Be there tonight for another fine night of hockey in the desert at 7pm.
We should see an international crowd with players from Canada, Hungary and even Slovakia once again!

Keep your stick on the ice,
Tim

Gametime:
6pm to 9pm’ish

Equipment:
They use a roller hockey puck but wear the same protective equipment as us.  I’ll be bringing some larger shin pads just in case but plan on wearing my regular soccer shin pads and gloves.

Directions:
- from I10 Take I17 North (about 20 miles north of Phoenix)
- Exit Anthem Way, make a right turn
- Gavilan Peak Parkway, make a right turn (M&I bank on the corner)
- At the stop sign make a left Turn into the Park.  You will see a roller blade park and the hockey rink on your right hand side.

The rink is about a 2hr drive from Tucson. If you need to google directions, Legends Bar & Grill is right across the street from Anthem Park where the rink is located.

Legends Bar & Grill
3655 W Anthem Way #D115
Anthem, AZ 85086
(623) 551-9525

Transportation & Lodging:
- Who’s planning on driving up there and back to Tucson?  Please post to the website if you can take anybody else:  http://pimastreethockey.com/checkin/
- Erick is getting a room at the Hampton which people may be able to crash at.
- The Anthem guys offered places to stay
- Erin, Chris, Tom & Naghmeh should all be coming from Phoenix and may have a place to crash.

As of now I know we have the following people coming:
- Tim
- Tom “The Tominator” (starting goalie)
- Chris Kase (scoring threat and backup goalie)
- Naghmeh
- Erin
- Erick
- Daniel (who’s also celebrating his birthday on Saturday!)

You too?
http://pimastreethockey.com/checkin/

Any questions?  Please email me and I’ll try to help.
- Tim

On Saturday, March 28, our rink at Santa Catalina High School witnessed the dreaded/anticipated/eagerly-awaited encounter between the Anthem and the PSHL teams. Before any PSHL player had shown up, eight Anthem guys were already practicing in the rink. But the PSHL was eager to play too, and well over a dozen people eventually joined in. Stephanie in the goal, plenty of subs for our side, and the game started (almost) on time. (Odd enough to be pointed out.)

Right after the start the ball was in the PSHL side, the Anthem guys playing fast and pressuring us. Then the game became more balanced. Anthem had a few opportunities, but Stephanie played great. The score stayed at 0:0 for a long time (15-20 minutes). Then it happened that the PSHL players were Hinako, Janis, Naghmeh, Stephanie, Mike, and Tim. I remember Bob mentioning that we were in for a tough time… but Tim scored! 1:0 for PSHL. A moment later (well, 20 minutes of moments later) it was 3:0 for us and we stopped for a break.

The game kept being pleasant in the second period, PSHL in overall control, but Anthem had good opportunities too, notably a few breakaways where a fast Anthem guy was alone in facing Stephanie. But she stopped all but one. I think it was 5:1 when the second period ended.

In the third period Anthem played courageously, although they were visibly tired. PSHL was not, thanks to so many subs and we continued to wear them down! We gave them a hard time, although they managed to score a second goal. It was 10:2 (some say 13:2) when the game ended.

The game was extremely fair, and the Anthem guys should be commanded for that. They drove to Tucson, they agreed to play our rules (they do not have balls in Anthem!), they had to cope with our treacherous rink, they certainly hoped to give us a hard time. Yet they were very graceful after the game. It was most pleasant to share a couple beers with them afterward.

We owe them a rematch in their home rink, using a puck, on Saturday, April 18th at 6pm!  Who’s willing to make the trip? So far was have:
- Tim
- Daniel
- Naghmeh
- The Tominator

You?

Let me know if you can make it.  I’ll send more information and directions next week.

Keep your stick on the ice,
Tim

A group of street hockey players like us from Anthem, AZ (near Phoenix) are planning to make the Southern trip this Saturday evening to be schooled on the game of hockey.  They are bringing a goalie and a full team so we may have our hands full, but I expect a good game and a great time.

You won’t wanna miss this, bring your A game.  I’m going to get there around 6:45 or so and expect to start playing shortly after 7.

• Anthem/Phoenix players. Please bring DARK shirts/jerseys. You will be the evil…. errr… i mean dark team.
• PSHL’ers. Please bring WHITE shirts/jerseys. We will be the white team.

Keep your stick on the ice,
Tim

The white team (Bill, Deb, Swiss Dan) got a good start, 3:0 after
the first period. The dark team (Hinako, Andy, Volker) played better
in the second half, it was 4:1 when we stopped for a break. They
improved yet again in the third period, coming back to 5:4. It was
then agreed that the game would end with the next goal… white
wins or dark ties! A somewhat lucky distant shot by the white team
won the day.

I would like to congratulate my colleague and opponent Volker
for a good and tough debut in the PSHL! We will both be back
tonight.

Swiss Dan

As far as I remember, the white team started very strong, building a lead of 5:1 or so very quickly, but the dark team managed to come back a bit. 7:3 at the period, or so. In the second period, and thanks to a great Stephanie in the dark goals, the white did not manage to score for a while, so the game got tied 8:8. Then it was even for a while, until 12:12 or so. At this time Stephanie again played unbelievably well and the dark team won 16:12 (I think). Eric in the other goal played great too, both goalies had many saves to do in order to keep the score reasonable.

I wonder whether we just had Game 1 in one of the great goalie rivalries of PSHL, going back to the glorious Tom and Chris?

Next game Saturday!

- Daniel

It was great to be at the rink last Saturday! Pleasant temperature, and amazing showing with 14 people! This gave two premieres for the year: first full court game, and first game with a goalie.

Eric indeed dressed as a goalie and in the first period he defended the white cage. The dark team had to defend a small rectangle on the fence. The first period ended 1:0 (I think), with great saves from Eric who was only beaten at the very beginning. In the second period the teams switched sides, so the white team could also shoot on a goalie… I think it was about 4:3 for the white team at the end of the period.

Stephanie started as the goalie in the third period. We could actually have had a normal game with a goalie and 5 field players for each side, but we did not have a second net. Stephanie played well, that was a good test. Eric stepped back after a while, and continued playing extremely well until it was 8:8. The dark team was very mobile, Jeff in particular was always dangerous, and the white defense a bit wanting. The goalie made great saves and kept the game even for a while. In the last five minutes the dark team scored 4 times, easily, it was time to stop. Final score was 12:8 for the dark.

Special mention to Hinako. No one remembers whether she scored, but she did bring beers for everybody!

Next Saturday may be again a great night! Eric will be in the nets again, and Stephanie may also play.

– Daniel Ueltschi

Be there for a fine game of Tucson Street Hockey!

Rumor has it that Dan Jones and Mrs. Saghafi will also be in attendance, so let’s have a good showing.  There will be beverages to enjoy between periods and after the game.  Bring a jacket for afterwards!

Keep your stick on the ice,
Tim

This past Saturday we had an exhausting full-court game which was quite enjoyable.  Daniel was back in town from England and brought out the best of the PSHL.

Light team lead first period 3-2.  Dark team tied it 8-8 in 2nd.  Dark team won 15-13

Player of the game goes to Mike due to his knack  for finding the back of the net over and over again.  Honorable mention goes to Jeremy who stepped into goal for the white team and was phenomenal.  Weston played a strong game for the dark team and stopped numerous breakaways.

Keep your stick on the ice,
- Tim

This week will be featuring the return of the Slovak attack (Rado and Maros) as well as the beautiful (scoring machine) Naghmeh.  So make it a point to be there if you can.  I know I’m looking forward to taking them on again.

As always, please check in >>

Last Saturday we had a fine 4 on 4 half court game with Mike and Tim taking turns in goal.  We had a lot of new faces there and I’m looking forward to seeing more this week.

Keep your stick on the ice,
- Tim