Brad (Bradford) Stull introduced himself to me in sixth grade, saying he shared the first name of Brad Park.
Hockey reference. That always works for me. Rather than paying attention to whatever Mrs. Merle Smith was trying to teach us in class, Brad and I started to talk about hockey. Table hockey, to be exact.
I had *owned everyone in my neighborhood. (* - I will qualify this in a bit. Nobody in my neighborhood had a lot of experience playing table hockey. In fact, most of them were terrible. My games against them were like an Original Six team playing the first-year Oakland Seals or Pittsburgh Penguins, the worst two teams in the first season of modern expansion.) And now there was some fresh competition to challenge my won-loss-tie record of *300-0-0. (* - Slight exaggeration.)
Boasts were made. Skeptical eyes were cast. Challenges were accepted.
The next day, Brad and I played an epic game. Epic for him because he was taking on the *all-time champion (* - self declared) of Broadview Park. Monumental for me because, well, I did not win. It was a 5-5 tie, and it was as good as a loss for me. (Another side note. To me, there is nothing good about a tie. I don't care what you hockey fans who love a tie say, a well-played tie is a well-worn myth. Especially now in a 1-yes, 0-no digital world. You either win or you feel shame. None of this soccer nonsense for me. End the madness in the National Hockey League and eliminate ties, or at least consider them a loss. Winning is everything, in table hockey, in real hockey, in getting a seat on the train.)
I would win a few games down the road, I would suffering a few crushing defeats down the road. That set up the best-of-7 series for the miniature Stanley Cup that came with my game. As the *defending champion (* - nobody else proclaimed neighborhood dominance), I would get the extra home game, if needed. (Ha, like I was worried about needing it.)
Should have worried, I guess. First off, Brad cheated. Well, I say that now, but what I should explain is that his table had the center's control on the left side of the goalie lever. (My superior game had the center's control rod on the right side of the goalie lever.)
Still we managed trade home and road victories, setting up an amazing Game 6, that was so tiring that when Brad won in something that might be equal to *nine overtime periods (* - The game, which started right after school, lasted until suppertime, when I went for the center on the right side of the goalie lever. Wrong. Goal. Shame. Loss of hunger.) we suggested a mini-game for Game 7.
We could not settle on the length of the mini-game or when it would be contested. That led to a Battle Royale worthy of low-level pro wrestling. In the end, there was none. Game 7 remains uncontested. Right up through high school, we left that battle for table hockey superiority on the shelf to gather dust with our table games.
Around high school graduation, he tried to instigate something by saying his beloved Boston Bruins would end the run of Cups by the Canadiens. That was 1979. Brad was wrong. And the Habs would add Cups in 1986 and 1993. The Bruins? Still waiting, as am I for Game 7.
It's your move, *Brad. (* - First, get a game with the center's control rod on the right side of the goalie lever, OK?)
And now, my attempt to catch up with the Western Hockey League as it made its way to the holiday break.
Friday, Dec. 11
At Moose Jaw 11, Edmonton 2
Red Deer 3, at Prince Albert 2
At Brandon 8, Kelowna 4
Calgary 3, at Kootenay 1
At Medicine Hat 7, Regina 2
Spokane 7, at Chilliwack 1
At Vancouver 5, Kamloops 3
Prince George 3, at Everett 2 SO
At Seattle 5, Tri-City 1
Saturday, Dec. 12
Kelowna 2, at Moose Jaw 1 SO
At Saskatoon 4, Red Deer 3 SO
At Brandon 4, Edmonton 2
Medicine Hat 6, at Calgary 5 SO
At Lethbridge 5, Regina 1
At Chilliwack 5, Prince George 2
Vancouver 5, at Kamloops 4 SO
Swift Current 2, at Spokane 1
At Everett 2, Seattle 1
At Tri-City 5, Portland 2
Sunday, Dec. 13
At Calgary 3, Kootenay 2 SO
Medicine Hat 5, at Lethbridge 4
At Portland 2, Everett 0
At Tri-City 6, Swift Current 2
Monday, Dec. 14
No games scheduled
Tuesday, Dec. 15
At Prince Albert 3, Kelowna 0
At Kootenay 6, Medicine Hat 4
At Red Deer 3, Regina 2
Spokane 3, at Seattle 1
Wednesday, Dec. 16
At Saskatoon 4, Kelowna 1
At Edmonton 3, Regina 1
Portland 3, at Spokane 2
At Everett 3, Swift Current 2
Thursday, Dec. 17
No games scheduled
Friday, Dec. 18
Brandon 4, at Moose Jaw 1
At Prince Albert 4, Saskatoon 2
At Calgary 3, Regina 1
At Edmonton 3, Red Deer 1
Kootenay 8, at Lethbridge 2
Kamloops 7, at Prince George 2
Seattle 3, at Spokane 2 OT
Swift Current 6, at Portland 3
Chilliwack 3, at Vancouver 2
Tri-City 3, at Everett 0
Saturday, Dec. 19
At Saskatoon 5, Prince Albert 2
At Brandon 8, Moose Jaw 2
At Kootenay 6, Lethbridge 1
at Medicine Hat 6, Calgary 4
At Red Deer 2, Edmonton 0
Everett 4, at Chilliwack 3 SO
Tri-City 6, at Portland 0
At Prince George 4, Kamloops 2
Swift Current 3, at Seattle 2 SO
Sunday, Dec. 20
No games scheduled
The standings are here
The WHL resumes play Dec. 27.
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