On Frozen Blog

Category Archives: High School Hockey

Big-Hearted Blog Readers Make a Difference

By The OFB Team

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Wilson High School hockey team We told you a few weeks ago that we thought our blogging coalition for Wilson High hockey and its attempt to make a difference for a special local community delivered a memorable evening and, more importantly, vital resources for an under-resourced band of young hockey lovers. Nearly one hundred readers of the local hockey blogs Capital Addiction, Japers’ Rink, Off Wing Opinion, The Peerless Prognosticator, 3 Grumpy Caps’ Fans, and OFB turned out at Clyde’s on Friday night, February 29 — and once there, they were magnificently generous.

Additionally, scores of readers residing outside of Washington sent all the blogs emails expressing regret at being unable to attend, and pledged to donate to this cause on line.

We found out this week just how much an impact you made. This we received from the parents and team officials at Wilson:

“On behalf of all the members of the Wilson Ice Hockey Team, we send you many, many thanks for hosting and leading the successful fundraiser at Clyde’s. Thank you for all of your time and energy in coordinating and planning this event, and for rallying the support of the bloggers and hockey fans who also joined. It was impressive to see so many people come out and support the team, and definitely great for the players to see as well.

We greatly appreciate the generosity of all donors to the auction and are very excited that as result of the success of this event, we are now reserving ice time twice a week for the fall, rather than once a week. This is a big step for this team and we truly appreciate all of this support.

The commitment and interest in this team has strengthened its viability for the future and we are truly grateful. We also know how much pride and joy this would bring to Coach Mackenzie.

Many, many thanks and please share this with others that attended as well.

With much gratitude,
Members and Parents of the Wilson Ice Hockey Team

Filed in Area Youth Hockey, Charity, High School Hockey| Permalink| Comments (6)

Ice Kings

By Gustafsson

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Tonight begins a six game road trip for the Capitals. A trip which finds our weekend bare of hockey, save for Friday night’s game in Atlanta. We have a solution for you.

Grab your favorite puck soda, ready the pop corn get a copy of the documentary movie ICE KINGS. Ice Kings is about high school hockey at Mount St. Charles Academy, a Catholic high school in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. What sets Mount St. Charles Academy — known simply as “The Mount” — apart from any other high school in any sport is their consecutive state championships from 1978 to 2003 all under the guidance of the same coach, Bill Belisle. That’s 26 straight titles.

While the focus is on the Mount, it can be argued that the main character is high school hockey in Rhode Island. When you think of high school football, you think Texas. When you think of high school hockey, you should think Rhode Island. Award winning writer/producer/director Craig E. Shapiro does a wonderful job setting the stage with the history of Rhode Island and the importance of hockey. The movie has a Discovery Channel-type feel to it, with vivid imagery, strong narration, and plenty of interviews with known hockey commodities including Garth Snow, Mathieu Schneider, Lou Lamoriello, and ex-Capitals coach Ron Wilson. You learn of Rhode Island’s history, some unique quirks, and their love of hockey.

Another major character in the movie is The Mount’s home rink. A former airplane hanger, Adelard Arena is a formidable foe in its own right. Small. Cramped. Intimidating. Like an old-school NHL rink. The unique feature of Adelard Arena is not necessarily what it has, but rather, what it lacks: Plexiglass. Adelard is as old school as you can get with chicken wire — chain link fencing, really — separating the spectators from the athletes.

You may have heard about the Michigan Division I Championship going eight overtimes before co-champions were crowned this year? Rhode Island can claim a “been there, done that” attitude with the 1988 championship. A normal two game series needed a third game do decide the winner. Game three was tied at double-over time. That’s where the rules take over which cancels the game and adds a fourth. Would you believe a fifth game is added after the fourth game is canceled after the second consecutive double-over time game?

It’s a great film worthy of your time and effort and an excellent addition to your library of hockey movies.