Remembering Grandma Minnie

Just returned home from a long, emotional weekend with family for Grandma Minnie's funeral in Muskegon, MI. We put together the following video using old photos which was used as part of the memorial service to celebrate the life of Minnie Irene Ott (1915-2011) on behalf of all of her family and friends who attended.

Mustangs Lose Killer B Championship

Last night Andrew (#97) and the Strongsville Mustangs played Cleveland Heights in the Killer B Hockey Tournament championship game. Despite playing a hard, physical game, the Mustangs came up short 0-4 (team scouts say that Cleveland Heights loaded up with varsity peewee players, so this was not the same team that the Mustangs beat twice in the regular season). Nonetheless, the Mustangs finished second in the tournament and received silver medals for their reward. Nice season boys! Next up will be a short, eight game Spring Season; and it looks like, other than 3-4 players that are moving up to Bantam level, the remaining team will remain intact.

Mustangs in Killer B Championship Game

This weekend Andrew (#97) and the Strongsville Mustangs participated in the Killer B Hockey Tournament being hosted by the Shaker Heights Raiders. The format would entail a round-robin series of three games for each of the four teams competing in the Peewee division: Cleveland Heights, Gilmour, Shaker Heights and Strongsville. Each team would be awarded 1 point for winning a period and 2 points for winning a game. The top two teams with the most points play in the championship game. The Mustangs won their first two games and narrowly lost their third while netting 9 points and a trip to the final championship game against Cleveland Heights. That game will be played later tonight, but here are the highlights from the first three games. Andrew had some nice shots on goal and an assist on the game-winning goal in game 2. Hopefully the Mustangs can pull off the win tonight and win the tournament!

Poker Fest #22

Put together the following "teaser" video for our upcoming Poker Fest #22 that will be held this spring in Barryton, MI. Gentleman Jim will be hosting as always, and we hope to have a good turnout this year after last year's disappointing attendance (after a near-record-setting 2009).

Mustangs Finish Regular Season with Win

Yesterday Andrew (#97) and the Strongsville Mustangs played their last regular season game of the year. It was a home game against the Cleveland Heights Tigers. Andrew was almost a game time scratch due to a skiing injury the night before (crashed with his skiing buddy and hurt his leg). However, he gutted it out - as did the entire Mustang team - and came up with a 5-3 win to end the regular season. The Mustangs finished the season with a respectable 5-7-2 record - enough for a 5th place finish but not quite enough to make the playoffs. Although the regular season has ended, the Mustangs will be making an encore appearance this weekend in the "Killer B Tournament" at Shaker Heights (they're guaranteed to play at least 3 games).

Mustangs Lose to Raiders

Today Andrew (#97) and the Strongsville Mustangs took on the Shaker Heights Raiders in an important game with possible playoff implications. If the Mustangs could win this game and their last game they wold be assured of a playoff spot. However, it seemed as though the referees were against us today as the Mustangs were hit with no less than 8 penalties which made it difficult to come back after giving up a goal early in the game. So the Mustangs lost 0-1. Andrew had a nice coast-to-coast drive with a shot on goal but game up empty. Even if the Mustangs don't make the playoffs, they have one more regular season game and it looks like they will also be involved in a local hockey tournament over President's Day weekend.

Abby Takes 2nd Place at North Coast Feis

Today Abby competed at the North Coast Feis in Cleveland. She has been practicing very hard lately and it paid off as she took second place in the Preliminary Championship Level (that's the level she competes at right now). A first place would have been nice as that is what she needs to move up to Championship Level; but a second place finish is not too shabby ... Abby. Since no video is allowed at feiseanna, the photo to the right shows Abby accepting her second place "sash" and "vase".