Suck It the Sequel

The Bombers sandwiched a 3-1 loss to the Shamrocks between two big wins against the Flying Aces to sweep the season series and retain the treasured AS Cup for the first time. There is always potential for a barnstormer type of game when the aviator monikered clubs get together. This most recent episode did not buck that trend as 14 goals were scored in the Bombers 8-6 victory. 

The Bombers built 4-2, 5-3 and 7-5 leads at different points in the game but the Aces high powered offense would not defer scoring to close the gap to one on each of those leads. The Bombers again made it a two goal gap with 2:16 left and the Aces could not muster another push. Eric Hoyer was the star of the game netting a hat trick to go along with 2 assists. 

As mentioned, the Bombers were able, for the first time, to retain the Air Supremacy Cup trophy that is given out to the winner of any game the two clubs play.  Media coverage of this game was quite high for this game in part because the rivalry elevated once again after the intensity of the previous match up that escalated into a war of words in the hand shake line. Each club was missing a the key component of that storyline-the Bombers without sniper Tony D'anna and the Aces without goalie Nick "the Brick" Minarik. Several media outlets reported the two players were told by their clubs to forgo the game and instead have a private dinner to talk things out in an effort to discuss any misunderstandings from the game prior. We hear that if that all was going well until D'anna suggested Minarik should not gulp his water but rather he should just suck it.  

State Electric Power Performers of the Game

First Star:  

ERIC HOYER  3 GOALS 2 ASSISTS

Second Star:  

Eric Silverman 2g 1a

Third Star:  

Johnny Z  2g 1a

D'ANNA ADDS NEW PHRASE TO ACES BOMBERS RIVALRY

Let's set the stage.
The AS CUP was up for grabs.
The Aces undefeated to this point had scored 31 goals and let up only 12.
The Bombers had a 1-2-1 record and needed to change course. 
The Aces roster was made up of equal parts B leaguers and C leaguers.
The Bombers were down 4-1 early.

Look like things were set in motion for the AS Cup not to exchange hands and instead remain with the Flying Aces.  

But that's why they play the games and that's why its always fun to have a D'anna on your side.  "A pet peeve of mine is B leaguers poaching a C league game." said Tony D'anna after the game (and countless times in the past).  But his team is of course known as the storied franchise.  And the storied franchise has seen its share of comebacks.  (Some of them of course were teams coming back on the Bombers, but I digress).   After the slow start the Bombers started to build energy from the stellar goaltending of Josh Burke. Slowly chipping away at the lead the Bombers somehow found themselves down by only one midway through the third. 

Then the good stuff happened.  With 5:34 remaining, Tony D'anna scored his second of the night knotting the game at 4 apiece. The goal was exciting enough on its own but D'anna's reaction was stuff of legend.  Before the puck even hit the twine a loud "SUCK IT" rang through the arena heard by all but directed to the B League poachers.  "The emotion of the moment really got D'anna going.  He is usually so mild mannered and soft spoken."  noted Bill Auld after the game.  

Regulation and OT proved to be not enough to determine a winner and the game was off to a shootout. Bomber sniper Jean Eric Hoyer' managed to light the lamp on the first salvo and the Aces were unable to do the same in their attempt resulting 5-4 victory for the good guys.

The intensity didn't stop there though.  A full 20 minutes of actual time had passed since the now famous D'anna catch phrase that has since swept the nation, was uttered.  But the Flying Aces netminder was still hot and was fueled by the fact he felt that the was the intended recipient of the barb.  He used handshake line to interrogate the victorious Bomber squad.  "WHO SAID THAT? . . .WAS IT YOUUUUUU?!!!"  was all the crazed keeper could muster.  "YEP, that was me" was obvious D'anna response which prompted a waffle board thrust to his chin.  A few clever yaps back in forth throughout the entire line ensued and one could see that this game would only add to the lore of the ever increasing Aces v Bombers rivalry.

An guess what-the two clubs get to do it all over again in 2 weeks. This time the Bombers will be the ones with the AS Cup tucked under their arms.  

State Electric Power Performers of the Game

1st Star:


















Was it you?  Yes it was- #33 Tony D'anna 2 goals 1a and 1 new catch phrase

2nd Star: 















#29 Josh Burke

3rd Star:  


















#77 Kyle Kappmeier.  1 goal-extending scoring streak to 5 games.