alexandriacardinals

[These photos have absolutely nothing to do with the subject matter.  I just decided to throw them in as a little change of pace from Super Fan photos (I heard that!).  That’s Todd Jennings, a longtime softball teammate, in the top photo with a couple of nice stripers (a/k/a, rockfish or striped bass); and Chris Sullivan, son of our softball team’s manager, in the bottom photo with a really nice striper.  I will assume they were all caught in the Chesapeake Bay.  You’re welcome.]

[January 9, 2010]  Why the “Super Fans” are . . . super fans!

The SUPER FANS ARE SUPER DUPER!!!  YOU’RE THE BEST!  🙂   The girls hockey team appreciates everything you do for us! ~ Marnee’

A pretty goal by one of the prettiest skaters you’ll ever see . . . or why Michelle Anez has already been all-state two times.  Final score tonight:  Alexandria – 5, Detroit Lakes – 1.  Stephanie Drown had a shutout until less than 3 minutes were left in the game.

For the snowbirds, Roger Riley arrived at the game tonight, they asked him if he would sing the national anthem, so he did!

[January 13, 2010]  Cards – 76, Spuds – 62

This one was fun!  In fact, the best game I have seen our Cards play.  Of course it helped that we left Bob “Black Cloud” Annen at home, and enlisted “Robo” (“White Cloud”) Rogosheske to take his place.  It was Robo’s first game of the year, and we enjoyed it in the company of Martin Haar, grandpa to fan favorite, Alli.  (We were one row off the floor, and Alli was guarding an inbounds pass right in front of us.  She started ululating to distract the Spud player.  Robo said she scared him!  I said I almost moved back six rows.)

Anyway, the Cards lost to the Spuds about two weeks ago in a game where they let the Spuds dictate the pace of play.  Moorhead in a half court game was not what the Cards wanted to play – the Spuds are bigger and better shooters.  Last night the Cards played a ¾- court trapping zone press all game – and it was a thing of beauty.  With Kate “The Whippet” Gearman at the point, I can’t imagine how a team could have played a better game defensively.  Moorhead shot great – I bet over 50% for the game – but for the most part the Cards drove them to distraction.  With the long and leans (6-footers Angela Christianson, Sam Trumm, and Alli Haar) on the wings with the quickness to step in the passing lanes, and Gracie Bruzek playing free safety in the back, the Cards were often heading full tilt in the other direction with Kate, Angela, or Sam finishing a fast break.  The girls have amazing stamina – it’s nonstop running all game.  The following video will give you an idea.  (The stills include Angela and Sam (No. 35) shooting free throws – as a team, though, they must have missed 15.  That could be a problem when tourney time rolls around.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Ap-hFmEO0

[January 15, 2010]  Gustie’s Across the Pond.

Danielle Justice and her Gustavus women’s hockey team in Europe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFEyFszvLOg

[January 19, 2010]  Cardinals – 3, Fergus Falls – 2

The Alexandria girls’ hockey team celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. day by beating the Otters last night.  This was a game between the pre-season conference title favorites – until St. Cloud combined into one team, that is – but the first period was played as if both teams had the holiday blahs.  There were only 5 shots on goal total for the period, and I don’t think the Cards registered their first until way late in the period.  Although the quality of play stayed pretty ragged for the entire game, the intensity really picked up making for an exciting game.  Michelle Anez scored first for the Cards but Otters tied it up by the end of the 2nd period.  The Otters scored early in the 3rd period to take a 2 – 1 lead.  Then, after what we believe was a delay-of-game call, Shelby Iverson of the Cards was awarded a penalty shot.  Shelby is a big part of what we call “the future” – a freshman center who is already a fan favorite because her naturally curly hair makes her requisite ponytail a tad askew.  Well, she made a beautiful move and scored, lost her edge and crashed into the boards, but laid on the ice pumping her fist.  Then I thought, what a putz!  I’m allegedly the cub reporter, and I sat there the whole time with my video camera in my pocket during this rare hockey event (only recall one other penalty shot – Abby Williams scored on one several years ago – forgot to “shoot” that one too!).  [But then I also hadn’t noticed until last night that the Super Fans are pictured in the team display case (lower left) at the arena.]  Shortly thereafter, Michelle got her second goal – the game winner.  The Cards held on as the Otters pulled their goalie late in the game.

[January 19, 2011]  Hi Tom,

We are looking for information about how the Cardinals at Jefferson High School were first named the Cardinals. Do you have any idea when/how/why/who etc???

Thanks – Jo

Jo Colvin, columnist extraordinaire for the Echo Press, has submitted the following question.  Anyone? Because Gophers was already taken?  Hmmm, I know I’m old, but this question pre-dates me by a tad.  Really, I have no idea – it’s not like the bird is prevalent in this area.  Maybe we did it to aggravate Willmar, also the Cardinals.  Anyway, I’ll get my crack internet research staff right on it!  ~ Cub Reporter

 Could it be that it was picked in a name-that-team contest over “The Chickadees” and the “Tufted Titmice”?? How does the Alexandria Prothonotary Warblers strike you? ~ Jim Pohl

Love it! The Tufted Titmice would be perfect. I’m going to start a campaign to change the name so we don’t insult the Cardinals anymore.  ~ Jo 

[Alli photos from Echo.]

[January 23, 2010]  We’re trapped (I think)!

Ahhh, the vicissitudes that are winter.  As they say around here, we seen it comin’.  A winter storm warning went into effect for yesterday afternoon.  We scurried around running errands – three different stops for tickets for three different upcoming events – and then spent an hour and a half with Senator Mark Dayton, now running for governor, at the Daily Grind.  It was great of him to spend so much time with us.  We were back home by 4:00, wondering if there was going to be a basketball game that night . . .

It was 32 degrees, i.e., a way above normal temperature, and drizzly, sleety, freezing rain was heading up from the south, to be followed by two days of snow, beginning today.  I headed toward town at about 6:30 – our Cardinal girls’ basketball team was hosting Sartell.  These are the statistically rated (under a system similar to that used for USGA handicaps) Nos. 1 (Cards) and 2 teams in section 8AAA – so it figured to be a good game.  But once on the road, there was a steady drizzle – yet unbelievably there was a steady stream of traffic both ways.  I made it into town but decided – the game will be over about 9:00, it seems likely the roads will be an ice arena by then.  Deciding discretion was the better part of valor, I turned around and went back home.

I turned the game on the radio – somehow Sartell made it here.  Dave Harris almost immediately announced tomorrow’s (now tonight’s) game with Detroit Lakes had been postponed because of the weather.  The game began and Alli Haar got a foul within 3 seconds.  Now Ms. Haar is a key person in the Cardinal press, but she is prone to foul trouble.  The press got the Cards off to an early lead – but then because we are not a great shooting team (an oddity in light of a stat to be named later), we hit a cold spell, missed some bunnies, and as a turnover inducing team, are prone to turnovers ourselves – Sartell caught up and took a close lead they were able to maintain until the Cards tied it at 37 at the half.  Though the Cards strength is in their long, quick athletes – three 6-footers on the front line – other teams often have taller centers.  And in girl’s basketball, a couple of inches can make a big difference.  Sartell had a 6’2″ center, and when the Sabres got her the ball, she scored – 16 points in the 1st half.

It was some point during the first half, Ruthie said it was time to get out the buckets and towels.  A phenomenon that has plagued us from day one in this house was happening in winter – a January 22 rainstorm, driven by 35 mph winds, was causing water leaks around our lakeside doors [photo evidence provided].  This is something we normally just have to concern ourselves with during summer thunderstorms.

But, back to the game.  The 2nd half began, and the ubiquitous Ms. Haar was back on the court after sitting out a good deal of time in the 1st half with 3 fouls.  The Cards immediately went on 10 – 2 spurt fueled by Ms. Haar and the press.  Then another cold spell that allowed the Sabres to catch up again.  The Cards free throw shooting, often a hit or miss proposition, was factor in the Cards pulling away again as Ms. Haar was 6 for 6 from the line.  The Cards lead a couple of times reached 14 – and they won 77 – 66.  Alli played almost all of the 2nd half with 4 fouls and was named player of the game with 16 points, several steals and rebounds, and helped hold the Sartell center to just 7 more points in the 2nd half.  It seems odd to have gotten this far without mentioning Angela Christianson scored 37 points – that just seems to be expected – and she is doing a much better job this year in getting her teammates involved.

Oh yeah, that statistical oddity.  The Cards are 2nd in the state in class AAA scoring at 73 points per game – though that is reduced by games going to running time and calling off the dogs when the games get out of hand.  Their get-it-and-go style makes them really fun to watch, so I hated missing the game.  Dave always says hockey is the easiest game to announce because all you have time to do is to describe the continuous action.  Last night while announcing the basketball game, he would say a Sartell player scored giving her 6 points for the game and, oh, the Cards just scored on a lay-up at the other end.

 Woke up this morning – it’s still 32 degrees.  Doesn’t look like anything is moving outside.  I wonder if St. Cloud Cathedral can make it here for the boys’ hockey game tonight?

[February 2, 2010]  Cards are on FI-I-IRE!

[December 14, 2009]  John and Marnee’ Herd’s Christmas card:  Probably pretty unique – they sent the two boys, Drake and Reid, to Breck, a private school in Minneapolis, but kept the baby girl, Shanee’, home in Alex.  All three played for state champion hockey teams.  Shanee’, now a grizzled freshman, was only a 7th-grader, but a starter on defense, when the Alex girls won the state championship.  [Editor’s note:  Marnee’ has always been a leading hockey mom in taking care of the Super Fans – always available with valuable information such as where the restrooms are at the various venues.]

[December 20, 2009]  Alexandria – 80, Minnewaska Area – 27

Uffda, part II.  We were sitting with Denny Kalpin, the longtime Cardinal football coach, at the basketball games the last two nights.  He noted the Cardinals are undefeated in football against two teams in the state:  2 – 0 against Cretin-Durham Hall, and 3 – 0 against Wayzata.  Who’da thunk it.  He also said Kyle Gearman, a wide receiver who played in the two wins against Cretin in the early 2000’s, could have played D-1 football.  Kyle, who worked summers at the AGC, always said his little sister Kate was the best athlete in the family.  Kate is a starting guard, with Gracie Bruzek, on the basketball team this year.  She is perfect for the Cards get-it-and-go offense – she’s a whippet who’s always the first one down the floor (and lead-off hitter for the softball team).  Kalpin agreed with me that Angela is the best shooter, boy or girl, we’ve seen play for the Cards.

Uffda, forgot all the tie-ins.  While we were in Cherry Street Books waiting for the Rainbow Strings (who I subsequently watched with Fiddlin’ Sam’s Dad), Coach Kohler came in.  So, we had a little chat about the team.  She is really excited about the team’s play and it’s high energy, particularly on defense.  We got the entire injury poop about Angela (Wendy said it was a badly broken nose) and Allie – she thought Angela could play in the tournament beginning the 29th, probably with a protective mask.

[December 19, 2009]  Alexandria – 80, Minnewaska Area – 27

This is the final Cardinal sports report before Ruthie kidnaps me and hauls me off to Indiana.  The Card girl basketball team, the sports equivalent to a tsunami, won yet another game in blowout fashion – with only 9 players in uniform. Alli Haar (yes, Martin’s granddaughter – I think we saw him signing autographs at the half), a 6’0″ junior, is a terror at the point of the Cardinal press – she scored the 1st 10 points of the game.  The Laker fans do not sit until their team scores, so we had to keep looking around them . . . the score reached 20 – 0 before they scored, and even the Alex fans cheered because everyone was finally seated!  Alli had 24 points at the half – more than Minnewaska, as the score was 54 – 23.  As in previous games, with the game well in hand, the Cards took off the press in the 2nd half (the video is from the start of the 2nd half, they still kept pulling away).  Games go to running time when there is a 35-point lead, so the 2nd half went fast.  The Lakers only had 4 points in that half.  Despite playing little in the 2nd half, Alli finished with 30; Lauren Trumm, Sam’s little (5’9″) sophomore sister, had a double-double; and 8 of the 9 players scored.

The Cards leading scorer, Angela Christianson, did not play because of a broken nose in the previous game (a 76-38 win at Sauk Rapids) – Lauren started in her place.  Allie Thul, in the regular 8-player rotation, received a concussion in that game and also did not play tonight.  Those two stayed in a St. Cloud hospital when the team returned home.  They both should be back for the big holiday tournament hosted by the Cards on the 29th & 30th.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6axtiXqoP3Y

[December 23, 2009]  Girls Hockey  [Editor’s note: While the supervisor and I we’re off on Christmas break, the cub reporter-in-training, Bob “Weakie” Annen, filed the following report.]

Our girls did it; beat the big city team 4 to 1 last night. Last goal on an open net by Shelby. You won’t believe this, Jack Juettner went to the game – reason: his granddaughter is their star center.

At last night’s game I got to talk to the following girls: Abby, Roadblock, Ashley, Dell and Brittany Lind. You may never get back here as we are going to 2 ft. of snow.

[December 31, 2009] Moorhead – 65, Cards – 59 

[Editor’s note:  The following game report included a certain amount of by-play between Pat Osterberg, “Weakie,” and brother Cam.]

[Osterberg] 1963 arguably the best line ever in Minnesota high school hockey – Rob Shattuck, Greg Hughes (has a summer place on west Lake Carlos) and the best of the three, Mike Crupi (dating my cousin Marcy Osterberg when he was killed in a car accident on his way from the farm club in Erie, PA to the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings).  I was a “***-goalie” with the Fergus Falls Otters from ’62 to’ 65 where we lived when my dad got sick and tired of being the youngest brother in the restaurant. Marcy was a cheerleader at the U and in the summer the guys from the Gopher hockey team would come up to my uncle’s cottage on west Little Darling. I’d get them to shoot on me. I guess I wanted to affirm that I was as “***” as I’ve mentioned. At any rate that is how and why Greg Hughes bought a place in Alex, and how I heard about the great program at St Paul Johnson.  Sorry for the novel.

[“Weakie”]  I’m glad you informed Cam of his glaring error. I can remember the days when Johnson dominated Minnesota hockey. 

[Osterberg]  That would be the Governors of ST. PAUL JOHNSON (Steve Sherwin would be mortified to be compared to the ‘wimps” at Central).

[Cam]  As many of you know, I hold living in Minnesota in winter in very low regard. It was windy as hell last night, and very humid. A bad mix, freezes you to the bone. It is now minus 5 on my backyard thermometers, so I’ll wait until it goes above zero before I go up on the roof to shovel off the south facing eaves, starting to get ice dams. There is still well over a foot of snow on that side of the roof!

I digress, but in my absence last night, the high scoring and under-ranked(5th) Knightettes of Irondale killed the Hill-Murray Pioneerettes in their championship game, 5 to 2. Yes, Gena McDonald did pour in 2 more goals and added 2 assists. She’s a senior on her way to play collegiate hockey at Harvard in the fall! I guess the Gopherettes couldn’t capture the top scorer in the state for the second year in a row!

The Hopkins Royals lost finally. The Governors of St. Paul Central beat them. Central is very good, a couple D-1 prospects.

[Me, finally, on the game]  Despite a Super Fan-like turnout, the Card girls basketball team came out flatter than a Yuletide piece of lefse last night for their tournament championship game against Moorhead.  Gretchen and Don Nelson, Barb and Roger Riley, Gary Otto, Bob (Black Cloud) Annen, and Martin Haar and family – with a half-time visit from past Cardinal hockey star, Brittney Bruzek (Bud’s eldest) – watched the Cards struggle for three-quarters of the game trying to find their legs.  They were behind by double-digits within the first several minutes, and it stayed that way until about 8 minutes were left in the game.  Then someone finally hit the “on” switch, and they began to play the way they must – full-court, racehorse basketball.  It was just too late.  They finally started creating the turnovers they had been committing all game and gradually worked their way back into the game.  They had three good shots to pull within 2 with about 45 seconds left (then anybody’s game) but none dropped.  To the Spuds credit, they made almost all their free throws – and that decided the game (they were 10-11 in the second half, made 16 for the game – twice as many as the Cards).  The Spuds have a 6’2″ center is who is very good – and the refs give her the Shaquille O’Neal treatment, meaning any time the ball was passed to her in the post, they would automatically call a foul on Alex for being in her vicinity (that’s our story and we’re sticking with it).  And she made free throws.  I think she had 24 points.  Alex again was led by Angela Christianson, wearing a facemask over her broken nose, who scored 30 (61 for the two tourney games) displaying a wide variety of shots.  But the Cards got back into the game with energy supplied off the bench by Lauren Trumm and Cara Wood [and indication of things to come, as they led the Cards to the state tournament in 2011].  On a brighter note, the boys’ hockey was up at in a tournament in Roseau and had a couple of impressive wins. Regarding the following note from Brother Cam, the troglodyte.  Apparently he wimped out – believing it too cold to venture outside.

[December 30, 2009] High School sports today:

[Cam] Go-go full day today! I’m going to Edina for the championship game of the Abra Tournament. This will be girls hockey at it’s best (oxymoron!). It’s the high scoring Knightettes of Irondale versus the mighty (oxymoron!), Pioneerettes of Hill-Murray! This game starts at 4 o’clock. Then I need to go over to Augsberg, assuming I awaken from my nap at Braemar, to catch the championship boys’ basketball game in that tournament. That will be number one ranked Hopkins, that’s right, number one with a whole new starting five from last year’s state champions, and a very strong St. Paul Johnson team that killed Sibley yesterday. How ’bout those Hopkins Royals? Isn’t open districting great?  Reh-eh-eh!

[January 2, 2010]  Way more than you want to know – plus upcoming schedule!

Birthday dinner night for Ruthie (a New Year’s Day baby) at Weston Station tonight.  Talked with the new owner, Jim, who said at some point he may re-introduce “Fireside” into the place name.  Also talked with the “World’s Greatest” (as in “World’s Greatest Waitress”), Nancy, famed for marrying Victoria Heighter, Mike Thompson. 

Then on to the RCC for the hockey game – final score:  Cardinals – 5, Cardinals – 0 . . . and neither was Willmar.  Our Cards beat the Coon Rapids Cardinals.  Have included a few video clips of power play action; the final clip actually caught a goal by Tyler Iverson (No. 4).  But it was a highlight game for Thomas Williams, Abby’s little brother.  He missed the previous game against Roseau because of a slight (if there is such a thing) concussion.  Tonight the Cards were on the power play on the opening minutes, and Thomas (No. 9) scored 6 seconds into the power play on an assist from Ross Thompson (No. 7).  In the 3rd period, he would have done big sister proud – he scored two short-handed goals . . . ON THE SAME POWER PLAY (both again assisted by Thompson).  So he had a hat trick.  Ashton Gronholz scored the 5th goal on a nice speed move.  [Dave Harris was back on the radio mike tonight – at one point, he appeared to be interviewing our golf pro, Ron Rebrovich?]

Here at the videos:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOaLI1lHlWc

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrH-ZPHegxk

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHJSha2ah9I

[January 4, 2010] Home yet?

[Report from Sue Justice, after following Roadblock’s Gustavus team to Europe.]  The girls did great! They beat the two club teams easily, but lost to the Swiss National Team. I think the score was 0-9.  I’ve included two of the 495 photos I took. I compressed them in photoshop so I hope they are at an acceptable size. If not, I’ll resend them.  

[January 4, 2010]  There were some concerns expressed by certain unnamed parties . . . [as Super Fans vied for team affections(?)  🙂 ] 

Hi Abby,

Thanks – and we hope you had good holidays too!  Sorry we missed you and your other teammates in Alex when we were in Indiana.  We have every intention of making some games at the new arena next year – we figured you could take us out to dinner.  Ha!  Talked with your mom at the boys’ game on Saturday.  I told her Thomas had an Abby-type game – a hat trick and two shorthanded goals on the same power play – wow!

We hear you really like it at BSU.  That’s great.  So, now go study and brush your teeth before you go to bed.  😉  The Super Fans should all be at the St. Cloud games tomorrow night.

~ Tom

Those are great looking shirts and sweatshirts!! You will have to come watch a game next year in the new arena; it is looking pretty cool and is scheduled to open at the beginning of the season! Hope you guys had a great Christmas and happy New Year! Keep cheering on those Cards, we missed you at the game over Christmas break!

~ Abby Williams

There were some concerns expressed by certain unnamed parties that we had purposely missed an opportunity to see our hockey alums at the Maple Grove game last week.  Not so!  We were in Indiana so we could pick up our Beavers sweatshirts from the kids who have property about 25 miles from BSU and thus will become permanent and adoring fans!

 [January 9, 2010]  Redemption

After the earlier in the week Black Tuesday, Card teams all rebounded (pun unintended) nicely.  Boys’ basketball (continuing a nice season) and hockey both won on Thursday – the hockey team a big road win at Fergus Falls.  Last night the girls’ hockey team got a very impressive 5 – 2 win at Fergus – the team they are expected to contend with for the section title.  After the game the coach said that the team is really coming together now and gaining confidence with each game.

And last night we covered the girls’ home basketball game against St. Cloud Apollo, won by the Cards 72 – 31 (the game went into running time).  A very impressive win because Apollo has a good team.  The Cards had great balance.  Angela Christianson “only” had 15 points but didn’t have to shoot much – she had a lot of nice assists.  For the senior golfer snowbirds, the video will show Martin Haar’s granddaughter, Alli (No. 15), a 6-foot junior, wreaking havoc at the point of the press.  Because of that position, she can get a little over aggressive and get into foul trouble – kind of like Martin.  You can count on the “black cloud” of coverage in that in the 2 1/2 minutes of video, not a single point was scored.  But you can get idea of the Cards length and athleticism – they get their hands on and cause a lot of bad passes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi3MYwgMIq0

[Happy 70th, Mr. Dylan.]

[Editor’s note: We have spent the last several missives wallowing in the past. (People actually admitted to reading them?) Poe once said indulging in excessive nostalgia turns one into 3-week old rhubarb. Actually, Poe never said that (though in later life he went mad texting and tweeting). I made it up. The following is not made up . . . as I recall(?).]

May 24, 2011: The supervisor made a visit to the lakeshore today. In keeping with her Indiana family’s genetic code, she discovered a morel mushroom down there – a beautiful morel mushroom (as well as some wild asparagus). You may recall from our last Indiana visit, the Callecod family was going crazy finding morels. Morels go for $30-40.00 a pound – they’re worth looking for! [Q: Why was the morel the hit of the party? A: Because he was a “fun-guy!” Bada-bing!]

Meanwhile, May 20, 2011: The day before the end of the world. Lisa Lynn was performing at Bug-A-Boo Bay. It was our first visit there since the re-opening. Harmon Killebrew’s funeral was being re-broadcast on the background TV. What a confluence of events. Lisa will perform here and at SAWA again this summer.

May 21, 2011: The world almost ended – captured by this reporter’s trustee Elph. The “end” of the world has since been moved to October. Buck up, kiddees! At least now we can make it through the golf season.

May 22, 2011: In celebration of the continuation of the world, we attended the Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra’s season ending performance at Carlos Creek Winery. This was a first. We did not know that CCW had turned the hippodrome into an event center. The stained concrete floors, permanent bar and bandstand, and big fireplace were all new to us. Another confluence of events. Really a nice place for such an event. We anticipate many more performances here as long as the world continues to exist. Jody (“You never take my picture”) Sundlee is featured twice and readily admitted she is one of the three string players not still in high school.

Sometime in May: Our prodigal traveling reporter, Rooogggggg, sent the following photos from Ft. Myers, where he recently purchased a winter hide-away. They are of the Minnesota Twins spring training facilities at Hammond Stadium. Unfortunately, the Twins suck.

Soon . . . ahead to the past.

 [December 3, 2008]  For the diehard roundball fans: Just a short clip during warm-ups of the Cardinal opener, focusing on Angela Christianson (although on the voice-over, I initially said “Allie,” huh!). She is a 6’0″ junior who plays guard (well, actually anywhere), though the tallest player on the team.  She led the state in scoring last year as a sophomore at 28 ppg, got 36 this night, and will, I believe, be Alexandria’s first ever (boy or girl?) Division I basketball player.  [Also a good volleyball player – a good cross-training sport.]

 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9163454697612747991

[Editor’s note:  Angela did indeed matriculate to a Division I basketball school last year.  And it now appears that our nephew, Michael, will be joining her at Drake next year as a Division I cello player!]

[January 23, 2009] FIVE HOURS OF HOCKEY AT THE RCC

Initially, I have to apologize to Patty Wicken for not getting my “report” in on time this morning.  I wanted to include the Oscar nominated short, but it literally takes hours to upload a 2-minute video onto Google.  And Ruthie and I have reached that stage where we have to sign up ahead of time for access to the computer – she with her scrapbooking and secretarial duties for Douglas County DFL, and me for whatever it is I do on this thing.

So, back to the plot.  BIG night last night at the RCC – girl/boy hockey doubleheader.  Just the kind of event one looks forward to in the middle of January in Minnesota.  The girls played first against Brainerd/Little Falls, a team they had lost to earlier at their place – and we were coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to league leader River Lakes on Tuesday.  The Cards took a 3 – 2 lead into the final period, only to see the new-combo team, the “Flying Warriors,” tie it up and take the lead.  It was beginning to look like another wrenching loss.  But with 10 SECONDS left in the game, senior winger, Brittney Lind, tied the game with a beautiful wrister into the upper right corner.  We were headed to overtime – again.  This time – we won!  Michelle Anez scored her 2nd goal of the game shortly into the OT keeping the Cards in the thick of the conference race.  We were especially proud of our three seniors last night, for the team is otherwise very young.  The Lind sisters, Brittney and Breanna, have long been Super Fan favorites – we affectionately call them the “Hanson brothers” because they have always been our most physical players.  They are both having their best year – and I think they are tied with each other in goals.  Breanna now always looks like one of the fastest players on the ice – I was saying during the game that I thought she was the MVP of the night.  She didn’t score point but had a lot of great rushes.  Brittney is noticeably faster this year – and she has always had a hard shot.  And Megan Trenne also had a goal last night – and has been a solid center on the 2nd line.  Good for them!

Then the video shows the introduction of 11th-ranked Cardinal boys, coming in on an 11-game winning streak – but playing the undefeated and 2nd-ranked Little Falls Flyers.  Little Falls was 7 – 0 in conference and Alex was 8 – 1 (the loss coming at Little Falls, 4 – 3).  This Little Falls team has been the state tournament like 4 years in a row (like our girls team) and have always had the Cards number by about one goal per game over those years.  Well, the Flyers are now an all senior team and are not going down without a fight.  In a great game, the Flyers prevailed again by one goal – 1 – 0, the only goal coming early in the 3rd period on a 2 on 1 breakout.  The Cards came close to tying it with several late flurries but couldn’t get one by the Flyer goalie.  It was a terrific game – probably the game of the day in the state – and was witnessed by a Standing Room Only crowd at the RCC.  We look forward to a rematch – at what will probably be the section finals.

While waiting for computer access, I was reading the Minnesota alumni magazine – specifically, an article titled Panty Raids: A Brief History.  I have no idea why that caught my eye?  Anyway, the article chronicled panty raids of the early 50’s, apparently a nationwide phenomena then.  College guys of the era, feeling their Wheaties (or whatever), at some point decided it would be a good idea to go lingerie shopping in co-ed dorms.  The article went on to point out that law enforcement did not look kindly on the practice, and that such shenanigans basically disappeared until the “streaking” phase of the 70’s, during which my youngest brother achieved a giddy national “exposure” while attending the University of South Carolina.  Nevertheless, I do recall a panty raid during the mid-60’s at the “U.”  I, of course, being an upright citizen (i.e., “chicken”) did not participate, but I remember the armada of guys from our dorm racing cross campus to Sanford Hall.  The co-eds, to their credit, apparently kept their facility from being breeched by hurling the much sought after booty out their windows, thus cooling the armadas vigor and making entry unnecessary.  I do remember the shorter of the Erola brothers (whose name is now lost in the ether of time) returning back to our dorm proudly wearing a pair of panties on his head.  I submit this as a public service to those who have a member of the distaff side in an institution of higher learning (or any institution, for that matter), or soon will have.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=913588434475441365   [Turn volume way up to have full effect of what it was like to be there!]

[February 1, 2009]  Dusty Johnson and Roger Riley (in glasses), Super Fans (and proud sandbaggers in our geezer golf group), were the highlight of the evening last night at the Bemidji hockey games.  The Alex girls’ team is lined up on the left, and the Cardinal coaches (with head coach, Mitch Loch, in front) on the right.  Then they were greeted by the rest of the Super Fans upon returning to their seats.

Unfortunately, the girls’ team couldn’t get inspiration from the guys’ singing performance.  They played the worst game I have ever seen them play.  Their pattern lately has been to play good one game and not so good the next – and they played well against the St. Cloud Icebreakers on Thursday.  Bemidji is a very good team, ranked No. 12 in the state in Class AA, but we have played teams that good before.  The Lumberjacks dominated from beginning to end in a very easy 6 – 0 victory.

The boys were up next (yes, another hockey doubleheader for Ruthie – and she loves it!), so we were hoping for a split on the night.  The boys’ team is having a terrific year and are great fun to watch.  With the possible exception of Little Falls, the Cards are always the faster team.  By the 3rd period, I thought our speed was starting to wear the Lumberjacks down – but the ‘Jacks are good too and it was a game to the very end.  The Cards prevailed 2 – 1 – so we got the split!  Click on the site below for Dusty and Roger’s performance:

 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2877297724338160413

 [February 21, 2009]  These are some of the people responsible for the winter addiction of the Super Fans!  These are Alexandria hockey moms, famous in song and story long before the arrival of Sarah Palin.  The cub reporter was able to locate them mingled among the crowd of over 400 at United Way’s Beer and Wine Tasting Gala at Arrowwood last night.  This on the same night that our hockey girls came within one period of their 6th straight state tournament appearance – after holding No. 1 seed Fergus Falls to a 2 – 2 tie after the second period, they lost 4 – 2.  Wait till next year!

From left to right:  Jeanne DelZoppo [Kat’s mom], Martha Williams [Abby, and James and Thomas], Marie Anderson [Ahna Olson], Kim Walsh [Courtney], and Renee Head [Jackie, and Ben].

[May 3, 2009]  The sisters Bruzek:  Before yesterday’s round of golf with Robo and class of ’64ers, President Donley and John Hibbard (I may have had low score, but, as usual, ended up giving each of them a handful of quarters in the polies, greenies, and sandies game), and a late afternoon at the winery for Skilly & Duff, there was the Alexandria Softball Invite.  [You know, when you’re away from home from 9:30 am to after 6:00 pm, it’s almost like having a job!  But then the excitement never ends in Vacationland USA.]  The cub reporter-in-training and I were at Discovery Middle School on a beautiful May morning to cover the action.  Jacque Brown pitched the first game [photos with Kate Gearman, 2nd base, and Sam Dale, right field, behind her] as the Cards handled Minneapolis Southwest 10 – 0 – it was called after 5 innings because of the run differential.  As you will recall from the previous softball report, Sam Dale and Ally Teclaw are the Card power hitters and each homered in the game.  The defense again was flawless – after two games I have yet to see them make an error.  Gracie Bruzek, the shortstop, must have had 8 assists in the game, once making a terrific play in the hole.  Because of previous commitments, we were only able to stay for one inning of the 2nd game against nemesis St. Michael-Albertville.  It was obvious it was going to be a much different game as the Knights have a real fireballer for a pitcher.  Dani Bany [Echo photo] was pitching for the Cards and as this edition goes to press the result of the game is unknown.

But as the subject title indicates, this is about the sisters Bruzek, offspring of Trish and class of ’65er, Bud, who were all at the game.  Each of the sisters have been previously featured on the class blog:  Sarah on March 6, 2004, when she was but a wee lassie; Brittney on January 5, 2006; and Gracie on May 3, 2008.  Brittney was a hockey player and star softball catcher for the Cards; Gracie is a junior and is the softball shortstop and point guard for the basketball team; Sarah, a 7th-grader but already taller than her older siblings, also plays multiple sports.  The family photo is of Brittney, Trish (unfortunately obscured), and Bud, with Sam Dale, No. 16, in the dugout.  The final photo is of Bud chatting with softball moms and players after the game – Ally Teclaw is No. 5.

 [December 17, 2008]  From Rick Beresford this morning: Here’s a picture of the Alex Hockey Team from winter of 62-63 that I found a couple weeks ago. The names are a bit wrong…they have Fred Johnson listed as Neal Jensen and Bill Davis listed as Fred Johnson. But the rest was great to see! I’m going to write a little story about the team and send it to Stan for the blog along with the picture.

[Toft sisters]

[Smurf-line sisters]

[Bud and Brittney]

[Roadblock]

[August 1, 2009]  Sue, While perusing the archives for Outer Banks photos I’ve had an opportunity to “clean up” some old hockey photos with the new technology that came with our latest digital camera.  Will be sending more as I get to them.  It’s already fun to go back to the good ole days of the Toft sisters.  😉 – Tom

[September 11, 2009]  Super Fans with the Toft sisters (yes, Lee’s nieces) – gotta be a par-tay!!  For the newer fans, Sara and Andrea (from left to right, I think) are obviously identical twins who were always fan favorites because they had spunk, personality – and size!  They were 5’9″ – 5’10” and played on the same line with Courtney Walsh, 6’1″ – so they were quite a contrast to the Smurf line of Abby, Del, and Brittney Bruzek (and then Michelle Anez).  Unfortunately, they graduated two years before the championship year – but got us going and to state every year.  They were key to our all-time favorite game when we beat Totino-Grace, 2 – 1 in double OT, in the section finals in ’06.  Andrea and Sara, on their 18th birthday, scored the goals.  They are now playing hockey for Augsberg.

 [October 23, 2009]  “Alex volleyball v. Brainerd II”:  Continuing our theme of girls sports, it was senior night for the 8 seniors on this year’s volleyball team.  So, of course, we feature a junior in our video – 6′ junior, middle blocker, Sam Trumm who is developing into a dominant player (and will be the center on the basketball team, as well).  The Cards beat Brainerd tonight 25 – 16, -11, -16 to finish a 2nd consecutive undefeated conference season (and champions) at 12 – 0.  I believe that is their 24th conference championship in volleyball.  Jim Hafdal sat with us tonight and recalled the two consecutive undefeated state champion teams from the mid-90’s that would finish 3-game matches in 20 minutes and in the one season never lost a set.

[November 6, 2009] Say hello to your state tournament bound Cardinal volleyball team!  With a sweep of the No. 1-seeded Moorhead Spuds, our Cards are off to the Xcel Energy Center next weekend for the state tournament.  This reporter had to listen to the exciting play-by-play by Dave Harris on KXRA – driving to Fergus at night is a bit much for the over 60 crowd.  Anyway, the Cards made it seem easy by taking the first set 25 – 16.  But in the 2nd, they fell behind 5 – 0, 10 – 1, and 13 – 3, before Jacque Brown ran off a streak of 8 straight serves to get back in the game.  Still the Cards trailed all the way until they finally tied it at 24, took their first lead of the game at 26 – 25, before finally winning 27 – 25 in a great comeback.  The Spuds were still not going away, however, and led most of the 3rd game, too – at one time 20 – 16.  The Cards finally got a lead at 23 – 22, and then Nikki Swedberg, with her only kill of the game, won it 25 – 23!  The Cards had been to the section final each of the last two years but lost both times in terrific matches with St. Michael-Albertville.  Tomorrow we’re off to St. John’s to see if the football team can follow that lead to state against Sartell.

[November 8, 2009]  The following is from Cardinal play-by-play radio announcer, Dave Harris (who properly chastised us!):

We had an illegal procedure penalty called on us before he spiked the ball.  After the penalty on 4^th down, Erickson threw a “TD” pass to Whiting in the right corner of the end zone making it 20-18.  On the 2 point conversion, Peterson tried to run wide to the left side and they stopped it about the 2 yard line.  Then, they recovered the onside kick to end the game. 

You have to stay to the end.  Miracles sometimes happen.  🙂

[November 8, 2009] This just in!  We have subsequently been advised that the final score was 20 – 18.  Well, that makes the story even better – ha!  We’re awaiting further explanation as to how this happened.  Your incorrect reporters will admit to leaving the game with 20 seconds left as it’s about a mile walk to the parking lot.  At that time, however, the Cardinals were out of time outs and had just, in their haste to stop the clock, spiked the ball . . . on 4th down!  The CRIT just reported he had heard the score announced as 20 – 18 on TV last night but just assumed they had made a mistake.

[November 8, 2009]  A first hand report from Clemens Stadium, on the campus of St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota.  A highly anticipated match-up of the No. 1 seeded Sartell Sabres (10 – 0) against the No. 2 seed Alexandria Cardinals (9 – 1) for the section 8AAAA championship and a state tournament.  The game lived up to its billing – an excellent game between two very good high school football teams.  Sartell won the game 20 – 12, but I, as a very partisan fan, came away with good feelings about our Cards.

As older people, the Cub Reporter-in-Training (CRIT), Bob Annen, and I did not cross the field to join the Cardinal fans in the “visitors” section (see photos and video).  In fact, we were upset when the band left our section and walked enmasse to the other side.  The side we stayed on had seat backs, the concession stands, and, most importantly, the rest rooms.  We were not giving them up just because we were the “visitors.”  Some other, older, Cardinal fans stuck with us on the “good” side.

But, regarding the game, the CRIT and I kept commenting on how well both teams were playing.  No klapdoodle; no dumb penalties; good execution; good, solid tackling.  In other words, not what one generally sees watching most college or pro games.  Sartell came in with a reputation as a power running team – and they did exactly that early on and scored the game’s first touchdown.  But whatever adjustments the Cards made after those first early possessions by the Sabres worked to perfection.  After mid-way through the first quarter, the Sartell ground game ceased to be a factor for the rest of the game.  Unfortuately for the Cards, the Sartell quarterback had an excellent game and must be receiving serious interest at the next level – he’s 6’4″, 195 pounds, with a strong, accurate arm; and it didn’t hurt that he had a 6’6″, 225 pound, wide receiver to throw to – these high school kids now days are as big as the pros!!

The Cards came into the game with a reputation as a big play, big strike team.  To their credit, Sartell did a good job of preventing any big plays by the Cards.  After the Sartell touchdown, the Cards evenutally came back mostly on the power running of quarterback, Colin Erickson.  The game was tied 6 – 6 at the half.

The start of the 2nd half produced two of the best drives you would ever see at any level.  The Cards received the kick-off, and promptly marched the length of the field on an all run drive that didn’t appear to have a repeat of any play – a thing of beauty consisting of sweeps, inside reverses, quarterback keepers, and with sleight of hand so confusing that the touchdown came on about a 20-yard untouched run right up the middle.  The Cards led 12 – 6 and appeared to have momentum.  But Sartell came right back – with their running stifled by the Card defense, they completed 7 consecutive passes for the tying touchdown.  The extra point gave Sartell a 13 – 12 lead.  On their next possession, the Sabres executed a similar drive to take a 20 – 12 lead.  The 4th quarter returned to the defensive struggle of the first half.  The game ended with the Cards driving on the Sartell 20 – with not quite enough time to get the tying score.  Just a terrific game.

 As with the Card volleyball team of the last couple years, the Cards were a “victim” of their section.  Sartell was in it.  In the game played before, for the section 8AAAAA (the biggest schools) title, Brainerd beat Buffalo to go on to state – Brainerd was third in our conference and lost to both Alex and Sartell in the regular season.  Brainerd plays Bemidji in the first game of the state tourney – Alex also beat Bemidji this year.  As they say, them’s the breaks.

Oh, and in case you hadn’t noticed, it was an absolutely gorgeous day for the 2nd week in November.  As bad as October was – every day 10 – 20 degrees below normal – November has been just the opposite with every day 10 to 20 degrees above normal.  In fact, when I got back from the game, Ruthie and I went to the ballet (Cinderella) that evening without need of even a jacket.  I must admit – after covering hockey scrimmages in the morning and the football game in the afternoon – to nodding off a bit during the ballet, which incidentally drew a full house, mostly of young wannabe ballerinas!

 Alexandria v. Sartell, Section 8AAAA football finals

[Hockey moms]

[Lonely hockey mom]

[December 1, 2009]  Card girls win home hockey opener 6 – 3!

After opening the season with 5 road games, the team finally got to play at home.  And a fine opener it was with a solid 6 – 3 win against a good River Lakes team.  The defense is getting better, and it’s beginning to look like our freshman goalie, Lindsey Lien, could be a real prospect.  I finally got the luck of the CRIT and caught a goal on this video – a power play by Ally Nielsen was the first goal of the game (she would also get another).  Among a fine turn out by the Super Fans (the “older” people photo), were, of course, the hockey moms (and you thought Sarah Palin was cute).  One hockey mom was a lonely jail keeper – on the far side of the ice was Jeanne Nielsen (yup, Ally’s mom) overseeing the penalty box for the evening.

 

[Ally Nielsen and Abby Williams]

[Beth Rindy, Ally Nielsen, Michelle Anez]

[Meuwissen family from the Echo story about “The Eating Machines”]

[Michelle Anez]

[December 2, 2009]  Super Fan notebook

Man, I have to get some updated photos!  Anyway, talked to Beth Rindy’s dad last night.  He said Beth is not going to play hockey at the next level.  A matter of problematic knees (she wears wraps when she plays soccer).  It’s too bad because as her dad (also a hockey coach) says, she would be the No. 1 or No. 2 defenseman on any team in the state – she has all the tools Ashley has except for the monster shot.  He said at one time she was considering going to Bemidji State to become a teacher . . . well, Bemidji, re-united with Abby, who knows?

Mark also said Michelle Anez hasn’t made any decisions yet, but there is plenty of Division 1 interest.  As usual, it was just a pleasure to watch Michelle skate last night.

Talked with Martha Williams, too. She said Abby (pictured with Ally Nielsen, who got 2 goals last night) is really, really happy that she transferred to Bemidji State.  She did not like it at all at Mankato.

 More later . . .