Going into this past weekend, the Monarchs had three away games left to play and a lot of ground to cover. Frankly, I was worried. Every streak comes to an end, so knowing that the guys were rolling into a threesome riding a four-game winning streak had me shitting bricks. Especially because just like last weekend’s trifecta (of awesome), these were games they needed to win. So what the hell … [Read more...]
Monarchs Sweep Homestand – Don’t Call it a Comeback
April 14, 2013 By
Holy. Freaking. Crap. Those three words pretty much sum up my feelings about the Monarchs' three game homestand. They played three games, won them all in regulation, and kept their hopes of sneaking into the Calder Cup Playoffs alive. They did their part, the hockey gods did theirs. Now it’s up to the team to bring it home. Six points and a tie-breaker rule put Manchester in the ninth … [Read more...]
Monarchs on the Outside Looking In
April 12, 2013 By
So it's come down to this... Six games left on the schedule, four points out of the Calder Cup Playoffs, and all three at home this weekend are must-win games. With so much talent in the locker room this year, it never should have came to this; but it has. Tonight's game is against the Rangers' farm team, the Connecticut Whale. There may be no "Brass Bonanza" waiting for them to score, but … [Read more...]
Pirates @ Monarchs – A Friday Final
April 5, 2013 By
As I wait for the Monarchs matchup with the Pirates to get underway, two things are clear to me. First, Bruce Springsteen is still the boss (possibly biased by pregame music over the PA) and second, the Monarchs need to bring their A-game tonight. Tonight's game against the Pirates is the 12th and final game in the inaugural VIP Cup Series. The series stands 6-5 with the Pirates holding a one … [Read more...]
Monarchs Marching Into April
March 27, 2013 By
Three games. Two wins. Four of six possible points. That is the big picture of the Monarchs’ past three games; two over the weekend and one earlier this (Wednesday) evening. The first game was a hard fought 6-4 win against the Hershey Bears at home on Saturday night, a disappointing 4-3 loss at home on Sunday against the St. John’s IceCaps, and a 3-1 victory tonight against the Worcester … [Read more...]
Monarchs Ménage a Trois – Tigers, Whales and Bears. Oh my?
March 15, 2013 By
As I sit in the stands watching the Monarchs warm up before their dance with the Sound Tigers, I hope that the demons of their shootout loss to the WBS Penguins on Sunday is out of their heads. After having an early lead (3-0 at one point), they gave up the farm and eventually the game in the third. Softy goal Jones strikes again. And damn you and your shootout voodoo, Zatkoff! You better have … [Read more...]
Penguins @ Monarchs – Ghost of Monarchs Past
March 10, 2013 By
Man, how much must it have sucked to go up 3 goals to none only to lose in overtime? That's a question best posed to the Pirates' goalie, Chad Johnson. He lived it Friday night when the Monarchs rallied back late, forcing and eventually winning in overtime. The shorty-machine Stefan Legein sank them with a skillfully placed snapshot following a Pirates turnover in the neutral zone. Good … [Read more...]
Monarchs @ Pirates – Slashing, Swashbuckling, What’s the Difference?
March 8, 2013 By
Lordy, lordy, lordy! Wednesday night’s dance with the Sound Tigers was just what the doctor ordered. The Monarchs played at home for the first time in what seems like months (a few weeks in reality) and played host to a team that has stolen every contest in the jungle this season. That night, the guys said “This is our pond.” The Monarchs' scoring was opened by recent roster addition and New … [Read more...]
Sound Tigers @ Monarchs – Hump Day in the Jungle
March 5, 2013 By
As far as Monarchs hockey goes, this past weekend can be described in three words; smorgasbord of awesome. Two games played, two wins (one shootout and one regulation), four points, all in front of the IceCaps’ home crowd in the great white north. I would have been happy seeing the guys come away with a 1-1 split, but 2-0 domination? We’ll take it! So Wednesday night will kick off the … [Read more...]
Monarchs @ IceCaps – Frozen Wasteland Boogaloo
February 28, 2013 By
First things first, congrats to our Kings for winning five straight! I was tuned in to the game last night against the Red Wings, and I’m pretty sure I giggled when Kopi played Howard like a fiddle. You can’t give Anze that amount of time and space. He will rock your world. That move kinda rocked mine, too. Not gonna lie. So this past weekend, the Monarchs managed to come away with two … [Read more...]
Monarchs @ Pirates – Send Shivers Down My Timber
February 24, 2013 By
For 9 to 5’ers, Sunday is easily the second most depressing day of the week. Monday of course being the first. Do you know how you make that suck more? Try about a foot of wet and sticky snow. A foot of wet, sticky snow after getting almost two feet of light fluffy snow only a week or two prior. How do you make this better? Two words: Monarchs hockey. A 3-2 victory last night -- their … [Read more...]
Monarchs @ Sound Tigers – A Frenetic Flurry of Feline Fury
February 23, 2013 By
If a hockey game was a meal, last night’s game against the Worcester Sharks was an expertly prepared turkey dinner with all the fixins. I’m talkin’ a fat ol’ turkey, some delicious ham, mashed potatoes, a bit of cranberry sauce, the best damn stuffing ever jammed up a turkey’s ass. Dammit, now I’m hungry... The story of last night’s game? The Monarchs stepped up and filet’ed … [Read more...]
Former Royalty Building Their New Castles
February 22, 2013 By
As a Monarchs season ticket holder for several seasons, I’ve had the pleasure of sitting in the stands of the jungle watching future Kings pave their paths to the big show. Slava Voynov, Jordan Nolan, Dwight King, and Jonathan Bernier all skated on that hallowed ice as they grew from bright-eyed prospects to the Stanley Cup Champions they are today. It’s cool being able to say I met them and … [Read more...]
Monarchs @ Sharks — “Wuss-ter or Worst-er, does it matter?”
February 22, 2013 By
That was the quote seen on a sign in the crowd during the Monarchs pre-game skate before facing the Worcester Sharks in the first round of the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs. I can’t remember if I saw it prior to the deciding game of the series -- an OT winner by Voynov clinched the series -- or earlier on. Regardless, it provided a simple play on words that was simultaneously insulting to both the … [Read more...]
Monarchs Bring the Heat and Melt the IceCaps
February 15, 2013 By
Okay, I can safely say that the pain Kings fans have been feeling watching their team struggle is a pain I can relate to here in Monarchs country. The Manchester Monarchs have been giving away games like Halloween candy, getting trounced by last-place teams and exhibiting this nasty habit of not playing 'til the final 20; if that. It's frustrating as a fan watching a team that is so ridiculously … [Read more...]
The Return of Jungle Dave – Monarchs Mid-Season Report
February 2, 2013 By
Well how ‘bout that? Punxsutawny Phil didn’t see his shadow (predicting an early spring), and here I am, alive and well, bringing you the skinny on the Kings’ baby brothers, the Manchester Monarchs. I’ll be the first to admit it’s a little sad that it’s been well over a year since my last blog. I wish I had some sort of clever excuse. I really don’t. But Surly and Scribe have been … [Read more...]
The Manchester Monarchs’ New Year Slump
January 19, 2012 By
Nope, no need to adjust your monitors. You can also put down the phone and refrain from calling your local anti-zombie task force. I have indeed risen from the metaphorical grave after a long period of silence, but am very much alive and well. Where have I been? Read on, my friends. My absence isn’t that I no longer attend Monarchs games. It isn’t that I’ve grown to love the Monarchs any … [Read more...]
The Monarchs 2011-2012 Season, Month One in Review
November 8, 2011 By
One month. 31 days. A constant give and take (mostly giving...), resulting in the team being on unsteady footing in their division standings; 1 point out of fourth and 2 points out of last. Out of the gate, the 2011-2012 Monarchs looked awesome. They were fast, skilled, and seemingly capable of lighting the lamp at will. In their season opener, they destroyed the Springfield Falcons in a 5-2 … [Read more...]
Manchester Monarchs v. St. John’s IceCaps. The Opener, Part Deux
October 8, 2011 By
Oh man, what a Friday night! The Manchester Monarchs kicked off their 2011-2012 campaign in grand fashion, skating and shooting to a commanding 5-2 victory over division rival, the Springfield Falcons. To call the game a spectacle would be an understatement; clearly their 2-1 preseason loss against the Portland Pirates was a thing of the past. The team looked really good; even better then I … [Read more...]
Manchester Monarchs Review and Look Ahead
October 7, 2011 By
Scribe's note: Please welcome Jungle Dave, our Manchester Monarchs writer. This is his inaugural post. We are thrilled to have this die-hard Monarchs fan and season ticket holder join our team. It’s in the air... The morning frost. The smell of wood stoves. The changing leaves. The brisk unsettled weather. But there’s something more... You know what it is? It’s the smell of hockey. … [Read more...]
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