Fire On Ice For A 14 Team Tourney!

Back in October 2004 Niel Amy and myself were approached for a chance to host a 3 day hockey event for promoter Ben Stringer.

The third annual Dallas Cup Tier 1 AAA event for teams 18 and under and 16 and under. Games were played as early as 7 am and as late as 5 pm. The rink hosts were at the Dr Pepper Star Center in Farmers Branch and Valley Ranch. Illusion Sports would call 13 games altogether, 8 myself.

What a plethora of talent! You had the Russell Stover All Stars from Kansas City, Pikes Peak from Colorado City, Honey Baked and Team Honda from Motown, The Sharks from San Jose, The Firebirds from Phoenix, Texas' 5th ranked Alliance Bulldogs with Highland Park's own Chris Kostopoulos and Locke Jillson as well as Tri Cities from Pittsburgh and a crew of men from Nebraska!

A 3 day round robin tourney of talent as each team would play 4 games. Congratulations to the 18 and under repeat champs Honey Baked and 16 and under champs Alliance Bulldogs. I saw a young man win MVP by virtue of a 5 goal performance in 2 games, Todd Pococke. Hockey fans in Michigan can be proud of how well men like Jay Sardelli, Matt Rust, Michael Degrazier, Mark Bores, Trevor John, Michael Leone, even Jon Morrow performed. What a nucleus of physical talent! I was impressed!

Thanks are in order to some very accomodating individuals: Organizer Ben Stringer, Rick Hall, Zach Warner and Shelby Bishop for helping me at rinkside, Niel Amy for the opportunity, all the parents we met along the way(to the grandparents from Alaska-THANK YOU!), the concession folks at the Star Centers, even the Zamboni guy who let me and Zach ride along and do an interview!

Dallas Cup 2005 was a resounding success. Be advised that hockey is alive and well in the states and that a team of 30 shall participate at Frisco in year 2006. For my efforts I found me a stick and vulcanized rubber puck...

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will