The Gardens Ice House released the 2005 schedule this week, and the Squirrels will find themselves playing many familiar opponents this summer. Returning to the C level are The 5 Holes, Hurricanes, Bullhawks, Mors ab Alto, and Chupacabres. The Fish are the only team the Squirrels haven’t yet seen. Noticeably missing this season are Honkey Kong and the Wolk Pack, teams that the Squirrels have never lost to. Also missing are the Alliance, and the 2004 champions The Rocks, who moved up to the B level.
If history is any indication, the Squirrels’ biggest rival this summer is bound to be the Hurricanes. The Squirrels-Hurricanes rivalry started in 2003 when the teams split the first two games of the championship before the deciding game was canceled due to Hurricane Isabel. In 2004, the teams split. In the first game, the Hurricanes shut down the Squirrels, 5-1. In the second game, the momentum was solidly in the Canes’ favor before a high-sticking incident drew blood on defenseman Kit Watson’s face, giving the Squirrels a five-minute power play that couldn’t expire due to scoring. Watson had a goal and two assists during that time, and late in the game Desmond Richelson shot in the game winner to give the Squirrels their most thrilling roller victory of the year.
The first team practice of the season will be Thursday, April 7 at 9:30 p.m. Several team members also play pick-up on Sunday mornings at the New Carrolton rink.