Team Chaos Season Opener
Team Chaos opened the 2007 season with a nail-biter against bitter rival Team Raid that came down to the wire. The teams traded goals throughout the game and entered the final period tied at 3-3. With the pressure mounting, Scott Richter fired a rocket from the blue line for the go ahead goal and his second of the night. Later in the period, Steve Kilberg took a beautiful pass from John “Ringo” Ringhofer and buried it in the back of the net for his third goal of the game. The crowd, filled with members of the Team Chaos Fan Club, began a wild celebration and the ice was quickly littered with baseball caps and other assorted head gear (including what appeared to be one hair piece), in honor of Steve’s hat-trick. With a 2-goal lead, the Chaos put a stranglehold on the Raid offense and held on to win 5-3!
The game was also marked by stellar play from all-star goalie Pat Avery, who turned aside shot after shot with an array of acrobatic saves. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the game was the play of rookie Joe Lochi. Lochi, a walk on during training camp, had already endeared himself to his fellow skaters with his unbridled enthusiasm – once trying to take the ice with his helmet on backwards. In his first official game, he displayed the kind of all around effort that should quickly make him a fan favorite as well.
During his postgame news conference, Head Coach George Avery tried to keep the focus on the huge win, but eventually had to address the night’s biggest questions. Why hadn’t he suited up for the game? Were the rumors of retirement true? “My intention is to focus on my coaching duties this season and help this team win another championship. We have so many talented young kids…well maybe not so young…but either way, I think that it might be time for me to move on to the next phase of my career and focus on coaching full-time,” said a clearly emotional Avery. “Of course, I might change my mind next week.”
Can George Avery really stay on the bench and off the ice for the entire season? Will Scott Richter actually shatter the glass with one of his laser beam slap shots? Is it true that Daniel Dye’s improved skating came from off-season figure skating lessons? How many games will Lou Difulvio actually play? Will Steve Richter win this year’s Norris Trophy as the league’s top defender? Most importantly – can Team Chaos win their third straight championship?
Stay tuned this season as we answer all of these questions and many more. Be sure to check in on www.HockeySkate.net for the latest news and updates on your favorite Chaos skaters!
