November 27

Stopped by the rink in the morning, one of the guys in our league was running a one-day tournament. It's something he puts together every year on Thanksgiving weekend, he organizes it under league approval. Had lunch with Jenny and Helen, in the afternoon we headed north one final time this week. On Saturday home dates a pregame radio show airs from the Sovereign Center from 6:00 to 6:30, Royals play-by-play announcer Mark Thompson and in-arena host Chuck Corbin are the moderators. I appeared in the first segment of the broadcast on this night, we talked about the remarkable string of overtime wins the Royals had enjoyed this week. In the game itself the good luck was absent as the visiting Florida Everblades won it 4-2. Andrew Sarauer and Ben Gordon scored for the Royals, Matt Dalton took the loss in goal. The club has eighteen games in the books, after starting 1-4 they have won ten of thirteen for a mark of 11-7-0. After five games in nine days (all at home) the boys get a chance to relax, get some quality practice time and get ready for the next game. That will on Friday the 3rd when the Elmira Jackals return to the Sovereign Center. With street hockey over for the season and high school basketball not yet started the game on the 3rd is the next major event on my calendar. Take care, thanks for reading.

November 25-26

Rain moved into the area overnight into Thursday and continued most of the day, Thanksgiving ended up being a turkey weather-wise. I had no big plans for the day, just spent it at home warm and dry. On Friday in the course of my morning activities I drove past the local shopping mall, the parking lots were a zoo. In the afternoon Jenny and I were on the road to Reading as the Royals again hosted Cincinnati. The boys made it two in a row over the Cyclones with a "deja vu" overtime win. The Royals rallied from two goals down to tie it (as they did against Elmira on the 21st) and won it 4-3 in OT (as they did against Cincinnati on Wednesday). On this night Todd Perry was the overtime hero as Ben Gordon, Ryan Cruthers and Eric Castonguay scored in regulation, Matt Dalton was the winning goalie. These two games comprised the Cyclones' lone visit to Reading this season, the Royals will play two games in Cincinnati later. On Saturday the Florida Everblades will be in town, ater that the boys have a well-deserved rest until Elmira returns on December 3. Take care, thanks for reading.

November 24

Jenny was in town on business in the afternoon, at 4:00 we headed north on 222 for Wednesday night hockey at the Sovereign Center. In minor league sports roster turnover is a big part of the game, both the Royals and the Cincinnati Cyclones have many new players this season but there are enough holdovers who remember that playoff series from last spring. The Royals gained a small measure of revenge on the Cyclones on this night with a 4-3 overtime victory. The star of the game for the Royals was Mikhail Stefanovich, a Toronto Maple Leafs' prospect recently assigned from the AHL. He scored three goals (including the overtime winner), Ryan Cruthers also lit the lamp in support of winning goalie Matt Dalton. A little over 3800 in the house, not bad for a Wednesday night. The Royals' homestand continues as the Cyclones return for the rematch on Friday. Got word later in the evening that the Fall street hockey season ended on this night as the only Division Final still going was decided. It's always good to be done in the fall before the winter weather hits, in 2009 we weren't finished until December 9. Take care, thanks for reading.

November 23

Jenny was in town in the morning for an appointment, I took her home and we had lunch at the local pizza parlor. It rained for a brief time during the afternoon but the rain cleared out almost as quickly as it arrived. In the evening we were back at Reservoir Park for game #2 for the Midwest Finals, Don and Derek refereed and Brienna ran the clock. The result on this night was the same as game #1 so the series could possibly end on Wednesday night, with the other divisions already finished that would be it for the season. I will be absent on Wednesday, the Royals play at home as the Cincinnati Cyclones visit the Sovereign Center. This will be the first time the clubs have met since the 2010 playoffs and no Royals fan needs to reminded how that turned out. The Cyclones stay in town for a Friday game as well, on Saturday the Florida Everblades will visit. Take care, thanks for reading.

November 22

Stopped by the rink in the morning, there were some leaves on the surface but nothing that couldn't wait until the evening. Had lunch at the mall as usual for a Monday and filled the gas tank at BJs. Headed back to the rink after supper for the evening's games, all three divisions are into their Finals. The East and West series ended on this night, the Midwest played the first game of its series. Don refereed all three games, the first two with Ron and the third with Derek while Brienna ran the clock. The Midwest series will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday weather permitting, they are calling for rain on Tuesday chiefly in the afternoon. Take care, thanks for reading.

November 21

Sunday afternoon: on the road to Reading for the Royals game, Jenny was not with me since this game was not on her personal schedule. The Elmira Jackals were in town fresh from a 7-2 win in Trenton on Saturday but the Royals were the victors on this day with a 3-2 overtime win. It was 2-0 Elmira with eleven minutes left in regulation play, goals from Casey Haines and Eric Castonguay drew the Royals even. In overtime the club was playing shorthanded when Matt Caruana got a lucky bounce and scored the game-winner to the delight of the better than 3000 in attendance. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good but the Royals will take it. Matt Dalton picked up the win in goal as the club improves to 9-6-0 on the season. The homestand continues as the Cincinnati Cyclones come to town for games on Wednesday and Friday followed by the Florida Everblades for a single game on Saturday. Take care, thanks for reading.

November 20

Saw in the morning newspaper where the LCHS Crusaders' football season ended abruptly on Friday evening with a loss in the second round of district playoffs. The club had not lost since the third week of the '09 season, twenty-four straight wins including a state championship. I guess it had to happen sooner or later but LATER would have been preferable. In the morning I was with Jenny at her place, after lunch she and her mother came back to the city for the evening's trip to Hershey for AHL hockey. Helen was along using our friend Mazi's ticket, this was our second time in Hershey this season and the second time Mazi was absent. If she ever writes her memoirs it's safe to assume that the latter half of 2010 will not be fondly remembered. She broke her ankle in July and spent eleven weeks in a rehab center. After her release she went to Maryland to visit friends, her vehicle broke down and she was stuck there for two weeks. Last weekend her aunt passed away and the services were on this day so she has had nothing but bad luck. Our next game in Hershey is December 4, hopefully things begin to look up for her all the way around. The visiting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins won this game 4-3, they never trailed after scoring the first goal. The Royals are at home on Sunday afternoon at 5:00. Take care, thanks for reading.

November 19

Friday afternoon: Jenny was in town on business, at 4:00 we headed north from Lancaster on US route 222 to Reading. The Royals were at home against the Trenton Devils, the two teams had met in Trenton on Wednesday when the Royals won 3-2. That victory was the Royals' fifth in a row but the streak ended on this night as Trenton left town with a 5-2 win. Yannick Riendeau and Eric Castonguay scored for the Royals, Matt Dalton took the loss in goal. The boys will be at home again on Sunday when the Elmira Jackals come to town. Thanks for joining us here in our "new neighborhood", everyone. Take care and thanks for reading.

November 18

Hello and welcome to our brand new blog here at blogger.com. If you followed us at our former location, welcome back. If you're joining us for the first time, welcome aboard. I had been considering this move ever since our former internet home became unmanageable, I didn't expect it to happen this soon with no forewarning but some things are unavoidable. At any rate, thanks for joining us as we pick things up right where we left off. On Thursday the 18th Jenny was in town in the morning for an appointment, the access van brought her in from Quarryville and I took her home. In the evening the street hockey league playoffs continued at Reservoir Park, the East and West Division Finals are underway with the Midwest Finals set to start on Monday the 22nd. You can follow the league at its new blog here at blogger.com, it's www.lancasterdekhockey.blogspot.com. A busy weekend on tap with ice hockey in Reading on Friday and Sunday. Once again, thanks for joining us. Take care.