Widnes Wild 4v4: Day 3

Widnes Wild's 4v4 Summer Cup tournament concluded Sunday night with five teams competing for the inaugural championship trophy. The five teams to make it through the Day 1 and Day 2 group stages were Furnival Flyers, Darwen Devils, HUGE Fries, Lumberjack Leprechauns, and Bracegirdle's Bombers. All were still comprised of ENL, EPL, and rec players.

Sunday's face-off was around quarter-past-five with Furnival Flyers v. Darwen Devils getting the event underway. A steady crowd of between 40-50 people watched on as the tournament progressed through another round robin stage, which followed the same format as the previous days -- one 10-minute period. The final would be two 8-minute periods, all run clock.

The team I played for, HUGE Fries, eased through the group stages with 1-0, 2-0, and 3-1 wins. The last round robin game was a precursor to the finals, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Bracegirdle's Bombers.

In the semifinals we were matched up against Furnival Flyers and the game was evenly matched with both teams having solid chances with no breakthrough. As it entered the closing stages the Huge Fries caught the opposition on the break and for all the horribleness I had played up until then I finished on a perfectly placed pass across goal from Kieran Strangeway that proved to be the difference.

Mack & I before the first game.

There was little time between our semifinal and the finals against Bracegirdle's Bombers who beat a four man team of Darwen Devils in convincing fashion. The first half (as it were) finished 1-0 in favour of Bracegirdle's Bombers with several chances for both sides.

The final period saw most of the action as tired legs made way for more chances. B's Bombers added to their lead early and quickly went into defensive mode to protect it. HUGE Fries chased the game back to a one goal difference through Max Drakeley's backhand flick over the goalie's shoulder. Conceding didn't change the B's Bombers protect plan.

As the game dwindled to its closing stages, HUGE Fries controlled much of the puck as they searched for an equaliser. It was left late as I notched through a scrambler in front with just under 10 seconds left. But in the format the clock does not stop and there is no face off. It is get the puck and go. And that is what Bracegirdle's Bombers did as Shaun Dippnall undressed Tom McDonald on a shifty deke with 1.8 on the clock.

Heartbroken.

HUGE Fries: Ben Brown, Joe Charlton, Max Drakeley, Allen Gunn, Tom McDonald, Kieran Strangeway, Tom Wilson.

Full videos across all three days of the tournament may be found on Phobeninc's YouTube channel.

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Edit note: After arriving at home I saw that my mother had asked how the hockey went and she offered little comfort for my woes.

Uni Survival Guide (Entry IV)

Dinner for one selfie.

The other day I was asked what I missed most about America -- a totally loaded question that caught me off guard as I've always just accepted the handful of things I miss. I always knew I was going to tell them my family, but like a nutter I said the food. Don't worry mama, I changed my answer. Though the question kept me thinking days later what exactly I missed and then I thought of all the places I'd go eat with my family where we'd laugh, talk sports, create awkward situations for everyone else in the restaurant. Places like Tenders, Panera, Steak N Shake, and Mac's crossed my mind -- maybe its that I was hungry at the time (I'd only had a hot chocolate that day) ; maybe its that as a family we select restaurant destinations to bring friends to more than any other type of place (just ask Mackinnon and Revesz about that six egg, chicken, pepper, onion, omelet) ; maybe, just maybe.

At that moment, I was swept away most by the adventures to Joel's where I would order a chicken fried rice (large) with vegetable sushi and soup. To me, it was always worth the gamble traveling up I-77 to Exit 33 at 4pm where the motorway sits rife with bad drivers trying to delay your Asian grill experience...

Uni now is but a spec in my review mirror -- well, the undergraduate portion of it at least. A potential place on a postgrad journalism is clear as day out the front window with an interview at Uni of Salford lined up for 24th June. Fingers crossed.

But I conclude my undergraduate degree eating my way through a memory of home: my tossed-together-because-I-ran-out-of-Worcester-sauce-and-only-have-soy-sauce version of chicken fried rice. Its main contribution to my ever-widening "energised for school diet"? None whatsoever. Its summer and my brother is a brick house recognised by Under Armour. I'm fitna get on that level.

Jokes.
I just miss my other Guatemalan half.
He and I will trek London on his first visit to the UK in July.
Hope he's gotten his cardio up.

UNI CHICKEN FRIED RICE:
(DUNNO IF IT IS REALLY FRIED)

Frozen mixed veggies
1 cup brown rice
1 or 2 chicken breast(s); diced -- Quorn for certain individuals ;D
1 diced courgette
Soy sauce
1 egg to be fried and diced

Assemble. But don't trust me to make the rice correctly.

What they said:
"I like how its under 'Uni Survival Guide'; eat as much as you can." <-- before it goes off.
"One cup of a rice? That's like two meals" <-- good sir, you are wrong!
"Gotta get it in early before ice hockey!" <-- I guess two hours is long enough?

What I said:
"I'm so full."

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Edit note: For the copious amounts of Latin rock and reggaeton I have been listening to the last handful of days I am unsure as to why I have craved Asian food...

Jamming recently to Guatemala's finest export (aside from me of course), Malacates Trebol Shop. I'd trade an arm to be Francisco Paez and a leg to be Nick Wheeler:

Manchester Metros Awards Night

Henry Denny: Best Dressed Award

Monday night's award ceremony marked the end of the club's season as exams are wrapping up across the area's universities with many folks heading home for the summer. The Oxford on Oxford Road played host to the event that saw around twenty smartly dressed folks in attendance.

The event kicked off with opening remarks from Chairman Matthew Rohani who spoke about the trying seasons all three teams experienced, the positives for the future, and the club's financial standing -- which at some points had been in flux due to abnormal attendances at trainings throughout the second term.

Manchester will continue to play regular mixed-level friendlies throughout the summer.

The following is the list of award winners in bold as selected by the committee members and/or bench coaching staff -- nominees are listed alphabetically in italics. Fixed awards include Top Point & Top Goal Scorer. These will be named first and pucks were awarded to a player from each team (A, B, C):

Top Point Scorer A - Allen Gunn
Top Point Scorer B - Jamie Bower
Top Point Scorer C - Will Hapgood

Top Goal Scorer A - Allen Gunn
Top Goal Scorer B - Jamie Bower
Top Goal Scorer C - Will Hapgood

Most Valuable Player (MVP)
A - Allen Gunn, Matt Lowry, Tom Wilson.
B - Rob Herrick, Jamie Bower, Jack Walker.
C - Jeremy Stormes, Will Hapgood, Devin Louttit.

My linemates: Matt Lowry & Tom Wilson

Most Improved Player - Jason Westall, Henry Denny, Rob Herrick, Parker Ingham, Devin Loutitt.

Best Two-Way Forward - Matt Lowry, Allen Gunn, Devin Louttit, Andrew Mackinnon, Jack Walker, Tom Wilson.

Best Two-Way Defenceman - Matt Crouch, Chris Astley, Kieren De'Ath, Ste Harvey, Mike De Paoli, Cal Robinson, Dean Smith.

Katy "Goon" Holliday Award for Outstanding Physical Play - Parker Ingham, Henry Denny, Allen Gunn, Rob Herrick, Matt Lowry, Callum Notman.

MetroStar - Rachael Reynolds, Andrew Mackinnon, Dean Smith, Jeremy Stormes.

No team across any division won any accolades this season. The 2014/15 teams will look to rectify Manchester's mark amongst the BUIHA elite. The importance of staying healthy will be at the forefront to that success.

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Edit note: Pictures from this event will be added later and will be credited to Rachael Reynolds.
Edit note: The photos added were taken by Rachael Reynolds with full credit to her.