Tremendous thank you to Bill Eickmeier for organizing another fun and challenging Rogue Puck NHL Playoff competition.
While my Bermanized name was emphasizing my "be-leaf" that a Canadian Team would finally hoist Lord Stanley's Mug, I was accurate in describing the fact that the cup did in reality return North, a few times to be clear! Phil Pritchard certainly covered some significant travel miles during the Stanley Cup finals! Perhaps if some guy named Gary would finally retire, a Canadian team would once again hoist the cup! Most Canadian teams have given us hope by making it to the Stanley Cup finals since Montreal last won the cup in 1993... except for that blue and white group... and I'm confident the Cup will not only return North but stay soon!
I've been informed that last year's winner had an impressive speech and video which included mocking me specifically about how great it is to beat me. Like Patrick Roy, I could not hear what Matthew was saying cuz I had my previous Two NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Rogue Puck Championship Rings plugged in my ears.
Since being mocked by last year's winner, who really only led the tournament for the last 29 and a half minutes of the tourney, I thought I'd show him what pure domination looks like by taking the lead early and extending through to glorious victory in similar fashion to the legendary Steve Prefontaine.
On April 20th, Matt Weston texted me saying: "Zach, you're currently in first, better take a screenshot while it lasts! Josh get your picks in!" I wasn't nervous and replied "I should be ok - I usually win the Stanley Cup Pool in years ending in 4!" You see, I previously won the Stanley Cup Playoffs Rogue Puck in 2004 and 2014 which gave me confidence that this was my year! I am already planning ahead for 2034, but will use the years in between for practice to peak at the right time - somewhat harder than peaking every 4 years for the Olympic or Paralympic Quadrennial!
I also appreciate some of the great chirps along the way particularly the following with a great demonstration of honesty, attitude and effort:
- April 24 from Steve Perry: ...1967 isn't that long ago, the only thing that has happened is a complete rotation of the Stanley Cup rings that will remove the Leafs from it shortly.
- June 12th from Jesse Hoey: Even though you might be behind by 100 points with only two games to go, you have to persevere, keep trading, never lose that faint hope of winning... one day...
Shoutouts to Greg Sears and Geoff Haddock - you guys made some great choices with your picks and might have closed the gap if Tarasenko showed up more on the scoresheet!
In closing, I will quote/paraphrase last year's winner with a minor variation to update and make it relevant to this year: I would like to thank my brothers Josh and Matt for entering the beeHive hockey pool every year and accepting the initial invite from me to participate. Nothing is as satisfying as beating Matt at something he thinks he's better than you good at! So congrats to the other 18 26 (WOW) of you who also beat Matt! You guys rock! And Josh, well... thanks for continuing to being a nice great guy.
Finally, another huge thanks to Bill!! You make this so much fun and interesting every year and we all appreciate the work you put into creating and updating these pools!
Cheers!
Z
PS "the parade will take the usual route"
and
(along with the last ranking)
indicates if you have risen or fallen
in the standings since the previous day.
