The Happy We arrived at the RCC last night as the 2nd period was winding down in the JV game between our Cards and Hopkins, a suburban Class AA athletic juggernaut.  The Royals were ahead 1 – 0.  Suddenly, a couple of quick penalties gave the Cards a 5-on-3 powerplay – we scored, then scored again when it was 5-on-4, and then got yet another before the period ended.  Then we hung on the entire 3rd period to secure an impressive 3 – 1 win!  [We interrupt this broadcast while the supervisor curses the TV for showing the light dusting of snow that was headed our way, broke up before it got here!]

The Sad  The scoreboard tells the tale of the varsity game – Hopkins is a Top 10 team in Class AA, so it figured to be a tough match-up.  The 1st period was evenly played.  The Cards held a slight edge in shots.  But with less than a minute left in the period, the Cards committed a turnover in their own end (well, it happens) allowing the Royals a point-blank shot which they cashed in.  The Royals began to take control in the 2nd period.  They scored another goal to take a 2-0 lead.  The Cardinals had a late rush, Shelby Iverson fired a shot on goal and Becca Illies knocked in the rebound.  The Royals held a 2-1 lead going into the final period.

Team intros:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Rd9YrGHaI

The 3rd period was a carbon copy of the 2nd.  We had many good shots – low, hard ones on net that can lead to rebound opportunities.  We are improving in that area.  With 4 1/2 minutes left in the game, we were still only down 2 – 1.  Then we got a penalty, and the Royals took a slapshot from the blue line that was deflected in.  A later flurry around the goal led to their final score.  Hopkins will be a very good team for a while  – they only had five juniors and seniors on their roster.  Steph played a good game in goal – on this night, the Royals were just the better team.

[Madi Houska, junior forward]

Of course, it wasn’t all sad.  It was a well-played game from a fan’s standpoint.  Super Fans Roger and Dusty sang the National Anthem again.  A good Super Fan (SF) turnout in general:  Ted and Jerry, Karen, “Weakie,” “Robo,” Mitch and Jeanne (hockey alum Ally Nielsen’s folks), and new SF Ken – and hockey alums Abby Williams, Danielle Justice, Nikki Ecklund, and Ally.  In fact, Ally (now playing hockey as a sophomore for St. Ben’s) did the puck shoot – just missing the $100 slot:

The Happy  After the game we bolted for SAWA and a late evening with the Funky Gumbo Trio (it was Thursday night date night, after all).  Ken joined us there.  The joint was rockin’, as they say.  Packed with the likes of the Colvin/Christensen contingent (a/k/a, guitarist Spencer Christensen’s fan club), Jamie (mom to bassist Craig Sandberg), Steph (music fan and AGC gardener), Joie and Mo (Spencer’s classmates from the Alex class of ’11, and multiple sport stars), et al.  We had hoped to get there for their final set beginning around 9:00 – we did, and they played until 11:00, an hour longer than usual.  If you do not watch all SIX videos, you will be missing out on life’s enduring pleasures:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EmEVOdVts4  [Jump Jive an’ Wail]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5NH8rA1wqo  [Shake It Up and Go]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kxw-wUTI-U  [Hey Pocky Way]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyxnrqhreno  [What’d I Say] 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhtCXFrhjEM  [Billie Jean] 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdr_ioui2Uk  [Sweet Home Chicago]  (Encore for Ruthie!  🙂  )

[Joie (l) and Mo (r) visit with Spencer in the background.]

[Colvin/Christensen party]

[ . . . and we danced the night away (well, some did).]