Sports Ramblings

Who Needs Brady?

Few would believe that coming into the season that the Patriots would be 3-0 without Tom Brady as quarterback. Will they make it 4-0 against the Bills? Whatever the results, the Patriots have already shoved it into the face of NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell for his ridiculous penalty of Brady sitting out 4 games.

Think about it. In the game in question the Patriots beat the Colts 45-7. Did Brady tell his equipment guy that he would like the ball a little softer? Maybe, and there is nothing wrong with that. But did he tell him to deflate it beyond league specifications? Fat chance, why would he do that? In addition the refs were handling the balls throughout the game. Did they question the softness of the balls? No ! This whole penalty thing against Brady and the Patriots is nothing more than a "gotcha" thing. Goodell and the NFL have already lost.

What a brilliant coaching job by Bill Belechick and his entire staff ! First an untested 2nd string quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo. Then a 3rd string quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, and now maybe an old college quarterback, Julian Edelman? You have to be kidding me. I predict Garoppolo will be the QB against the Bills in a last minute decision. I am voting for 4-0 with a win over the Bills to finish this whole "deflate-gate" fiasco off.

Oh No ! Tell Me It Isn't So, Frankie !

East Longmeadow, Mass native Frank Vatrano was all set to get his chance for a full year as a regular with the NHL Boston Bruins. Early reports had him slated as playing in the 3rd line with Ryan Spooner and Jimmy Hayes. Then in a recent practice while doing drills he tore some ligaments in his left foot. He was slated for surgery on September 16 at Mass General and is expected to be out for 3 months. Some say he may be back in action at the end of December. We all wish him a speedy recovery. Certainly a set back but somehow you know he will bounce back and turn this into a positive experience.

The Amazing Sox !

Even though they lost last night to the Yankees, the Boston Red Sox have been nothing but excitement as they completed 3 sweeps over the NY Yankees, the Baltimore Oriels, and the Tampa Bay Rays for 11 wins in a row. Not only that but most of these games have been exciting with timely home runs by David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, and Mookie Betts...or a scrambling around home plate score by Pedroia in the 10th inning. Really exciting baseball and fun to watch. One step at a time, but could this team be headed for the World Series? Step 1 is to win the AL East with another win.

Bill Belisle into Hockey Hall of Fame

When you read about Bill Belisle's stunning record as the Hockey Coach at the Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island it is hard to believe. I am talking about ANY sport, not just hockey. His 990 wins over 41 years included 32 State Championships with 26 of them in a row. It also included national championships and over 20 players who went on to play in the NHL. When you enter the Adelard Arena where they play hockey it is almost like entering a museum. You can't help but be in awe of their banners, trophies, and news clippings. Bill Belisle not only taught hockey but turned out many fine young men. I don't know of anyone who deserves to be in the United States Hockey Hall of Fame than him...Class of 2016. What took so long ?!!

Local / Familiar Players to Play in Frozen Fenway 2017

I don't know of any hockey player...high school, college, or pro who wouldn't be thrilled, in their career, to play hockey outdoors in a famous venue like Fenway Park. Ask former Cathedral High players what a thrill it was to play in Fenway Park on January 2, 2012. In fact they played against the storied Mount Saint Charles Team in that game. Following are the Western Mass and other familiar players who will have this career remembrance and thrill to play in Fenway:

*East Longmeadow's Ryan Cloonan will be playing for Boston University on Saturday, January 7 at 1:30 PM vs. UMass Amherst in a Hockey East game. UMass will be off to a fresh start under new Coach Greg Carvel.

* Longmeadow's Tyler Kelleher will play at Fenway on Saturday, January 14 when his University of New Hampshire Team goes against Northeastern in a Hockey East match-up at 7:30 PM. Also playing for UNH will be freshman sensation Brendan van Riemsdyk who is kind of my adopted Western Mass player (He was a roommate with my grandson, Dominic Blad, for 2 years while playing with the Islanders Hockey Club.)

* Suffield CT / Chicopee, MA native, Dominic Blad will be playing his 2nd time at Fenway after his first experience with Cathedral High. He will be playing for UMass Boston in a game against Babson College at 7:30 PM on Thursday, January 12.

Below is the full line up and information for tickets for Frozen Fenway 2017. Fenway Park - quite an experience for both players and fans.

Capital One Frozen Fenway 2017 | redsox.com

#17 Dominic Blad at Fenway Park

Cathedral High v Mount St. Charles

January 2, 2012