Recent Hockey Highlights

Andrew had hockey practice last night but is off now for a full week with no hockey practices or games. So, to tide us all over, here are a few miscellaneous Strongsville Mustangs hockey game highlights from games played over the past couple weeks (including the goal Andrew scored a week ago).

Christmas Fun Revisted

Abby and I were feeling nostalgic this evening so we got our our old collection of family Christmas DVDs. Just as many families send Christmas cards and letters during the holiday season, the Hollywood Four used to send Christmas DVDs to our family and friends. This video contains highlights from the first Christmas DVD we produced in 2004 while living in Chicago. We continued the tradition for three additional years - until I no longer had willing and cooperative participants. It was fun while it lasted ... and definitely fun to look back upon again. They used to be so cute!

WhirlyBall Christmas Party

The Strongsville Mustangs had their team Christmas party this evening. The party was at the WhirlyBall facility in Bedford Heights. Andrew and the rest of the kids had a blast (and dads too!). There was lots of junk food and, in addition to WhirlyBall, some of the kids played laser tag. At the end, each of the kids received a team gift: A miniature hockey stick with the team logo and their name on it. Here are a few highlights.

Two Hockey Scrimmages

Andrew and the Strongsville Mustangs played two scrimmages today against the Garfield Heights Bulldogs which is in a the A1 division (we are in the A2 division). Both games were in Garfield Heights. The first game got pretty crazy. It had everything from a penalty shot, two kids being ejected for fighting, one parent being ejected for yelling at the referees, to our goalie leaving the game with a concussion (we had to use skaters to defend the goal for most of the third period). We lost that game 3-10. We recruited a new goalie (one of the players younger brothers) for the second game. The second game was more normal, but we still lost 4-7. However, Andrew played great scoring the first goal in the game and adding an assist later on in the game. More practice this week, then regular season play again next weekend.

More Motown Hockey

The dad of one of Andrew's teammates on the Strongsville Mustangs is our official team videographer. I was able to get a copy of some of the video footage from last weekend's Hockeytown Red Wings Experience hockey tournament. The first video below is just the highlights at, and leading up to, our first game at Joe Louis Arena; the second video below has highlights from our second game in which Andrew had a couple nice shots on goal and one assist in a 4-2 victory.

Hockeytown Tournament

This Thanksgiving weekend, Dad and Andrew parted ways with Mom and Abby (went to Chicago for Oireachtas) so they could travel to Detroit for the Hockeytown Red Wings Experience hockey tournament. Andrew and his Strongsville Mustangs competed in a division of all Canadian teams (except for us). They lost their first game 1-7 at Joe Louis Arena, bounced back to win their second game 2-4 in Plymouth, lost their third game 0-8 in Farmington Hills, then won their final game 5-2 in Dearborn Heights. They finished in 3rd place overall and just missed out on the championship game. It was still fun. The kids got to swim and go to a Red Wings hockey game Saturday night. We didn't get too many photos or video clips (hoping others did), but here are the highlights of what we did get.

Hockey Highlights

Andrew (#97) and the Strongsville Mustangs PW1 team had two games this weekend. The first game was Friday night and the Mustangs let one get away by losing to first place Shaker Heights 2-1 after leading 1-0 late into the third period. Today the Mustangs redeemed themselves by defeating Tri-County 3-1. The Mustangs have now played 4 regular season games and have a record of 1-2-1. Hopefully today's win will get them back on track again. This weekend the team will be playing a Hockeytime Red Wings Experience Tournament in Detroit. They are guaranteed to play at least 3-4 games, one of which will be at Joe Louis Arena. The whole team will also get to watch a Red Wings game Saturday night. Should be lots of fun.

Mustangs Hockey

The Strongsville Mustangs PW1 regular hockey season is under way! The Mustangs had their first game this past Saturday against Rocky River. It was a nail biter that finished in a 1-1 tie (sorry, no video footage). Our next game is this coming Sunday against Cleveland Heights. The kids got their team pictures back this week so here is Andrew and the rest of his team. Looking forward to a good, competitive and fun hockey season.

Happy Halloween

Tonight Andrew went trick-or-treating with a couple of his buddies on the neighborhood hay wagon. Andrew's costume was a homemade human iPod (middle in photo). The hayride has been a tradition every year we have lived in Ohio. Since we live in a very rural area, the Boyerts of Boyert's Greenhouse & Farm fire up the tractor and hay wagon and cart the kids all around the houses in the area. It's great for the kids and it's great for the folks who live in the area who enjoy giving out candy. Abby didn't go trick-or-treating this year, but she did go to a friend's bonfire party.

Hockey Update

Tonight was picture night at for Andrew and the Mustangs hockey team. They also received the final preseason RPI rankings which have the Mustangs placed in the A2 division for the regular season. That seems like a good placement - should be very competitive, but not so difficult as if they were placed in AA or A1.

Mustangs Lose to Geauga

The Mustangs lost a tough game to Geauga yesterday. After giving up two goals because our goalie was late to the game, we couldn't bounce back and lost 6-1. Nonetheless, Mom was present and was able to shoot a little video footage of Andrew.

Mustangs Win Again

Andrew and the Strongsville Mustangs PW1 team played a late away game against the Parma Flyers last night. In another strong preseason showing, the Mustangs won the game 10-0 with the game ending with 7 minutes left in the third period due to mercy rules. Andrew didn't have any points, but he had effective shifts being on the ice when 3 of the goals were scored. Prior to the game, our team had earned the top "A1" ranking in the Cleveland Suburban Hockey League RPI poll (see table to right). This poll is used to determine where teams are placed for the regular season. Hopefully we don't do much better than this, otherwise we could risk being placed in the highest "AA" division. A1 is the second highest division and that would be just fine.

Preseason Hockey

This weekend, Andrew (#97) and the Strongsville Mustangs PW1 team played a couple exhibition games. On Saturday, they had an intra-club scrimmage against the Strongsville Select 2001 team (2 years younger than our Pee Wees). The SYHC2001 team was fast and good! Despite the age difference, they handed our PW1 team a humiliating 1-3 loss. Andrew assisted our team's only goal. To make amends, the Mustangs played the Garfield Heights Bulldogs in a preseason game today. The Mustangs "mercy ruled" the Bulldogs in a 11-1 massacre. Andrew had a couple nice shots on goal, but couldn't get it into the net. Still, he had 1 assist and a +/- of 4 in the game.

School Choir Concert

This past Thursday, Andrew performed in one of his usual school choir concerts. In the past I have posted video footage of these concerts. However, this year Andrew decided he would not sing - or even move his lips - during the three songs that the 7th graders performed. Needless to say, Mom and Dad were pretty furious. In any event, here is a nice photo of Andrew (and friend Nathan) just before the concert began.

Hockey at "The Q"

Andrew and the Strongsville Mustangs played an exhibition game this evening against Winterhurst at Quicken Loans Arena, otherwise known as "The Q." The game preceded the home opening game for the Lake Erie Monsters. It was really cool for the kids to get dressed in The Q's lockers rooms, walk the runways to the ice, and then skate on the professional ice. Unfortunately the Mustangs lost to the Warriors 3-2; and the Monsters lost to the Heat 2-1. But it was still a great time for all the kids and families. Here are a few video highlights mom was able to take with her camera.

Andrew Scores Goal, adds Two Assists

Andrew and the Strongsville Mustangs had two preseason hockey games today. The first game was their first lost of the preseason, a 3-6 loss to Winterhurst. Andrew had a few solid shifts towards the end of the game, but ended up with a +/- of negative 3 (+/- is the net of goals scored for/against while a player is on the ice). He made amends in the second game, however, by scoring a goal and assisting two more goals. He tied with one other player for the game with a +/- of plus 4. They won the second game 7-1 against Geauga putting their preseason record at 3-1. Unfortunately, since dad is the stat keeper, and since mom and Abby were at a feis today, there is no video footage. The Strongsville Mustangs next game will be a scrimmage against Winterhurst this Friday at The Q before the Lake Erie Monsters home opener. That should be pretty cool!

Mustangs Preseason Hockey

This weekend Andrew and the Strongsville Mustangs PW1 team had their first two preseason games. The first game was against Tri-County and the second against Wooster. The Mustangs won both games easily 5-2 and 6-0, respectively. Andrew had a nice assist in the first game. In the second game his line grinded out some quality, scoreless minutes. Since Dad is the team's official statistician this year, video footage may be limited. Here are a few clips that Mom took (but Mom is not the best at capturing the action). To keep stats, I am using a very cool iPad app called HockeyStatTracker (see image).

Hockey Tryouts

Today Andrew had his first tryout practice for the Strongsville Mustangs Pee Wee travel team. Parents aren't allowed in the stands, but I was able to get a couple short clips with my mobile phone while watching from the lounge. Last year Andrew was on the PW3 team; this year he will be on either the PW1 or PW2 team. Really makes no difference to us as long as he with a few of his teammate buddies from last year. Today was mostly skating drills. There will be two more tryout practices the week following Labor Day (but he'll still have plenty of regular practices between now and then too). Good luck Mr. 97!

First Day of School 2011

Well, another summer has come and gone, and today was the first day of another school year. Hollywood Abby started her sophomore year of high school this year, while Hollywood Andrew started 7th grade (sort of a sophomore of junior high). As tradition would have it, Mom was on hand to take lots of pictures including the one shown here.

For a walk down memory lane, here are a few links to first day of school in recent years:

• 2010
  
• 2009
  
• 2008
  

Welcome, Rico

Yesterday the Hollywood Four became the Hollywood Four-and-a-half when Andrew brought home his adopted new child from our local Petco store. As part of Andrew's birthday present he was finally allowed to adopt a pet - a gerbil. Once his new gerbil was all setup in his new habitat, Andrew decided on his name ... Rico. Welcome to the family little lion-man, Rico.