Alumni Game Biggest Ever!

On Sat., Dec. 26, more than 30 Colts alumni, coaches and players turned out for an early morning contest in the annual Mesquite Colts Alumni Game. The 90-minute game was not only great entertainment, but it brought together a talented group of players that proved the love of hockey and comraderie of teamates goes on long after high school is past. The game was a fun time for the players and fans alike.

The Alumni team, headed by former Colts Head Coach Marty Winn and 18 alumni, beat the Young Guns (current players) by a score of 11 to 10. Former Colts Standout Tim Kelly, whose gear was on base where he is trying out for the All-Marine Team, coached the alumni from the bench. Coach Dennis Hall joined the Young Guns on the ice, scoring two of the ten goals with his "crash the net" technique.

With so much talent on the ice and so many goals to recount, it's hard to play by play anything from this game. However, one beautiful goal by former captain Mike Thompson stands out in my mind: a hard shot whipped from near the blue line that dinked the top corner of the net before swirling the puck into the net just beyond reach of the goalie.

Three great goalies were on the ice, rotating their loyalties between nets: Gerame Green, Paul Hinojo and John Wayne Seitzler represented the "past," "present," and "future" of the Colts, which has always been anchored by great goal-tending.

Current Colts Ethan Fox and Tanner Holubar each had two goals in the game, as did Coach Hall. Dylan Nessman played strong both offense and defense, racking up some points on assists (maybe goals too!) Former Colt Tony Douglas, who as a senior played for the Young Guns team, got another two (at least?), and all the current players had outstanding shifts. Matthew Jenkin burned up the ice on his shifts, drumming up several scoring chances while being denied by great goal-tending. Coby Benson was open to receive great passes and move the puck down ice on each shift, and Michael Bohling continued to shine as an aggressive new player for the current Colts team. Of course Cody Richardson never stopped coming, even surviving a few playful trips by Coach Winn. Alex Novosel played a great defensive game and is another awesome new addition to the current team.

It's always fun to see the current players go up against alums. Despite having "no checking" in the "rules" for the game, these guys are too tight anyway. There is no way a current Colt is going to nail Justin Richardson, Nick Crowder, or Parker Williams, all playing for the alums for the first time, and on Saturday, the young guns couldn't have caught them if they'd tried. Crowder had some great shots and was a definite asset to the alumni team. Williams and his dad Bob Williams both displayed the speed and skill that made Parker an awesome asset to the 08/09 team, and it was great to see Justin Richardson in top form. For the Young Guns, Adrian Hall was aggressive in his play and fast on the ice, and brother Brian also helped set up a number of Colts goals and offensive runs, some with their dad on the same line.

Geoffrey Sierra, Nick Gross and Tony Douglas, all former Colts players, helped the current team with depth we wish we always had, and all three were in on scoring. Sierra had at least one goal, if not two, against the alumni, and Nick Gross had one stand-out defensive break-away that got the crowd going as he sped toward the net, but was denied the goal we all thought was coming.

For the Old Guys, Josh Fox, Nate Jenkins, Eric and Kyle Fischer, Andrew Carrillo, James Herbert, Jake Stanley, Cameron McElroy, and Brandon Perez all had great games, dominating the current players on their shifts with aggressiveness if not precision passing. (You have to give it up to the alums who played great the entire game.)

Most of all, for everyone on the ice and in the stands, the alumni game is a whole lot of fun. Seeing all the Colts jerseys on the alumni players and realizing that the club has a strong history of team work and friendship makes us all proud to be part of such a great group of people.

Happy New Year to all Colts players and fans! We'll see you at the rink!