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Updated 8/22/04
| Brought to you by Arial, the official font of Cobrahockey.net |
(8/22/04)
Cobra East Wins Mira Mesa Division 4 Championship!
For the second time in the modern era (aka, since the Cobra rebirth late 2002), a Cobra team has emerged triumphant from its respective division. After the bitter loss in the finals against the Red Wings last season, Cobra improved on what it had accomplished previously:
It wouldn't be a hockey season if Cobra East didn't undergo a slight roster change. Cobra will lose Brian Lorentz, who finished with his career best as a CE member, producing more per game than former (one-hit wonder) point champion Kline. Lorentz is taking some time off to pursue some other interests, including a triathalon. It is the deepest, darkest hope that Lorentz comes back buffer than Emmel and EK put together and taller than Beaver. That remains to be seen.
Additionally, long-time Cobra agent Spare will be taking some time off to address some injuries, the least of which being a severe hit he took by getting married. Spare is expected to fill in part-time duties for goaltending when necessary, as well as an occasional pinch-hitting assignment for Cobra west.
Tim Hamon will return to the Mira Mesa ice, gleefully hoping to be re-united with long-time linemate of terror, DeGraffenreid. The two of them haven't played in some time and the addition of "Line 69" (huh huh) will bring more dread fear than the less interestingly named "Morrison-Kent" line.
Beyond that, Cobra East hopes only to improve on the triumphant season by applying an even stingier defense, a more deadly and multi-headed offensive attack and more suffocating goaltending. Watch your backs and your fronts, Cobra. All eyes look up to us.
(2/24/04)
Cobra Las Vegas Improves on Last Year
Cobra Returns from the annual Las Vegas CAN/AM tournament drunker and broker than last year, meaning that the trip was a complete and total success. The hockey was more rewarding than last year, with Cobra actually winning a game and advancing to the medal round. Additionally, there were newly-introduced traditions, inside jokes and anecdotes, including:
For those of you interested in the hockey-related events, check below:
2004 CLV Roster
2004 CLV Schedule
2004 CLV Stats
(9/14/03)
Winter 2003-2004 Begins for Both Cobra Teams
The Winter season is now in bloom for both leagues and the question remains: how will the various Cobra teams handle the challenges they face?
Cobra East: Things can only look up for CE. After a disappointing, under-achieving season last year (1-8-1 in the recorded regular-season games we have), CE has only one place to go: up. The division will probably be about the same level of play as it was previously, if not a little better. Based on the two pre-season games, the two weaker teams, the Raptors and Moose, have picked up some quality talent and will be better than last year. The other teams have presumably gotten better, or at the very least, stayed the same. Cobra East will likely improve on the deplorable Summer 2003 season, however, it will be difficult to return to the prominence and dominance it had in the early part of the Winter 2002-2003 season.
Helping out with this challenge are a few key players. Most notably, our goalie Jim Reifsnyder is returning from parts east to reclaim the goaltending throne from the division. CE suffered last season because of the platooning of substitute goalies. Quite simply, Reif was dominant before his departure, carrying the weight of the team on his back. His play alone made up for mistakes and miscues, keeping us in games in which we had no business winning.
Joining the team from the Cobra West team are two outstanding players. Cobra West hero Mike Peterson joins the team after single-handedly winning the UTC Bronze Division championship for the Summer 2003 season. Peterson brings the complete package to CE, speed, heart, skill and the most drive from anyone on both teams. Likewise, CE borrows another key player from Cobra West, Jake Oleson. Like Peterson, Oleson has speed, hands, hustle and the savvy to make key plays. The return of Reif and the addition of Oleson and Peterson should make the Cobra East team significantly better both now and in the future.
Cobra West: The only way this team can actually improve on the success it had last season would to be to go undefeated in every game and shutting out every team. Cobra West was simply that good last season. CW went 12-3 in the regular season (of the games we have, at least) and there was a string where we won eight in a row. Cobra West had the entire package. The defense was a platoon of all-stars. The goaltending was incredible; Vay won eight one-goal games, including the nail-biters in the playoffs. Finally, the offense was insane, as there were three guys with double digits in goals (Kauffman, Son and Taffe) and nine of the fourteen roster players had double digits in points (Lorentz just missed with 9).
The challenge, of course, will be to see if CW can withstand the new and improved division. The league will be about a half-step better and faster this season. With this league realignment, it seems unlikely that Cobra West will have any runaway games (12-3 or 9-1 wins, for example). Furthermore, CW will now be a convenient, weekly target for anyone looking to prove themselves. Back-to-back championships is hard to do in all sports, because the dyanamics of the league and its teams changes. The CW core is solid and static; it is up to the team to respond to the challenges posed by the league.
(9/2/03)
Cobra West wins UTC Bronze Championship
Holy crap.
There are not enough superlatives to adequately describe Cobra's rise to victory in the championship game. The game can only be described by two words: holy crap.
For those who missed it, which includes your loyal author, the game was the epic-est game ever. There was all sorts of good stuff. However, I didn't see it, so I'll have to recap the highlights as told to me: