smart defensive hockey. The Bullies ate the clock, with some especially notable efforts by Darryl Paget and John 'Jay' Gilbert to clear the zone. Things were locked down even tighter in the final minute with the Rebels goalie on the bench for the extra attacker, so the Bullies were able to hold on for a 3-2, come from behind victory.

Perhaps it was all of the experience the Bullies had coming back from early goal disadvantages, but it was a very satisfying win, especially after the embarassment of an effort they put in during their 6-1 loss to the Rebels earlier in the year. This sets the stage for a critical, must win game versus Team Chaos on Wednesday. Due to the assortment of tie breaking procedures, the Bullies would likely come up on the short end of anything less than a 2-0-0 record in the mini-round robin. Historical precedent is against the Bullies, who have never won a playoff series in team history, but they have the tools to get it done this year - all that remains is to execute.

Game two of the quarter finals happens Wednesday, July 23rd at East with a 7pm start time. The Bullies will take on the 5th place Team Chaos, whom they tied 1-1 earlier in the season.

Apologies for the crappy picture quality - something was set wrong on the camera so it came out quite fuzzy. Still, here is the Summer 2008 Broadstreet Bullies team picture. Click the image for a larger version.

We're right back at it this Monday and Wednesday as we take on the Rebels and Team Chaos.

QF- Mon. July 21 @ East 5 (9:30pm) Broadstreet Bullies at Rebels
QF- Wed. July 23 @ East 5 (7:00pm) Broadstreet Bullies at Team Chaos

The votes are in for the Summer 2008 team awards. There were some close races this year, but none moreso than the Unsung Hero award. Nine seperate players got at least one vote, with Jeff Pejs and Don Hinks being the only two to get two votes each.

The Razorbacks deserve a hell of a lot of credit, sitting well back of the pack and out of playoff contention, playing the game for pride alone and made it anything but meaningless. They were a classy team and showed a lot of heart coming back from two goal deficits twice to keep things interesting. In the end, though, with the Bullies heading to the playoffs, they wanted it just a little bit more, as they got the job done with a 6-5 victory.

In easily the most frustrating recurring theme of the latter half of the season, the Bullies got down early yet again. A bizarre turn and shoot shot by a Razorbacks player fooled everyone, with everyone standing around trying to figure out where the ball was before it was determined that it was in the net. Down a goal two minutes in, the Bullies were forced to play catch up once more. It took another 10 minutes before they got on the board. Derrick Mertz came in from the point and put the ball home from just above the circle to even things up at 1-1. In the final five minutes of the period, the Bullies, for at least the third time this season, demonstrated why taking a double minor against them can be a very bad thing. The Bullies scored two goals, 10 seconds apart, on the man advantage to take a 3-1 lead going into half. Clint Lehune and Hank Ford got the PP markers. They weren't quite done, though, as John 'Jay' Gilbert managed to draw two hooking calls for a late 5 on 3 that stretched partially into the second.

Despite some very quality chances, the Bullies just couldn't get the extra insurance goal, and it cost them later on in the period. Late on a tripping call kill, with the ball bouncing all over in front of the crease, the Bullies just couldn't get it to safety and found their lead cut to one. Just over a minute later, the Razorbacks carried the momentum all the way to a game tying 3rd goal. John 'Jay' Gilbert would have none of that, though, and 15 seconds later, broke in on the attack, outwaited the keeper, and tucked it just above his pad to restore the Bullies lead, 4-3. The Bullies drew another penalty with 10 minutes to play, and Cordell Ferguson made it 5-3. The Bullies held on for a few more minutes, but two more Razorbacks goals in a 30 second span once again made it a tie game. It fell to Hank Ford to get the game winner, which he did, with 3 minutes to play. The Bullies survived the pulled goaltender situation and locked things down in the final few minutes, finishing the game ahead 6-5.

The Bullies were definitely guilty of sitting back a bit too much and the Razorbacks made them pay every time they took their foot off the gas. Going into the playoffs, the Bullies are going to need complete, 40 minute efforts and are going to need to convert at every opportunity. Scoring chances are going to be at a premium and none can be taken for granted. The playoffs start this coming Monday. The schedule will be posted as soon as it is confirmed.

The recent funk the Bullies have been mired in over the last 10 games can be attributed to a serious manpower shortage, due to injuries, suspensions, and real life. Unfortunate, yes, but the reality is the Bullies have but one embarassing point out of their last 10 possible. With their options to move back into a better playoff spot all but gone, the final two regular season games would need to serve solely as slump busters. Perhaps even more importantly, though, the Bullies would need to break some bad habits and get their game back in control before playoffs. Fortunately - they mostly delivered.

The bad news was that despite facing a team out of playoff contention and not even able to field two lines, the Bullies yet again coughed up the first goal to the Tin Bashers just 5 minutes in. This put them behind early and forced them to play catch up once again. That was their only serious error all game, though. By about the 10 minute mark in the first, the Bullies found their rhythm and started making things happen. The goals didn't come until the final 5 minutes of the first, but then they did, in bunches. First, John 'Jay' Gilbert evened it up with 4:13 remaining, before Hank Ford scored the game winner with 2:34 to play. Aron Nenninger, freshly returned to the lineup after coming off of the injured reserve, picked up his 6th of the year for a 3-1 lead going into the break.

The onslaught continued into the second as the fatigued Tin Bashers had to collapse lower and lower and opened up the cycle. Clint Lehune and Cordell Ferguson both converted just 45 seconds apart on a quickly dispatched 4 minute powerplay to extend the lead to 5-1. Derrick 'T-Bone' Mertz stormed into the slot to tally one of the prettier goals of the night, for a 6-1 score with another 14 minutes to play. Hank Ford's second of the night came with exactly 10 minutes to play, with the Bullies third powerplay goal on the night, and Cordell Ferguson sent it to run tim with 4:54 to play. That's how things stood when the buzzer went, with the Bullies ahead 8-1.

The Bullies are definitely at their best on the cycle, something they had gotten away from lately, so it was good that they got an opportunity to remind them how effective that is. The playoffs are going to be tough, with a likely first round matchup being some combination of the Ringers, Rebels, or Team Chaos, so the Bullies will have zero room for error if they want to break their post-season curse.

The regular season wraps up this Thursday, July 17th at 7pm at West. The Bullies came out ahead 3-1 the last time they played the Razorbacks, so they'll look for an even stronger effort this time to prepare for the playoffs which will likely start the following Monday.

The Bullies roster has been absolutely decimated lately, and it has shown on the score sheet. With Clint Wilson and Jeff Pejs done for the season, Clint Lehune and Aron Nenninger both missing extended stretches with nagging injuries, and several other players playing through their injuries, they were a banged up group. This was made worse by some bad breaks with the schedule keeping several other players out of the lineup due to other commitments. This led to a pair of two line efforts in 3-1 and 9-5 losses their two previous games. Things were looking up going into this game, when an equipment issue kept AJ Prockiw out, and netminder Darcy 'Monty' Holden finding out he'd be unable to play just 20 minutes before game time. Even more behind the eight ball now, Darryl Paget stepped up to don the pads for the first time since the Bullies rookie year. Suffice to say, Paget got the job done.

The first period was reasonably close until the final five minutes of the first. The Warriors were getting the bulk of the chances, with the Bullies generating very few shots, but neither side had the edge on the scoresheet. The Warriors did have the better opportunities, though, and got on the board first with 5:31 to play in the first. Just seconds later, though, things went from bad to worse. John 'Jay' Gilbert took an offsetting roughing penalty - but also, a 4 minute high sticking call that turned out to be his third penalty, stamping his ticket to the showers. The Warriors made the Bullies pay quickly as they scored twice on the man advantage to pull ahead 3-0.

Then things started to go the Bullies way. Getting their own powerplay in the final minute, and with an offensive zone faceoff, they pressed hard for their first goal. Clint Lehune finished a nice passing play with 33 seconds remaining in the period to break the shutout and send it to intermission with the Bullies trailing 3-1. Despite the deficit, the Bullies knew they were still in it. Their play had picked up, and they came from behind once already versus the Warriors this year. The tide definitely turned in the second as the opportunities started coming. The Bullies did miss a pair of open nets after stripping the ball from a wandering goaltender, but Cordell Ferguson did make it interesting, making it 3-2 with 12 minutes to play. Continuing their assault, the Bullies threw everything they had at the Warriors looking for the equalizer. Seemingly, they got their opportunity with 3 minutes to play. First, Darcy Skish drew a 4 minute high sticking penalty to make it 5 on 4. Then a minute later, one of the Warriors would just not let it go and was handed an unsportsmanlike call to put the Bullies on a 5 on 3. Unfortunately, just 15 seconds into the 5 on 3, the Warriors turned the play back up the floor, with Randy Moisan taking a tripping call to put it to a 4 on 3 situation. Desperate for a goal, and with a minute to play, the Bullies pulled Paget for the extra attacker. Their first assault led to a smart glove save by the Warriors netminder, but with 36 seconds left on the clock, Mike Ford rifled a shot behind him to even it at 3-3. This put all the momentum in the Bullies favour going into the OT period.

Unfortunately, things remained unresolved to an extent. Nate Draginda got goaded into an ugly penalty, leading to the Bullies second ejection of the game, and due to the run time situation in OT, the clock ticked down to just a single minute of playing time before things were sorted out. Neither team was able to do any damage with so little time to play, so the anticipated Bullies/Warriors rematch ended in a 3-3 draw - and a lot of bad blood that will hopefully get to be replayed in the playoffs.

Penalties were the problem last night, clearly. A bad 4-minute minor nearly cost them the game, and another late 4-minute minor cost them their chance to win it. Combined with the other retaliation calls the Bullies took all game, it really did make it much harder than it should have been to get the extra point for the win. There are 3 games left before the playoffs, and that is something the Bullies are really going to need to tune up before then, as it is inevitable that things will be called even tighter in the post season. Those are also three games and six vital, vital points i nthe final standings. With just four of twelve possible points in their last 6 games, the Bullies have fallen from 2nd to 6th and will need some teams ahead of them to fall off to climb back up the standings.

Their first opportunity to claw their way back up comes quickly, this Friday, July 11th, as they play the SS Assassins for a second time. The game is at 7pm at West.

It seems like there is at least one game every season where absolutely everything goes wrong for the Bullies. With everyone half a step off their game and just out of sync, nearly the entire Bullies roster was having difficulty even making simple plays so it was a pretty ugly game to watch. The Rebels played well, especially their goaltender, but the Bullies outright stank and easily deserved the loss.

The Rebels scored early, and the Bullies just never got back into it. They were down 3-0 by half, despite a trio of man advantages. The second was arguably worse, coughing up a pair of short handed goals on the two powerplays they had in the second. They were eventually down 6-0 before the Bullies finally started to show some life. Whether that was them finally starting to play better, or if the Rebels just eased off the gas - regardless, Jeff Pejs set up John 'Jay' Gilbert to break the shutout with 5 minutes to play. The Bullies finally had a reasonably dominant shift after that, but it was just too little, too late.

It was just a disaster all around and stands as a good reminder of why hockey, as a team game, requires that all a team's players be at their best or the whole system comes crashing down. The good news is that the Bullies had a bit of a cushion and hold onto 2nd place overall, but are now 5 points back of the Ultimate Warriors for first. The Bullies would love to wash this bad taste out of their mouths on Sunday as they take on the Hi-Tech Titans. They are the only team the Bullies have yet to face this season, sitting mid-pack with an 8-9-0 record. Game time is 7:30pm on Sunday, June 29th at West.

The Broadstreet Bullies extended their alltime record versus Entourage to a perfect 4-0 as they held on for a 4-3 win. With that win they maintain sole posession of second place overall, and haven't lost in 9 games, compiling a 7-0-2 record over that span. It was also a significant game for two players, with John 'Jay' Gilbert being the first Bully to crack 200 games played, and with Derrick Mertz breaking the century mark with his 100th game in a Bullies jersey.

The Bullies went into the game expecting a chippy affair, given Entourage's reputation for penalty trouble, so the game plan was to try and stay out of the box and beat them on the score shoot. The former didn't work out so well, with the Bullies taking twice as many penalties, but the latter was done effectively. Especially impressive was that several other players stepped up in a big way, with the Bullies missing their leading goal scorer, two full time defencemen and an energy winger, on top of their current crop of injuries. Good speed and ball control down low definitely had the Entourage blueliners panicing a bit and it was really only errors on the Bullies part that led to turnovers and eventually goals.

Things got off to a great start just under two minutes into the game as Richard Kirchener potted a goal scorers goal on a nice tic-tac-toe play from Jeff Pejs and Aron Nenninger. The Bullies held that lead until just past the halfway mark when a wild shot popped off the back boards and in front right onto an Entourage players stick. Kirchener took it upon himself to restore the lead, and did so a minute and change later to put the Bullies back on top 2-1. A minute after that, Entourage drew even once again. In the dying seconds of the first, thoug, Jay 'Mr. 200' Gilbert blew one upstairs to send the teams to the break with the Bullies ahead by a goal. It was overall a very dominant period for the Bullies with numerous stretches of extended control in the Entourage zone.

The second, however, got off to a terrible start. A parade to the penalty box, ultimately adding up to 14 PIM, began just 30 seconds into the frame. Fortunately, it could be forgiven if observers though it was the Bullies who were on the powerplay, as their aggressive forecheck kept it deep in the Entourage zone. Jeff Pejs, who had another hugely strong game, drove to the net, outworking everyone to bag the short handed, and game winning, goal. The Bullies penalty kill was exceptional, killing off all of the remaining penalties, and holding on to the 4-2 lead until halfway through the second when the Bullies turned it over during a breakout, coughing up a breakaway that resulted in the 4-3 goal. That was the last time Entourage got on the board, though, and despite a late penalty to the Bullies, and the ensuing 6 on 4 with the Entourage keeper on the bench, the Bullies held the line to pick up their twelfth win of the season.

With so many regulars out of the lineup it was great to see everyone stepping up. It wasn't a perfect game, especially in the second, with some players looking a bit bagged on some shifts, but the important thing is the Bullies did get the job done. Nenninger, Kirchener, and Pejs seemed to have some great chemistry out there, combining for 7 points. Darryl Paget also returned to the lineup and looked great out there. All four of the defenceman were reading the play well and letting Monty see the shots. Mertz had a couple of great rushes as he burned Entourage forwards pinching in, and Mike Ford's high risk/high reward passes were a potent weapon.

Depending on the result of last night's Warriors/Rebels game, the Bullies/Rebels game this coming Monday could be even more significant. Going into last night, the Bullies were 3 points back of the Warriors and 2 ahead of the Rebels. With a Rebels win, the Bullies would be a mere point back of first - a Rebels loss, however, would give the Bullies a little breathing room at the top. Either way, Bullies/Rebels games are always very close affairs so it should be an excellent game. The game is back at West with a 9:30pm start on Monday, June 23rd.

Going into this game, the Bullies expected a very tight affair as two of the division's best defensive teams faced off for the first time in over a year. In what seemed like the sort of game where the first mistake would cost that team the game, it lived up to those expectations with a very close 1-1 tie. Both goalies had huge games, especially the Bullies' Darcy Holden who was seeing the ball better than he has all season. Likewise, both defensive corps were instrumental in shutting down the opposing offence as well as helping with the cycle in the offensive zone. Truly, this game could not have been more close.

Each team seemed to have a slight edge in one period, with Team Chaos having the advantage in the first. With the Bullies still trying to adjust to some new line combinations, Chaos had the better chances in the first, capitalizing at the 12:10 mark. Missed coverage let a Team Chaos forward walk in from the side to put his team ahead. 20 seconds later, the Bullies took their first penalty of the night and after killing it successfully, seemed to get a little momentum back their way. They took another penalty late in the first, but held the line once more, so intermission came up with Team Chaos ahead by a goal.

Things started going the Bullies way in the second. With Monty keeping them in the game with stellar goaltending, they finally seemed to get the sort of chances they wanted. There were a couple of very near misses including a three minute stretch where Team Chaos was rendered helpless in their own zone as the Bullies cycled it around without capitalizing. With 7:24 to play, Derrick Mertz sent a pass across the point to Nicholas Paufler who shot it past the scrum in front to the corner. There, in an amazing individual effort, Hank Ford fought off Team Chaos' tallest player, lugged it in front, did a nifty spin-o-rama and lifted it back hand over the sprawling keeper. The Bullies had a couple of huge chances to take the lead in the ensuing five minutes, before Team Chaos turned it up a notch and got their own chances in the final 90 seconds with several faceoffs deep in the Bullies zone. Neither team could make it happen, though, so the Bullies went into overtime once again.

Much like the rest of the game, there was great back and forth action, but as the five minutes ticked off the clock, the score remained even, remaining a 1-1 final. There were some great efforts all around. The new lines, after a bit of an adjustment period, were very effective, especially the Gilbert/Kirchener/Nenninger line which had many quality chances take the extra point. Darcy 'Monty' Holden was easily the first star though. Helped out by his defence clearing the front and lettering him see the ball, but his rebound control was impeccable and he gave his team every opportunity to win it.

Despite only getting a point out of it, the Bullies came out of the game generally satisfied with their effort, playing the sort of game they wanted to, especially after an extended stretch versus teams lower down the standings. They'll hope to continue that level of performance in one week's time, as they take on the 6th place, 9-6-1 Entourage. The Bullies are a perfect 3-0 versus Entourage and would love to extend that streak to four.

In a tightly fought defensive battle between the Broadstreet Bullies and the Penetrators, it was the blueliners in orange who stood the tallest, holding the line until some late goals broke the deadlock and propelled them to a 4-1 victory. The game didn't have a lot of natural flow as the teams seemed to spend a lot of time trading posession in the neutral zone, but the Bullies had the bulk of the quality offensive chances. Were it not for several goal posts, the goal disparity would have been wider. On the defensize side, the Bullies kept the chances to the outside, and only when getting caught on some long shifts did they surrender any extended periods in their own zone. All in all, the kind of smart game the Bullies were looking for leading into Thursday's match versus Team Chaos.

Despite a trio of man advantages early in the first, including a 4 minute and a 5 on 3 opportunity, the Bullies weren't able to break the goose egg until very late in the first. Hank Ford put his team ahead with 4:32 to play in the half from the side of the net. That was the only scoring for either team, but especially in the first, the Bullies seemed to be the team more in control of the play.

The second period, however, featured a little drama. A turnover by Mike Ford resulted in a goal, but was made worse by Nate Draginda taking a 4 minute slashing call on the same play, to put the Bullies down a man and with an even score early in the second. Mike knew he owed the team a goal and delivered in a big way. Halfway through the frame he blasted the game winner past the Penetrators keeper to restore the lead. The Penetrators were visibly frustrated by this point and the Bullies switched tactics to try and lock the game down - and succeeded. Nate Draginda added some insurance with his first goal of the season. Draginda setup the entire play himself, with a good defensive zone play that culminated in him crashing the net at the other end to bang the ball home with just over two minutes to play. With the Penetrators down 3-1, they elected to pull their goalie in the final 90 seconds and managed to get setup in the Bullies zone, before turning it over and allowing Mike Ford to wrist in the empty netter to seal it at 4-1.

There was a lot to like in this game, definitely one of the Bullies better defensive efforts, and arguably their hardest win of the season. They did a good job identifying that the refs were calling the game very tightly, and save for a pair of calls on Draginda, stayed out of the box. The powerplay could have been better as it rarely seemed to get setup, and there were a few cases of people standing around waiting for passes, but overall it was a positive outing.

The Bullies begin their toughest stretch as they play the 4th, 5th, and 6th place teams consecutively. First up, the 2nd place, 11-2-2 Bullies take on the 4th place, 9-3-2 Team Chaos on Thursday June 12th at 7pm. Action switches back to West for this one.

The Broadstreet Bullies brought another consistent effort as they continued to get back to the brand of simple, effective hockey that brought them dominant success earlier in the season. The Bullies defined the pace of the game with a strong forecheck and had great success intercepting passes that led to a huge advantage in time in the attacking zone. The Degenerates keeper made quite a number of stellar saves and the score could have been even more one sided without him. The Bullies are getting closer to a very tough stretch of games so it was very good to see such a consistent effort from them.

The first period was all Bullies with them controlling the play smartly, getting their shots, and making them count. Aron Nenninger opened the scoring four minutes in, before Hank Ford, Clint Lehune, and Mike Ford added their own to make it 4-0 before the end of the first. Lehune's goal was a shorthanded marker as the Bullies easily killed off a four minute slashing call. At times the Bullies were a bit guilty of being a little too fancy, trying that one extra pass that was giving the Degenerates goalie time to set back up and get in the way of a lot of shots, though.

The shutout was broken early in the second with the Degenerates getting their first of three just over two minutes in. Cordell Ferguson restored the four goal margin a minute and a half later. On the next shift, Derrick Mertz made several skill plays as he pinched in, dished the ball off, then crashed the net and tucked home his first of the season. That widned the spread to 6-1 with over 15 minutes to play in the second. There was no further scoring until the 8 minute mark, with Lehune adding another to make it 7-1. It took just 9 seconds for the Degenerates to respond in kind, though. The Degenerates also picked up a powerplay goal in the final 4 minutes, before Lehune completed his hat trick to make it an 8-3 final.

The Bullies had a game plan going into this one and they executed well, playing a very team focused game and made good use of the entire surface. The D were excellent and jumping into the play and keeping it alive, and the forwards were motivated to come back and help turn the play back the other way in the defensive zone. Monty had another great game in net, and while he wasn't tested often, he made some great saves at key times. Also, this was overall a clean game, with only 5 penalties called between the two teams, so hopefully the Bullies penalty woes are behind them.

Next up will be the 6-7-0 Penetrators on Sunday, June 8th at 8:45pm at the East.

The Broadstreet Bullies got back to a simpler game after the mess that was their 7-7 tie the previous week, and though there was room for improvement still, some timely goal scoring was the deciding factor as the Bullies overcame The Awesomes and slid past Team Chaos back into second place overall. Perhaps the best news was that they were mostly able to stay out of the box, with just two penalties (and a third offsetting call), one of which was a delay of game for putting the ball over the glass. Not spending three quarters of the game killing and having a nearly full bench were both huge factors in the win.

By and large, goals were coming in pairs for the Bullies. Clint Lehune completed a tic tac toe play 11 seconds in to put the Bullies ahead very early, and a minute later, Jeff Pejs fed a perfect pass across to Cordell Ferguson who drove the ball home. Another two goals also came a minute apart just past the halfway marker, with John 'Jay' Gilbert batting a loose ball out of the air for a 3-0 lead. Richard Kirchener's goal to make it 4-0 turned out to be the game winner, but also matched his career best goals in a season stat at 7, previously set in Summer 2006. Clicking at just under half a goal a game, Kirchener is well on pace to reset that bar even higher for himself. Perhaps the Bullies had gotten a bit too cocky on the strength of their early lead, but the Awesomes made the game interesting in the final five minutes of the first frame. Just over a minute apart, they popped in a pair of quick ones to make it 4-2 going into the break.

The Awesomes got a little early pressure in the second, and with the Bullies unable to clear it, scored their third goal of the game to draw within one. After coughing up three unanswered goals, the Bullies struck bath with a trio of their own. Ferguson added his second of the game to add some breathing room at 13:07, and again, a minute later notched another, with Hank Ford tallying this time. Lehune added his second with just two seconds left on a Bullies man advantage with 3:22 to play, finishing the scoring off at a 7-3 final.

Nothing is ever easy, and no team, regardless of how far back in the standings they are, should ever be taken lightly. A seemingly dominant 4-0 lead can fade away into a one goal game as soon as a team takes their foot off the gas. It is fortunate that the Bullies guns were firing and were able to quickly and decisively re-establish control of the game, but it does stand as a reminder to never take anything for granted.

After the slow, slow month of May and it's mere 4 games, the Bullies are back to a more regular schedule. The Bullies will take on the winless 0-12-0 Stream-Flo Degenerates this coming Wednesday, June 4th at 8:15pm for a rare game at the East Soccer centre (the first of 3 in the next 4 games).

A ridiculous run of penalties (and mostly well deserved ones, at that) cost the Bullies the win as they took no fewer than 13 minor penalties, surrendering 4 powerplay goals that were all the difference in a highly disappointing 7-7 tie. At 5 on 5, the Bullies were the more dangerous looking team, but after spending more than half the game down a man they were able to setup very few chances - which is unfortunate, considering that most shots they had were going in.

Goal wise, the Bullies got off to a good start, scoring very early, but only a late goal in the first sent them to intermission only down by 2, with the score at 4-2. Three powerplay goals against in the first really put the Bullies behing the eight ball. They did even things up in the second, even holding a 6-5 lead at one point, but weak coverage cost them another goal, tying the game up before the Monstars went up 7-6. With the goalie pulled, it was Richard Kirchener who lead the way, winning the faceoff and crashing the net to bang home the game tying goal. The Bullies came close on several occasions to getting the win in overtime, but yet another penalty meant they had to try and do it short handed once again. It was not meant to be, so the Bullies held on for the single point.

One one level it would be fair to say that the Bullies would like to forget about this one, but frankly, this is a game they should not forget. Bad penalties at bad times are something they will definitely need to clean up.

The Bullies get a rare afternoon game on Sunday, June 1st as they play the 2-7-1 Awesomes at 3:45pm at West.

It is highly unfortunate how this game played out, as given how dynamically offensive the Blazers are, it would have been a very exciting game had their goalie been present and both teams had been able to play their game properly. As it was, the Blazers were still highly effective playing a man up, and were easily the most skilled team in a 6 on 5 situation that the Bullies have ever played. It seemed like every time they got the ball in good shooting position it was going in - and the score could have been even closer had Monty not stood on his head with a number of impressive saves.

Scoring wise, the Bullies got it done, outscoring their opposition 9-3 in the first half and 5-4 in the second, but did initially have some trouble adapting to the permanent presence of an extra body in their zone. As such it's hard to say how the game would have played out under normal circumstances. Most of the Blazers goals were scored due to outnumbering the Bullies in their own zone, a situation that would likely not be present in a 5 on 5 situation, while it would be interesting to see if the Bullies would have been able to outscore the opposition with a keeper in net.

Assuming they can solve their goaltending woes, the Blazers will be a team to watch in the playoffs. Unfortunately it just wasn't, mentally speaking, the kind of game the Bullies wanted going into another tough game versus the 8-3-0 Monstars on Sunday evening. The good news is that the Bullies win, and losses to the Monstars and Team Chaos, has catapulted the Bullies into second place overall, just two points back of the Ultimate Warriors - who's only loss this season has come at Bully hands.

The Warriors have an easy game coming up this weekend, so the Bullies will need a strong outing versus the Monstars to keep the gap at a single game. Game time is 7:30pm at West, this coming Sunday, May 25th.

In what was anticipated to be a bit of a defensive battle going into the game, everyone was a little surprised by the 7-5 final in a bit of a sloppy affair. The Broadstreet Bullies weren't great, but the debut of a new blueliner and some very timely secondary scoring were enough to put the Bullies on top for their seventh win of the season, and two valuable points that put them just two points out of first place.

A good early forecheck drew a Pylons penalty just over a minute into the game, letting newly signed defenceman Mike Ford make a definitive statement. On his first shot, on his first shift, in his first game, he wired a point shot for a 1-0 lead on a powerplay goal. The Bullies got two more man advantages through the period, including a four minute stretch, but were not able to bury another due to a collapsing Pylons defence. John 'Jay' Gilbert finally put the Bullies ahead by two in the final four minutes of the first as he picked up his own rebound and tucked it home for a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately, the Pylons responded to that with a quick one of their own to break the shutout and made it 2-1 going into the second half.

Jeff Pejs restored the lead to two just under a minute into the second, but then things got a little bit ugly. Massively blown defensive zone coverage on a penalty kill made it a 3-2 game just 12 seconds into the minor penalty, and worse, another ugly play 11 seconds later evened things up at 3-3. This finally shocked the Bullies back into action as they counted for the next three goals. First, Don Hinks continued his great night with a beauty of a powerplay goal to take back the lead. Then, doing his best Zubov impression, Andy 'Abot' Dejonghe added his team defence leading second goal of the season as he lifted a high, dropping shot cleanly into the net. Jeff Pejs added his second goal of the night, and tenth on the season, to put the Bullies ahead 6-3 with 6 minutes to play. The Pylons drew closer with their fourth goal with 5 minutes to play, but Hank Ford got it back, as his line converted after being snakebitten all night. The Pylons got one final goal with 21 seconds to play as the Bullies got caught and were unable to change. That's how things closed out, with the Bullies up 7-5 and a perfect record alltime versus the Pylons.

There are a number of aspects to their game that the Bullies will need to clean up before they face the Blazers next Wednesday. One of the strongest offensive teams in the division, solidly in the top 3 in goal scoring, the Bullies will need better team defence to shut that down. The good news is that hopefully the emergence of two more effective lines will give the Bullies more scoring threats. Monty got hung out to dry a bit on a few of the goals so it will be up to everyone to help him out a bit more next game.

Speaking of, the Bullies are back at West at 8:15pm next Wednesday, May 21st versus the aforementioned Blazers.

After three reasonably miserable efforts that had the Bullies in a mini-slump with a 0-2-1 record over the last three games, things seemed to more or less be back on track with a solid 5-0 win over the Plague. It wasn't a perfect win, with the Bullies taking way too many penalties and coming out lucky with several posts going their way, but it was a good bounce back win and the shutout was a nice apology to Darcy 'Monty' Holden after he was hung out to dry in the game versus the Ringers.

The Bullies got the positive start they were looking for when the Plague were assessed a delay of game penalty for neglecting to bring the game sheet, despite repeated warnings. The early man advantage got the Bullies in the game quickly, and while they were not able to capitalize on their first attempt, the pressure it created drew a body checking penalty and put them up 5 on 4 for the second time in 5 minutes. Hank Ford's powerplay marker was the one goal the Bullies needed on the night, but there was much more yet to come. The Bullies penalty killers were put to work as well in the first, but did an exceptional job and didn't give up anything before the offence was able to start going again. Clint Lehune picked up his 17th and 18th goals on the season at the 10:16 and 6:02 mark of the first to add a little breathing room and kept the Bullies ahead 3-0 after the first half.

It was the penalty killers who came up big once again in the second as the Bullies faced a full 2 minutes of 5 on 3 killing. They got the job done, though, with a minimum of drama. Jeff Pejs got his 8th of the year at 12:49, before Cordell Ferguson capped the scoring on another man advantage at 9:40. The Bullies mostly managed to stay out of the box after that and were able to preserve the shutout, for Monty's second on the year.

It is likely that it is no coincidence that it was the return of several key players to the roster that sparked things for the Bullies. They are at their strongest when they have a full complement of ball moving lines. Even with two regulars out serving suspensions the Bullies looked like a substantially more confident team than they have in the last few games. The defence was back to their regular dominant selves and Monty made more than a few unreal saves to keep his goose egg. Other than that, timely scoring, and a 28.5% effectiveness on the powerplay were what was needed to right the ship.

League play does not resume until Wednesday, May 14th at 8:15pm versus the Pylons. However, we also have a scrimmage scheduled for Saturday, May 10th at 3pm at South vs the Div 8 Swashbucklers.

We have challenged the Division 8 Swashbucklers to a scrimmage. The game will go down on Saturday, May 10th, 3pm, at the South soccer centre. Please confirm your availability for thie game.

The Broadstreet Bullies are still undefeated this season, but several bad penalties at key times cost them the win as they surrendered a pair of powerplay goals. With the 2-2 tie, the Bullies still have 11 of a possible 12 points to start the season, but it will still be a game to reflect on going forward. For their part, 5 Per Cent was another very strong team defensively that particularly did a good job shutting down the Bullies offence in the first half before they were able to adapt.

The Bullies were having a rough time getting set up and taking the momentum early and found themselves down early at the tail end of a four minute penalty kill. 5 Per Cent took the 1-0 lead just as the first penalty expired. The Bullies got their own opportunity when they went on a four minute powerplay with just under 5 minutes to play. The first PP unit went out and was cycling the ball well looking for the shot, but it was the second unit that capitalized with Clint Lehune pouncing on the loose ball after a point shot by Nicholas Paufler. That sent the teams to intermission even up at one a piece.

Finally on the score sheet, the Bullies seemed to find a little more life in the second period and were at last able to start playing their game. They took the lead at 13:22 with Lehune tallying again, for his team and division leading 13th goal of the season. The Bullies had a number of dangerous looking opportunities to extend their lead after that, but came up just short on every occasion. It was looking like they might be able to hold on to the lead until the final 5 minutes of the game. Another penalty at a bad time sent the Bullies PKers back to work, and they almost got it done once again. With just 5 seconds left in the penalty and a huge pileup in front of the net, 5 Per Cent were finally able to shovel it behind Monty and tie the game. Worse yet, the Bullies took another penalty in the final minute, as the clock wound down and the game went to overtime. Things looked bleak when they took yet another penalty early in the extra frame, but despite being down 5 on 3, the Bullies had the better chances and very nearly took the game. With the penalties killed and two minutes to play, the Bullies started throwing everything they had it it, including two glorious set plays in the final 17 seconds but they just couldn't get it done, and had to settle for the tie.

Without the penalty trouble this game would have been a tough, but achievable win. As it was, the Bullies almost handed the game over with some undisciplined penalties, which has thankfully been a rare occurence this year. 5 Per Cent was a better team than their record showed, but the Bullies could have used a bit more energy and a little more finish tonight. Defensively, at least, it was another strong outing, with the Bullies D helping Monty maintain an immaculate 1.16 GAA through the first 6 games of the season.

Look for the Bullies to bring a strong effort as they play the winless 0-3-1 Les Gros Bec on Sunday, April 27th. Game time is 9:00pm at West.

This season's Bullies lineup has been offensively explosive, but they finally ran into a defence-first team that was able to stymie them, to a degree. The Razorbacks played a closely checked game, and had easily the best penalty kill that the Bullies have faced this year, but in the end, the Bullies defence held the line and the forwards were able to fight for their goals and get the win for a Bullies franchise record 5-0 start to the season.

Continuing the season long trend, the Bullies, despite a short bench due to injuries and the weather, came out strong and started peppering the Razorbacks keeper with shots. It took the better part of the period though before they struck. Richard Kirchener's fourth of the season gave the Bullies the ever important 1-0 lead with 7:50 remaining in the first. Late in the period, on the man advantage, Hank Ford's hard work paid off as he banged home the eventual game winner to make it 2-0 with three minutes in the half. There was no further scoring in the period, so the teams switched ends with the Bullies ahead by a pair.

The Razorbacks, despite being behnd, seemed content to clog up the middle in their own zone and only go in on the attack when they could force a turnover. They started having some minor success early in the second and generated a few sequences of offensive pressure. Forgoing an opportunity to freeze the ball, the Bullies paid the price just past the halfway mark as the Razorbacks broke the shutout and narrowed the gap to one. Jeff Pejs was the hero of the night, though, as he scored one of the biggest goals of this young season, batting home an ugly garbage to add a little insurance with just over 5 minutes to play. That gave the Bullies some all important breathing room, especially as they weathered a minute long 6 on 3 as the Razorbacks desperately tried to draw even. They held on, though, and even if it wasn't a pretty win, the two points still count all the same.

Full credit to the Razorbacks for finding a way to break the Bullies cycle, as the Bullies were not able to set up the shots they wanted and their offensive output suffered as a result. The gap could have been wider if the Bullies had been able to bury some more chances, but fortunately, for this game at least, they didn't need to. The defence continued to do well at keeping the shots to the outside and Monty was called upon to make some nice saves. Kirchener's opening goal was key, as was the play of Pejs and Ford who continue to be unstoppable monsters in the neutral zone. The other forwards all found their own ways to contribute and it seems inevitable that goals will come for them as well.

It will be the Broadstreet Bullies vs 5 Per Cent this Wednesday, April 23rd for another 9:30pm game at West. 5 Per Cent are 2-1-1 on the season thus far.

It was a very rough night for the expansion Tin Bashers as they fell in a very lopsided effort to the Broadstreet Bullies by a 15-1 score. Full credit to them, though, for maintaining their composure and still hustling right till the end. From the Bullies perspective, it was their greatest offensive outpouring in history, also breaking their single game records for goals (Clint Lehune, 7), assists (Cordell Ferguson, 10), and points (again, Lehune with 11). It literally seemed like every time the Bullies put a shot on net it was going in.

At least initially, it seemed like it might be a closer affair. The Bullies got on the board quickly, 75 seconds in, but the Tin Bashers responded early and made it 1-1 just over a minute later. From there, the floodgates opened with the Bullies popping in another six before the period closed, going to half up 7-1. They added eight more in the second period. Also of note, the Bullies were a perfect 3 for 3 on the powerplay while managing to stay out of the box entirely themselves. It was a fun and entertaining time, but it is conceivable that the Tin Bashers might have been a division or two higher than they probably should have been. It is also likely that the Bullies will face some tougher challenges coming up as they start playing some more established teams that are less likely to be prone to the first year jitters that also struck the Bullies in their rookie season.

The Bullies will get an opportunity to open the season with a perfect 5-0-0 record on Sunday, versus the 1-2-0 Razorbacks, at 9pm at West. The Bullies last played them on July 6, 2006 with the Bullies holding on for a 1-0 shutout win, and are 3-1-0 lifetime in the head to head matchup, going back to the Summer 2005 season.

The Broadstreet Bullies improved to 3-0 on the season with another convincing win, this time against the SS Assassins by a 6-1 final. It was another stark contrast that showed just how different small surface winter ball hockey is versus full size summer hockey. The Assassins had previously beat the Bullies by 5-3 and 5-2 finals in the Winter 07/08 season, but were absolutely stymied by the defence and transition game of the summer Bullies squad.

Right from the initial faceoff, the game was in the Bullies control. As netminder Darcy Holden reported, it took over 9 minutes for the Assassins to generate their first shot. In the meantime, the Bullies leapt to a quick 2-0 lead. Clint Lehune notched one just over a minute in for the ever important first goal. The Bullies powerplay got it's first crack at it a few minutes later and were rewarded. Some smart passing all around led to some quality chances before Lehune tallied his second to extend the lead to two. That was it for the scoring in the first, but not for lack of trying by the Bullies relentless offence. The D were quickly bringing the ball up the floor and giving the Assassins very little respite. Still, the period closed with the Bullies still ahead 2-0.

The second period began with another quick goal. On an offensive zone faceoff, the draw was one back to Randy Moisan, who passed it cleanly to Nicholas Paufler, who's hard one timer turned into a juicy rebound, tapped home by Hank Ford. The Assassins then took their second high sticking the ball penalty of the game, sending the Bullies powerplay back out for yet another opportunity. Again, it took almost the entire duration of the man advantage to capitalize, but Cordell Ferguson found the hole for a 4-0 lead early in the second. The beleaguered Assassins finally broke the shutout when a long shift led to some tired plays before the 4-1 goal. They'd never get any closer. The two teams exchanged a few breakaways, but Holden and the Bullies D stood strong and kept the pressure on while the clock wound down. The Bullies added a little icing with a pair of goals in the final minute. Richard Kirchener was left unchecked in the slot, seemingly having all day as he took a perfect pass from Ferguson to make it 5-1. Ferguson himself picked up his fifth point on the night with one final goal to end things with the Bullies ahead by a 6-1 margin.

You really couldn't have asked for more from the Bullies team tonight. It was a highly disciplined effort by a very focused group of guys. Strong defence led to quick transitions and a dominating shot count. Exactly the style of play needed to be an elite team in summer ball hockey. Once again, Monty was not tested a lot in net, but he did make a couple of notable and very timely saves. The offence also continues to click and are taking full advantage of the extra room to setup the cycle.

The Bullies will hope to make it 4-0-0 this coming Thursday as they take on the 0-2-0 Tin Bashers for a 7pm game at West.

Coming off of a somewhat easier opening game to the season, the Broadstreet Bullies knew they were in for a tougher match against their longtime nemesis, the Ultimate Warriors. With such a lengthy history against them (with a 4-4-1 alltime record between the two teams), the Bullies expected a tight, close checking game - which they got, right up until two late goal outbursts blew the game wide open in the Bullies favour. Aside from that, it had all of the elements that one would expect in a Bullies/Warriors matchup.

The first period didn't feature many clear cut chances, but had a lot of great end to end action as both teams were quick in transitioning the play the other way. The Warriors had the edge early, as they were standing the Bullies up at the blue line well and were getting some space free in the slot to get some clean shots at the Bullies net. They got rewarded for their efforts just under 7 minutes into the first as they broke the stalemate and took a 1-0 lead. A pair of late Bullies powerplays gave them their best opportunities of the period, but they were unable to capitalize. The teams went to the break with the Ultimate Warriors holding a narrow 1-0 lead.

The second period began with more of the same. The pace was quick and the two teams took turns with rushes back and forth. The Warriors got another early break, extending their lead to two, just under two minutes into the period. The Bullies struck back quickly though. Hank Ford and Clint Wilson scored 55 seconds apart, just two minutes later, to even the game at two. This seemed to give the Bullies some much needed life as they started having better results gaining the zone. The Bullies then got behind the eight ball as for two consecutive shifts, the Warriors hemmed them into their own zone and ran the defenders ragged. They caught a major break when a major lack of Ultimate Warriors discipline put the Bullies on an extended man advantage. With a Warrior forward taking a few extra slashes at Darcy Holden, Bullies defencemen Darcy Skish and Derrick Mertz leapt to his defence and making their presence known. With the Warrior throwing a few punches, the refs were forced to step in and break things up. The end result left Skish and Mertz in the box serving offsetting roughing minors, but the Warriors player was ejected and the Bullies were given 3 minors, for a 5 on 3 advantage. It took just 75 seconds for the Bullies to wrap the game up as they scored three consecutive powerplay goals. Jeff Pejs notched his first of the season, Clint Lehune added another, and Cordell Ferguson converted to put the game out of reach with a 5-2 lead and under 5 minutes to play. In the final minute or so, Clint Lehune added his second on the night, and with just 10 seconds left, a falling Jeff Pejs batted a loose ball in to cap the score at 7-2.

It was 130 seconds of scoring that put the Bullies back in the game and then put it out of the Warriors reach. The remainder of the game was a very, very close affair, and without the extended man advantage, the end result could have been very different. Overall it was a defensively strong game for the Bullies, but there were a few missed checks and some bad coverage that needs correction, along with some weak passes that kept the Bullies in their own zone longer than they would have liked. Things did improve as the game went on though, as everyone seemed to find their game and brought a more consistent effort. Once the lines have a few more games to gel, the Bullies should have three full lines of scoring threats.

Game three of the regular season is on Monday, April 14th at 9:30pm for a rare game at the East Soccer centre versus the SS Assassins. The Bullies dropped a pair of games to them in the Winter 07/08 season, so they'll be hungry for revenge on the larger surface where they are more comfortable.

For the start of their fifth season in Ball Hockey Edmonton, the Broadstreet Bullies came away with a solid 3-0 shutout victory over the Goalbusters. That being said, the game went much as would be expected. The Goalbusters were an all new team playing for the first time together, while the Bullies were just coming off of a winter season playoff game two days prior and brought hundreds of games of experience to the table. Despite a roster that was down three players, the Bullies brought a solid and consistent effort at both ends as they seemed to have no trouble re-adapting to the summer style of play.

The Bullies welcomed Hank Ford to the lineup, ostensibly a defenceman, but dressed as a centre due to some late scratches. He quickly found his legs and seemed to show some real chemistry with the team early. The entire team was ready to go right from the first faceoff, though, and it was clear that the Goalbusters weren't quite sure how to deal with their more experienced opponents. The Bullies were able to freely dictate the play and, while unable to score early, were able to draw penalties as they generated chances. Richard Kirchener opened the season's scoring with 9:53 to play in the first, picking up the only goal the Bullies would need. Shortly thereafter, on a very dangerous looking powerplay, the Bullies struck again, courtesy of Don Hinks. That's how things stood as the buzzer went for the intermission.

It took even less time for the Bullies to convert in the second. Aron Nenninger's beautiful bat out of the air put it behing the Goalbusters' keeper for the 3-0 capper. Even when the Goalbusters started to take more chances, trying to generate any offence, the Bullies D were calm and collected, helping the forwards out with a smooth transition game. They also saved three sure goals, with Skish pulling two out of the crease, and Dejonghe deflecting a high shot away to safety. By netminder Darcy Holden's reckoning, he only faced 8 or 9 shots on the night, and didn't see his first action until almost 8 minutes elapsed.

There are still some kinks to be worked out, but the Bullies were definitely in mid-season form already, benefiting from playing in winter, however frustrating that league was. Once the remainder of the roster is back in the lineup and with a few more games for the lines to gel, the Bullies will be challenging for the top of Division 9 once again.

The next game will be in just three days, on Wednesday, April 9th, as the Bullies faceoff against their perennial foes, the Ultimate Warriors, at 7pm at the West Soccer Centre.

The Schedule for the Summer 2008 season has been posted on our site. Our fifth season in Ball Hockey Edmonton will open on Sunday, April 6th at 5:15pm vs the Goalbusters, at the West Soccer Centre. The 24 game regular season will carry us through until July 17th.

Given the Bullies struggles in the playoffs over the last 5 years, this was exactly the kind of start they needed. After grabbing the 7th seed overall, and a first round date with the Punishers and Diesel, the Bullies needed to open things up with a win to make the game versus Diesel meaningful. They took that belief to heart, though, as they played a perfect playoff game. It was a spectacular effort from a very short bench, and was a start contrast to the low intensity victory that closed out the regular season.

The Bullies have always been at their best when they score early - which they did - and are better yet when they score often - which they also did. Darryl Paget started things off early in the first to set the tone, and the Bullies followed it up with another four before the period was out. Aron Nenninger made it 2-0 after he was able to deflect in a backhanded second effort by James 'Sonny' McDermott. John 'Jay' Gilbert made it 3-0, before Clint 'Pops' Wilson notched his first of two on the night. Don Hinks rounded out the first period scoring, being rewarded on the scoresheet after selflessly giving up Oiler tickets to be there for the team. The buzzer sounded with the Bullies holding a dominating 5-0 lead and a stranglehold on the game.

The Punishers got a little fake hope early in the second as the Bullies eased off a bit and gave up the 5-1 goal, but there was no comeback forthcoming. Pops immediately came back to score after a nifty D to D play off of a faceoff to ice it with the Bullies sixth goal The Bullies didn't tally any more, but they were able to keep the pressure on, frustrating the Punishers and eating the clock. Nenninger especially was particularly adept at stealing the ball off the boards, getting it out, and forcing the Punishers to regroup. If only the Bullies had been able to play this sort of game all season they might have been finishing near the top, rather than barely holding onto a playoff spot. They dictated the play, and the Punishers were powerless to stop it.

It wasn't just the goals that won the game tonight, it was great rebound control by Monty, and an aggressive game by all four Bullies defencemen, who were standing the Punishers up at the line, tipping passes away, and blocking shots all night. They were also making great outlet passes to the forwards, which made it much easier for them to come back and help out as the Punishers were forced to do little more than dump the puck away. Paget and Gilbert led the way with a goal and three assists each, but everyone out there contributed offensively - even if they didn't pick up any points, they kept the pressure on and forced turnovers. You really couldn't ask for more from a key playoff game.

Due to the ongoing absurdity of the scheduling this year, the Bullies don't play game two of the quarter finals until Friday, April 4th - coincidentally, the day that summer season starts. They'll play their third game this year (After dropping close 3-0 and 2-1 decisions) with Diesel at 10pm. With another solid effort, the Bullies could make it to the second round for the first time in team history.

The first round of the Winter 2007 playoffs features a mini round robin between the Bullies, Punishers, and Diesel. The Bullies and Punishers will meet at 1pm for the opening game on Saturday, March 22nd, and then need to wait until April 4th before the second game versus Diesel. Game time for that one is 10pm.

It was not the finish the Bullies were hoping for. While a 12-6 victory is nothing to sneeze at, there is little satisfaction in beating a team without a goalie. This was quite apparent in the lackadaisical play in their own zone, even with three forwards dropping back to switch with three defenders, as the Bullies surrendered six goals. Some seriously sloppy play and some genuinely bad passes resulted in far too many goals against. Being such a laid back game it was poor preperation for the playoffs, but still, with the win, the Bullies vaulted from 10th to 7th place and a first round date with the Punishers and Diesel.

The good news is that the Bullies were able to spread the offence around, with every player (save the goalie) chipping in with at least one point (with Don Hinks, 3G 1A, and AJ Prockiw, 1G 3A leading the way), including Randy Moisan and Andy Dejonghe picking up their first goals of the season. Stats padding aside, there weren't a lot of good things to be said, and full credit to the Grizzlies for a relentless attack.

The playoffs will begin on Saturday, March 22nd, and the Bullies will need a much sharper effort if they hope to come out ahead. The Bullies have a pair of wins (7-3 and 5-3) over the Punishers, but came up short 3-0 and 2-1 versus Diesel. Still, this is a very winnable series for the Bullies if they are able to bring their best.

With all of the votes tallied, your Winter 2007 Bullies Award Winners are, as follows:

It's been a season of frustration for the Broadstreet Bullies, as consistency problems have hampered them all season. On too many nights they were unable to adapt and consequently, came up on the wrong side of score sheet. Tonight, though, they finally seemed to show a bit of grit and determination, right before the playoffs. They kept up with Diesel all night, doing a great job neutralizing their attack, and pressing the advantage when it presented itself. Unfortunately, a late power play goal put them down 2-1 and they were unable to get the equalizer. Still, it was the first sign of consistency the Bullies have had in a while.

The game got off to a fast start with a lot of back and forth play, as both teams showed some jump. An early man advantage let the Bullies grab some momentum, but they were unable to capitalize. Instead, it was Diesel who got on the board first. The goal was the result of a bizarre play, as a Diesel player broke through, got stick checked twice, only to have the ball deflect back onto his stick, where he rang it in up and overy Darcy' Monty' Holden and off the crossbar into the net. The Bullies stuck to their simple gameplan, though, and they'd strike back themselves.

Some great work on the cycle started to increase the number of quality shots the Bullies were getting, and it didn't take long for Aron Nenninger to bang one home to make it 1-1. It was a huge lift for the Bullies, especially after controlling the play for so long. With momentum firmly on their side, they pushed for the go ahead goal and came very close on several occasions. Unfortunately, a pair of back to back penalties hemmed the Bullies in their own zone for an extended duration. The first one was killed off without any damage being done, but a few minor miscues compounded and allowed Diesel to convert on the second. In the final five minutes, the Bullies had several huge chances to tie it up - none better than Nenninger's spectacular midair tip that would have beaten most goalies in the division save this one. Even a man advantage and a pretty solid powerplay weren't enough to even things up, as the game ended with a 2-1 final.

There is no doubt that Nenninger was the Bullies' MVP for the night as he was forechecking hard and against a less massive goalie, easily could have had a hat trick. Monty also had a solid night, as he played a consistent game and only gave up the two goals. The entire defensive core was great as well, both in their own zone clearing the front of the net, and jumping in on the play. There were some great passing plays and shots both. A hot goalie on the other side turned out to be the difference.

The Bullies will round out what has easily been their most forgettable season in years after another ludicrously long break on Thursday, March 20th. Game time is 10:30pm, with the Bullies getting a rematch against the Grizzlies.

It's hard to believe, but the Summer 2008 Ball Hockey season is just about here. Based on the traditional start time of early in the second week of April, we have less than 6 weeks to go before we're back in the league we belong in. With Clint Lehune, Cordell Ferguson, and Jeff Pejs returning the lineup, the Broadstreet Bullies are poised to challenge for the top of Division 9 once again.

Even better news, as the Bullies celebrate their fifth season in BHE, the team got a nice surprise in the announcement that team fees - for the first time in team history - would not be going up. Your $220 will get you 24 games in our league of choice. GM Jay 'Bobby Clarke' Gilbert requests your first payment durning one of the final two winter regular season games in March. $120 then, and then a final payment of $100 before the start of the first game in April. We once again have a full roster of committed, full time players this year, so please show your commitment and get your payment in as soon as possible so that Jay isn't having to chase you down.

It was the first time the Bullies gave up 9 goals since another winter season 9-3 drubbing back on November 5, 2006. As bad as the score was, it probably could have been a little closer had the Bullies converted a few chances - especially when they came back from a 6-1 deficit to make it 6-3 with a couple of quick goals, but overall it was one of the Bullies most bitter losses of the season. Some missed coverage, combined with giving up way too many odd man rushes led to the same goals over and over again. Gilbert, Wilson, and Paget at least scored a few nice goals to salvage some pride, but there is no doubt that the Bullies will need to be better if they hope for anything more than an early first round playoff exit.

The scheduling idiocy continues with another 12 days off before the Bullies next game. That will be on Friday, February 22nd, versus the Mafia. The Bullies dropped a 4-2 decision to them earlier this year, and with this being the only game of the four remaining versus a team behind them in the standings, it is a critical time to pick up two valuable points.

It was the Broadstreet Bullies versus the Punishers, but it was the former who made with the punishment tonight. John 'Jay' Gilbert broke out with a hat trick as he assisted his team in taking out the Punishers by a 7-3 final. The Bullies have had a consistency problem all season, so it was equally nice to have picked up 7 of 8 points in their last 4 games, as it was to finally get another decisive win. With the Bullies back up to 5th place overall, and with only 5 games left in the regular season, they seem to have gotten on a hot streak at just the right time.

The first period featured relentless offence by the Bullies as they tallied six goals, while only surrendering one. Gilbert had a pair, with Don Hinks, Clint 'Pops' Wilson, and Aron Nenninger also notching goals. A very aggressive forecheck kept the Punishers hemmed into their own zone and made them visibly frustrated as they were largely unable to setup any offensive rushes. Despite playing with just four D, the Bullies defence stood tall and helped Darcy 'Monty' Holden pick up another win. Monty didn't have to make many saves, but he made a few beauties and had excellent rebound control tonight.

The Bullies attack was so strong, the Punishers seemed to give up on any concept of team defence and instead started to sit two guys in deep, hoping to pick up some goals. This took the Bullies defence out of the offensive game, and that combined with some Bullies line juggling to give a few others chances up front meant the second period featured a lot less action. The Bullies picked up just one more goal, Gilbert's completion of his hat trick for a four point night for both him and Darryl Paget. The Punishers picked up two more goals, including a late powerplay marker. Forced to cover the cherry pickers, a lot of the flow went out of the game in the second half with the teams trading offensive rushes as opposed to the coordinated attack of the first period - such is the reality of the no-offside winter hockey.

It was a big night for the Paget/Kirchener/Gilbert line, with 5 goals and 11 points, but the other two lines, despite only picking up a goal each, were a threat all night long and the score easily could have been even more lopsided. The wealth of goals will hopefully break a few players out of some slumps and lead to increased production during the stretch drive. If the Bullies can maintain their momentum, they stand a good chance of holding onto the fifth spot, with an outside chance of sneaking into fourth. It will be a tough stretch, as they face three teams ahead of them in the standings, with another just behind them.

The bad news is that the ever frustrating schedule has the team off for almost two weeks, with action not resuming until Sunday, February 10th. The 7:30pm game will feature the Bullies taking on the first overall Outcast - a team the Bullies narrowly lost by a 2-1 final earlier in the season.

The resurgent Bullies continued their domination of the Entourage, as they handed them their first loss of the season, and improved to 3-0 lifetime against them. Having their full roster back and healthy for the first time this season, the Bullies are playing at the level they should have been all year. When they are at their best, few teams can handle the physical play and aggressive forecheck of the Bullies - and that perfectly described their play tonight. It was a superb effort from the entire team and as satisfying a come from behind victory as the Bullies have ever had. Richard Kirchener picked up the game winner in this 5-4 Bullies victory.

As strong as the Bullies finished, the early part of the game was marked by a few small errors that cost the Bullies and put them behind early. Down 2-0, Darryl Paget scored from an impossible angle to narrow the deficit to 1. The Entourage struck again to restore their two goal margin, but after that, it was all Bullies. AJ Prockiw notched his team leading 9th of the year, and then John 'Jay' Gilbert buried his chance to draw the teams even at three. Gerry O'Keefe's hard work all game was rewarded when he crashed the net and banged away to tuck the ball under the keeper, giving the Bullies their first lead of the game - 4 to 3. Richard Kirchener then took a penalty to give the Entourage a man advantage where they struck quickly to again even things up. He more than made up for it though as he responded with his own pretty goal to put the Bullies up 5-4. Despite a late push with Entourage's netminder pulled the Bullies held on for their second win in a row, two more valuable points, and the satisfaction of breaking Entourage's unbeaten streak.

When facing the top team in the division, the Bullies knew they'd need a strong effort from everyone and they absolutely got it. Darcy 'Monty' Holden let in 4 goals, but the real story was how many glorious saves he made at key times to preserve the win. This was easily his best game all year. The defence were again spectacular at breaking up rushes and had one of their most physical games of the year. All three forward lines were also key in the victory. The Paget/Kirchener/Gilbert line counted for three goals and controlled the play in the offensive zone. The Prockiw/Hinks/Nenninger line had a huge number of odd man rushes as they consistently broke up plays in the neutral zone and were able to break out the other way. It was the O'Keefe/Draginda/Wilson line, though, that gave the Entourage the biggest fits, as their speed and relentless forecheck beat the Entourage defenders over and over. Nate Draginda, especially, demonstrated how he deserved the all star nomination he was given.

The Bullies will play again in a week on Sunday, January 20th at 9:30pm for a rematch versus the Rebels. The Bullies won their previous meeting 5-4, so they'll be looking for another win and an extension to their winning streak.

After an absolutely dismal stretch, during which they went 0-6-1, the Bullies finally came up with a win against the Stallions. In addition to snapping the winless streak, it was also a little bit of revenge for the Bullies as they dropped their first meeting of the season with the Bullies getting up 4-1, only to lose 5-4. Having the Bullies full roster back made a huge difference, both in terms of the lines that could be assembled and the general attitude and confidence out on the surface. They were clearly the more confident and disciplined team and the results more than demonstrated that.

It was the perfect start for a struggling team, as Tony Kudryk blasted an early goal from past the centre line for a quick 1-0 lead. AJ Prockiw added his first of two on the night on a very pretty play, assisted by defenceman Andy Dejonghe playing forward for the game. It was Dejonghe's first point of the season. The teams traded goals back and forth for the balance of the game, but the Bullies held onto their lead. Prockiw's netted his second, along with both Don Hinks and Clint Wilson getting their 5th of the season. A late goal by the Stallions made it interesting, with the Bullies holding a 5-4 lead, but this time there would be no comeback. With 20 seconds to play, and the Stallions keeper pulled, John 'Jay' Gilbert outraced the Stallions defender and seemingly went in too deep, but managed to pull the ball back and tuck it home to make it a 6-4 Bullies victory.

Confidence was the key tonight as the Bullies looked better than they had in months. They pressed with an aggressive forecheck all game that really gave the Stallions fits. They also dominated in both time on attack and faceoffs which were other areas they'd struggled of late. Being able to roll three different forward lines, all with different skill sets, further benifited. This is the sort of hockey the Bullies should have been playing all year so hopefully some kind of momentum can be built on. If they bring their A game, the Bullies are more than a match for any team in the division - the only problem is those games have been few and far between.

The Bullies will need to wait a week to see if the slump is indeed over. It will be a very tough game as they take on the undefeated 9-0-2-0 Entourage. Gametime is 5:30pm on Sunday, January 13th.

At least it wasn't another loss. In a hard fought game, the best the Bullies could come up with was a 4-4, come from behind tie. While it was nice to end the losing streak, there was still some serious disappointment as this was a game the Bullies could, and probably should have, won. Even just with the two posts and the two goals that were called back, this is one that should have been in the bag. Still, at least it wasn't another marker in the L column, and it gives the Bullies something to carry into the game on Saturday.

In a pleasant turn of events, the Bullies got on the board first, very early in the game. Darcy 'Gouda' Skish had the ball at centre, outweighted the man covering him and got it through to the net where Don Hinks found the back of the net to make it 1-0. This was the sort of start the Bullies desperately needed to try and restore some confidence, and they continued some solid offensive play. Unfortunately, turnovers and odd man rushes came back to bite them in the ass. With the Hellions leaving three men high, it gave the Bullies tons of room to work the play in the offensive zone, but made for some dangerous play in their own zone. It cost them, to the tune of three consecutive goals, and a 3-1 deficit in a game they felt they should be winning.

Clint 'Pops' Wilson made it interesting in the final minute of the first as he rifled a shot that beat the goalie clean, sending it to intermission with a more palatable 3-2 score. Again, though, a turnover cost the Bullies, who were once again behind by two with the score at 4-2. In the final 10 minutes, though, the Bullies started to get a little luck. Nate Draginda's hard work was rewarded as he potted his second of the year to make it 4-3, and then Ryan Loney outmuscled everyone to make it a tie game once more. There were some very quality scoring chances after that for the Bullies to take the lead, but it went on to the Bullies first overtime game of the season.

In the brief 4 on 4 overtime period, the Bullies had some glorious chances as they took full advantage of the extra room. Don Hinks came very, very close to sealing the deal in the final minute as he broke in on a 2 on 0 breakaway. Unfortunately, the Hellions keeper outweighted him and Hinks was unable to get off the shot he wanted. With no more time remaining, the clock ticked down to the Bullies first tie of the year.

It was certainly better than many of the bad games recently, but there were many things needing improvement. The refs were calling everything from the early goings and the Bullies failed to adapt and took a number of terrible penalties. Likewise, they had some trouble on the powerplay, unable to score on a full two minute 5 on 3. Lack of communication was another big problem, though thankfully one easily (and hopefully) correctable for the next game. Hinks, Loney, and Pops all had great games and really stood out all night.

The last of the three games in 8 days stretch comes this Saturday at 5:00pm versus the 1-8-0-1 White Phantoms.

The Broadstreet Bullies continue their disappointing slump as they extended their losing streak to five games after a 7-3 loss to the Grizzlies. While there were some slight improvements after the last embarassment of a game, the combination of a mistake filled game and a near complete inability to bury their chances led to another loss the Bullies truly felt should have been theirs.

Another discouraging trend continued with the Bullies coughing up a few early goals - three - before getting on the board themselves. Don Hinks picked up his first of the night on a great hardworking play, but a comeback was not meant to be. Before the game was out, the Grizzlies potted another four goals, for a 7-1 lead, before the Bullies finally struck back. In the final 3 minutes, Ryan Loney was rewarded for his stellar effort as he picked up his first of the season, before Don Hinks capped the scoring with a buzzer beater to make it 7-3.

For the most part, the D did their job tonight, but most of the team was certainly playing below their potential, with only Hinks and Loney truly stepping it up as they both had monster nights. The Grizzlies made the Bullies pay for every mistake, and despite extended periods of pressure, the Bullies could not counter. In fact, for stretches it seemed like the Bullies were drastically outplaying their opposition, but with little to no finish, it was largely for naught.

A better effort will be needed for the next game, which thankfully comes up quickly - even if the idiocy of three games over the holiday week will keep a substantial chunk of the roster out of the lineup. The Bullies will take on the 3-5-0 Hellions for a 10:30pm game on Thursday, December 27th.

The remainder of the schedule has been posted and is now listed on our site. We get one final game before the end of 2007, on Saturday, December 29th at 5pm versus the White Phantoms. Our first game of the new year will be on January 6th.

With the Bullies struggling to find consistency this season, one some level it should be encouraging that everyone was at least on the same page this game - unfortunately, it was not a good page to be on. For the first time in recent memory, nearly everyone was off their game at once and it showed. Unable to make passes, received passes, or even get shots through to the net, it was an ugly game all around - resulting in the 3-0 loss to the Diesel, and a discouraging 4 game losing streak for the Bullies.

It was a terrible start for the Bullies as they coughed up a pair of very weak goals early in the game, and things never did improve from there. It was just not the Bullies night as the ball was deflecting off anything and anyone as passes were missed and shots were blocked all over the place. If shots were counted, it would not be surprising if the Bullies had managed any more than ten or so actually on net. All in all, a completely forgettable game that the Bullies would just as soon put behind them as they try and claw their way back to .500 before the end of the year.

With just two games left before the new year, the Bullies are running out of time to make up for some poorly played games. Their first shot at redemption comes this coming Saturday, December 22nd, for an early 12pm game versus the 4-2-1 Grizzlies.

The Broadstreet Bullies continued their losing slide for their 3rd consecutive loss. Despite some hope near the end, the Bullies dropped the game by a score of 5-3, as their regular season record dropped to 3-4-0. Things do not get any easier for the Bullies, as their next two games are against teams with winning records, and they will certainly need a more consistant effort if they're going to get back on track.

The first period was not a pretty one from the Bullies perspective, despite a few shifts of pressure and some good jobs containing the opposing breakouts. The Bullies surrendered three goals to the Assassins and were only able to reply with a single goal by John 'Jay' Gilbert off of a beautiful feed from AJ Prockiw. It was a big hole to have to crawl out of, especially with the offensive difficulties the Bullies have had lately.

The Bullies began to play a slightly more consistent game in the second and it seemed like there might be a chance, but it was the Assassins who scored to make it a 4-1 game. Gerry O'Keefe made it interesting when he batted home a rebound in front of the net to make it 4-2, but the big drama was saved for the end. With 2:30 to play and a man advantage, the Bullies drew up their play and sent out their lines. It was Nate Draginda (scoring his 30th career goal) roofing the ball while down on one knee who made it 4-3. Finally with some momentum, the Bullies pulled their goalie and started swarming the net and were almost rewarded. The ball sat loose in the crease, looking for the tap in, but no one was able to get a stick on it before it was batted clear and then lifted into the empty net. It was an intense finish to the game, but it did go to prove that you do not win many games where you don't play the entire 50 minutes.

In terms of positives, the return of Randy Moisan to the blue line was huge. Richard Kirchener again played like a beast with the most aggressive forechecking of his career. Draginda and Gilbert continue to show some chemistry together as well. All in all though, the Bullies didn't really take full advantage of their speed versus a bigger and slower team and definitely didn't get enough shots through to the net.

In a relatively rare event this season, the Bullies will actually play their next game in a mere 6 days, as they take on the 3-2-2 Diesel. Game time is 10pm on Friday, December 14th.

Nate has booked another practice for us, again at the gym at Vanguard College. It will be at 9-10pm this Thursday, December 6th. The address is 12140 103rd Street. This practice will be covered by the remainder of the excess team fees so it's not going to cost anyone anything to show up. With the ridiculously long time off since our last game, we're hoping to get a good turnout so everyone is ready to go for the game on Saturday.

As your regular game story writer missed this game, the report will be brief and based on second hand info. The Bullies went down by a 2-1 score to the Outcast in a game where their offensive game was completely absent. With three defensive mainstays out of the lineup, the roster was juggled to try and fill the holes, but it turns out to be an inability to score, as opposed to an inability to prevent goals that was the problem. All in all, reportedly a fairly poor effort by the Bullies in a game that could have given them second place overall.

They'll be looking for a bit of redemption as they play their last game of November on Sunday the 25th at 2:30pm. It will be Bullies vs the 1-3-0 Mafia.

The Broadstreet Bullies were very, very glad to welcome back centreman Richard Kirchener to the lineup. Missing the first 7 games with a lingering injury, the Bullies desperately missed his two-way play and faceoff dominance - two areas where he came up big in the Bullies 4-2 win tonight. Even better, it did not take him long to get on the scoresheet offensively. Aside from a brief span early in the second where there wheels fell off a bit, this was an excellent performance by a team that finally seems to have found it's stride this year.

Things didn't start out well though with a broken play in the Bullies zone turning into a great Punishers scoring chance, but Monty was able to turn it away making the first of many great stops on the night. The Bullies started to set the pace and it was Kirchener who rang it off the crossbar and in early in the first to stake a 1-0 lead. John 'Jay' Gilbert broke out of his goal-less slump not long after to make it 2-0. The Bullies continued to cycle well as the period wound down, but weren't able to convert any more, so intermission came and went with the lead standing at two.

The second period seemed like the Bullies good fortune would continue, but a few minutes of ugly play found them playing from behind. The Punishers broke the shutout, evened it up, and then took the lead as the Bullies seemed to be coasting a bit and weren't playing with the intensity they had in the first. Getting behind was the wakeup call they needed though, and it was Darryl Paget who answered the call first. He evened it up at 3-3, and then a beautiful blind spin-o-rama from AJ Prockiw restored the lead. Gerry O'Keefe scored his first of the season as he banged the ball home from the side of the net for a little insurance.

This was another solid effort by the Bullies as they seem to have shaken off the inability to score that plagued them in the preseason - averaging 5 goals a game over the last four regular season games, versus just 1.5 through the first four preseason games. Darcy 'Monty' Holden also played up to his ability and made a number of great and very timely saves. The defence were great in front of him, even when they were down two men after Randy Moisan left the game with an injury and Andy Dejonghe was ejected. All three forward lines were clicking well, and it was noticable how much of a difference having Rich winning the majority of his draws made.

It's a long 8 days before the Bullies take on the Outcast in a battle for first overall. Game time is 6:30pm on Sunday, November 18th.

It was a bitter sweet game for the Bullies as it was the last game played in Bullies silks for their hard shooting forward Gaetan 'G Funk' Daniel. In 106 games, G racked up 96 points (36 goals, 60 assists) and 24 penalty minutes. With G moving to Europe, the Bullies desperately wanted a win to send him off with, and they managed to deliver in a most impressive fashion. It was a real character win with the team finding a way to win (helped by Darryl Paget's 5 point night) despite two horrendously unlucky goals against that put them behind for most of the game.

In what has been an unfortunate trend this season, the Bullies again got off to a bit of a rocky start and weren't able to set the tone early. This culminated in them surrendering a goal to the Rebels just past the five minute marker of the first period. However, it took just 13 seconds for them to bounce back with Darryl Paget notching the first of his three on the night to even it up. Paget followed it up with another with 8 minutes remaining in the first to give the Bullies their first lead of the night. However, an ugly miscue in front of the Bullies net evened things up when Darcy Holden made the first save, only to have the ball roll and deflect off of AJ Prockiw's foot into the net. The teams went to the intermission tied 2-2.

The second period began with a early freakish bounce that turned it into a 4-2 Rebels lead. On the powerplay, a dump in attempt went high off the glass deflecting into the air with some serious top spin that directed it over everyone and into the net. Shortly thereafter, the Rebels succeeded in taking the two goal lead. Despite some troubles controlling the ball, the Bullies were not yet done as they began their comeback. With 10 minutes remaining in regulation, Aron Nenninger picked up his first of the season to draw the Bullies within one. The Rebels were able to hold off the attack until the dying minutes of the game. With a neutral zone faceoff and 90 seconds to play, the Bullies called a timeout to setup their lines. Stacking a line of Paget, Prockiw, and Nenninger, with Paufler and Kudryk on the points, the Bullies made their final push. After the Rebels got it into the Bullies zone, the attack went the other way with AJ Prockiw making a beautiful play to outwait the Rebels keeper and stuff it five-hole to even it up with a minute to play. A careless Rebels penalty late gave the Bullies the man advantage, but things were not to be settled in regulation.

Overtime was settled very, very quickly. With the draw won back to Derrick Mertz, and his quick shot right on net, touching Paget's stick - for the game winner and his hat trick - the Bullies won it decisively when it counted.

There were a lot of little things that didn't go the Bullies way tonight but it was a solid character win to come back and win despite them. There may yet be some line juggling to try and spark something with the other lines to see if the Bullies can generate even more offence, and there is definitely still room to improve their play in their own zone, but after a rough start, things finally seem to be coming around.

It's another frustratingly long break before the next game, which will be on Saturday November 10th vs the 1-1-0 Punishers. The ball drops at 8pm.

It's been a while, but with the goal drought at last over (10 goals in the last 2 games) and the roster looking a little deeper and healthier, the Bullies finally seem to be hitting their stride. They met up with the Renegades, who were coming off of a 10-2 loss the previous week, but the Bullies did not expect an easy game by any means. Too often of late they have failed to capitalize on their chances and fallen to teams they should have dominated. Fortunately, that was not the case tonight, as they played with a ton of jump and made sure they did not provide room to be burned by any lucky bounces.

The first half ended with the Bullies up 2-0, courtesy of a pair of great goals by Darryl Paget and AJ Prockiw (his 100th point in a Bullies uniform). Despite some sloppy play early, the Bullies found their groove quickly and set the pace of the game for virtually the entire period. Still, it was only a narrow lead and the Bullies knew full well how one ugly bounce could swing the momentum the other way.

The second period featured four different goal scorers. James 'Sonny' McDermott notched his second of the year. Darcy 'Gouda' Skish's point shot deflected off of a Renegades player into their own net to make it 4-0. Gaetan 'G' Daniel tapped home his team leading third goal of the year, and took the scoring lead (6 points) with an assist on Darryl Paget's second goal. Despite a late powerplay opportunity, the Renegades never got a sniff around the net and the final buzzer went with the Bullies ahead 6-0.

Very solid and disciplined effort tonight, with the Bullies fully demonstrating what an advantage an experienced team has over one of raw rookies. After a disastrous first five games and an ugly GAA, Darcy 'Monty' Holden finally looked himself in a well earned shutout. Even with the six goals, the Bullies missed on a number of golden opportunities and could have easily had a few more - something they'll need to correct when taking on some of the stronger teams coming up.

The irritating delays between games continue with another 8 day break before the next game. It's a late one, at 10:30pm on November 1st when the Bullies meet the Rebels.

The schedule for the first 8 games of the regular season, carrying us up to the New Year, has been posted. The divisios have been run through the blender a little bit, with some new teams also being added. The Bullies are dropping from Div 6 to Div 8 where hopefully we'll be a little more competitive given the roster issues we've had of late. The first game will be on Monday, October 15th at 6:30pm. It is an early game, so please let management know whether you'll be able to make it.

The Broadstreet Bullies closed out the retiering round with their third loss in a row, making it abundantly clear that they were a little overly optimist in their initial tier placement. They'll be dropping down to Division 8 for the remainder of the season. Still, despite the loss, it was an enjoyable game, and was for stretches closer than the score would imply. Both teams were short benched, with the Bullies again only fielding 9 players due to injuries and the long weekend game, but it was the SS Hitmen who came out on top. With their perfect 4-0 record they'll be remaining in division 6, but will be facing much stiffer competition after the retiering.

The first period didn't go particularly well for the Bullies as they were unable to convert on any of their chances and got behind by four goals by half. Thankfully, they began to show a little more life in the second. After surrending another goal, the Bullies finally got on the board, with defender Nicholas Paufler breaking up a play and chipping the ball up to John 'Jay' Gilbert who feathered it over to James 'Sonny' McDermott who hammered it home to break the goose egg and pick up his first point since his return to the Bullies. The Hitmen notched another, to make it 6-1, but took a four minute slashing penalty with under 5 minutes to play. The man advantage was ugly as the Bullies weren't able to get control for the bulk of it, but eventually settled into a rhythm and started to set things up. They got some good chances, but finally made it count when Derrick Mertz picked the ball up in his own end. A perfect tape to tape pass landed on Paufler's stick, who settled it and drilled it through heavy traffic and Gerry O'Keefe's screen to salvage a little pride.

It wasn't the end to the preseason the Bullies had hoped for, but it did have some promising elements. The Bullies have looked a bit lost the last two games since their win versus Balls Deep and it was good to see some chemistry forming again. Jay and Sonny seemed to be finding each other well, Nate Draginda was a monster along the boards, recently injured forward Clint 'Pops' Wilson had his shot back, defender-turned-center Tony Kudryk was wiring hard shots and winning faceoffs cleanly, and Gerry was planted in front of the net all night looking for Nenninger-esque rebounds. There is definite reason for hope, with the Bullies playing down in a lower division and hopefully getting some of their injured players back on the roster. Everything starts fresh now that the regular season is here.

The balance of the schedule should be posted tonight, but our first game will be on Monday, October 15th at 6:30pm vs the Stallions. I will post an update once we have clarification on that.

It's very, very hard to win games when you can't even field two lines, especially when the 9 players you have includes just 3 defenceman and no natural centres. Between injuries and scheduling conflicts, the Bullies roster was decimated for this game. Without any centres, face off wins were rare, and the defence was run ragged with them picking up 35 minutes of ice team each. The 5-0 final was no particular surprise.

Those who made it to the game did their best, especially the D, but offensive opportunities were few and far between. There were a couple of nice plays that unfortunately never got converted. Also thanks to Sonny for coming out to be a spare this year. He was in the right places all night. Not much else can be said, save for thankfulness that this is only the preseason.

The next game will be Sunday, September 30th at 6:30pm. The Bullies take on the Spartans. The two teams split their last two meetings, with the Bullies dropping the last one on another short benched effort last winter. Hopefully with a full roster the Bullies will look to avenge that loss.

A new look Bullies team went into the Winter 2007 retiering round with a lot of questions. With some unexpected roster subtractions, the Bullies found themselves short 50 goals from the team that went 17-6-1 in Summer 2007. If they were going to succeed, those 2 goals a game were going to have to come from somewhere, and at least in the first game, the usual suspects came up big time. Their opponents, the highly chippy Balls Deep squad, fresh off a Division 8 championship in Winter 2006 built an early lead, but squandered it as their undisciplined play gave up three powerplay markers, as the Bullies defeated them by a 5-3 final.

Things did not start well for the Bullies as they struggled to shake off the rust built up in the 7+ weeks since their summer season came to an end. Some new line combinations didn't help matters and despite some positive hustle, things seemed slightly disorganized. They paid the price as they gave up a pair of early goals within the first three minutes, including a short hander. Gaetan 'G' Daniel siezed the opportunity to leave his mark on the game and responded in kind. Three minutes later he notched a pair himself, two minutes apart, to even the game at 2-2 on the powerplay. The Balls Deep thuggery intensified as their lead vanished, eventually being called for 4 minors in the first period, two for body checking and two for roughing. The Bullies maintained their composure, though, and were able to go to half carrying the momentum.

The Bullies got their first lead a mere minute into the second as Clint 'Pops' Wilson showed the young Balls Deep squad the value of experience as he converted on another power play opportunity. Continuing to control the flow of the game, helped by the parade to the penalty box, Balls Deep did get a little false hope when they tied it up with 9:25 to play. They were yet again undone on the powerplay as they surrended yet another goal while down a man, with AJ Prockiw banging home his first of two for the game winning fourth Bullies goal. A minute later, Prockiw added some insurance. Some quick line changes and smart whistles ate up the remaining five minutes and that's how things stood at the final buzzer, with the Bullies picking up their first preseason win.

The Bullies will face another tough matchup on Saturday, September 22nd as they take on their longtime rivals the Ultimate Warriors. The Bullies will be looking for a little payback after the Warriors prematurely ended their playoff run last summer so it should be a good game. Game time is 2pm.

Our schedule for the Winter 2007 retiering round has been announced. Things start up on Monday, September 17th with the Bullies taking on last Winter's Division 8 Champions, Balls Deep. The ball drops at 10:30pm at the Xtreme Zone. The remainder of the schedule is posted on our site, and the regular season schedule will be posted sometime after the retiering round.

Aside from that, there was not too much new discussed at the team rep meeting. Things to note are that the shootout has been eliminated, and instead there will be a four minute, 4 on 4, run time overtime. If nothing is settled there, the game will end in a tie. Playoffs will have full periods of overtimes until the game is settled. In terms of penalties, there are a few things to watch for. At a refs discretion, an accidental (though not a careless) high stick that draws blood may be assessed as five and a game ejection, as opposed to five and a game misconduct (Which meant an additional one game suspension). It is entirely at the refs discretion, though, and careless stickwork can still be called as a misconduct. Fines for fighting are also drastically more severe, ranging from 3 to 5 games for a first offense, with 5 games for third man in, and a 10 game suspension for the second fight to a player in a team. There are also severe penalties to the team for multiple fights in a game, or more than four in a season. It appears they are trying to really crack down on some of the crap that has gone down in previous seasons, so if that happens, that will only benefit us.

The other good news is that our team fees buy us a full 24 games this winter, as opposed to the 22 we played last year. The season is just over a week away, so I hope everyone is ready to go.

It has been announced that the Winter 2007 season will begin on Monday, September 10th. We don't know exactly what day we play yet, but will have the schedule for the retiering round after the team rep meeting on Thursday, September 6th. Info will be posted here as we get it.

With Winter season nearly upon us, it is once again time to start collecting the team fees. Obviously it would be preferable if you could get the full amount in sooner, rather than later, but at minimum we need your first $100 by the end of the month. Payment can be made to Jay, Nate, or Nick, so contact whoever is easiest for you to physically meet up with and make arrangements. We're expecting team fees to be around $180 for this winter, which will be due in it's entirety before the season starts.

We now have the game tape for the Plague at Bullies quarterfinals game online. Special note to the Plague fans who had the freakout at the refs towards the end of the game. Watch the video at around the 1hr 11 minute mark, where you'll see the sequence of events leading up to the player getting injured. While running backwards without looking where he was going, he collided with the Bullies goaltender, tripping himself and going down hard.

It's been a familiar refrain for a few seasons, now, with the Bullies putting up great regular season numbers before pulling an Ottawa in the playoffs. This year was much the same, with a great regular season, a ton of momentum going into the playoffs, and a first round matchup they should have won, but a strong, but inconsistent, effort was not enough as the Ultimate Warriors advance to the second round, beating the Bullies 6-4. There were certainly a number of valid complaints the Bullies could have made about the game, but it, and with it, the season, is over, so there is little point.

Frustratingly, the Bullies came out of the gate a bit slow again and were punished badly for it, surrending two goals in the first 6 minutes. Things seemed to turn around for them, though, as they began to chip away at the lead. First, Clint Lehune got on the board at with 8:15 to play in the first, and then with less than five minutes remaining, the Bullies went on the man advantage. Putting their first unit out there, they cycled the ball well and it took just 30 seconds of the powerplay to even things up at two, with Cordell Ferguson getting credited for the goal. A gorgeous tic-tac-toe play found Cordell, Clint, and John 'Jay' Gilbert breaking into the Warriors' zone, culminating in Jay lifting the ball over a sprawling Warriors to give the Bullies the lead. With three unanswered goals and things finally starting to click, it seemed like the Bullies might finally win a playoff series.

It was not meant to be, however. Just 45 seconds into the period, the Warriors scored to make it 3-3. After the Bullies got down a man for four minutes on a slashing call, it seemed they were on the way to killing it, especially when a Warrior carelessly high sticked a ball down to make for some 4 on 4 hockey. With mere second remaining in the balance of the kill, the Warriors took the lead again. 45 seconds later, they got another draw in the Bullies zone and a onetimer just off the faceoff eluded Monty to make it 5-3. Jeff Pejs did his best to make a game of it when he scored to narrow the lead to 1 with 8:48 to play, but thirty seconds after that, the Warriors again converted. With the score 6-4 with 8:24 to play, the game wasn't neccesarily out of reach, but another four minute kill ate away at their offensive opportunities. Even with a pulled goalie, the Bullies couldn't get back into it.

Another disappointing end to a very promising season, all in all. It's not so much that the Bullies played bad, as they were very strong at times, but small mental lapses and mistakes in coverage was the difference, as they had every opportunity to put this game away. This now makes for two upsets in the first round, with Team Chaos knocking off the Wildcats as well. The second round should feature a pool of Top Shelf, the Warriors, and Team Chaos, and another of the Horsemen, Wolfpack, and Stickmen. That's it for the Bullies, though, as they'll rest up some injuries before training camp for the winter season beginning sometime in September.

With the votes tallied, The Bullies can now announce the winners of their Summer 2007 Team Awards.

The Broadstreet Bullies eliminated the Plague from playoff contention, courtesy of a 4-2 win. It was an ugly win, spoiled by a ridiculous excess of penalties from both sides, but that's playoff hockey, sometimes. Fortunately, Monty and the Bullies blue line were up to the task tonight as they played a tight game in their own zone that greatly cut down on the number of shots he faced. The offensive heroes of the night were the line of Richard Kirchener, Gaetan 'G' Daniel, and Clint 'Pops' Wilson who combined for a pair of goals and six points. Both other offensive lines also picked up a goal each. The Bullies could not ask for a better scenario than going up against the Ultimate Warriors on Wednesday. These two longtime rivals have a lot of history, but it has been the Bullies who have come up with the majority of the wins of late, and with the winner of that game moving on, it is for all the marbles.

As usual, the Bullies had a little bit of the playoff jitters for the first few shifts, but quickly calmed themselves down after an early penalty kill. AJ Prockiw was slightly overzealous and tapped the ball out of the air with his stick, putting the Bullies down a man in the early minutes. With that one out of the way and everyone playing their positions well, the offence got to work. Aron Nenninger scored one of his trademark tips from the side of the net to put his team up at 12:29. Richard Kirchener crashed the net and followed up with another a minute later for a 2-0 Bullies lead, halfway through the first. Kirchener found himself in the box for goaltender interference with 6:13 remaining in the first, and the Bullies did an exceptional job killing it, before a long shot through traffic that Monty never quite saw snuck by him to break the shutout and make it a 2-1 game. The clock wound down and the score remained at that by the intermission.

Not entirely satisfied with the period they had, the Bullies knew they needed a little more effort, and hopefully a few fewer penalties, in the second half. The good news is they got the former, but not so much of the latter. Clint 'Pops' Wilson drilled a shot into the net from the hashmarks to make it 3-1 very early in the second, the goal that would be the eventual game winner. Cordell Ferguson added some insurance with 9:23 to play. Things started to get a bit ugly, as the Plague, with nothing left to play for, started a lot of ugly play. Worse, the Bullies were not particularly disciplined and started taking some retaliation penalties. Much of the second half of the second period found multiple players from both teams serving offsetting penalties. Things came to a head when some rowdy Plague fans caused an extensive game delay with two minutes left on the clock, before being forced to leave. The lengthy break seemed to sap a bit of the Bullies momentum, and they were not able to quite eat the clock as they wanted, surrendering a goal with a minute to play. The Plague never got another sniff, and their season ended by a 4-2 final score.

The biggest thing the Bullies will need to take away from this game is a commitment to a little more discipline. The Ultimate Warriors will be an even more physical team, and they know our players and how to push our buttons. They can be deadly on the powerplay so it will be key to stay out of the box. The Bullies will have their chance to move on to the second round for the first time in franchise history on Wednesday, with gametime at 7pm at East.

With a short bench of disorganized players, the Broadstreet Bullies did not begin with the jump they'd hoped for as they dug a hole early and were forced to dig deep to come back. With nearly a full line missing, including some key special teams players, the Bullies just looked lost early in the game and paid the price dearly. Only a lot of grit and some timely goals gave them the two statistically insignificant, but emotionally important points.

They did get on the board early, with Cordell Ferguson starting his hat trick, but just seconds later gave up the tying goal. Normally this would be where the Bullies would buckle down and get back to their game plan, but for some reason it didn't seem to be happening. They were getting their chances in the other zone, but were unable to capitalize, and with the Entourage crashing the net with three and four players, were being run ragged in their own zone. This culminated in a pair of goals agains, just a minute a part, halfway through the first. Down 3-1, the Bullies finally started to clue in that they'd to step it up if they wanted to carry any momentum into the playoffs. The tide began to turn as they started noticing holes in the Entourage defence and started forcing turn overs and odd man rushes. Despite the spark of life, though, they went to the intermission still down by a pair.

The second period, though, was all Bullies. AJ Prockiw cut the deficit in half just under two minutes in and began the rally. Mere seconds into their first powerplay of the game, a gorgeous tic-tac-toe play had John 'Jay' Gilbert roofing it to tie things up. Cordell Ferguson gave the Bullies their first lead of the game with 11:55 to play. Then, The Bullies caught with half the period remaining. Entourage seemingly tied it up, but it was ruled to have been hit in with a high stick - so not only was it waived off, but the Entourage player was sent to the box for two. Some further penalty drama ensued when Aron Nenninger batted the ball towards the net, hitting an Entourage player in the (fully caged) face with the ball. Despite their protestations, one of the refs ruled it high sticking, so the Bullies were down a man for four minutes, with 6:33 to play. With the first penalty killed off, they took another penalty, with Nicholas Paufler serving two for hooking an Entourage player down. AJ Prockiw led a textbook perfect penalty kill though, as he continued his poke checking heroics from their last game, as he nearly single handedly killed off the two man deficit. Back to even strength, Entourage were forced to pull their goalie, but lost the advantage when they took a bad roughing call. Cordell Ferguson finished off his hat trick with an empty netter in the final 30 seconds, and the Bullies killed the clock for a 5-3 final.

It wasn't pretty, at least not to start, but it was a character win by a team that refused to die. It was their own sloppy play that put them in the predicament, but it was important for them to be able to recover from adversity, especially going into the playoffs. The Bullies close out the season with a 17-6-1 record for 35 points, with them in sole posession of fourth place. This is one point off of the pace they set last summer, but arguably an even more impressive feat given that there were three teams slumming it in this, a higher division than last year.

Playoff action begins on Monday July 23rd at 9:30pm. The Bullies will play host to the Plague at East in their first match of the mini-round-robin. The Bullies took out the Plague 5-3 in another game that they were short benched, so with a full roster, they'll hope to dispatch them yet again.

First round playoff action will begin on Monday, July 23rd at 9:30pm at East. The Bullies will take on either the Plague or the Silvacom Storm, though based on their final games to be played, the Plague seems more likely. The second game takes place on Wednesday, July 25th at 7pm, also at East. This one is guaranteed to be against the Bullies' longtime rivals, the Ultimate Warriors. Both should be great games.

Needing just one win in their final two games to clinch fourth overall, the Bullies did so in style with a crushing 8-1 victory over the Wildcats. With their second consecutive win over the Wildcats this season, the Bullies have evened the all time record between the two teams at 2-2-0. Their 16-6-1 record means that even if the Stickmen win their final game and the Bullies drop their match versus Entourage, they will still be ahead on the first tie breaker with one more win than the Stickmen. With the playoffs starting as soon as this coming Sunday, locking up a top seed in the playoffs is exactly what the Bullies wanted.

If anything, the Bullies win tonight had more in common with their 7-0 routing of the Horsemen earlier in the season. It was another match against a tough, top ranked team, and a combination of a lot of hustle and an early lead sapped the spirit of their opponents and let the Bullies cruise to a dominant victory. The Bullies got the ball rolling early, exactly as they had planned, with a quick powerplay goal a minute into the game. An odd play resulted in the ball finding it's way into the back of the net, for Clint Lehune's first of four on the night. Lehune added his second on a brilliant short handed effort at 11:53. His linemate, John 'Jay' Gilbert converted his own short handed effort with 1:53 to play in the period for a 3-0 Bullies lead. Some mental lapses put the Bullies down on a late 5 on 3, but some stellar work by AJ Prockiw cycling it deep on the boards killed off the balance of the first with the Bullies in control of the game.

The start of the second period seemed like the Wildcats might have regained some momentum when a long shot eluded Darcy 'Monty' Holden to break the shutout, but Lehune squashed any hope of a comeback 30 seconds later as he notched another hat trick. Richard Kirchener potted his fifth of the season a few minutes later, and then Aron Nenninger tallied on the man advantage halfway through the period to put the Bullies ahead 6-1. Cordell Ferguson also got on the board at 8:43, and Lehune put in his fourth of the night at 7:53 to make it an 8-1 final. The score only really tells half the story, as the Bullies were utterly dominant in both ends of the ice and did not let the Wildcats get into the game at all. The frustration level of their opponents visibly rose as the game wore on and they were rarely able to even get the line.

Key factors were obviously the goal explosion by the top line, but the win wouldn't have been possible without some sharp saves by Monty, a deadly pokecheck by AJ that murdered the Wildcats at the line 7 or 8 times, aggressive forechecking by both Jeff Pejs and Richard Kirchener's lines that forced turnover after turnover, and a defence that was rock solid. Everybody showed up with a desire to get the win and the results speak for themselves. The Bullies are clearly already in playoff hockey mode and are ready to make a run this year.

Despite the imminent start to the playoffs, the Bullies will not take their final game of the season lightly. They take on the 6-15-1 Entourage, whom the Bullies beat 7-0 earlier in the season. Despite their record, the Entourage have proved they can score goals on the top teams and should not be written off. A big win here will provide the neccesary momentum going into the playoffs. The regular season wraps up at 9:30pm on Friday, July 20th at the West Soccer Centre.

If there was any game this year that the Bullies would have liked to have had back, it would be their 4-3 OT loss to the Lunatics early in the season. Two brutally unlucky bounces were the difference that game, and only a win would take away some of the bad taste from that match. The Bullies did pick up their 15th win and 5th shutout of the season, though, as they hold on to the desirable fourth overall place in the standings.

Unlike the last time these two teams met, the Bullies had a little more jump early on, despite the heat. The Bullies were getting good pressure in the offensive zone as they controlled the play, but some of their best chances came on forced turnovers. Numerous breakaways were generated but nobody seemed to be able to bury one. Thankfully, the Bullies defence was more than up to the task in their own zone, especially on the penalty kill. Amusingly enough, the Bullies had more shots short handed than the Lunatics had in the entire second half. The first period ended scoreless, with the Bullies guns' firing blanks and Darcy 'Monty' Holden making a few spectacular saves to keep the game even.

The second period did not start well for the Bullies, with Cordell Ferguson taking an early double minor for slashing as he tried to break up. Immediately thereafter, the Lunatics started to fall apart as just 9 seconds in, they took their own slashing double minor to make it 4 on 4. With the Bullies 4 on 4 play being strong this year it was a strong momentum shifter. Nothing serious happened, but it did not take long after for the Bullies to get on the board. Jeff Pejs scored when it mattered most, just afterputting the Bullies up 1-0 with 10:11 to play. With such a tight game, the Bullies immediately went into lockdown to kill the clock, and were given a gift when the Lunatics self destructed. Just 40 seconds after the goal, they took another four minute slashing call, and got another two for unsportsmanlike. Worse, immediately after killing off that, they took another four minute high sticking call, putting them down for the balance of the game. Embarassingly, the Bullies could not score on the empty net despite having three plays in the attacking zone in the dying seconds, forcing them to settle for the 1-0 win.

With another two points in the bag, and a 15-6-1 record with two games to play, the Bullies still have sole posession of fourth overall - they have also guaranteed a finish of no worse than sixth. This makes the game versus the Wildcats on Tuesday, July 17th even more important. A win there will clinch fourth. Gametime will be 7pm for the Bullies last visit of the year to East.

Only slightly delayed, the Broadstreet Bullies are pleased to announce something they are hoping will be at least a semi-regular feature here - full, archived game footage. First up is our last game, from Thursday, July 5th as the Bullies took on the Pylons in an eventual 3-2 win.

We have a practice scheduled for Tuesday, July 10th from 7-8pm at the South Soccer Centre. Sounding like we'll have a pretty good turnout, so hopefully most everyone can make it out.

After two disappointing losses, the Bullies were really looking to get back on track, especially with the standings so tight. With the win, the Bullies move back into sole posession of fourth place overall, with three games to play. It is now mathematically impossible to move into third, so the Bullies will hope to hold onto their current ranking. As for the game, the 36 degree temperatures were the biggest factor affecting both teams, but it turned out to be the Bullies patience that paid off as they stuck to their game plan and were rewarded for their perseverence.

An unfortunate trend of late was repeated, with the Bullies surrendering the first goal halfway through the first. The Bullies did respond quickly, though, with Derrick 'T-Bone' Mertz lugging it up into the offensive zone on the tail end of a long shift. Almost out of gas and desperate for a change, he instead got off a shot that wound up in Cordell Ferguson's foot, who kicked it to his stick and drove it into the Pylon keeper's five hole. This swung the momentum fully in the Bullies favour as they picked it up, helped by their three full lines to the Pylons two. Despite the pressure, the period ended even at one a piece.

The second again started well, with the Bullies having good posession and were finding the cycle to be effective but with the majority of their best chances going wide, they couldn't take the lead. Again, it was the Pylons, with 7:42 to play, who took advantage of a bit of sloppiness in the Bullies end to retake the lead, 2-1. Even with the clock dwindling down, the Bullies felt they were fully in control of their destiny and they began their comeback in the final five minutes. First, Clint Lehune scored his 23rd goal of the season, to break both the goals and points in a season records. Half a minute later, John 'Jay' Gilbert, channelling the spirit of Jeremy Roenick, got a shot away to put his team ahead 3-2. After that it was a simple matter for the team to kill the clock and minimize the chances they gave up. As the buzzer went off, the Bullies improved to 14-6-1 on the season, and Andy 'A-Bot' Dejonghe picked up his fifth win of the season in relief of Darcy Holden, making him undefeated this year.

The goals they gave up were mostly the result of slight mental lapses, but at the same time, the Bullies kept their heads in the game, despite their recent misfortunes, and kept plugging away. Their aggressive forecheck really seemed to frustrate the Pylons ability to break out with control. The D came up big, both in their own zone and on the attack. Every defenceman had at least one beautiful shot, even if they all seemed to be going just wide. The forwards were responsible in both zones, with the top line providing the offence, but the other two had plenty of chances, as well. Andy deserved this win, too, with his glove hand being lightning quick all night.

Next up will be the 10-8-2 Lunatics who beat the Bullies 4-3 in OT earlier in the season. Some ugly bounces off their own players cost them the win, so the Bullies will be hungry for redemption, as well as two more precious points. Game time is 8:15pm at East.

Also, look for something a little different coming this weekend to the Bullies website. It has been something the team has wanted to do for a while and it should be entertaining.

The Broadstreet Bullies bounced back from the horrific loss earlier in the week, but weren't quite able to get their offence clicking and went down 4-0 to Top Shelf. The Bullies were right in it for 37 minutes, with the difference maker being 3 minutes at the start of the second where Top Shelf popped in a trio of goals to seal the deal. Aside from that, it was a tight game that could have gone either way with a bounce here or there. Both netminders came up with some huge saves, and it was great to see a clean and penalty free game.

The first period was an entirely scoreless affair with a lot of back and forth play, but neither team really able to setup any truly quality scoring chances. The play was mostly kept to the outside with strong defence from both sides. This was a marked improvement for the Bullies after the disaster on Monday and it was a good opportunity to get that aspect of their game back in control. With no penalties, the first period flew by, though the heat was taking it's toll on both teams.

The second period opened up with Top Shelf looking slightly fresher, with their younger legs giving them the edge and they scored three times in rapid succession to put the Bullies well back. After a timeout, though, the Bullies picked up on the adjustment Top Shelf had made and were able to cut down on the chances after that, but they were lacking the extra bit of gas their opponents seem to have and as the game wore on they were slowing notably. This was a surprising occurence, as the Bullies have been one of the better second period teams in the division and can usually outrun their opposition as games wear on. One more late goal by Top Shelf capped the scoring.

As disappointing as another loss is, it was equally important for the Bullies to get back to their game and clean up the sloppy play that has been the result of a bit of cockiness of late. They certainly did that, and it puts them in a much better position to finish off the final four games of the regular season. Of note, this is the first time all season that the Bullies have lost back to back games. That is a streak they will certainly want to end.

Due to the long weekend, the Bullies won't play again for a full week, as they get a rematch against the Pylons on Thursday, July 5th for yet another 9:30pm game at East. Last team these two teams met, the Bullies pulled away with a 4-3 OT win in a penalty filled mess. The Bullies will look for a more convincing result this time, as their two losses have dropped them from 4th to 6th place.

To give credit where credit is due, the Ringers absolutely deserved the two points as they humbled, embarassed, and generally put the Bullies in their place. It was an unmitigated disaster of a game and arguably the worst 40 minutes of hockey ever played in Bullies history. Everything was going wrong for the Bullies, but that was no excuse - they were beat to every ball and were unable or unwilling to adapt and paid the price for it. Down 2-0 early after a pair of quick goals and 4-1 by half, the Bullies would have had fewer goals scored against them if they had just forfeited the game. The Ringers are a dangerous team when you let them build some momentum and they took full advantage in this steamrolling.

There is almost nothing positive that can be taken away from it and the Bullies will have to hope for a better showing versus Top Shelf on Thursday. The big difference was a complete collapse of the Bullies team defence first game. The cascading effect with the forwards not coming back had the defence running around and left Monty compeletely hung out to dry. Every time the Bullies lock it down in their own zone, they are able to break out with control. When they don't, their game at both ends falls apart. Giving up the final 6 goals on nearly identical 3 on 2s showed just how poorly the Bullies adapted to a simple, but effect, set play. It's easy to talk about how it could have been a different game if the Bullies had converted on their breakaways, got their shots away quicker, or were able to dig out any of the rebounds, but the fact remains, without those odd man rushes, it would be a 3-2 win - it was the team defence that failed, the lack of offense only compounded the problem.

The Bullies mustered just 3 goals and gave up 8 to a team that was -94 going into the game. They'll play a team that is +95 on Thursday in Top Shelf. An awful lot will need to be corrected if the Bullies are going to have any chance of revenge. Game time is 9:30pm, again at East.

A relatively clean game by both teams featured a bafflingly large number of penalties called against both sides, but the Bullies capitalized on their man advantages, notching three power play goals en route to a 5-2 win over Team Chaos. Not only was this their ninth win in a row (matching the record set by the Wolfpack earlier in the season), but the Bullies also officially clinched a playoff spot courtesy of their 13-4-1 record with 6 games to play.

Despite the powerful offence posessed by both these teams it took almost the full first period before anyone notched a goal. The Bullies demonstrated, however, the benefits of three scoring lines as the G/Rich/Pops line finally clicked. That line has been an amazing two-way line for the Bullies since it was put together, but they just weren't getting rewarded on the scoresheet - something that changed tonight, thanks to an 8 point outburst that was instrumental in the Bullies win. Gaetan 'G' Daniel scored his first of two with just under a minute to play in the period - drawing a penalty, to boot. On the ensuing powerplay, it took a mere 27 seconds for the same line to again convert as they buried another for a 2-0 lead going into half. Breaking the stalemate, despite 14 penalty minutes in the first half, was a huge boost to the Bullies' morale and they were able to continue that into the second.

Unlike the first, it did not take long for the goals to come. Richard Kirchener's line again did all the work as he scored the eventual game winner left alone in the slot. Team Chaos did break the shutout halfway through the period off of a powerplay goal, the only one the Bullies surrendered, but it was for nought. Randy Moisan made a high risk pass to his defensive partner, Darcy 'Gouda' Skish, but Gouda justified the gamble as he added a little insurance with his first goal of the year - and 50th career point. Clint Lehune continued his own point streak with his team leading 20th goal with five minutes left in the game, sealing the deal. A late goal on a misplay in the Bullies zone made it a 5-2 game, but it was an easy kill of the clock after that, giving Andy Dejonghe his fourth win in four starts this season.

The Bullies played a great man on man game and were excellent in neutralizing a clearly frustrated Team Chaos offence. Their top two scorers, 3rd and 4th in divisional scoring, were held to a single point on the last minute Team Chaos goal. They didn't get many shots away themselves, and weren't able to get to the rebounds as they normally did, but they made the shots they did get count. A-Bot was again solid in net and continued his tendency to make a couple of highlight reel saves every game. It would have been a much closer game were it not for his excellent play. It was also great to see another one of the Bullies forward lines really stepping up and getting the job done when the other two couldn't really get much going. As was theorized when these lines were put together, for the first time ever, the Bullies now have three lines that can break a game wide open.

The Bullies don't play again until Monday, June 25th for their first of five games at East. They'll get a rematch against the 2-15-0 Ringers at 9:30pm. The Bullies will hope to pick up their tenth consecutive win and hopefully a better defensive effort than their previous 9-5 win over the Ringers.

It has been a very interesting run for the Bullies with a variety of different styles, but with their eigth consecutive win, the Bullies proved that they could win the nail biters as well as the shootouts. In addition to continuing their franchise record winning streak, the Bullies have also shutout their opponents four times over that span, including this, Andy Dejonghe's first career shutout. They have also surrendered just 12 goals, for a very impressive 1.5 GAA.

But back to the game at hand, it was a defensive tour de force, with the Bullies defence and netminder coming out on top in the defensive duel. They held the line, but were also key in the offensive zone, with solid breakout passes and great control on the boards. Still, it looked like the Bullies might have reverted to some of their bad habits early on, going a man down very early. A solid kill gave them the momentum back as they peppered the Creepers keeper with shots to try to solve his imposing size. He lived up to his advertised GAA, though, and gave up almost nothing. The Bullies were back in trouble halfway through the first as they took their second straight penalty. Clint Lehune, victim of a brutal missed high stick that left him cut and bleeding, argued a little too loudly with one of the refs and get benched for two. Much like the first kill, though, the Bullies were poised and in control and killed it off with ease. The period ended without either team getting on the board.

By the second period, the Bullies started to find the cracks in the Creepers defence. Realizing their preference for picking off the cross passes, they started playing the boards tighter, and with greater size to hold it in, and greater speed to chase the dumps, they really started pouring it on. Andy Dejonghe had to make the first spectacular save of the game, though, as the Bullies were once again killing, as he kicked out his leg and directed it aside with his toe. With the remainder of the penalty negated by the Creepers first and only penalty, the Bullies were able to get their offensive game going again. It was inevitable that they'd score, and score they did, with 7:19 to play, as Clint Lehune, Jay Gilbert, and Cordell Ferguson all crashed the net, banging away at it before Lehune knocked it home. Finally posessing the lead, the Bullies turned their defensive game up to 11, but not without getting a few more glorious scoring chances to try and open it up a little bit. Some great plays to keep the ball down low ate away at the minutes, preserving the shutout and the winning streak.

With all three defensive pairings making smart plays, and the forwards (especially the G/Rich/Pops and Aron/Jeff/Nate lines) forechecking with abandon the Bullies had the better chances while giving up little. The Bullies will get a chance to match the divisisional record winning streak of the Wolfpack, at nine, when they take on Team Chaos on Wednesday, June 20th at West for an 8:15pm start.

As odd as it sounds, and as tough as this win was, it was exactly the sort of win the Bullies needed. After an impressive stretch where they were shelling their opponents night in and night out, it was important for the team to get a gritty win in a close game, where they had to dig out of their first two goal deficit since May 14th. With this win, the Bullies broke another franchise record with their seventh consecutive win. After a disappointing 4-4-0 through the first third of the season, the Bullies have looked great, going 7-0-1 in the second third.

Despite their longstanding rivalry, the Bullies went into this game expecting a fairly clean affair. The penalty filled second period was anything but, but the Bullies special teams came up big again as they played a huge role in the win. Things did get off to a terrible start, though, when a missed assignment put the Bullies down 1-0 early, and the problem was compounded by a 2-0 goal just seconds after the Bullies killed off a four minute penalty. Captain Clint Lehune started the comeback 40 seconds later, though, when Derrick 'T-Bone' Mertz started the attack going the other way, culminating in a tic tac toe play between Jay, Cordell, and Clint finishing it. Linemate Cordell Ferguson's shot with two minutes to play in the first seemingly swung the momentum completely in the Bullies favour as they tied it up late in the first, but it would not be so easy this night. A disappointing goal with five seconds in the first period again gave the Ultimate Warriors the lead. It would be the last goal they scored in the game.

The second period was a mess of penalties, with the Warriors taking twice as many. With the Bullies penalty killers doing their job and not giving up anything else, Clint Lehune's second of the game came 21 seconds into a powerplay to even the game up at 3. 19 seconds later, sanitation commissioner Aron Nenninger capitalized on a horrific giveaway by a Warriors defenceman and put the ball behind the stunned opposition keeper to put the Bullies ahead for the first time in the game. A pair of late man advantages helped kill the clock, and some great team defence preserved the win, with the minuets ticking down to another Bullies victory.

It was the first time in a good while that the Bullies faced a team that was so aggressive on the ball. The Ultimate Warriors did a great job applying pressure and forced quicker passes than the Bullies have had to in a while. Things did not look good early, but in a good sign of resilience, the Bullies adapted their game plan. It was also the first time in a while that the Bullies had the bounces going against them, as two shots rang off the inside of the crossbar and several players missed wide open nets. There are definite positives and negatives the team will need to take away from this win, and hopefully they will help improve the team. With their extended winning streak, every team they play will be looking to end it, so the Bullies will need to step up even more to continue this run. Coasting through the final eight games will not be sufficient, as five of those eight are against teams holding down a playoff spot right now.

With another long break, the Bullies will not play again until Sunday, June 17th as they take on the 7-5-3 Creepers at West. The ball drops at 8:30pm.

With a convincing 9-1 victory over the Marauders, the Bullies held on to their recently acquired fourth overall place in the standings, with a 10-4-1 record, and a markedly improved +23 +/- rating. Interestingly enough, this sixth win in a row matches their franchise record last season, which ended after a 2-1 loss to the Ultimate Warriors. Coincidentally, the Bullies play the Warriors this coming Sunday and will get a second chance to break that record.

Based on standings alone, this game was the Bullies to lose. Through no fault of their own, and directly related to the lack of retiering, the Marauders were unfortunately stuck playing in a division slightly beyond their skill level, and they came up against a Bullies team that was firing on all cylinders. The special teams especially continue to be on fire, adding another short handed goal and four power play markers, to add up to three short handed and sixth with the man advantage in the last two games. As they've done lately, the Bullies got on the board early and did not relent. With a full bench of hungry players, they did not give an inch.

Things did get off to a bad start, with the Bullies giving up the first man advantage just thirty seconds in, but it was easily killed off. The kill motivated the Jay/Clint/Cordell line to go out and open things up with a 1-0 lead five minutes in, on a beautiful three way passing play. Unfortunately, it seemed the Bullies might find themselves in penalty trouble shortly after as an accidental high stick put Nate Draginda in the box for four minutes. Surprisingly, though, it was the Bullies who pressed the attack while down, and with just thirty seconds left in the second minor, Gaetan 'G' Daniel's unassisted short handed goal gave his team a 2-0 lead. This sparked a brief offensive flurry, with the third line also getting on the board, courtesy of Jeff Pejs, and another from the first line, with Cordell Ferguson adding another, all in the span of two minutes. The final player on said line also got on the board with 1:19 left in the first, as Clint Lehune potted the first of four power play goals, to give the Bullies a 5-0 lead at half.

Jeff Pejs tallied his second of the night early in the second, but disappointingly, Darcy 'Monty' Holden's shutout streak ended, somewhere just over 150 minutes in, as the Marauders got on the board shortly after. It took a mere 30 seconds for the Bullies to respond in kind, courtesy of Clint Lehune's second of the night, and team leading 16th goal. Cordell Ferguson made it 8-1 while the second was still young, and Nicholas Paufler capped the scoring at 9-1, as he calmly walked into a perfect pass for a one timed goal, his first of the season.

Right now, everything seems to be working for the Bullies, as they've found three offensive lines with complementing skills that give them a variety of threats in every situation. When they're given 11 man advantages against a clearly frustrated opposition, it is in inevitable that they will capitalize. When you add in a defence that continues to make the smart plays in both zones, and some almost perfect goaltending by Monty, it is easy to see why the Bullies are achieving their recent successes. Everyone knows the run can't last forever, but the team is playing with a level of confidence in themselves they lacked in the early part of the season (4-4-0 to start, but 6-0-1 since then) and everyone is committed to continuing this run as long as possible.

As was mentioned earlier, in what is the most anticipated game of the season, the Bullies will take on the 7-8-0 Ultimate Warriors for a 7pm game at West on Monday, June 11th. The Warriors have always been one of the Bullies' favourite opponents so expect an exciting game.

It was a game that had a lot of factors working against the Bullies, but they toughed it out in an impressive fashion, and extended their winning streak to five with a 5-3 win over the Plague. Missing their starting netminder, their best offensive defenceman, their best forechecker, and one of their hardest shots, the Bullies were short on bodies on a brutally hot day. A short 12 player bench and sweltering heat made for a team that sweated off a few dozen pounds over the course of the play. It's fair to say that despite their 3 games without giving up a goal, this was the hardest game the Bullies have played in weeks.

Things started in a confused manner, with the Plague's goaltender missing in action and the Bullies keeper sent to the dressing room to swap jerseys. The Bullies managed to get a whistle a few seconds in, though, and were able to get Andy back in net before any damage was done. Whether it was the heat, or the long layoff since they last played, but the Bullies didn't look particularly good in the early goings as they got caught running around and missed a number of chances to clear the zone. Thankfully, they didn't give up anything. Nearly the entire period passed before anyone got on the scoreboard, and the Bullies shutout streak ended at just over 143 minutes with the Plague getting on the board first. A bad holding call to John 'Jay' Gilbert put the Bullies down with a minute left in the period, but the special teams went to work. With the faceoff just outside the attacking zone, the draw was won back to Derrick 'T-Bone' Mertz who's high, low velocity shot deflected off a Plague player and into their own net to even things up. Better yet, the Plague took a tripping penalty to give the Bullies another man advantage. This time, they capitalized with Aron Nenninger tapping it home for his 60th career goal, and 100th career point. The Bullies went to the intermission up 2-1.

The two late goals seemed to swing the momentum in the Bullies favour, despite their tired legs, but it could have been ugly after an early Plague goal, 30 seconds into the second. The score was evened up 2-2, and again forced the Bullies into action. Their second short handed goal of the game came at 13:19, with Darryl Paget retaking the lead. DP had promised a goal if he got a clean shot in the slot and he delivered, big time. With 7:44 to play, a clean breakaway between the Jay/ClintL/Cordell line went on the attack and Jay made no mistakes in burying the final pass on what would ultimately be the game winning goal. The final Bullies goal came thirty seconds later, again, on the powerplay, with Clint Lehune's team leading 14th goal. A late 5 on 3 advantage for the Plague gave them a little life, but some absolutely stunning penalty killing by the Bullies ate away at the clock, but with just one second to play, the ball snuck behind Andy to make the final 5-3.

Oddly enough, it was the second half where the Bullies were the strongest, despite the fatigue. The whole team played very well, and it showed on the special teams. Two great powerplay goals plus a pair of shorties were huge. Andy was exceptional in net, as well, with his glove hand smoking hot, and a couple of highlight real saves falling backwards to keep it out. Depending on the outcome of the Horsemen/Wildcats game, the Bullies are at least in sole posession of 5th place overall, and may be as high as 4th with their 9-4-1 (+18) record. Also, this game marks the Bullies 150th game played as a franchise.

Action resumes on Thursday with a late, 9:30pm game at West, with the Bullies hoping to keep the streak alive against the 3-10-0 Marauders.

The Broadstreet Bullies knew the middle of this season would be the most important part of this season, with so many teams so close together in the standings. It was vitally important that they build some kind of momentum and start getting a winning stream going. Even with the optimism in the dressing room, it is highly unlikely that anyone foresaw what would happen once they got rolling, though. With their fourth win in a row, and ninth point out of a possible ten in their last five, the Bullies have moved out of the middle of the pack and are challenging for fourth overall. With three straight shutouts (Monty has gone 128:04 without giving up a goal) and 19 unanswered goals over that span (with 26 goals for and 5 against in the last 4) the entire team is clicking at an unprecedented rate.

It was another new team, the Entourage, that fell before the Bullies onslaught to keep the multiple streaks alive. Still, the game was far from easy. Whether it was overconfidence, or the opressive heat of the South Soccer Centre, the Bullies did not look particularly sharp in the early goings of the period. The Entourage were forechecking hard and the Bullies were having trouble getting out of their own zone. The tide began to turn, however, when a smart D to D pass from Andy Dejonghe (his first point of the year) to AJ Prockiw, who somehow got it past the keeper's glove. At 11:38, the Bullies were up 1-0, and two minutes and change later, the Nate/Jeff/Aron line struck for their first of five goals to make it 2-0, with Aron getting his 3rd of the season. His linemate, Jeff Pejs, scored twice 16 seconds apart, at 2:21 and 2:05, to extend the lead to 4-0 by half.

The game was well and truly in the bag for the Bullies by this point, but after finding the most effective defence to be an aggressive forecheck, they kept pouring it on and were again rewarded on the score sheet. Aron Nenninger added his second of the night five minutes into the second to put his team up by five. Another line finally got on the board, with Cordell Ferguson and John 'Jay' Gilbert assisting captain Clint Lehune for the team's sixth. The scoring ended with Jeff Pejs completing his hat trick at 6:32 to make the 7-0 final score. With run time in effect, the Bullies were effective in killing the clock, save the final minute when they were caught scrambling in their own end attempting to preserve the shutout for Monty. They did run it down, though, and chalked up another shutout win.

One of the best things about their recent change in fortunes have been the contributions of all three forward lines. Tonight, the Nate/Jeff/Aron line chipped in 5 goals and 11 points, on a night when the 'top' line couldn't bury their chances. Still, even if they didn't convert, their time on attack was impressive and there were some beautiful passing plays. Likewise, the G/Rich/Pops line, despite being blanked on the scoresheet, was so dominant in the attacking zone as to keep the Entourage completely hemmed in. The extend of their contribution cannot be measured by the score sheet at all. The D were also very responsible, keeping the play to the outside, holding the line, and even contributing six points on the night. For the third straight game, Monty didn't face many shots but he was not dozing at all as he got another well earned shutout.

The Entourage goalkeeper should also be commended and likely deserved a 3-stars nomination as, despite the score, he came up with some absolutely huge glove saves to rob a number of sure goals. Their whole team also managed to stay positive and didn't seem to be bitching on the bench, unlike some more experienced teams the Bullies have faced this year. That bodes well for their future successes.

The 8-4-1 Bullies will play the 5-6-1 Plague on Sunday, June 3rd, 2:15pm at West.

How does one beat a 5-0 shutout victory over a team behind them in the standings? Obviously, a 7-0 drubbing of the first overall team, previously undefeated with an impeccable 10-0-1 record. The game was a textbook example of perfection as the Bullies played as well as they ever have and handed the Horsemen their first loss of the season. The Bullies also continued their ongoing dominance over the Horsemen, with the lifetime series now 5-2-0 in the Bullies favour - though this was the most convincing win of them all.

Much like the last game, the Bullies came out of the gate strongly, and as has often been the case, the offence started with the defence. On the second shift of the night, defender Nicholas Paufler fired a bounce pass off the boards to Aron Nenninger, who got the shot on net, with Jeff Pejs getting the rebound for a very early Bullies 1-0 lead. A fresh line came out shortly after, and this time it was Randy Moisan putting it accross to the other point, Darcy Skish getting it on net, and Clint Lehune started off his hat trick and gave the Bullies a 2-0 lead before the game was 3 minutes old. The Horsemen were visibly shaken, unused to playing from behind this season. The Bullies were not even close to being done, though. They kept the pressure on and forechecked their way to a 4-0 lead by the halfway marker of the first. Cordell Ferguson potted two goals a minute apart to stagger the Horsemen and force them to take a timeout to try and salvage the game. It did not help. Clint Lehune completed his hat trick with two more goals in the final 5 minutes of the first, to put the Bullies up 6-0 at the intermission.

The Horsemen were so stymied their level of frustration continued to rise and really prevented them from ever getting anything started. The Bullies beat them to every ball, and the one set play they seemed to want to run over and over did not seem to be working. With the Bullies forechecking strongly, coming back as a team defensively, and blocking numerous shots, Darcy 'Monty' Holden didn't have a lot of work, but when called upon, he had his sharpest game of the season. His 80+ minutes of shutout hockey is a personal best. Despite the scoring pace slowing down in the second, the Bullies attack did not as they carried the play right through to the end. Gaetan 'G' Daniel added one final goal, the 7-0 tally, with 5 minutes to play to seal the deal. Some smart play and well timed dumps easily killed the clock to preserve their second straight shutout.

There are not enough good things that can be said about this game. A shutout is great regardless of the team it is against, but to do so against the first place team is especially sweet. Likewise, the 7 goals was a crushing blow to the 1.7 GAA average the Horsemen's starting goalie carried into the game. Even moreso than the Comco game, the Bullies played this game exactly as they wanted to, setting the tempo and controlling the flow. Nobody slacked off, the sin bin was mostly empty, and no one tried to be overly fancy - the old mantra of shoot from anywhere was highly effective as the Horsemen's keeper was fooled more than once. All in all, a perfect team effort, back to front.

After a string of mixed results to start the season, the Bullies finally seem to be hitting their stride with a three game winning streak, and 7 of 8 points in their last 4 games. They're entering a critical point of their season with a number of important games key to their final position for the playoffs and they are playing their best hockey of the year. The Bullies will hope to continue their recent success as they take on the 4-6-0 Entourage on Monday, May 28th for an 8:15pm game at South.

3: The number of Bullies players ejected during the game. 2: The number of Bullies powerplay goals. 1: The number of shifts it took the Bullies to score the only goal they'd need for the win. 0: The number of goals the Bullies gave up, in their first shutout since July 6, 2006. Despite a rash of 30 penalty minutes that gave the Bully penalty killers a real workout, it was a highly dominant effort by the Bullies as they got it done in both ends.

On the very first shift, just 17 seconds into the game, Clint Lehune scored his team leading ninth goal of the season on a nifty little play. That turned out to be the game winner, but the Bullies weren't close to being done. A hard working play by the Draginda/Pejs/Nenninger line added another at 18:17. They banged in front of the net for a well deserved goal. Unfortunately, Draginda got a little overly aggressive in a scrum and a hit from behind not only earned him a game misconduct, but will also likely mean a suspension to come. Another Bully was tossed towards the tail end of the period, as the Bullies killed off a string of penalties. Clint Lehune went to the showers as he got his third of the game late in the first on an unfortunate interference call. The Bullies weathered the storm, though, and barely gave up anything, going to intermission up 2-0.

Managing to stay out of the box early in the second, the Bullies kept the pressure on, but it took more than 10 minutes before they capitalized. John 'Jay' Gilbert's powerplay goal at 9:31, his first in seven games, was an absolute beauty for a 3-0 Bullies lead. Better yet, Aron Nenninger did what he did best in his office in front of the net for a 4-0 Bullies lead just 14 seconds later. The third and final Bullies ejection came with 5:30 to go as Nicholas Paufler hauled down a Comco Oilman going in on a break, potentially saving the shutout, but also ending his game early with an ejection for his third of the game. The Bullies did a great job killing it off, though, and capped the scoring at 5-0 on a powerplay shortly thereafter. Jeff Pejs, who has been on a bit of a scoring run lately, fired off a rifle of a shot. After that, it was just a matter of killing the clock, no better exemplified than when Tony Kudryk killed off the final held it up on the boards to kill off the final 10 seconds all by himself.

Any shutout requires a complete team effort and this was no exception. Already missing one, and losing a second with AJ Prockiw moving to forward after Lehune's ejection, the defence kept the play to the outside in their own zone and were superb in keeping the ball in the offensive zone. Monty didn't get a lot of work, but was sharp when called upon, and very reliable in terms of freezing the play when required. The forwards really stole the show, though, even with some line juggling as the bench got shortened through ejections. Their aggressive forechecking gave them a serious time on attack advantage. Had the Bullies been able to stay out of the box, the score could have been much, much higher.

The Comco Oilmen, like a few of the other new teams the Bullies have played this year, were all class and a pleasure to play against. The officiating was also tough, with literally everything being called, but neither side can say it was one sided in any way. Right from the outset, the refs made it clear how they wanted the game to be played and they did a great job controlling it.

Thankfully after a few extended breaks lately, the Bullies get back in action on Friday, May 25th at 8:15pm at East. They'll face the undefeated 9-0-1 Horsemen who's defence has been the benchmark by which all others in Division 9 have been measured, surrendering just 18 goals through 10 games. Still, the Bullies hold a 4-2-0 lifetime advantage over the Horsemen, in one of the longest running rivalries in franchise history, and will hope to carry on with that tradition of success.

With your usual commentator out of the lineup, Derrick 'T-Bone' Mertz once again steps into the broadcast booth.

It was a strange game, with both teams managing to score on themselves and both teams visibly frustrated with the officiating. Nonetheless, Andy Dejonghe and the Bullies kept their eyes on the prize long enough to secure a victory over the Penetrators.

It was the captain Clint Lehune who opened the scoring 12 minutes into the first half, but the Bullies were answered less than a minute later when a strange bounce lobbed over the Bullies netminder and into the mesh. Not to be disheartened, strong offensive pressure from Cordell Ferguson, Clint Lehune and Jay Gilbert resulted in a 2-1 lead with 3 minutes left to play. Further hustle shown by Rich Kirchner, Clint Wilson and G Daniel left the game at 3-1 Bullies for the intermission. As has been the case in the last several games, the Bullies were fast, smart and very dominant in the first 20 minutes.

With the first half of the game free of penalties and generally showing clean play, things were going well. Just two minutes into the second half, an extremely controversial high-sticking penalty was called on Darryl Paget, resulting in a four minute double minor. The Penetrators capitalized on both opportunities, tieing the game at 3. They kept the ball rolling and took a 4-3 lead with 5:30 gone in the second half. Only 30 seconds later, Clint Lehune completed his hat-trick, initiated by a beautiful point shot from one of the Bullies new part-timers, Tony Kudryk. Less than a minute after that, Tony drilled a shot through the five-hole, bringing the Bullies back into the rightful lead. Richie buried his second a few minutes later, and things looked good at 6-4 Bullies with 10 minutes left to play.

One last flurry by the opponents put the game at 6-5, but Nate Draginda made no mistake when he circled from the corner, tracked his own rebound and refused to stop until the ball was behind the goalie. Following that, there were penalties for both teams in the last 5 minutes, including a misconduct, ejection and gross misconduct for one particularly verbal opposing player. The Bullies held fast and allowed no real chances while killing the penalties that came up. Despite the high scoring game, Andy Dejonghe had several fantastic saves, and was only beaten cleanly on two goals. Tony Kudryk was a neutral-zone powerhouse, stopping countless plays before they even reached the Bullies blue line. Rich Kirchner was out-running, out-passing and out-shooting any who opposed him.

The Bullies now have a 6-day break, until they face the Comco Oilmen, Tuesday May 22 @ 7pm on the West soccer center.

The Broadstreet Bullies are pleased to announce their first round selection from the 2025 draft. Nicole, wife of Bullies defender Nicholas Paufler, delivered their first child on Wednesday, May 16th at 9:56am. Doyle Rhys Stogrin Paufler weighed in at 6 pounds, 6 ounces and already looks like he'll have his father's height. Everyone is looking forward to meeting the newest addition to the Bullies family.

The Broadstreet Bullies at last broke their win/loss pattern, though not in the way they hoped, as they came from behind to tie the Silvacom Storm 3-3. As has been the story many times this season, small errors and unlucky breaks were the difference as the Bullies could not bury the plentiful chances they generated, ultimately having to fight back to grab the single point.

Much like the last time these two teams met, Silvacom was unable to even field two lines, seemingly giving the Bullies the advantage. Despite that, the Bullies looked a little disorganized for the first few shifts, but took the first lead when they got an early powerplay. Newly elected Captain Clint Lehune gave the Bullies an early 1-0 lead on the powerplay. The Bullies continued to carry the play, but with 6:48 to play in the first, a bad bounce off the back well left an uncovered rebound to the side of the net and made it a 1-1 game. Worse, a late goal gave Silvacom the lead, with them up 2-1 going to the intermission.

With fully 20 minutes to play and much fresher legs, the Bullies were confident in the second. The Bullies frustration and inability to convert their chances continued to plague them in the second though. The game almost seemed out of reach when a disastrous play with 8 minutes to play in the second put the Bullies down 3-1. Darcy 'Monty' Holden came out to play a rolling ball away, only to find it hopping and rolling underneath him and into the net. Newcomer Jeff Pejs, who has been a dynamite addition, finally got the monkey off his back just 25 seconds later. Crashing the net he shoveled in the rebound to draw the Bullies one closer. Cordell Ferguson capped the rally two minutes later when his shot even things up. Despite their best efforts, the Bullies were unable to get the go ahead goal. The overtime featured a lot of down low pressure, but ended scoreless, handing the Bullies their first tie of the season, and preserving their .500 record.

The simple fact is that the Bullies are going to need to start scoring if they are going to climb out of the middle of the pack. The chances are there, the conversion, however, is not. This could have been a 13-3 game, had shots not been high or wide when the net was wide open. The Bullies are 95% there, in terms of setting the tempo and getting the shots, and are just looking for the ever so important 5% of actually getting the ball in the net. Eventually, their hard forechecking (with the way being led by the likes of Jeff, Nate, and AJ) is goingto start paying off - hopefully sooner, rather than later.

The Bullies will take on the Penetrators on Wednesday, May 15th at 8:15 pm at West. Andy Dejonghe will get his first start in net of the season and will be looking to shut the door.

It was a surprisingly close game, but in the end, the Stickmen were able to capitalize on a few Bullies mistakes and went on to win a hard fought game by a 3-0 final. The game was close all the way through, with the 0-0 tie only being broken after 25 minutes of play, and a bounce here or there could have made for a very different game. Still, the Bullies proved they were able to run with one of the top teams in the division and did an awful lot right in this game.

The first period featured a lot of back and forth play with both teams getting chances but some solid defensive play in both ends preventing any real quality chances. The Bullies were also maintaining their discipline, staying out of the box, and trying to just play simple hockey. They were having a particularly good game in terms of moving the ball as well, which was encouraging. In the way that only the elite teams can, though, the Stickmen seized upon the few mistakes the Bullies made and converted. The 1-0 goal game 5 minutes into the second, with the Bullies giving up a powerplay goal a few minutes later, and the scoring being capped late in the game. Looking back, there were a couple of real solid scoring chances that would have made the difference for the Bullies.

Overall it was an encouraging game, and the Bullies were in it for the whole duration. There were some mistakes made, with some long shifts, bad line changes, and missed assignments, but the first period was probably one of the best the Bullies have played all year. The Bullies now sit back at .500, but have also completed games against 3 of the top teams. They'll be entering an extended stretch against the middle of the pack teams as they hope to build some momentum and pick up some much needed points.

The Bullies don't play again until Sunday, when they play the Silvacom Storm, 7:15pm at West, so there will be a practice on Thursday. It will be at Millennium Place in Sherwood Park from 7 to 9pm this coming Thursday. Full attendance by the team would be appreciated.

On paper, this game was a bit of a mismatch from the beginning, with Team Awesome-O playing at least a division higher than they should have, winless in 7, and with a tough -42 rating. That being said, they made sure the game was interesting, and made the Bullies fight for every goal as they went on to win by a 3-2 final. They were a very classy team, though, and they certainly earned a lot of respect out there tonight.

Had such stats been available, it would have been interesting to see the offensive zone posession times, as the Bullies seemed to be in control for almost the entire game. They had great puck movement and posession both behind the net as well as cycling it around, but despite a huge number of shots, were not able to find the net in the first half. On literally one of the handful of chances they gave up, the Bullies forwards missed some assignments in their own zone and gave up the first goal with 3:49 to play in the first. Far from being deflated, though, the Bullies knew they were carrying the play and continued to press exactly as they had been. They had some chances, but went to the intermission down 1-0.

Fortunately, it did not take long in the second for the Bullies to get right back into it. On a dandy little play in front, Aron Nenninger lived up to his name as Bullies' garbage man as he shoveled home an uncovered rebound to even things up 1-1 less than two minutes into the second. Cordell Ferguson, snakebitten the last few games, gave the Bullies the lead just over two minutes later. His shot beat Awesome-O's keeper for a 2-1 Bullies lead. The Bullies caught a break after another offensive flurry that had their opponents collapsing in their own zone, when an Awesome-O player grabbed the ball in the crease to take away the rebound. Unfortunately for them, the refs saw it and awarded a penalty shot. Ferguson took it for the Bullies and on a nifty deke, buried it for a 3-1 Bullies lead. There was a little excess drama late in the second when the Bullies gave up a goal to narrow it to 3-2, and then compounded their troubles with John 'Jay' Gilbert taking a holding penalty with 1:55 to play. Things looked ugly as the Bullies gave up a few shots, but even with their keeper pulled, Awesome-O couldn't pull off the equalizer.

Full credit to Team Awesome-O, especially their goaltender who weathered a 40 or 50 shot storm. Defensively, they also clogged up the middle well and made it very hard to get shots directly on net. The Bullies had to fight hard to get in and make sure they got those second and third shots every time. They were up to the task though, and with some freshly juggled lines, everyone looked great. The D was near perfect and were heavily involved in the offensive play. The Cordell/Jay/ClintL line were threading passes all over the place. Rich Kirchener played like a forechecking demon with his new linemates, Clint 'Pops' Wilson and Gaetan 'G' Daniel, who were a threat all night. The Jeff Pefs/Nate Draginda/Aron Nenninger line had their best of the second as they were everything they needed to be to make the play. Perhaps equally importantly, the Bullies stayed out of the box, taking just two minors in the entire game, getting back to their usual disciplined play.

This is just the sort of win the Bullies needed as they go up against the 5-2-0 Stickmen on Monday night. The Bullies haven't played the Stickmen since the Winter 2005 season, and despite being winless against them, did play some competitive hockey. With the Bullies desperate to build some kind of winning streak and their new lines clicking, this will be one to watch.

The Broadstreet Bullies are pleased to announce their new team captains. Through the last four years, Darryl Paget has well represented the Bullies as their captain, but with him only playing part time this year and the need for better communication between the bench and the officials, it was decided that someone else would need to assume the role. In two very narrow contests, it was voted that second season Bully, Clint Lehune, would wear the C, while Derrick 'T-Bone' Mertz will don the assistants' A. Both are relatively new to the team, but both have shown great leadership on the ice, and we expect they will serve admirably.

We'll be doing this season's vote for captain and assistant captain at our game on Thursday. In order to facilitate this, we'd like everyone to show up around half an hour before the game starts. If everyone can be in the dressing room by 9pm we'll have time to run through the vote and then get out for our warmup.

We're trying out a new location for our next practice, and it will be at Millennium Place in Sherwood Park (2000 Premier Way). It will be from 7:30pm to 9:30pm on Thursday, May 10th. Map is here.

The Bullies have yet to put together two wins in a row this season, as they dropped a 6-1 loss to the Wolfpack, now sitting at 3-3-0. This was a game that with a little more effort, the Bullies probably could have won, but as has been a common theme this year, penalty trouble robbed the Bullies of any momentum they might have been able to put together.

Despite the score, Darcy 'Monty' Holden played a spectacular game with some truly amazing saves. With the numberous odd man rushes the Bullies gave up, he did not get a lot of help this game. Offensively, the Bullies were well shut down and generated a minimal number of quality shots. As far as the Wolfpack go, for a team that led the entire game, they were awfully quick to bitch and complain about every slight, real or imagined. Especially in the more experienced divisions it is rare to see a team so committed to crying over every play.

The Bullies will hope to bounce back with a better overall effort when they play the winless (0-5-0) Team Awesome-O this coming Thursday. The ball drops at 9:30pm at West.

It was another penalty filled game, but the Bullies were able to keep their composure and let their opponents self destruct as they played their most defensively sound game yet this season as they bounced back from their previous loss with a solid win over the 4-1-0 Wildcats. This was an especially sweet win for the Bullies as they last played the Wildcats in summer 2005, where they were routed 6-2 and 10-2.

The Bullies should have had a huge advantage right from the start, when the Wildcats played without a keeper for almost 3 full minutes, but unfortunately, the Bullies squandered the advantage and were not able to generate any real solid scoring chances. Surprisingly, once the keeper went in, the Bullies stepped it up and played one of their better passing games of the season. Combining some crisp passing with a short benched Wildcats team that didn't seem to want to challenge, the Bullies were able to cycle very effectively and got numerous scoring chances early. Finally, at 12:46, they broke the stalemate, with defensive partners Nicholas Paufler and Derrick Mertz setting up Clint Wilson in the slot for a 1-0 Bullies lead. Bad flashbacks to the previous game happened just a minute and a half later, though, when Darcy Skish attempted to pull a high ball out of the air and deflected it into his own net. This was a whole other game, though, and just a few minutes later, captain Darryl Paget restored the Bullies lead. The first period wound down with the Bullies fully in control of the game.

The second period featured a non-stop parade to the penalty box, with the Wildcats taking 24 penalty minutes to the Bullies 16, with the final three quarters of the period played with at least one player in the box at all times. While on the PP, the Bullies looked great - a stark contract to the previous game - and were getting chances galore. Things finally clicked during an extended 5 on 3, with AJ Prockiw coming in from the point to extend the Bullies lead to two. Even while killing, the Bullies looked like the more aggressive team as they relentlessly forechecked and stymied the Wildcats offence. The penalty trouble eventually did catch up to them, though, as they surrendered a powerplay goal with just under 3 minutes to play. With the score 3-2, the Bullies really dug in and were easily able to kill the remaining clock on their way to their third victory of the season.

Penalty trouble was again a problem for the Bullies, something markedly unusual for them and certainly something that needs to be addressed, but despite that, this was one of their better efforts, and arguably their best of the season. It was a solid team effort, especially defensively, where the Bullies were able to get that aspect of their game going again. The D also got involved a lot more offensively, with almost half of the points coming from defenders. All in all, an excellent effort in both ends.

The Bullies will be back in action quickly as they'll try to build some momentum when they take on the division leading 4-0-1 Wolfpack on Sunday. It's a 3:30pm start at West.

It was a game that was theirs to lose, but unfortunately, the Bullies did just that, as they went down 4-3 to the Lunatics in OT. As has been the case in other games this season, an inability to capitalize, getting burned on some minor lapses, and serious penalty trouble cost them two points that could easily have been theirs. Despite some spans of lacklustre play, overall, the Bullies carried the play and had they been able to convert, could have had the win.

That being said, things got off to a very poor start. The Bullies were on their heels a little bit early, Stuck with a penalty kill early on, the Bullies were able to kill it off, but just as it was expired, found themselves down for a further four minutes. They went on to give up a pair of powerplay goals on both minors, with AJ Prockiw sitting in the box. The first was a horrific bounce as a pass deflected off of Darcy 'Gouda' Skish's stick and popped into the net. The second was the result of a missed assignment in the defensive zone. Digging themselves a huge hole, the Bullies were forced to play catchup for the whole game. Still, as the period wore on, the Bullies were able to set the tempo a little bit, and were finally rewarded with 21 seconds to play as John 'Jay' Gilbert added his second goal in as many games to send it to half with the Bullies down 2-1.

The second period featured numerous glorious scoring chances by the Bullies, and with a little more luck, or a ball that would bounce a little less, there easily could have been a solid Bullies lead. Instead, it took until there was just 7 minutes to play for the Bullies to tie it up, with Clint Lehune banging home a shot to even it up 2-2. Gaetan Daniel seemingly won it all with 3 minutes to play when his shot gave the Bullies their first and only lead. It was not meant to be, though, as the misfortune of a single ref at the game led to a weak dive being called and putting the Bullies down with 2:43 to play. A minute later, it seemed things would be evened up as the ref threw up his arm, calling a high stick the Bullies were sure was on the Lunatics, only to find themselves down 5 on 3, courtesy of a four minute double minor. Some stellar penalty killing killed off the first one, but a glove pass led to a faceoff in the Bullies zone - though a too many men penalty evened it at 4 on 4. On the very next play, a bad rebound off the back boards popped out from and was buried by the Lunatics to send the game to OT.

With the overtime period starting 4 on 4, the Bullies still felt they could win the game, but for the second time, an ugly bounce cost them badly. A harmless looking centering pass hit defenceman Nicholas Paufler's stick and went in, for a very demoralizing loss.

Overall, the Bullies played very well and did a lot of things right, but they continue to be plagued by major penalty trouble and are dogged by mistakes that are burning them every time. The Bullies will need to seriously rebound when they play the very speedy Wildcats for the 7pm game at East on Thursday. Suffice to say the effort they've put in up to now will not be sufficient to take down the Wildcats, so the Bullies will need a complete turnaround.

Nate has booked us a practice to fill in the gap before our next game. We'll be practicing at the West Soccer Centre at 6pm on Friday, April 20th.

The Bullies didn't play a perfect game, but they got the job done when it counted on their way to their first franchise overtime victory. Despite what could have been a game ending disaster of an extended 5 on 3 disadvantage with the score tied 3-3 and half a period to play, the Bullies gritted it out, sent the game to OT, and come out on top, putting them back above .500 with a 2-1-0 record.

It was AJ Prockiw who gave the Bullies their first lead of the game halfway through the first. Darcy 'Gouda' Skish kept it in from the point, with Nate Draginda picking it up and dishing it to his centre, with AJ burying it for a 1-0 Bullies lead. 5 minutes later, it was blue liner Randy Moisan's point shot that beat the keeper to extend the lead to two. The shutout was broken with 3:34 in the first, with the Bullies down a man. After successfully killing half the penalty, a shot beat Darcy 'Monty' Holden to make it a 2-1 game. The period was capped, though, with Clint 'Pops' Wilson responding in the way that only he can. Taking a pass from Gaetan 'G' Daniel, he made no mistake in restoring the Bullies two goal lead to send it to half with the Bullies up 3-1.

The second period got off to an absolutely disastrous start for the Bullies, with them giving up a goal just 45 seconds into the period. Worse, they took a penalty on very next shift. With the faceoff in the Bullies zone, the Pylons decisively scored just 3 seconds into the PP to even the game up. The Bullies started pressing after that and on a number of chances came close to taking the lead back, but the wheels nearly fell off with just under ten minutes left to play in the period. Seemingly catching a break, the Bullies got a powerplay opportunity and lined up for another defensive zone faceoff. However, Richard Kirchener was called just after the ball dropped for hooking. On the ensuing 4 on 4 draw, his linemate, John 'Jay' Gilbert got called for tripping putting the Bullies down to 4 on 3. Worse still, Captain Darryl Paget got an unsportsmanlike call against him for questioning the call. In a remarkable penalty kill, the Bullies were able to kill off the first one to make it 5 on 4, but Kirchener took another call and it was another backbreaking 5 on 3. Miraculously, the Bullies killed this one off too and actually generated more quality scoring chances short handed than their opponents. This was a real momentum shifter as the Bullies took control of the game. Given a powerplay with a few minutes left, they setup their lines and came very close to ending it in regulation. The final highlight of the second period, though, was a glorious save by Holden with 2 seconds remaining.

OT has never been a Bullies strong point, having lost every game they have ever played, save a shootout win in Winter 2007. Still, coming off the high of the extended penalty kill the Bullies were playing for the win, not the tie. They got their opportunity with 2:38 left in the overtime period. Sending out their PP line, the Bullies executed a near perfect powerplay. They had posession deep in the Pylons zone as they cycled it around looking for the shot. Their first attempts didn't make it through, but pointman AJ Prockiw wired it on net, with Kirchener deflected it onto and off the post, and Gilbert's second effort finally banging it home.

This was a spectacularly satisfying win for the Bullies as, despite some mistakes and missed assignments that made the game closer than it otherwise might have been, they were able to stick to their game plan and completely control the game when it mattered most. Aside from the penalty trouble in the second, this was a great effort all throughout the lineup as the Bullies seem to be finding their consistency again.

There is a bit of a layoff until the next game, which comes on Monday April 23rd as the Bullies visit the Lunatics for an 8:15pm game at West. Expect a practice to be booked for late Friday night to keep everyone in game shape - look for the announcement of the exact details tomorrow.

The Bullies went down 6-1 to Top Shelf in a game they were never really able to get into. Unable to solve the solid team defence of their opponents, and unable to capitalize on the few chances they actually had, it was a rough second game and not the start the Bullies had hoped for.

Despite the pressure, the score was even until halfway through the first when Top Shelf found the net. They went up 2-0 with 3 minutes to play in the first on a screened shot. The second is where things really opened up, though. Down 3-0 early in the first, AJ Prockiw won an offensive zone draw back to Derrick 'T-Bone' Mertz who's curving point shot fooled the goalie. This was unfortunately the only point the Bullies were able to get as they gave up another three before the end.

There were some positives to take from the game, but overall the Bullies came up against a system they couldn't adapt to. This is something they'll need to improve as there will almost certainly face simialrly tough competition as the season goes on.

The Bullies will hope to bounce back on Tuesday as they play the Pylons, 7pm, at West.

It was certainly not how the Bullies expected to open the season, and featured the least flow of any game in franchise history, but in the end, the Bullies got what they wanted and opened their fourth summer season with a 9-6 victory. The score was more indicative of both the Bullies offensive punch this year, but also some deficencies in their defensive game, moreso than any real threat of a loss to the Ringers. The reality was, despite pounding in no fewer than nine goals, the Bullies were particularly sloppy in their own zone and gave up at least four goals they should not have. Knowing what they did wrong, the Bullies will clean up their act in time for their next game versus another new team, Top Shelf.

Seemingly carrying on from where the left off in the preseason, it did not take long for the Bullies to find the net, with Richard Kirchener opening this season's scoring race. He walked in front of the net from the size and fired it right in, just over two and a half minutes into the game. The Bullies kept presuring, but gave up the next goal on a badly played 1 on 2. Mere minutes after the 1-1 goal, though, the Bullies responding with a pair of quick ones, with Clint Lehune and Gaetan 'G' Daniel potting their first of the year. As the Bullies continued to give up scoring chances they shouldn't, they let the Ringers draw even with two goals a few minutes apart, evening things up. Worse, they gave up their second (of three) powerplay goals, to find themselves down 4-3 with under two minutes to play in the period. Clint 'Pops' Wilson, the Bullies best clutch player, would have none of this and banged home his first to send it to intermission knotted up at 4-4.

The second period began to get really ugly with an absolutely absurd parade to the penalty box. After one 5 on 3 in the first, the Bullies were down in three more 5 on 3 positions before the period was over. The penalty trouble robbed the game of any flow it would have, and really seemed to disrupt the Bullies game. Still, this trouble seemed to only limit, not eliminate, the Bullies scoring opportunities. Clint Lehune threw it in front of the net with the Ringers keeper bobbling it and having it drop into the net for a 5-4 Bullies lead. The tie was restored a few minutes later, but in the last 10 minutes the Bullies began to pour it on. AJ Prockiw got his first on the powerplay, with his linemate Nate Draginda scoring the eventual game winner a minute later. Snakebitten all game, Cordell Ferguson added some insurance with 6:35 to play. One of the highlights of the night, though, was when the Bullies were killing the final 5 on 3. Nate Draginda's relentless forecheck forced a pair of turnovers before he again stole the ball, walked in, and added his second of the night while his team was down a pair of players. The Ringers did get one more powerplay goal with 33 seconds left, near the end of the final 5 on 3, but the game was well out of reach and the Bullies went on to win 9-6.

It was encouraging to see that despite numerous mistakes and more than a little overconfidence, the Bullies overcame their seeming interest in allowing the Ringers to hang in the game and pulled out a big win. Goal scoring obviously wasn't a problem, with all three lines clicking. C&C G Factory (Clint, Clint, and G) combined for 4 goals and 7 points. TNA (T.O., Nate, and Aron) added 3 goals and 7 points. Cordell, Rich, and Jay also added 2 goals and 6 points. This should only improve as these new lines continue to gel. With a little more effort in team defence and a little more reliance on simple, rather than pretty, plays, the Bullies are well positioned to have a dynamite year.

The Bullies will head to the West soccer centre for their first game there this season as they take on Top Shelf this Sunday, April 15th at 6pm.

The Broadstreet Bullies management are pleased to announce the final roster for the Summer 2007 ball hockey season.

In addition to our roster of 16 full time players, Darryl Paget and Ryan Loney will round out the roster as our part time callups. This year's Bullies lineup features some potent offensive threats combined with the experience of over 1300 games played between the active roster.

Note: With your normal commentator missing for this game, Derrick 'T-Bone' Mertz will be providing tonight's game summary.

In the first scrimmage of the summer, the Bullies demonstrated exactly why they are a force to be reckoned with. The game was decided to be played with slightly modified rules - no icing - so that there would be more steady playtime and less faceoffs. The Ringers produced an excellent turnout - more than 12 players showed. The Bullies ran with 9, two forward lines and three defensemen. Missing core players like Nicholas Paufler, Randy Moisan, Darcy Holden and Clint Wilson, and playing on the larger summer surface, there was wonder as to how much energy the Bullies would be able to muster.

Despite this, it was just a few minutes into the game when returning Bully, Cordell Ferguson, slipped one in the five hole to open the scoring. This was quickly answered by the Ringers, as they scored not one but two goals in a few minutes time. Hustle and speed were the main factors in these goals - the Ringers clearly wanted to set the pace. Little did they realize, the Bullies were just getting warmed up.

The game stayed at 2-1 for most of the first half. An incalculable amount of scoring opportunities were generated by the Bullies, but the netminder for the Ringers was absolutely astounding, making multiple saves from across the crease. Multiple posts and crossbars were hit, tips left the ball just wide of the net, and it seemed like the Bullies were getting frustrated. The Ringers defense were scrambling, but despite problems clearing their zone they kept the ball out of the net. Shortly after that, in a scrum along the boards, Cordell was called for holding, and the Bullies' penalty killers stepped out.

Despite being down a man, the majority of the time was spend in the Ringers' zone, with more true scoring chances going to the Bullies in the 2 minutes of uneven time. Aron Nenninger and AJ Prockiw stumped the Ringers at the red line more times than not, and repeated attempts at setting up in the Bullies zone were promptly squashed by the defense.

The remarkable penalty kill seemed to inspire the Bullies, as their game positively soared in the remainder of the game. A goal was scored, and another, and another. The Ringers seemed to be running out of gas and coordination, and upon sensing this the Bullies capitalized without pause. A wicked shot from Darcy 'Gouda' Skish was tipped to make a beautiful goal. AJ Prockiw walked through the defense more than once, burying several. Richard Kirchner, Jay Gilbert and Cordell Ferguson led an unstoppable offensive onslaught for what seemed like an eternity; outrunning, outmaneuvering and outpassing everyone. Derrick Mertz rushed, dropped a pass to AJ, and banged home the rebound on AJ's shot. Andy Dejonghe made key saves on the few opportunities that the Ringers generated, and he was out to play the ball and assist his short-staffed defensemen at every chance.

The end result was 12-2 Bullies.

The Ringers as a whole were unorganized, but this is expected as they are a brand new team. They had several players with excellent speed, and others with blistering shots. They were caught several times on offsides, and the refferee spent notable time coaching them on offside, high sticking, faceoff positioning, and many other nuances of ball hockey. As time passes and they adapt to summer league rules, other teams, and each other, they will certainly be an underdog in this years' Division 9 Mens league. Watch for them as the season progresses.

The Bullies open up the regular season on Wednesday April 11th, 7pm at the East soccer centre, where by odd coincidence they will again be playing the Ringers. They look forward to a full turnout and opening the season with a bang.

The Summer 2007 schedule has been released and our first game will be Tuesday, April 11th at the East Soccer Centre. We'll be playing the Ringers at 7pm, as we open up the season with a real game against the team we'll be scrimmaging against tonight. That game marks the start of a three games in six days stretch.

We're expecting the schedules any time now, but the league has provided us with the breakdown of teams in our division. For Summer 2007, Division 9 will feature: The Plague, Stickmen, Pylons, Marauders, Silvacom Storm, Bullies, Ultimate Warriors, Penetrators, Lunatics, Creepers, Comco Oilmen, Wildcats, Team Chaos, Horsemen, Wolfpack, Ringers, Entourage, Team Awesome-O, and Top Shelf. It is unfortunate the division is so overloaded, as with 19 teams, we will only get to play 6 of the other 18 teams twice.

Tier 4 seems to be the only one afflicted with the overly large divisions (Div 8 - 20 teams, Div 9 - 19 teams, Div 10 - 15 teams, Div 11 - 10 teams). In other words, Tier 2 has 17 teams between two divisions, Tier 3 has 36 teams between 4 divisions, but Tier 4 has 64 teams between 4 divisions. In other words, more than half of the entire league is in 4 divisions in Tier 4. Hopefully this will be something rectified for next season.

We've been challenged to a preseason scrimmage against our divisional competitors, the Ringers. The game will be played at the west soccer centre at 8pm. Please confirm your ability to attend, if possible.

If you have not already done so, please log in to the forum and check the general discussion area. There is an important post about some of our plans for this coming Summer season and we are looking for feedback from everyone.

At the Winter 2006 Castledowns Ball Hockey awards banquet, the Broadstreet Bullies were recognized with the one award that truly represents the epitome of performance and commitment as a team. That award being for their achievement of generating the largest bar tab at the Crown and Anchor. Congratulations to all of the Bullies and their wives for their stellar efforts in finally bringing this team the recognition it deserves.

We have our first pre-season practice on the big surface scheduled for Tuesday, April 3rd, from 8 to 9pm at the West Soccer Centre. Your team fees have already paid for this practice so I encourage everyone to show up for it and get used to real ball hockey again.

It was a game for all the marbles, with the Bullies (+/- of +3) versus the Patriots (+/- of +2) with a win each over Karachi Vice. The winner would move on to the second round to play against the Shockers in round two. Due to the +/-, the Bullies only needed a tie to move on, but desperately wanted the win, but unfortunately, fell short of their goal. It was an exciting and hard fought game, but the Bullies failed to make the second round yet again.

The first period was a very even affair, with both teams trading opportunities and a lot of end to end action. It turned into a real goaltending duel, though the Patriots keeper had to make more challenging saves to keep the score at nil. Despite all the action, there was absolutely no change to the score sheet, as it was looking to be a game where the first mistake would be a costly one. The second period opened up with more of the same. It was, in fact, over 38 minutes played before anyone found the net.

With 11:49 remaining in the second half, a Patriots player found room in the slot and fired one behind Monty to take the lead. Things got worse when the Bullies were unable get the equalizer and instead, found themselves down 2-0 with just 5 minutes to play. However, Clint 'Pops' Wilson injected a serious dose of excitement when a minute later he scored a pair of goals, 34 seconds apart, to steal the momentum and draw the teams even. Everything seemed to be going the Bullies way until an ugly long shot eluded Monty 30 seconds after that to restore the lead. The Bullies had a golden opportunity to get back into it when, with two minutes remaining, two Patriots players took careless high sticking penalties mere seconds apart and gave the Bullies a 5 on 3 opportunity. Despite throwing everything they had at the net, the Bullies just couldn't do it - cursed once more by their inability to capitalize on the man advantage.

That turned out to be the biggest story of the game, with the Bullies coming up blank on 9 man advantages, including a pair of extended 5 on 3s. The Bullies just could not score when it counted, with a couple of crossbars and at least three shots missing the empty net with the Patriots keeper out of position. Just one goal off one lucky bounce would have made the difference. Instead, the Bullies make an early departure from the playoffs and will begin to prepare for the "real" ball hockey season starting in April. The Bullies can, at least, take solace in the fact that even if they bounced out in the first round, at least their hockey team will still be together come next season.

The Bullies have never had any appreciable success in the playoffs, with their last win coming back in the Winter 2004 season. This year, though, the Bullies were committed to reversing their fortunes and making a real playoff drive. With their 7-4 win over the Karachi Vice, tonight, the Bullies let their actions speak as they went on to score the third most goals they have in any game this season.

Unlike previous years, the Bullies seemed a lot more loose going into this game and went out with a lot of confidence and enthusiasm. It was quite clear they were having fun out there, and the difference in attitude really showed up on the score sheet. It took just three and a half minutes for the Bullies to take the lead. AJ Prockiw found Nicholas Paufler on the point, who wired a shot on net, with Clint Wilson pouncing on the rebound and driving it home. With that goal, the Bullies were convinced this game was theirs and they really stepped up the pressure. They were winning the battles, forcing turnovers, and shooting from everywhere. The shot clock continued to tick upwards, but it was Karachi who found the net next, evening the score at 1-1. An unchallenged long shot just evaded Darcy 'Monty' Holden with eleven minutes to play in the first period. This did not seem to faze the Bullies, though, and Clint Lehune capitalized on a great play to restore the lead with five minutes to play. Then, in the dying seconds of the first period, Gaetan 'Gee' Daniel, on a beautiful solo effort, kept the pressure on in the Karachi zone and forced a turnover that deflected into their own net. The game went to the intermission with the Bullies up 3-1.

That would not be the only fluke goal this game, though. Just over a minute into the second, Karachi got their own lucky break when a shot deflected off of Andy Dejonghe's foot and rolled into the net, to make it a 3-2 game. Again, though, the Bullies responded. And boy, did they respond. Three goals in under three minutes put them on top 6-2. First, Richard Kirchener beat his cover and his wobbling wrister found the twine. Next, AJ Prockiw's only goal of the game (but third of four points) came off of a beautiful feed from Darryl Paget. Finally, Nate Draginda was well rewarded for his hard work all game when he added a goal. With the second period halfway over, Clint Lehune added his second of the game to make it 7-2. Karachi did claw a bit closer when one bad shift with a few small mistakes gave them a pair of goals in a one minute span, but the score was still only 7-4, and that was how it remainded for the rest of the game.

Suffice to say, this game was all Bullies. They had more jump and more desire and it showed in their play. The forwards were challenging well and forcing numerous turnovers, setting up some great scoring opportunities. The back end got the job done in their own zone, and even chipped in a few points. Monty wasn't tested too often, but did make some big saves, including a huge one late in the game when it was a 7-4 game. It was pretty clear that Karachi was tired and were getting seriously frustrated as the game progressed and got more and more out of reach. They never got their game plan setup and could not withstand the Bullies attack. Much like many of their other better games this season, this was one in which nobody slacked off, everyone played hard, and got the job done when it counted.

Due to the thankfully compressed nature of the playoffs, it is only a few days until the first round is complete. The Bullies will be watching the Karachi/Patriots game closely on Sunday (a 3:30pm start) to see how it impacts them, but have every intention of winning their 9pm Tuesday (the 13th) match versus the Patriots. A win there will clinch the Bullies berth in the second round, likely against the Ills.

Summer season is now less than a month away, and we don't even have half of our team fees collected yet. We have two guaranteed playoff dates (Friday and Tuesday) so please try and bring your next payment by then - another $100 would be appreciated.

The Bullies are proud to announce the winners of their Winter 2006 Team Awards.

The Winter 2006 regular season came to a close with the Bullies falling by a 4-3 final to the Express. It was an odd game right from the get go, with the start being delayed by a ludicrous 90 minutes. The bigger disappointment, though, was the streak ending loss, though it had no bearing on the final standings. The Bullies clawed their way back up the standings and ended the season in 5th place.

Despite their high spirits going into the game, the Bullies came out a little flat and paid the price. They found themselves down 2-0 less than 5 minutes into the game, and 3-0 by the end of the first half. Really, though, it was only the first 10 or so minutes during which the Bullies looked lost. After that, they really picked up the place and got some real sustained pressure, even if they did give up another goal without answering themselves.

The second period got off to a much better start. Darcy 'Gouda' Skish fired off a point shot that beat the goalie clean to break the shutout. Finally getting rewarded, the team picked it up even more, and Captain Darryl Paget added a pair of his own, 78 seconds apart, to draw things even up at 3-3. Not long after, he had a glorious chance to complete his hat trick and take the load as he stripped an Express player of the ball and broke in alone. His deke caught the goalie going down, but he fired it just wide. Unfortunately the Bullies were not able to complete their comeback when, with 5:35 left, an ugly shot from well past half snuck behind Monty to give the Express the lead again. Despite their best efforts, the Bullies could not get the equalizer.

Aside from their early sloppiness, this was an overall solid effort by the Bullies. They were moving the ball well in the offensive zone and set up a number of great scoring chances by being patient and maintaining posession. A little more luck and this easily could have gone the other way, with two shots ringing off the crossbar, and the missed breakaway. It was also especially good to see them digging themselves out of the giant hole that was the first period. This bodes well for the playoffs.

Playoffs will begin on Friday, March 9th at 9pm versus either the Karachi Vice or the Spartans. Game two will be on Tuesday, March 13th, also at 9pm, versus the Patriots.

The Broadstreet Bullies management are pleased to announce that former Bullies forward Cordell Ferguson will be returning to the team for the Summer 2007 season. Cordell is coming off of a 24 point season (10G, 14A in 13 games) this year with the Caper Crew, even better numbers than the 41 points (23G, 18A) he put up in 29 games in a Bullies sweater. A highly dynamic and skilled player, Ferguson will add even more depth to the already deep pool of talent the Bullies have up front.

The Broadstreet Bullies at last put the memories of their ugly five game losing streak to rest as they picked up a dominant 5-2 win over the Patriots, extending their winning stream to a season high five games. The win came against a heavily depleted Patriots team that seems to be falling apart and was only able to field 6 players.

Despite their manpower advantage, the Bullies had no intent on taking it easy this game, and played with a level of intensity that kept the Patriots running ragged. The Bullies struck early to set the tone, with Derrick Mertz' point shot finding the twine, for his first goal since the preseason. Clint Wilson followed it up with his own, giving the Bullies a 2-0 lead before the game was even 4 minutes old. Darryl Paget's beautiful goal with just over two minutes left in the half put the Bullies up 3-0. The Patriots were scrambling to find any offence they could, and were cherry picking heavily, and were rewarded for their gamble with 27 seconds left in the half when one of their forwards broke free from the Bully covering him and made it a 3-1 game.

Much like the first period, the Bullies did not sit idly by and made their intentions clear early. Just over a minute in, John 'Jay' Gilbert made it 4-1. AJ Prockiw added his team leading 18th goal (and 29th point) with 4:14 left in the game, for a 5-1 Bullies lead. With 1:48 left, the Patriots finally capitalized on a powerplay, spoiling the Bullies otherwise perfect penalty kill, and that's how the score stood when the final buzzer rang - Bullies 5, Patriots 2.

The Patriots were certainly handicapped by their short bench, and by rights, this game was the Bullies to lose, but they did show up big time. All three forward lines were really clicking well and generating a ton of offence. The Rich/Aron/Jay line dumped, chased, and crashed the net with impressive speed. Darryl/AJ/Nate were playing up to their usual level, with crisp passes and dangerous shots from all around. Lastly, the Gee/ClintL/Pops line was positively deadly with their passing and their behind the net play. On the back end, the T-Bone/Huddy pair continued their excellent play, and as well, the Randy/A-Bot pairing looked like they'd been playing together all season, as they made superb use of the D to D pass. Monty wasn't tested particularly often, but made a handful of great diving saves and a couple of great glove saves to take away the Patriots few offensive chances.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the Bullies extended losing streak, and their current winning streak, is how much better everyone is playing as a team. Even in games that should be "easier" the Bullies are playing with the grit and determination they'll need in the playoffs. If they had to get hot, now was the time. Aside from the Ills and the Shockers, they are the hottest team in the division going into the playoffs. This win also clinches a spot in the more favourable 4-5-6 playoff pool, versus the Patriots and either the Karachi Vice of the Spartans. The Bullies now have sole posession of 5th overall, and mathematically do have a chance at taking 4th.

The regular season finale will be on Sunday, March 4th at 5:30pm versus the 3rd place Express. The Bullies will be looking for a little revenge, after dropping their last meeting, and will be hoping to continue their streak right into the playoffs.

The Castledowns league have finally announced the start dates for the playoffs. They can be found here. As expected, the top two teams get a bye and then there will be two mini round robins of three teams each. Due to the close standings, we could finish anywhere between 5th and 7th so we won't know the matchups or the exact times yet, but because all of those places will play on March 9th, we know we'll be playing that night at the very least.

The first round is done on March 14th, with the second round (two best of three series') starting on the 17th and finishing on the 23rd, and the finals (Again, best of three) begin on the 24th and end on the 27th. That's just two short weeks before the start of summer season.

The Bullies came up with their fourth straight win, marking a season high winning streak as they continue their much improved play. The game certainly did not go according to plan, especially being short benched and missing three of their best shooters, but the Bullies showed a lot of character in taking control of the game when the opportunity was presented.

The first period was an absolute shooting gallery in the Bullies favour. They were peppering the Knowlton Gnashers keeper with shots, but unlike the last time these two teams faced, they just couldn't capitalize. It took just over 15 minutes for the Bullies to get on the board, with Clint 'Pops' Wilson banging in his sixth of the season. The first period was controlled quite well by the Bullies and they seemed to have the game in hand, even if they couldn't run up the goal count.

The second period appeared to be more of the same. The Bullies dictated the play and despite numerous glorious chances from all over, could not extend their lead. Things looked grim when the Gnashers tied it up 13 minutes into the period, and then worse, took the lead just two minutes later, 2-1. The Bullies took their timeout to try and settle things down and it turned out to be a good choice. Clearing their heads, they went in for the kill. AJ Prockiw found the net twice in a 30 second span to restore the Bullies lead, and Jay Gilbert added one of his own just a minute later. With 8 minutes to play and the Bullies up 4-2, it seemed things were all wrapped up, but two minutes later the Gnashers struck again to narrow the lead to one. An unlikely source potted what would be the eventual game winner, with Darcy 'Gouda' Skish's point shot bouncing off sticks and feet in a massive crowd in front of the net to make it a 5-3 game. The Gnashers worked hard and managed to inch closer one final time, making it 5-4 with 16 seconds left. A fresh set of legs went out to take the final faceoff, though, and killed the clock with ease, giving the Bullies another much needed win.

This was a must win game for the Bullies who lost some games they should have won early in the season. With the teams in front of them stumbling, and a team behind them nipping at their heels, the Bullies needed some points to solidify their playoff positioning. Perhaps overconfident after their previous 14-3 victory over the Gnashers, the Bullies didn't win this one in the way they envisioned, but two points are two points. Additionally, they were missing three of their top point getters this season. All that meant, though, was that a few other players stepped it up to fill the gap, with AJ getting two goals, and Aron and Jay getting four points each. Huge night for both of those players who played as well as they have all season.

It's another infuriatingly long break before the next game, which will be a 10pm Saturday match as the Bullies visit the Patriots on Saturday, February 24th. With the Patriots ahead of the Bullies in the standings, this is effectively a four point game.

The Broadstreet Bullies extended their winning streak to three games - the first time they've met that mark since November. The streak was kept alive courtesy of a 4-1 win over the 8th place Big Ballers, and with it, the Bullies are now only two points back of 5th place. It was another excellent showing by the entire team.

For the first time in a while, the Bullies found themselves giving up the first goal. It took over 20 minutes, but a bizarre non-goal was allowed. A shot was fired on net, hit the crossbar and deflected out, but was ruled a goal. This seemed to incense the Bulles, who had been somewhat pressued up to that point, and they really stepped up their game. They began to control the tempo and were rewarded with 15 seconds left. Richard Kirchener, playing his 100th game, fed Gaetan 'Gee' Daniel behind the net, who drove a perfect pass to Aron Nenninger in the cross slot who rifled it in to even things up. Things went to half with the Bullies in control of the game and the score at 1-1.

The second period found the momentum remaining the Bullies favour. A Big Ballers player viciously high sticked Bullies D-Man in the face at the exact time they knocked the ball into the net. The goal was called back, making up for the blown call earlier in the game. The Bullies continued their offensive play and were finally rewarded at 13:34. Clint Lehune picked up his first of the game with a laser of a shot to give the Bullies the lead. Less than two minutes later, he added a bit of a cushion on another beautiful shot. The Bullies never allowed the Ballers to get back into the game, and Nate Draginda finally got back on the scoresheet with a huge goal to make it 4-1. His wide shot found the twine and sank any hope of a Ballers comeback.

This was by no means a perfect game, what with some serious penalty trouble by the Bullies, as they picked up 18 penalty minutes (including 3 double minors). Also, the power play, despite picking up one PP goal, was largely abysmal. Some of the most dangerous plays and best Ballers scoring chances were when the Bullies were ostensibly on the man advantage. Still, it was a solid enough performance, right from Monty getting the job done in net, to the D clearing the lanes, to 10 different players picking up points on the score sheet. The Bullies really needed this win as they continue their playoff drive, and they made good when it counted.

Part two of a rare two-games-in-a-week stretch continues on Friday when the Bullies take on the Knowlton Gnashers at 9pm. There is some history here, with the Bullies dropping an embarassing 5-4 loss to the Gnashers in the preaseason, only to redeem themselves with a 14-3 win halfway through the regular season. With Karachi stuck with a tough match against the Shockers, the Bullies have a huge chance to move into a tie for 5th.

It took 53 minutes of hockey and 4 shooters a piece in the shootout, but the Bullies game is back on track as they picked up another two valuable points in their first ever visit to the shootout. Clint Wilson and Darcy Holden both came up big when it counted in the final round of the shootout.

The Bullies seemed to be carrying some momentum from last week's game and looked quite strong from the outset. Every line was generating scoring chances, but were also being responsible in their own zone. Much like the last time these two teams faced off, it took quite a while for someone to get on the board. It was the Bullies who struck first, though, on a play initiated by the D. Randy Moisan fed Darcy 'Gouda' Skish on the halfboards, who let a shot go on net, only to have it deflected in by Simon D'Amours for his first of the year. The Bullies continued to carry the play, but an ill timed penalty cost them. With two minutes to play in the first, the Bullies found themselves down a man, and an unchallenged point shot snaked through 7 pairs of feet to slip under Monty. The game went to intermission all tied up at 1-1.

Early in the second period, the Bullies found themselves behind, though. Some missed coverage left a PH Industries player loose on the slot for an easy one timer. Fortunately, it did not take long for the Bullies to respond. Just two minutes later, Gaetan Daniel tapped it back to Nicholas Paufler on the point, who one timed it just wide - but perfectly on Clint Lehune's tape for the tap in. It looked like the Bullies were back in control, especially when AJ Prockiw put them on top with 7:24 to play. Seemingly, it was not to be, though. With just 16 seconds left in the game, a bizarre bounce evened it up again. A hard shot went over the net, deflected off the top of the glass and bounced back towards the net, hitting Monty in the back and rolling in. This sent the Bullies to their first overtime experience this season - not a position they have ever had any success in.

If they were nervous about their previous bad experiences in OT, they did not show it. The Bullies came out hard and had a number of excellent chances, but the brief 3 minutes of OT went by all too quickly and it was down to the shootout. The Bullies elected to send Captain Darryl Paget, AJ Prockiw, and Clint Lehune out first. Paget went in, tried to deke, and just couldn't get enough on it. The PH player went well wide of the net and the play was blown dead without a shot. Prockiw went in, but was also stymied. The next PH player hit the post. Lehune also tried a move, but this time it worked as the ball barely rolled over the line. A PH runner finally got one through, with it 1-1 after the first 3 rounds. The Bullies elder statesman, Clint 'Pops' Wilson went next. Pops elected to shoot and was well rewarded for his efforts with a clean goal. With things riding on Monty on the final round, he came up with a huge save and a 4-3 Bullies win.

It seems like a very different Bullies team lately, as ever since the Shockers game they have been playing with a lot more confidence. Bounces seem to be going their way and overall team chemistry seems to be back at the level it needs to be. This was well demonstrated today both by the huge number of shots blocked by the Bullies, but also by the numerous successful give and gos that helped with the breakout. This game was the Bullies to lose and they responded very well with a convincing win.

There is a huge break before the next game, an 8:30pm start on Monday, February 12th, versus the Big Ballers. The Bullies were solid in a 3-1 win earlier in the season, so will definitely want to follow that up with another succesful game to keep their current streak alive. Also, with the length break, a practice has been scheduled for this Thurdsay at 10:30pm.

Just a reminder in case you don't read the forum: The Bullies second annual Superbowl Party will be held once again at Gouda's place. For everyone who wasn't there last year, expect great food and a good time. Food and snacks are provided, just bring your own booze. Get the address from the usual sources on the team if you don't have it.

We have a practice scheduled from 10:30pm to 11:30pm at the Xtreme Zone on Thursday, February 8th. There's 9 days between our game on Saturday and our next one, so if you want to stay in game shape, make sure you show up.

Still skidding along on a 5 game losing streak, the Bullies were desperate for a win, especially after the solid game they played the previous week. A stellar team effort gave them the win over the fourth ranked Karachi Vice. It was a very rough affair, with 48 penalty minutes called, but when the final buzzer went, it was the Bullies on top by a 2-1 score.

Despite a lot of confidence going into this game, the Bullies found themselves down early. Just over a minute in, Karachi found the net and gave themselves an early lead. The Bullies responded well, though, and that would be the only time their opponents would light the lamp in the game. It was defenceman-turned-forward Andy Dejonghe who even things up at 17:10. Some solid play by Dejonghe, Darryl Paget, and AJ Prockiw in the attacking zone, followed by a lucky deflection, resulted in a 1-1 game. It was the very same line that gave the Bullies the only lead they'd need at 4:06. A beautiful setup let Paget tap it in past a goalie who was well out of position. The game went to half with the Bullies up 2-1.

The second period started out a bit rought, with some confusion due to the changed ends, but solid team defence held off the Karachi attack until the Bullies could find their game again. The Bullies completely shut down the Karachi attack, surrendering very few genuine scoring chances, while generating a good number of their own. Judging by the number of posts hit, this game would have been a blowout in the Bullies favour. The game did get more and more rough as the game got chippier. There were a ton of roughing calls made, but little was done to stop the persistant stickwork. Ultimately, the Bullies maintained their cool, and despite both taking a late penalty and a pulled goalie, they held on for the win.

This was the very best kind of win, with every player playing to their potential and no one slacking even for a shift. It was a definite payoff for a Bullies team that has started to turn their game around after a few weeks of mediocre play. The Bullies will hope to carry this momentum into their next three games, versus the bottom teams in the division. A few more wins over PH Industries, the Big Ballers, and the Knowlton Gnashers could do a lot to solidifying a better playoff position for the Bullies. It will be another Saturday 1pm game next week, on February 3rd versus the aforementioned PH Industries. The Bullies previously held on for a 2-1 win versus PH earlier in the season.

In as much as it was good to see the Bullies back playing their game, it was still disappointing to lose the two points. That being said, for the first time since the 14-3 blowout, the Bullies played a solid game. Even more importantly, they were able to control the flow of the game for extended stretches and really dictate the play. This has been an aspect really lacking from the Bullies game over the last little while. Also, with two of their biggest guns, AJ Prockiw and Clint Lehune out of the lineup, it was great to see some other players really step up offensively.

Right from the get go, the Bullies seemed to be clicking. Running three forward lines and just four D did not seem to be having any negative impacts as they had a lot of jump. Scoring chances were frequest as the Bullies defined the tempo of the game. They were rewarded late in the period with Aron Nenninger's goal at the 7:24 mark. The Shockers did tie it up two minutes later, but Nenninger potted a second with 2:34 in the period to send the Bullies to half up by a goal.

The second period got off to an even better start, with Darryl Paget finding the twine just 50 seconds into the half. The game seemed fully in the Bullies control, especially when they were granted a 7 minute power play. Unfortunately two small defensive lapses a minute apart evened the game up, short handed no less.The Shockers took the lead with 9 minutes left, and a series of Bullies penalties ate up precious minutes that could have evened the game back up. Ultimately, despite a few last minute rushes, the Bullies could not draw even and went down by a 4-3 final.

While this win would have been very nice, the Bullies can take solace in the fact that they played not only much better than the last time they faced the Shockers, but the best they have in more than a month. They were fully playing to their potential as they dictated the play to a top 3 team as well. It was also good to see the defence helping out the forwards offensively, with the D being key in setting up all three of the Bullies goals. Monty was also sharp in net, shaking off a few games where he was not playing at his usual level.

The Bullies will complete the 3 game series versus the top teams next Saturday taking on the Karachi Vice. The Bullies got a win in the preseason before losing the first match in the regular season. The rubber match should be a good one, and should mark an end to this losing streak if the Bullies are able to put forth another effort similar to tonight.

If you do not have your first deposit into Jay soon you will not be guaranteed your spot for summer. The payment deadlines are earlier this year and we don't want to be chasing people into the start of the season for your fees. Please get at least $100 in as soon as possible. Saturday's game would be a good time for it.

The game summary is particularly short for this mess of a game: Shite.

In disappointing news, the Broadstreet Bullies have lost the services of forward Graham Loney. G-Lo will be moving to Red Deer in February to pursue a (non-ball hockey related) career move. In 26 games through three seasons, he picked up 8 goals and 13 assists for 21 points. A popular player both on and off the ice, he will be missed both for his hockey skill and his poker smarts. One of his greatest contributions was his addition to the Bullies lexicon: 'Paying attention, it's free!' The Bullies management and the entire team wish Graham and Amanda all the best in their future endeavors.

With more and more of the team going out for some ice hockey shinney during the time off between games, I've started putting links to the assorted different outdoor rinks we've been to on our links page. As we find other decent rinks we want to go back to I'll put them in there as well. That being said, if you're not coming skating with us ... you should be! We're going around twice a week and have been having a great time with it. If you are interested and don't read the forums, keep in contact with someone who does to find out when and where we'll be out.

Disregarding the poorly conceived idea of scheduling games on a holiday long weekend and the associated lack of players available for this game, the Bullies were still outworked and outhustled by a Spartans team that played a smart, simple game. With almost 3 full lines they were able to outwork the Bullies when it counted and got themselves a well deserved win.

The first period was a fairly even affair, with the Bullies getting on the board first, courtesy of Darryl Paget. It did not take long for the Spartans to respond with a pair of goals to take a lead, nor did it take much longer than that for Clint Lehune to outwork the opposition and even things at 2. The Bullies thought they caught a break when, with 1:04 left in the half, Lehune picked up his second and gave his team a 3-2 lead. Unfortunately, 30 seconds later the Spartans once again tied it up. It went to half with things tied up at 3 all.

The eventual game winner came just 5 minutes into the second half as the Spartans took their second lead of the game. The turning point of the game could have come halfway through the period. With Nate Draginda in the box on a tripping call, the Bullies penalty killers were perfect and carried the play into the other zone. They kept up the pressure and came very close to evening things short handed. Unfortunately, rather than getting momentum from this stellar shift, things fell apart. With 4 more minor penalties in the period, the Bullies were not able to press the advantage, and worse, gave up 3 more goals in the process. It's hard to say what might have happened, but you certainly cannot come back from a big deficit when you are sitting in the box.

The Spartans needed these two points and they certainly earned them. Their game plan was simple, and they were able to adapt their one set play to a couple of situations, easily picking up 4 of their 7 goals on it. The Bullies on the other hand, as short benched as they were, didn't have the killer instinct this afternoon and gave up two points they also badly wanted.

Yet another irritating scheduling quirk means the Bullies don't play again for almost 2 weeks - Friday, January 12th. That marks the start of three of the toughest games the Bullies will play in the second half of the season - The Ills, the Shockers, and the Karachi Vice. With this huge layoff, expect at least a couple of games of ice hockey before then to keep in game shape. Keep an eye on the forums for times and places.

It's that time again, Bullies. The Summer 2007 Ball Hockey Edmonton season is just four months away. The payment deadlines this year have been moved forward a bit so we will be collecting team fees slightly earlier this year. Our first deposit is due January 17th so we will need the first payment from everyone before then. The overall team fees are $3500 this year, a slight increase of $150. The per-player fees will be somewhere in the $220-$250 range.

If you are interested in playing full time for the summer season, you need to get your first deposit in as soon as possible - either at our Dec. 30th game or the January 12th game at the latest. Please make alternative arrangements with Nate or Jay if you can't get the money at either of those two times. We've got a lot of interested players this year so please make sure you get your money in to reserve your roster spot.

The first deposit will be $100 with the remainder of the balance due sometime in February.

The Bullies are very pleased to report that Graham 'G-Lo' Loney and Amanda Jacobs are engaged to be married next year. The entire team wishes them all the best in their future together.

Just in case you don't check your e-mail, Darryl and Mel are holding their second annual Christmas party at their place. It is this Friday, December 22nd at 7pm. If you don't have the address or other info, check the forum or contact someone else on the team.

Just a reminder - we have a practice this Wednesday, December 20th from 8pm to 10pm at the ACT Centre at Rundle Park. Google Map and interior map - remember to enter from 28 street and 113 ave. Please bring $10 for the practice - though it will probably be less, depending on the turnout.

The Bullies continue to struggle this season as a lack of both manpower and scoring has cost them some much needed wins. Barely able to field two lines, and even then, only through Jay toughing it out with a cracked toe, the Bullies were lacking a number of key pieces - including both of their regular centres and their starting goaltender.

The game was typical winter league fare with the cherry picking that has become the norm and has the Bullies looking forward to real hockey come summer. Clearly frustrated, the Bullies couldn't generate the offence they needed, save for the Aron/Gee/Pops line which worked very well together. Aron finally got the 900lb gorilla off his back and poked home his first of the season, while Pops banged hard all game and was only rewarded in the final minute - Gee added an assist on both goals.

With the loss, the Bullies have their first losing record in a long while, sitting at 4-5-0 at the halfway mark. To say the least, the practice this Wednesday is badly needed. With the irritating timing of a game over the New Years weekend, the Bullies will again be short for that game so please confirm your availability for the Dec. 30th game.

A disorganized and out of step Bullies team went down to the Patriots by a 4-0 score. Right from the get go things weren't looking good with a number of players arriving late and with lines not decided until the ball dropped. This disarray carried over into the game, as the Bullies played one of their most mistake prone games this season. They quickly found themselves down 2-0, but started to generate some chances after that but just were unable to capitalize. A pair of late goals wiped out any hope of a comeback.

There are a lot of 'what if's' that could be said about the game. With four posts and two sure goals that were absolutely robbed by the Patriots keeper it easily could have been a closer game, but there were no lucky bounces last night. Even then, it was the mistakes that killed the Bullies, none more egregious than the gift of an extended 5 on 3 late in the first period. Down by two, this was the Bullies best chance to get back in the game but an inability to set up any kind of play completely wasted it.

This was a classic Oilers game by the Bullies - a lacklustre effort costing them a win against a team they have traditionally had success against. Individually, players were losing battles in the corner they should have won as they were consistently beaten to the ball, and far too many blind passes disrupted the usually strong Bullies team passing game.

With just one game left before Christmas, capping the first half of the season, the Bullies will hope to at least salvage a marginal winning record when they take on the Express on Sunday, December 17th at 6:30pm.

To preface this, the Knowlton Gnashers were a classy team who unfortunately just found themselves playing a division higher than they probably should have. Despite the shooting gallery, they maintained their composure and it was a penalty free game.

If it was the Bullies/PH Industries match that got the Bullies back to their winning ways, it was this game that got the goalscorers back into it. The Bullies were shooting - and scoring - from literally everywhere. The Bullies got up 9-2 in the first half, with another five for and one against in the second for a dominant 14-3 final. To give the Gnashers credit, though, any time the Bullies let up on the pressure they were willing and able to make a breakout the other way - and picked up three goals for their trouble. Unfortunately for them, it was overshaded by the goalfest.

There were some huge nights point wise. AJ Prockiw (4 goals, 3 assists ) and Nate Draginda (1 goal, 6 assists) led the way with seven each. Clint Lehune, signed up early in the season to replace Donovan Daniel who was out for the year, was finally able to make it to a game and showed up big time, matching AJ's goal total (4 goals, 2 assists) for 6 points. Captain Darryl Paget, playing in his 100th Bullies game, picked up 2 goals and 2 assists. Richard Kirchener, Derrick Mertz, and Clint Wilson all also found the back of the net.

It was another strong night for the defencemen, who not only took care of business in their own zone, but also made their presence known on the scoresheet. Darcy 'Monty' Holden wasn't tested often in net, but made a few stellar saves when he had to. Still, this was a night for the goal scorers to show off, and they did was some truly beautiful goals. An added bonus is that the Bullies -5 +/- has now become +6.

It is a long layoff until the Bullies are back in action, so the Bullies will face off against the Patriots on Monday, December 11th for a 9:30pm Monday night game. A win in this game could bump the Bullies up into 5th place.

On the back of another solid win, the Bullies get their regular season record back to even courtesy of the Big Ballers. The 3-1 win comes on the heels of the 2-1 victory last week, with Darcy 'Monty' Holden surrendering just 2 goals in his last 100 minutes of play. This wasn't a particularly flashy game for the Bullies but it was a smart effort where the little things got done right.

It did not take long for the Bullies to get on the board with a great effort by Graham 'G-Lo' Loney getting his third goal of the season, opening up the scoring just over a minute into the game. This early lead definitely encourage the Bullies as they controlled the play and were able to maintain posession for lengthy stretches. With very strong defensive coverage, the Bullies were able to stave off any Big Ballers attacks until AJ Prockiw struck, potting his first of the night to make it 2-0 halfway through the first. The period closed out without any further scoring activity.

The second frame was more of the same, with both goalies making some key saves to keep the score as it was. A much debated (at the bar after the game) lead pass led to the Big Ballers first and only scoring opportunity, though, halfway through the second. Intercepting a pass, the Big Baller player made no mistakes in putting it behind Monty to make it a 2-1 game. Despite finding their lead halved, this seemed to galvanize the Bullies as they looked like the hungrier team in the final 10 minutes. They were rewarded for their efforts with four minutes to play with AJ's second of the night to lock up the game.

This was definitely one of the best defensive games the Bullies have played this year. Monty made the saves when called upon, both lines of D were positionally sound, and the forwards were exceptional in coming back to help out - Gaetan 'Gee' Daniel and Nate Draginda especially. This is just fine as far as the Bullies are concerned - as long as their defence is playing well, they can wait for their offense to get back in their groove and start racking up the points.

The Bullies are back in action on Friday December 1st at 8pm for a rematch versus the Knowlton Gnashers. The Bullies closed out the preseason with a very disappointing loss to the Gnashers and will be looking for revenge. Also, there will be a team party after the game - contact Jay or Nicholas for info.

With the Broadstreet Bullies on a three game losing skid and a disappointing 1-3-0 record, the Bullies badly needed a win. It was also an important night, with another Bully reaching the 100 game milestone, with Aron Nenninger marking his centennial, so expectations were high. Despite some initial speculation that this might turn out to be a high scoring game, it was anything but. It took some unlikely offence from the defence to put the Bullies over the top in a come from behind 2-1 victory to snap the skid.

The Bullies came out strong from the beginning and really took it to PH Industries for the first few minutes. The very first shift had four or five solid shots on net, but the PH Industries keeper looked sharp. This continued for much of the period, with the Bullies largely carrying the play and racking up the shot counter, with the occasional rush the other way. Even with all the chances, the Bullies seemed to be snake bitten and could not buy a goal. With multiple crossbars and posts and more than a few glorious saves by the opposing netminder, it was not the expected offensive outpouring. On the other end, the Bullies D stood up well, limited chances, and the few solid shots that did make it on net were played smartly by Darcy Holden. The period wound down with the score sitting at 0-0.

The second began and was a near mirror image of the first. The Bullies were swarming and getting their chances but could not convert. Things took a bad turn, though, with PH Industries getting an extended 5 on 3 opportunity off of a weak goaltender interference call. The Bullies held their ground, though, with the triangle working effectively and some unbelievable forechecking by Gaetan 'Gee' Daniel. Things improved to a 4 on 3 courtesy of a makeup call, and the penalties were handily killed. Still, the Bullies were unable to generate anything on the ensuing short power play. Unfortunately for the Bullies it would be PH Industries who scored first. With 11:28 left in the game and at the tail end of a long shift, a wicked shot rang off the crossbar, off of Monty's back, and into the net. Despite being down, this seemed to focus the Bullies and they decided to play for keeps.

It took just over two minutes for the score to be evened up. A great shift that forces PH Industries to collapse in front of their net let D-Man Randy Moisan walk in from the point and wire a screened shot top shelf. The keeper never even saw it, giving Moisan his first of the year. On the very next shift, the Bullies took the lead. Some great work from the highly effective Clint Wilson/Richard Kirchener/Jay Gilbert line line again forced their opponents to collapse, culminating in a pass to the point. Nicholas 'Huddy' Paufler one timed it on net, only to have Clint, Rich, and Jay wave at it as it snuck through a huge crowd and into the net. This was Paufler's first of the year and first career game winning goal. With 8 minutes remaining, the Bullies played a perfect trap to preserve their lead. They ran the clock down, survived the final 30 seconds 6 on 5, and picked up just their second win of the regular season.

It perhaps wasn't how the Bullies would like to win every game, but despite the relative lack of offence, there were some encouraging somes from the newly minted lines. If the Bullies had had a little more luck, or if PH Industries' goalie hadn't been so solid there very easily could have been many more goals. A number of players, despite not finding the net, had great games, including Aron, Gee, and Clint.

The Bullies hope to start a streak - of the winning variety - with their second game this week on Saturday, November 25th versus the 1-3-0 Big Ballers.

Coming off of two losses where they genuinely played poorly, the Broadstreet Bullies bounced back with one of their better team efforts this year and the match was only spoiled by a disappointing inability to put the ball in the net when it mattered most. Even with the loss, there were far more positives in this game and it seems things may be back on track.

Most impressive was the first half of the first period. The Bullies came out of the gate on fire and right from the get go started loading up the shot clock. It was a great effort by Graham Loney, picking up his second of the year, that got the Bullies on the score sheet, though. Getting the lead, the Bullies continued with their pressure and the Karachi Vice were back on their heels. Comments were overheard from their bench about them wanting a timeout before they got down 2-0. Unfortunately, an errant ball deflected up and hit a Karachi player in the face shortly thereafter. With an extended stoppage while the blood was cleaned up, the Bullies seemed to lose a bit of momentum. On the tail end of a 4 minute powerplay, Karachi evened things up at one a piece on an odd bounce that deflected off several players and sticks. They then went on to take the lead a few minutes later when a ball somehow squeaked behind Monty from a bad angle. Captain Darryl Paget responded in kind though with a beautiful goal to send the game to intermission all evened up.

The second period did not start well with another deflection knocking the ball behind Darcy Holden and restoring Karachi's lead. Still, it was early, and the bulk of the play was happening in Karachi's zone. Only an unfortunate inability to find the net kept the Bullies from tying things up. Halfway through the second, Karachi started to unravel and began a parade to the penalty box that gave the Bullies over four minutes of man advantage time, including a full two minutes of 5 on 3. Though this was a better powerplay than others this year, the Bullies were unable to capitalize and missed their chance. An empty net goal with 6 seconds left capped the game for a 4-2 final.

While a win tonight was much desired, it was arguably more important for the Bullies to get back to their game plan. Their two previous losses were against teams that ran an effective system against them. Against Karachi, not only did the Bullies completely shut down whatever system they wanted to play, but forced them to resort to a cherry picking dump and chase style. That may fly in the 'pseudo-hockey' of winter, but teaches an awful lot of bad habits when it comes to real summer ball hockey with offsides and icing. Anyway, there were still things that could be improved, but certainly the Bullies looked more like the team that went 3-1-0 in the preseason for the first time in the regular season.

It's a long break before the Bullies go at the currently winless PH Industries on Monday, November 20th for a late 10:30pm start.

The Bullies have now lost two in a row for the first time since the playoffs last season. Only Richard Kirchener and Clint Wilson really played complete games with the rest of the Bullies coming up short in an overall poorly played team game. The 9-3 final was tough to swallow, but worse will be losing Andy Dejonghe for 3 games (And due to the schedule), meaining we won't have him back until December 1st.

The game did seem like it would be off to a good start, with Richard Kirchener scoring his first of two just 30 seconds in. The Bullies also held the lead until there were just 4 minutes left in the period before the Shockers were able to tie it up. The tipping point for the game, though, was a late Shockers goal just before the buzzer to give them the lead. The game pretty much went down the toilet at that point as the Bullies gave up goal after goal, and despite some goals in response, were never really in the game at all in the second period.

The Bullies will try and put this one behind them next weekend weekend for a rematch versus the Karachi Vice, 7pm on Saturday, November 11th.

A very depleted Bullies lineup went down by a 4-2 final to the Ills. With fully 5 regulars out of the lineup (starting netminder Darcy Holden, AJ Prockiw, Nate Draginda, Aron Nenninger, and Darcy Skish), the Bullies were only able to field 9 players. With just three defenceman, Randy, Derrick, and Nicholas were putting up big minutes in ice time, but unfortunately were not able to stave off an aggressive Ills attack.

The Bullies got on the board early, taking a 1-0 lead courtesy of a perfect shot from Darryl Paget just 3.5 minutes into the game. The Bullies were able to hold that lead for over 33 minutes before the Ills solved netminder Andy Dejonghe. The Bullies regained their lead two minutes later though on a highlight reel play. After the Ills keeper stopped a long shot, it lay on the surface just to the side of his stick, seemingly not knowing where it was. John 'Jay' Gilbert streaked in alone, acrobatically leapt over the keeper, and poked it in to restore the Bullies lead. The Ills clawed back, though, and even the game at 2-2 shortly thereafter. The game seemed destined for overtime until the Ills took the lead for the first time with 2:34 to play. Despite a valiant effort, the Bullies couldn't draw even, and the game was capped by an empty netter with 7 seconds remaining.

The Bullies overall didn't play too badly, especially given the short bench. There were even some positives - not the least of which was Dejonghes netminding. Equally important, though, was the Bullies adapting to the Ills attack. Within 10 minutes they had figured out the play the Ills wanted to run and were able to successfully counter it. It was only the fast forecheck pressing the tired Bullies that gave them the edge. With any luck, the Bullies will have a full roster for the rematch later in the season, and it may well be a completely different game.

It will be the first afternoon game of the season next Saturday, November 4th, and 4pm, versus the Shockers.

There has been a veritable explosion of new team websites this season. This is a far cry from our first season when we were but one of a handful of teams actively maintaining their sites. It's always interesting to see what other teams are saying, so it looks like Balls Deep, the Concrete Ice, the Silverkings, the Spartans (purportedly they have a website, but I've only been able to track down their forum), and Team Pilsner have all gotten on board as well.

The league has finally released our complete schedule for the Winter 2006 regular season. One nice thing is that we do get to play every team in our division twice throughout the course of the season. Additionally, as we have already played our first of two, we only have one more 11pm game (also, we only have one weeknight 10:30pm game). Our second game will be next Saturday, October 28th, at 8pm versus the Ills. As usual, please let Jay know if you will be unable to make this game.

The Broadstreet Bullies opened up the regular season with a very fine win indeed. Facing off against the Spartans, moved up to Division 7 in the retiering round, the Bullies played their way to a 4-1 victory to start the season off right.

Wanting to rid themselves of the bad taste left over from their previous loss, the Bullies were given a gift early in the game when a Spartans player took a careless high sticking penalty just 30 seconds into the game. While the Bullies were not able to capitalize on the man advantage, it did let them immediately settle into their game plan, and really set the tone for the period. The Spartans were back on their heels for the bulk of the period and seemed perfectly content to dump the puck whenever they broke up a Bullies rush. Sitting four men back did help to prevent any Bullies markers, but it also meant they didn't get many chances themselves. The first half ended up a scoreless tie, with the Bullies carrying the momentum into the intermission.

It did not take long for the Bullies to start finding some holes in the Spartan defence, though. AJ Prockiw roofed a pair of goals in quick succession to give the Bullies the only two goals they'd need. This did seem to motivate the Spartans, though, who seemed to have a bit more jump in the second. They did benefit from a parade to the penalty box by the Bullies, though. Some stellar penalty killing, including an extended 5 on 3 halfway through the second, kept the Bullies in control until Gaetan 'Gee' Daniel picked off a pace, streaked in alone, a drove the ball home. That really sealed the deal, but another 5 on 3 opportunity for the Spartans broke the shutout. With just two and a half minutes left in the game, and over a minute of two man advantage, the Spartans pressed for a goal, and despite the Bullies best efforts killing off the first, did manage to slide one behind Monty. 45 seconds later, Clint 'Pops' Wilson responded in kind on his own breakaway, hammering the ball just under the crossbar for a 4-1 Bullies final.

This was classic Bullies, with the Bullies following their game plan perfectly. Unlike their sole preseason loss, this time when the Bullies were faced with a new playing style they responded, adapted, and ultimately, defeated it. Great team effort all through the lineup, and a great sign of what this season will be like.

We still don't have the remainder of the schedule released, but supposedly it will be out today. Once it is, it will be online here.

The league has announced the first game of the regular season schedule. They are promising the remainder of it by tomorrow (Wednesday) night. Once we have that, the schedule on the site will be updated.

Anyway, the good news is that we get to play a bit earlier than the other teams in our division. We're in action this Saturday night, while everyone else has to wait until a week from Wednesday. The bad news is it is an 11pm game. If you're not going to be able to make this game, again, 11pm on Saturday, October 21st, please let Jay know.

The Broadstreet Bullies closed out the pre-season with a disappointing loss to the Knowlton Gnashers. Despite their success so far in the preseason, for whatever reason every player on the Bullies benched seemed to be half a step off his game, just enough to put the game out of reach. The Gnashers may not have the firepower of many teams but they did an excellent job clogging up the shooting lanes and outrunning what is normally a fairly fast Bullies lineup.

Despite the end result, it was the Bullies who got on the board first, just past the 5 minute marker, with Richard Kirchener shovelling in his second of the secon. The Gnashers got three in a row following that, though, to take a commanding lead, before Darryl Paget narrowed the gap to one before the first half.

AJ Prockiw evened up the match halfway through the second, but two more quick Gnasher goals restored their two goal lead. Nate Draginda continued his team-leading point streak late in the game, narrowing it to 5-4, but even some late heroics with the net pulled couldn't tie things up. Final score was 5-4 Gnashers, giving the Bullies a 3-1-0 preseason record, good for second place.

There were some very unlucky bounces in this game, and a few sequences of sustaned Bullies pressure that in any other game would have easily been goals, but as outplayed as they were, the Bullies didn't deserve the two points tonight. Based on the final rankings, it looks like the Bullies will be remaining in Div 7, though, so they will definitely be out for revenge when the regular season begins.

Perhaps the best news of the night was the most impressive turnout at the Crown and Anchor yet - fully 19 Bullies and significant others made it out.

No word on the schedule yet, but as soon as it is announced it will be posted on the site and emailed out.

With your regular game commentator Nicholas out of town for the long weekend, tonight's writeup is brought to you by Broadstreet Bullies GM Bobby Clarke.

The Broadstreet Bullies celebrated the holidays with a hard fought win against a very solid Karachi Vice team. With a number of the Bullies big guns out of the lineup (including both Darryl and AJ), management called up a few players to fill out the roster. Suffice to say, everyone came out to play.

The first five minutes was all Karachi, culminating in a 1-0 lead off of a wrist shot with a huge traffic jam in front. The Bullies settled down, though, and it was Jay tipping a blast from Clint to tie the game up at one each. Karachi replied a few minute later on a soft shot that Monty wiffed on, however, the Bullies were not done. With 4 seconds left in the period, Nate scored on what can be called the greatest goal in his young career. He busted through the middle, waited for the goalie to go down, and snapped it top shelf. He then celebrated with the what can be called the worst scoring dance ever!

The seconnd half was mostly Bullies. Jay drew a penalty on a dive, setting up the powerful Bullies PP and it didn't take them long to capitalize. Just seconds in, Clint came down the left wing and blasted a bullet past the goalie making it 3-2. The power play clicked again a few minutes later, with Nate picking up his second on a hard fought rebound goal in front of their net. Held pointless through two games, D-Man Randy Moisan came up big tonight, setting up up both PP goals. Karachi then had some hard pressure and rifled a shot top shelf from the circle to give them a little life. The Bullies took away any chance of a comeback late in the game, with another hard shot from Clint rebounding off the boards in front of the net only to be backhanded home by Jay.

The first 5 minutes and the last 5 minute were the only time Karachi controlled the tempo, with the rest of the game being all Bullies. A real stand out game for Nate and for the oldest man in the league Clint. It was also great to have veteran goalie Monty back between the pipes! Division 6 be warned, the Bullies are coming, right after they destroy Knowlton Gnashers.

The Bullies hockey pool is now live. With 9 people entering, each choosing 9 forwards, 2 D, and a goalie, the competition should be very tight this year. Player lists are only partial at this point with only three games having happened last night, but once every drafted player has at least one game played they should show up. Let the smack talking begin.

The Broadstreet Bullies continued their preseason success with a big 6-3 win over the Patriots. The Bullies have outscored their opponents 17 to 5 through their first two games, which is even more impressive when one considers that the Horsemen and Patriots finished a handful of points behind the Bullies in the previous summer season. Clearly the Bullies seem to be better adapting to the smaller surface this winter.

A complete scoring summary, and unfortunately stats, will not be available as the league was unable to provide a game sheet at the end of the game. Thus the goals described hereafter may not be exactly as the gamesheet will show.

The first period was all Bullies as they dominated the Patriots and quickly built up a 4-0 lead. The Patriots decided to make a game of it, though, and replied with a pair of their own to make it 4-2 early in the second. The Bullies answered right back, though, matching both goals. The Patriots did get another one before the night was done, but it was still a 6-3 Bullies win.

AJ Prockiw led the way with three goals (and more points), Derrick 'T-Bone' Mertz picked up a pair (For three goals in two games - clearly he thinks he's the new offensive defenceman), and Darryl Paget also tallied. Nate Draginda, playing his 100th game as a Bully, had three assists, with the AJ/Nate combo being brutally effective all night. Andy 'A-Bot' Dejonghe, recently promoted to starting goaltender (likely for the remainder of the season), stood tall with a little help from his friends, the posts and the crossbar.

While it wasn't the blowout the Horsemen game was, it was another dominant Bullies effort nonetheless. Defensive coverage was solid, and breakouts were working very well all night. The attack was also well varied making it difficult to shut down. The Bullies are playing like a team and it is paying dividends this year.

Due to the unfortunate scheduling of the next game on the holiday long weekend, the Bullies are expecting a particularly short bench for the Saturday, Oct 7th match versus the defensive specialists on the Karachi Vice. It should be a good test of whether the strong Bullies offence can overcome the manpower shortage to crack the Karachi wall.

The Broadstreet Bullies Winter 2006 campaign got off to a very odd start before things settled down on the way to a total rout of the Horsemen. Normally the start of the game being delayed nearly half an hour would be irritating, but with both teams missing their goaltenders at the start, it turned out to be a great convenience. With Monty out for the Bullies side, and A-Bot having to head back to the southside to get his gear, the Bullies played without a goalie for almost 5 minutes. The Horsemen went without for almost 9 minutes before their showed. This period of goalie-lessness meant a 2-1 Bullies lead before both teams had keepers between the pipes.

From them on out it was an absolute onslaught. Games versus the Horsemen have traditionally been tight affairs, but for whatever reason, they did not seem to be on their game today. The Bullies were running circles around them and dominating them on every play. Following up Gee's pair to start off, Nate picked up a pair, Derrick got one, and Gee completed his hat trick. The game went to the break with the Bullies holding a commanding 6-1 lead.

The second period was more of the same, with Darryl opening the scoring early, before the Horsemen snuck their first passed A-Bot. The Bullies weren't done, though, with AJ, Rich, and Graham all tallying to make it a 10-2 Bullies final. It was an exceptional performance by all the Bullies as they were able to make their plays with impunity. The defence gave up almost nothing and were huge contributors offensively, while all of the forwards were finding their way onto the scoresheet as well as coming back to cover their own end.

You really couldn't ask for a better way to start the season and it was an excellent message to other teams that the Bullies fully intend on repeating their regular season performance from last summer. That being said, the Horsemen are a strong team and should not yet be counted out. They should be expected to bounce back from this one, so their preseason opponents should look out.

The Bullies get the week off, but are back in action this coming Saturday for a 10pm game versus the Patriots.

Due to a lingering injury from last season, Amar Deol will remain on the injured reserve for the Winter 2006 campaign. AJ Prockiw will replace him as part of the defensive corps in an offensive quarterback role. As such, Bobby Clarke has released the following roster for opening night versus the Horsemen.

In addition to our scrimmage on Wednesday vs the Caper Crew, we also have a match on Tuesday night versus the Express. 9:30pm to 10:30pm at the Xtreme Zone.

The remainder of your team fees are due no later than the first game of the season (September 24th). If at all possible please bring them to the scrimmage on Wednesday. If you already paid the $100 deposit then the balance will be another $50. If you have not paid anything, please bring the entire $150 - if you do not, you risk losing your roster spot to someone else, as we do have several other people interested in playing. Unless you get money to Jay, your spot is not guaranteed. If you will not be at the scrimmage or opening night, make sure you make arrangements to get your fees in.

The complete list of rules and changes for the Winter season are now online on the CDBH site.

Cordell and the Caper Crew have challenged us to a preseason scrimmage to shake off some rust. Game time is 9pm this coming Wednesday at the Xtreme Zone. Cost should only be $5-$7 or so.

There are a number of rule changes for the Winter 2006 season, but here are the important ones:

The Winter 2006 pre-season schedule has been released. While it was earlier indicated that the retiering pre-season would be six games it has turned out to only be four. Our first game will be Sunday, September 24th at 6pm versus our longtime opponents the Horsemen. We have been placed in division 7 (of 8) at the start of the retiering round and will move up, down, or stay as befits our record after the first four games.

Division 7 features some strong teams we've played before, some established teams we've never faced, and even a few new ones. The Horsemen, Big Ballers, and Karachi Vice should be contenders, as we've come to expect. The Patriots and the Express are two teams we have had a lot of success against in the past. The HJB Thunder did very well last summer in BHE, going 19-5-0 in Div. 9, good for second place. The Predators are apparently a splinter team off of the Express and already have a bit of a reputation. Lastly, the Shockers and the Knowlton Knashers are complete unknowns. They are also the only team we face in the preseason who we have never played.

The Broadstreet Bullies' GM Bobbie Clarke is happy to present your Winter 2006 Broadstreet Bullies:

Forwards:
John 'Jay' Gilbert - Clint Wilson - Nate Draginda
Darryl Paget - Graham Loney - Aron Nenninger
Gaetan Daniel - Richard Kirchener - Donovan Daniel

Defence:
Darcy 'Gouda' Skish - Derrick Mertz
Randy Moisan - Nicholas Paufler
Amar Deol - Andy Dejonghe

Goal:
Darcy 'Monty' Holden

AJ, Brad, and Bourque are all out of the lineup due to time commitments, but Darryl, Graham, and Andy are all back full time. If the preseason has been any indication so far, this should be a very potent team on the small winter surface.

The Bullies played their first pre-season game versus a team comprised of Maurice, Davis, and some of their associates. The two teams managed to squeaze in two first to five goal games into the 90 minute slot, with the Bullies coming away with victories in both, 5-2 and 5-4. The Bullies chemistry was the deciding factor, as effective team work overcame short benched high divisionally ranked players.

We have an exhibition game scheduled for Wednesday, September 6th at the Xtreme Zone from 9pm to 10:30pm. Please confirm whether or not you will be able to attend with Jay or Nick. If there are any guys you want to have try out for the team, now would be the time to bring them out.

The Castledowns Ball Hockey league has announced that winter season will begin on Friday, September 22nd. The Bullies season opener will hopefully be at some point on that weekend. We expect to receive our schedule for the six game pre-season sometime in mid-September, and once that has been released, it will be put up on the site. Just four weeks to go, now!

With the Winter 2006 season expecting to start in mid-September, the Bullies management team are getting things ready for our next campaign. Team fees are projected to be approximately $150 for this year, an increase over last winter, but more games will be played. Our first deposit needs to be in this coming Sunday (August 13th) which Jay will be covering, but we will need a first deposit from everyone as soon as possible. Please get your first $100 to Jay in the next week or two, with the remaining (estimated) $50 due before the ball drops for our first game of the new season.

So to reiterate: Get Jay your $100 deposit as soon as possible!

The entire Bullies team would like to congratulate Rich and Ginny, or should we say Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kirchner on their recent nuptuals. We all wish you both all the best.

Taking a page from the Senators book, the Bullies followed up their franchise record breaking season with a disastrous pair of games in the playoffs, dropping them both. Tonight's match versus the Penetrators was very winnable, and in fact looked so with the score 4-1 for the Bullies at half, but the end result was a 6-5 loss in overtime. It was certainly a disappointing end to a sensational season, but it doesn't change the accomplishments of the team this year.

The Bullies just didn't really have their heads in the game and were definitely overconfident. This was shown by their inability to capitalize on the short benched Penetrators. Running just 6 players when the ball dropped, the 13 Bullies should have run them into the ground, but were unable to get on the board as more and more Penetrators showed up late to the game. Shortly after the Penetrators got up 1-0 at the tail end of a powerplay opportunity, they had at least reached a compliment of two full lines. Gaetan 'Gee' Daniel made a game of it, though, when his shot evened the game at 1-1. AJ Prockiw's first of the night followed shortly thereafter to give the Bullies the lead. Aron Nenninger may or may not have made it a 3-1 game just after that, but the ref called it no goal. With only one ref tonight it is really hard to say whether it really was a goal or not. AJ made it abundantly clear, though, when he made it 3-1 for real with 5:22 to play in the first. He capped his natural hat trick with 17 seconds left in the period to give the Bullies a seemingly comfortable 4-1 lead and all of the momentum.

Things really got ugly in the second half, with the Bullies allowing four straight unanswered goals. The last came with 2:56 remaining to give the Penetrators the lead. The game could have ended there, but the Bullies made one last push. With the Penetrators assessed a double minor with 90 seconds left in the game, the Bullies finally showed some real life. The ball was passed back to the point where Nicholas Paufler rifled a shot just wide of the net, only to have it bounce straight back out and onto John 'Jay' Gilbert's stick to tie things up with 20 seconds in regulation.

The Bullies had their chance to steal the win as they had the man advantage for well over a minute in the second. They even got some chances but just couldn't capitalize. The Penetrators turned around the other way though, and at the 5:44 marker, lifted one over Darcy 'Monty' Holden to get the win. The game had no real meaning whatsoever, but it was clear that the Penetrators just wanted this one more and they well earned their win.

That's it for the Summer 2006 season, but the Bullies will be back in September as they hope to build on their summer successes.

The Bullies, despite having their best ever season, were not able to carry the momentum into the playoffs as they were knocked out in the first rounds. Though they do have one more game to play, with the Peter Northstars winning both of their games in the mini-round robin they are guaranteed a spot in the next round.

Right from the get go, the Bullies were on their heels and only the net being off saved them from an early 1-0 deficit off of the first shift. The Northstars did get on the board a few minutes later, though, when a pinch gone wrong turned into a two on one the other way. A bad line change and coverage assignment made it 2-0 shortly after. The second period was more of the same. An attempted pass behind the net hit the net and deflected out to make it 3-0. At this point, the game was pretty much out of reach.

It wasn't the worst game the Bullies have ever played, but it definitely did not go according to plan. The Northstars game plan was brutally effective in shutting down neutral zone transitions and the Bullies were never really able to get any momentum going the other was as they were constantly stymied before they could even breach the blue line. Perhaps gripping their sticks a little too lightly and maybe guilty of looking too far into the future, the Bullies just couldn't adapt and as a result, went down in flames. Absolutely no blame can be laid at the feet of netminder Darcy 'Monty' Holden, though, who made his share of spectacular saves. Ultimately it was the lack of offence and some bad plays on the back end that resulted in the insurmountable lead.

With their post-season hopes dashed, the Bullies will be playing for pride alone as they match up against the Penetrators. The Bullies took them down 7-2 in their only meeting this season and they'll be looking for a little revenge as they hope to close out the season on a high note.

The league hasn't posted the final standings, but they have mailed out the finalized schedules so the question has been answered: our dance partners for the first round of the playoffs will be the Peter Northstars and the Penetrators. We are 1-1-0 versus the Northstars (though we handily beat them in the second game) and we dispatched the Penetrators in our only meeting versus them this season.

Our first game will be Tuesday, July 18th at 8:15pm at South versus the 8th place Peter Northstars. We're back at it the very next night, Wednesday, July 19th at 9:30pm at South versus the 7th place Penetrators. Please confirm your ability to attend these games with Jay

Following last night's win, and thanks to the very decent turnout of team members, we took the first team picture since our first season together. It can be seen here.

The league has released the playoff dates for the first two rounds. As the second round dates will depend on who finishes where in the round robin, they won't be posted yet. Our first game will be Tuesday, July 18th at South at 8:15pm versus the 8th place team. Game two will be the following day, Wednesday, July 19th at South at 9:30pm versus the 7th place team. Round two dates are July 21st (Friday), July 23rd (Sunday), and July 24th (Monday, if neccesary).

The Bullies, despite their stellar defensive efforts in the latter half of the season, have not being as prolific on the score sheet as they were earlier in the season. With tonight being the final game of the regular season, the Bullies knew they not only wanted the win (to clinch third place) but wanted an offensive outpouring to get things ready for the playoffs. They got that, and then some. The result was a completely dominant 7-0 victory over the Bears, who the Bullies outscored 17-1 in the season series.

The Bullies set the tempo early with an offensive system that completely overpowered the Bears and they got on the board early, with Darryl Paget opening the scoring up two minutes in. The Bullies maintained their smothering pressure but did not convert again until 11:42 when John 'Jay' Gilbert took Clint Wilson's pass and made it 2-0. Gaetan 'Gee' Daniel was not to be outdone when his solo effort at 4:32 put the Bullies up by three. Which the Bullies scored more in the first period the last time these two teams met, this was arguably an even more dominant period as they completely dictated the play.

The second period found things getting off to an even quicker start with Aron Nenninger getting his first of the night at 19:21, and AJ Prockiw following up a minute later, scoring 17 seconds into a power play, to put the game well out of reach with the Bullies up 5-0. At 10:58, Nicholas Paufler's point shot hit Jay in front of the net, landing perfectly on his stick for the easy conversion and a 6-0 lead. At 4:51 Aron Nenninger sent the game to run time with the eventual final 7-0 score.

This was an important win as it meant a 3rd place finish for the Bullies and a date with the 7th and 8th ranked teams, rather than a tougher start against the Patriots and Ultimate Warriors. The whole team really came together in an absolutely dominating fashion. Monty reported that he only faced around 15 or 16 shots in the entire game, while the Bullies peppered the Bears keeper with two or three times that.

Everyone played an absolutely perfect game. Monty was bulletproof in net. Darcy 'Gouda' Skish accurately pinched over and over to keep plays in the offensive zone. Derrick Mertz's tape to tape passes set up numerous plays. Brad Leebody refused to let anyone beat him. Nicholas Paufler led the team in shots with ten from the point. Randy Moisan was like a whirlwind in the offensive zone, putting unbearable pressure on the Bears. Gee, AJ, Darryl, Jay and Aron were the only ones with goals, but every other forward had their fair share of chances. Donovan had a number of golden opportunities, but has been such a key defensive player coming back to break up rushes the other way as well. Aron Bourque was relentless in the corner. Clint's three assists don't do enough to say how much of an impact player he was in this game. Nate was, as always, flying, and well used his speed to rush in after receiving cross ice passes.

Aside from the accolades from this game, with the season done, a few things should be pointed out. Both Jay and Darryl have cracked the 100 career point marker. Likewise, Aron Nenninger joins Darryl in surpassing 50 career goals. In the last 9 games, Monty has allowed just 11 goals, had three shutouts, and had a phenominal 1.22 GAA. Those are big reasons why this was a franchise record year for season goals for (101) while allowing just 61. The 18-6-0 finish, and 3rd place ranking, is unparalleled in Bullies history. For reference, in Summer 2005 the Bullies were 3rd worst. This season, 3rd best, in an even bigger division, to boot. The Bullies met their goal of finishing about .500 and making the playoffs and absolutely blew it out of the water. Six games above .500 in a division where the competition was so tight is an incredibly impressive record.

Playoff dates will be posted shortly.

The Bullies are proud to present this years award winners, as voted by the team.

With their 7-0 win over the Bears in their final game of the regular season, the Bullies have clinched third place in Division 10. They were just one point back of second, and just two points back of first place with their 18-6-0 record. It will require final confirmation of the scores in other games played tonight, but it looks like the Bullies will have home ice advantage going into the first round, and most likely against the Penetrators and the Heat.

In a similar fashion to the last time they played the Heat, it certainly wasn't the prettiest game they've played all year, but the Bullies capitalized on the very short benched Heat and came from behind for a 3-2 victory. Things will be right down to the wire for final playoff positioning and the top seeds and the first round matchups won't be decided until late on Thursday, which is certainly a fitting end for how close the competition has been in Division 10 this season.

Things looked promising for the Bullies, with the Heat only dressing 9 players (to the Bullies 12), but it was the Heat who had the momentum out of the gate. The Bullies had some real trouble clearing their own zone and initiating their own plays and it cost them half way through the first. At 11:27 the Heat got up by one, and then just three minutes later got up 2-0. Neither goals were really Monty's fault - the first was a lapse in defensive coverage and the second was a fully screened shot. The Bullies got their game back together just a few minutes later as they were able to break through the Heat's system.

Darcy 'Gouda' Skish fired a point shot right on net where it was batted out of the air by Darryl Paget to draw the Bullies within one. AJ Prockiw solved the Heat's keeper with 86 seconds left in the period to send it to the intermission with the game tied 2-2. With such a short bench, the Heat really seemed to be wearing down in the second and the Bullies fully capitalized on it as they applied nonstop pressure. They were rewarded at 12:22 in the second when AJ notched his second of the night to put the Bullies on top, completing their comeback. The Bullies got a gift after that, with three Heat players getting ejected from the game. The first for taking three penalties, and two more for yapping at the ref. Down to just 6 players, the Bullies were easily able to maintain pressure and wind the clock down. The Heat did have a desperate attack with 30 seconds left and despite a lot of scrambling in front, were unable to equalize.

So as was said earlier, this game wasn't perfect by any means but the Bullies played well enough to pick up a much needed win. AJ and Darryl came up big to get the goals and despite some lapses, the team's defensive game got the job done. Their 17-6-0 record means they are no worse than fourth, and possibly may have moved back into third. First place is now out of reach, but second is a possibility based on other game outcomes.

The regular season wraps up for a late 9:30pm game at West on Thursday as the Bullies hope to go out on a winning note as they play the Bears for the second time this season. Their last meeting was a 10-1 Bullies blowout but the Bullies will not go into the game overconfident, especially against a team that is out of the playoffs and looking to spoil whatever they can.

It was a close fought game, but it was the Ultimate Warriors who prevailed by a 2-1 score, drawing even with the Bullies in points, but the Bullies better record has them holding down 3rd place overall. The Bullies franchise record winning streak was halted at six, tied for the best string of wins in Div 10 this season. This also evens the season series at one a piece

Things did not get off to a good start when the Warriors took the lead just over a minute into the game. The Warriors also carried the play for most of the first, though the Bullies did get their own chances. That was it for scoring in the first, though. The second also opened strongly for the Warriors as Ryan Duqette did an end to end rush and slid a back hander through Monty's five-hole to put the Warriors up 2-0 just 21 seconds into the second. The Bullies bounced back, though, and seemed to be more in control in the second, but just couldn't find a way to put it in the net. With just over a minute left, the Bullies finally got on the board, with a point shot from Randy Moisan deflecting off a Warriors defenceman to narrow the gap to one. Despite their best effort, and with their goalie pulled, the Bullies just couldn't get the equalizer, so they went down by a 2-1 final.

Ultimate Warriors/Bullies matches are always great games and the teams have such a good competitive history with each other. It is only right that as both teams are having their best ever seasons that they are so close in the standings. The standout player for both teams was, as mentioned, Ryan Duqette, who is one of the few players in Div 10 who can win a game on his own. Between the two goals he picked up and the three or four other breakaways he had he is an absolute force. He was the difference in a game that was very, very close, despite the differing styles played by the two teams.

The Bullies will hope to close out the season on a winning note as they play their last two games over a three day stretch this week. First up, a 7pm rematch (at West) versus the Heat (whom the Bullies beat 4-3 earlier in the season) on Tuesday, before the Bullies go for another bout with the bears on Thursday for a late 9:30 game at West. The Bullies hammered the Bears 10-1 in their first meeting this season.

The Bullies kept their streak alive, picking up their sixth straight win courtesy of a 1-0 shutout over the Razorbacks. This win extends the Bullies winning streak to a division-lead matching six (the Horsemen won six in a row earlier in the season), gives Darcy 'Monty' Holden his second shutout in three games (and more importantly, a staggering 1.17 GAA in his last six starts), avenges the Bullies defeat at Razorbacks hands early in the season, puts the Bullies just one point back of second place, and marks the Bullies tenth win in eleven games, making them the hottest team in Division 10 right now.

With the mercury rising outside, the East soccer centre was hot and humid and the temperature was the biggest thing both short benched teams were worrying about. Despite that, both teams put on a great showing with end to end action and some really exciting hockey. There was no offensive outpouring from either side so it was more of a defensive clinic and goaltending duel. The Bullies were unbeatable in their own zone, breaking up plays and cutting down on scoring chances. The Razorbacks methodology seemed to be to stand the Bullies forwards up in the neutral zone, cutting down on chances going down the other way. Both keepers made some key saves, but Monty came out on top.

The only scoring came at 11:20 in the first period. Richard Kirchner came down the right wing and wristed a tricky shot on net. It seemed to have a weird spin that only got worse when it deflected off a Razorbacks defender and slid under their netminder. Another Kirchener special, another game winning goal. There were some great chances to run the score up a bit for both sides but the end result was a 1-0 final. The last three minutes were especially tense, with most plays only lasting 5 to 10 seconds with a lot of whistled down plays. Even with their keeper pulled for almost a minute, the Razorbacks just couldn't solve Monty as the Bullies successfuly ran down the clock.

Full credit to the Razorbacks for playing a solid game and keeping their tempers in check. Second in Div 10 in penalties, they've had some trouble staying out of the box in the past, but with each team picking up just three minors, this was a game that both teams wanted to settle fairly. Obviously Rich and Monty were the two big heroes, but a few other Bullies had standout nights. Randy Moisan, back in town and back in the lineup, was on fire and generated a number of great scoring chances. All the D played great both ways, but Amar hammered a number of deadly point shots that were worth of note. Nate Draginda also continued his excellent play of late as he refused to let the Razorbacks beat him to any ball.

With just three games in the regular season, the Bullies most key game is up next, this coming Sunday for a 6pm start at West. The Bullies face off against the red hot Ultimate Warriors who are hot on their heels and just two points back of the Bullies. This is effectively a 4-point game and one the Bullies want to solidify their playoff position. With this being the most important game of the season, the Bullies have just one message: 'Waaarrriors, come out to plaaaayyyy'.

The Bullies had a slightly short bench, dressing just 12 players, but vastly outnumbered the 8 H.C. Dynamo players they were up against. You have to feel sorry for the Dynamo, especially playing in the hottest rink in the city (South) on one of the hottest days of the year. Without even a full line change, the Dynamo never really had a chance, but they played exceptionally well for a short benched team and their goalie made some big saves for them on the way to a 5-1 loss to the Bullies. The Bullies won both games this season by a combined 10-3 score.

The Dynamos defence was strong in the first period as they were able to weather the storm, only surrendering a goal at the 5 minute marker, with AJ Prockiw opening the scoring, fed from Derrick Mertz and John 'Jay' Gilbert. There was no further scoring until just passed the 7 minute marker when an odd bounce tied the game at one a piece. The Bullies knew they'd be able to wear their opponents down, though, so they didn't panic, kept up the pressure, and were rewarded when Aron Nenninger restored the lead (with helpers from Clint Wilson and Jay) with 19 seconds in the period.

That momentum builder at the end of the first carried into the second, when just 7 seconds in, the Bullies found themselves up 3-1, with AJ getting his second of the night, after Donovan Daniel won the draw and AJ outraced the Dynamo defenders from centre. Exactly four minutes later, Nate Draginda (who had an exceptional game) banged home his fifth of the year (assists to Gaetan Daniel and AJ). The final goal came at 7:34, with Aron Nenninger getting his second of the night, from AJ and Nate.

Full credit to the Dynamo for putting up a strong effort despite the adversity they faced. They were a greatly improved team from the first time the Bullies played them this season. With a little more experience they could exploit their potential. They played a very clean game, as well. From the Bullies side, everyone did what they had to do. From their own experience playing short benched they knew exactly how to capitalize on that advantage as they outraced the very tired Dynamo defenders. Every forward picked up at least one point and were solid crashing the net and cycling the play. The Bullies defence played up to their usual high standard defensively, defusing most of the real scoring chances against them. Brad Leebody, despite being held off the scoring sheet, had a brilliant game as he kept finding ways to slide perfect passes to his forwards at the half boards.

In a season already full of franchise records, the Bullies have set another. This is their fifth win in a row, a first for the team. Likewise, it is their ninth win in 10 games. Their 15-5-0 record fully doubles the number of points they picked up in their first season. It also marks the satisfaction of a bet a certain person made several seasons ago where it was said that the Bullies would never win five games in a row. So let it be known, the Bullies have done so, and they never forget bets made. With 3 Bullies players hovering around the 30 point mark, there is also a good chance that at least one of them may set a new franchise record for points in a single season.

The Bullies get a full week off before they play gain, due to the long weekend. They're back in action on Wednesday, July 5th for a 9:30pm game at East. They'll be looking for a little vengeance against the 10-8-0 Razorbacks, whom they lost to 4-2 early in the season.

In a stark contrast to the high scoring 6-3 final the first time the Bullies and Hi-Tech Titans met this season, the rematch became a defensive showdown and a goaltending duel that was decided by a single goal, as the Bullies picked up their 14th win of the season to hold onto 3rd place overall, winning 1-0. This also marks longtime goaltender Darcy 'Monty' Holden's first ever shutout in 52 career games.

The combination of the poorly ventilated South Soccer centre and the oppressive heat made for a very hot night, though fortunately the Bullies had a man power advantage over the short bencfhed Titans, who were put further down when they had a player tossed due to a misconduct. Despite the heat, the action was fierce, with the Bullies applying most of the pressure. They were successful in getting the zone and getting their shots, including picking up the rebounds, but the Titans keeper had an exceptional game - certainly far above what his 4.34 GAA would imply. His play kept the Bullies off the scoresheet for the entire first period. From the other end, the Bullies defence stifled the majority of the Titans chances. Certainly the abnormally high number of penalties didn't help, with each team picking up four minors in the first.

The Bullies hard work was finally rewarded just four and a half minutes into the second period. John 'Jay' Gilbert beat his man on the right side boards and managed to get a pass into the slot. Aron Bourque was waiting on the doorstep and managed to shovel the rebound just over the line to give the Bullies the lead. After that it was all team defence as the Bullies ate up precious minutes of time as they held their lead. Defender Brad Leebody made the game saving play as a Titans shot squeaked through Monty's pads and seemed to be heading into the net ... until Brad's stick intercepted it and lifted it clear. That was the only real sniff the Titans had in the second half, and even with their keeper pulled in the final minute, along with a pair of offensive zone facoffs couldn't get the equalizer.

It was a great effort that gave the Bullies their fourth straight win (and e