Ahh...where do I start? I guess I'll start with the two most applicable thoughts that come to mind. Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone. Ignorance is bliss! HockeyFan posts a couple facts but, in general, greatly misrepresents the truth.

Let's be open and honest about who we are talking about. HockeyFan represents the Louisville Squirt AA team. In this case, I'm speaking for the Indy Jr Ice Squirt AA2 team. We (Jr Ice AA2 team) are a team of 4 second year squirts, 12 first year squirts and one mite playing in Squirt AA. We have a great coach and some talented kids which makes it possible for us to compete, and win, in AA. Given our age, we tend to run small. Teams like Louisville realized early on that the way to beat us on the scoreboard is to play us very physically. Honestly, it has been a good strategy for others to use because it has worked from time to time. If you can't match our speed and skill, try to take us out of our game by playing physical. I'm not here to call that tactic bad names, I call it good coaching. No hard feelings here.

Let's start with some stats. We've played each other 5 times this season. In those five games the Jr Ice had 55 minutes in penalties vs. 96 minutes for Louisville. This doesn't include any minutes for a game misconduct by the Louisville head coach (I'm pretty sure that would add 10 more minutes, making it 55 vs. 106). If HockeyFan thinks those five games don't accurately represent the true violent nature of our team, let's look at the season as a whole. In 46 games, we've been penalized 332 minutes, our opponents have been penalized 451 minutes, about 35% more than us. In 46 games, I guess one thing is clear, we tend to take more beatings than we give out. Our 3.5 penalties per game is hardly the mark of a problematic Squirt AA team. HockeyFan, I'd like to see your stats. Call us names if you like, but let's see your numbers!

About the two specific incidents. Perspective is everything. Guess you'd have to be there to know.

Let's take the "sin-bin comment" first. Was something inappropriate said by one of our parents. Absolutely! It wasn't, however, what was quoted by HockeyFan, but inappropriate nonetheless. It happened right after the third time his kid was cracked forcefully across the helmet by a Louisville kids stick and knocked to the ice. Are we accusing Louisville parents and coaches of supporting that kind of behavior? No! Kids play. Sometimes they unintentionally do things they shouldn't. Sometimes they make bad decisions. It happens. That's why they wear protective equipment. So, did the kid follow his dad's emotional instructions. Nope! He's been parented and coached too well to resort to that kind of play. No penalty minutes for him in our five games, 5 penalties in 46 games for our #1 scorer who gets the crap beat out of him by many teams.

The second incident. I was there (I was the scorer) and you lie! I yelled nothing! Put the tape on the internet and let's hear what I said. If I yelled it in an arena where a player is lying on the ice hurt (which typically means a hushed crowd), I'm sure you can hear what I yelled. Play the tape! Was the play in question a penalty? Yes! Should the kid have committed the act? No. If you remember, HockeyFan, this player who has been penalized 21 times in 46 games (I'm sure you have players with many more!) didn't think he committed a penalty. There was no intent, just a poor decision in the heat of the game. Do you have the entire set of game tapes? I'd like a reply of your player in Louisville decking our kid from behind after the game ended. No "heat of the game" there, calculated intent, I'd recken'.

So, clearly there are two sides to every story. The Gems played a legit peewee under suspect circumstances. Fort Wayne had some last minute players added. There appears to have been a laser at the Toledo/Flames game. Louisville & Jr Ice squirt teams played some emotional and physical hockey games. Beyond that, be careful what you believe.

One last quote (if only I remembered it exactly and who said it...) goes something like, "Players play, coaches coach, referees ref and fans chear. Know your role." I'd appreciate if someone can provide details on this one, I liked it when I read it but can't find it again.

myhockeyman

My Hockey man
Yes I do have all five games from start to end plus two others that your team played against other teams in full.

The comment in the scorers table was a person by the scorers table. I do not know what one said it. The person from our team keeping the clock heard it.

I agree all games were hard physical games. I have no problem with that. That facts remain that after the first game here, when yes I agree heat of the moment got into one parent of your team, we had parents from other teams telling us about a conversation they over heard about taking #** out on our team in the next game.

Yes our penalty minutes are high for the year. We have a few players that want to be pee wees now.

If you would like copys of all 5 games let me know I will send them to you with the letter from Mid-AM on the first game in Indy about the Ref's. They throw a coach out of the game with :24 left in the game. There was no verble or physical threat to the ref nor was there a beanch minor given prior. Therefor, reading the rules a Game misconduct is not the call at that time a bench minor should have come first.

You asked if we had on tape when our kid nailed your kid to the ice at the end of the game here. YES it is on tape right after your kid cross checked our kid into the boards at the end of the game all comes after the horn. Our player was given one big talken to in the locker room after on how to play with good sportsmanship.

Now heat of the moment is no reason to still yell out to hurt a kid. In a game not with you one of our kids helmet was cracked open from a hit to the head with a stick no call made. Yes, we yelled way no call was made but no one yelled to go after that kid and hurt him.

Hockey is physical no problem but at any time if any parent is gald a kid gets hurt or yells to kids to hurt someone they need to get out of any sport.

Yes, you have a young and very good team. I like to see that you should all do very well next year also since most will return.

I will not argue this here with you or anyone. I know what I saw and heard. To tell anyone to hurt another player is wrong no matter what made you say it.