The Playoffs Begin
Media Week officially came to an end yesterday, as the Chaos took the ice against the Fire Puckers in the first round of the playoffs. While many skaters seemed to enjoy the attention initially, the constant interviews began to wear on everyone as the week progressed. Even the reporters seemed to have had enough as the first games approached. While the week began with well researched and thoughtful questions about Coach Avery’s hair care routine and Joe Lochi’s romantic entanglements, the media eventually ran out of hockey related issues to discuss during interviews later in the week.
“If I have to answer one more reporter’s question regarding the economic indicators that are necessary to conclude that our economy is in a recession…,” said rookie Joe Lochi, shaking his head in exasperation. “I’m a hockey player/celebrity, not a professional economist.”
With an obvious sense of relief, the players tore themselves away from the daily barrage of questions and began preparing for last night’s game. Like many professional athletes, a number of Chaos players have special routines they go through prior to every game.
“Hockey players are notoriously superstitious and need to go through various rituals before and during every game,” said Head Coach George Avery. “I’ve seen some crazy things during my years as a player and coach, but we definitely have some unique individuals on this team.”
Jon “Ringo” Ringhofer, refuses to ever wash his jersey, pads, gloves, or any other hockey equipment during the season. Consequently, his locker has been moved to the far end of the locker room.
While some of these superstitions may be relatively harmless in one sport (such as baseball players not wanting to step on the foul line), they can become very difficult to deal with in another. Once promising Chaos skater, Lou “Gumby on Skates” Difulvio developed a superstition about stepping on or skating over any line on the ice. Not surprisingly, this made playing hockey extremely challenging and may be one reason that Difulvio has been inactive most of this season.
Head Coach Avery is no stranger to this kind of behavior himself. He admits to developing a coaching ritual during the season. “Over the course of this season I have tested a variety of what some might call superstitious coaching routines to help the team win. After a lot of adjustments, I have hit on the most effective ritual,” said Avery. “I need to have the bowl of chips at a 45 degree angle to the couch, which is positioned exactly 10 feet from the TV, the remote in my right hand, and the latest episode of Gossip Girls on the screen. This pretty much ensures a victory by at least 5 goals.”
Based on the results of last night’s game, Avery may well be on to something. From the initial face off, the Chaos were clearly determined to dominate and send a message to every other team in the playoffs. While the team’s offensive intensity has been on display all season, they clearly turned the dial up to “11” last night, scoring 8 goals in the first period and putting the game away before the first intermission. The Chaos added 6 goals in the second period and then cruised through the third to a final 14-3 victory.
With last night’s game in the books, the team is poised to win its third consecutive championship. Stay tuned to your weekly Affiliate Newsletter and www.HockeySkate.net for the latest playoff coverage and the Road to the Championship.
