I love it. Surreal has become reality.

Also, ah yes, that great hockey factory that is Saginaw, Texas. Tom Byers musta been shooting hockey pucks between the huge grain silos they have there.

Dear god the Tribe look like this leagues version of the Miami Marlins just trading everyone good after success

1956/57 WCEHL Season

     Going into the season the media’s general agreement was that Long Beach were still heavy favorites, but many journalists were not ready to put money where their mouth was when learning about the six-team playoff and moves made by different organizations during the offseason. In hindsight they should have because the Earthquakes skated away with another regular season title, despite a slight scare early on. Leading the way this year was Kenny Corderey, who replaced his linemate as the top goals and points scorer. Long Beach again swept the player categories with an assists award claimed by Billy McGorrie. Based on numbers alone, it would seem that Anastasio Moran was in decline at the early age of 29, but the truth is that the team probably wouldn’t survive without him. His fault this year came because of a broken wrist that took him out for a 15-game stretch. During these games the Earthquakes managed to pick up all seven of their losses, leaving the one tie as a welcome back present for Moran. Despite the time away, Moran still managed to pick up 53 points and a regular season title, which was more than enough hardware for him this year.
 
     Trailing LB was their neighbors in San Diego, who had finally forced their way to becoming a powerhouse by showing prospect development and making some key trades. Leading the way was Townsend, Benoit and Peterson, but close behind were some San Diego homegrown like Rezvan Ruohong, who would surely play on the first line of any other team in the league. Following these four was a bag full of youthful depth that had no problem fighting for a spot in the lineup every night, creating a team that played with aggressive desperation. Lastly, I’d be doing a disservice if I did not mention David Stepan. This 21-year-old goalie was forced into the spotlight this season because he had actually become the veteran goalie in the offseason. The rookie’s .901 save percentage made him a fan favorite, earning him the nickname “Tiny Tuna” from supporters.

     Locking in the first wildcard spot was the Salt Lake Bees. While it was expected of them to make the playoffs, like most teams were, the consistent bottom dweller surprised many this year. 1954’s eighth overall pick Larry Rogers had his breakout year, putting up 59 points in only 38 games. It was far from the top spot, but enough to claim most points amongst any player outside of Long Beach, which is a feat that deserves an award on its own. Rounding out the main cast was a group of players that looked to have no faults throughout the year. Joining Rogers on the right side was Denmark star Frank Oleson, while Norris Childress provided depth. On the backend was Andress Riekstins and Al Stone, who were arguably the most feared defensive duo in the league, making already spectacular Ken Seymour look even better.
 
     The California Grizzlies came next in the rankings, presenting a group that didn’t seem like fourth place material, but they could care less about that comment if it was made to them. It helped that some veterans stepped to the plate this year when other promising players fell short. Guys like Arthur Ashley and Wayne Zimmerman were given the opportunity to carry the team, and they did it with pride. It also didn’t hurt that their goalie tandem included Shawn Urbair and Collin Cornish.
 
     The last two teams to squeeze in were the Las Vegas Flamingos and TTHC, who didn’t provide any promising performances going into the playoffs. While the Flamingos glided to a fifth place finish with a minimum 8-point buffer between them and any team around, TTHC had to fight for their life down the stretch before Oakland had one final collapse that send Two Towns forward.
 
     Speaking of Oakland… hmm… maybe we shouldn’t speak of them. The team was surely going to struggle, but they could not catch a break. At one point in the final half of the season they had actually come within 6 points of the last playoff spot, but big dreams were dashed when three consistently rostered players suffered from injuries. One of these three players was 1954’s fourth overall pick Nicolas Vogel, who had his career tragically end at 21 when he tore his back. The Arizona Tribe felt so bad for the beaten-up Oakland team that they forfeited a game to take the Patriots players to a Phoenix Valley Boys basketball game once both had been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
 
     In other news, as Nicolas Vogel was making his way back home to Switzerland he ran into a young Italian hooligan who actually managed to steal his gear while Vogel was waiting for a boat. Though the Italian had never played hockey, he had nothing better to do so he slung the gear over his shoulder and started on his road to the only place he knew the sport existed, Oakland. He had only learned this due to the fact that “Oakland Patriots” was printed on the bag he took, but in his mind the struggling hockey town had to be the promise land.  
 
     That’s the season! Prepare for a finish that is much more prolonged than we have grown accustomed to around here.

THE 1956/57 WCEHL GAUNTLET

#3 Salt Lake Bees  vs  #6 Two Towns Hockey Club
     While the season seemed close for most teams, it was generally thought by many reporters that TTHC just didn’t belong in what Zamboni dubbed “The Gauntlet”. These thoughts were validated the first game when Frank Olesen fueled a 7-3 Salt Lake victory with his first period hat trick. The Bees doubled down the second game, scoring another 7 goals. This time they weren’t generous enough to let TTHC score. This would send Two Towns to the golf course, as many started to question if six made sense.
 


#4 California Grizzlies  vs  #5 Las Vegas Flamingos
     The low ranked Las Vegas Flamingos started to show signs of their old form out of the gate, but, again, the Grizzlies were able to pull together an outstanding team performance led by the veterans. Shawn Urbair offered his team a heavy advantage, only letting a single goal go by him each game, and that would be enough for the California team with enough scoring options to produce. The Grizzlies would head home to San Francisco with a sweep and $45,000 less in gold nuggets. (Diggins didn’t understand that he was supposed to get as close to 21 as possible, not keep drawing for the highest number before the dealer makes him stop.)
 
 
Semifinals

#1 Long Beach Earthquakes  vs  #4 California Grizzlies
     Long Beach had lost a total of 7 games during the season, so asking the Grizzlies to serve 2 losses in 3 games seemed a little unlikely. The math would not extinguish California’s flame though, as they started game 1 with a quick goal from Wayne Zimmerman. Urbair would gladly grab the reigns from there, stopping 30 shots straight before his team sealed the game with an empty net goal. 
 
     Moran and Hornbury would come hot in the second game, both scoring 2 goals and trading assists during a heavy offensive push in the first period. The series seemed like it would need a third game, but California had other plans. Instead of rolling over, like most teams did with Long Beach, the Grizzlies gave a punch right back, literally. In pure WCEHL fashion, the Grizzlies forced their way back in the game with extremely aggressive offensive play, collecting goals and penalty minutes at the same rate. The style of play pushed Anastasio Moran over the edge, making him focus more on fighting. Without their level-headed captain at the driver’s seat, the Earthquakes would concede 5 straight goals, leading to a 5-4 Grizzlies win and the most shocking event to take place in the Gauntlet.
 


#2 San Diego Canners  vs  #3 Salt Lake Bees
     Both of these teams had rosters packed with talent ready to sink Long Beach’s ship, but when they learned that California had embarrassed the defending champions, these teams fought harder knowing that the Magnum was theirs for the taking. While the first game spotlighted the reunion of Olesen, Riekstins and Benoit meeting in the playoffs for the first time since their 1954/55 Magnum win, it was Al Stone who deserved all the attention. The defenseman would put on a clinic, scoring two deciding goals in his team’s 3-1 win over the Canners.
 
     Game 2 belonged to San Diego’s Jerry Townsend, who scored both of his team’s goals. Unfortunately, his efforts would be squandered by San Diego's goalie, David Stepan, who was not experienced enough for the pressure that the playoffs would bring. Salt Lake’s fourth line would swarm, providing the three goals needed to share some time with California and the Magnum.

Last edited by Thehealthiestscratch (9/28/2020 9:52 am)

What a playoff I’m ready for this final. Gotta root for Utah. Being the underdog here after being bad for so long