Author Archive: Ben Sumner

Wautel Joins Squirrels Roller Team

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The Screaming Squirrels picked up free-agent Chris Wautel from rival the 5 Holes, after the 5 Holes decided to trim down their roster.

Wautel, who the Squirrels have played against for years while he was on Mors ab Alto and the 5 Holes, is bound to greatly improve the Squirrels’ scoring numbers in 2007. He had 35 goals and 16 assists for 51 points in 2006, figuring into nearly half of the 5 Holes’ scoring.

The Screaming Squirrels unanimously approved adding Wautel to the roster while trading stories of roughing him up and shutting him down (though he scored a goal or two to haunt the Squirrels.)

He will be #96.

In other news, goaltender Bob Sewell squashed retirement rumors and is currently training for the upcoming season.

Squirrels 3, Vikings 3

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Playing against the top team in the league Sunday, the Screaming Squirrels knew they would have to at the very least shut down two players on the Vikings who not only are too good for the C division, but don’t even wear the same jersey as the rest of the team. The Squirrels succeeded just enough to earn a 3-3 tie.

Brent Machado got the scoring started at 13:48 of the first, but then one of the Vikings’ ringers skated around everyone and got a goal, and the score was tied after the first period.

In the second period, the Squirrels got goals from Ben Sumner and Rob Myers to go up 3-1, but a neutral-zone turnover cost the Squirrels soon after as the Vikings cut the score to 3-2.

The Squirrels had a golden opportunity in the third period with several power plays, including one that lasted four minutes, but instead yielded a shorthanded goal, and the score stood at 3-3.

Drew Thiemann made 25 saves in net as the Squirrels put up 29 shots. Sumner, Myers, Machado, Matt Borlik, Desi Richelsen, Tony Richelsen, Charles Wolstein, Greg Wenograd, Paul Kobernick and Brian Jackson played for the Squirrels.

The next game is Sunday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. against D.C. Fire.

Exit First 2, Squirrels 1

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A couple of turnovers ultimately cost the Squirrels on Sunday as they fell 2-1 to Exit First.

The Squirrels went down 1-0 in the first period after giving up the puck in the neutral zone during a defensive line change, allowing an Exit First player to skate in unchallenged. Exit first went up 2-0 in the second period with a short-handed goal after two turnovers. The Squirrels cut the lead to 2-1 as Chi Pham took the puck almost coast-to-coast and shot it in for his first goal of the season. But that was all the Squirrels could achieve, despite outshooting Exit First 23-19.

Ben Sumner, Tony Richelsen, Phil Van der Vossen, Matt Borlik, Brent Machado, Rob Myers, Charles Wolstein, Desi Richelsen, Brian Jackson, and Pham played for the Squirrels, with Brian Rimm in net. The next game is Sunday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m. against the Vikings.

Squirrels 6, Scurvy 3

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The Squirrels entered Wed. night’s contest looking to snap a two-game losing streak. Greg Wenograd put the Squirrels on the board first, but Scurvy answered back shortly after as the teams skated to 1-1 1st period tie.

The Squirrels regained the lead with a power play tally by Desi Richelsen as he skated past several would-be defenders and blasted a shot over the left shoulder of a hapless Scurvy net minder. Not to be outdone, Richelsen’s younger brother Tony scored shortly afterward with a nifty breakaway goal, squeezing the puck just past the goalie’s short side. Later, playing from behind his own net, Chi Pham found a blazing Ed Bager down the middle of the ice for a perfect breakaway feed, which Bager promptly canned after a second whack of the puck as the 2nd period closed with the Squirrels comfortably up 4-1.

Scurvy pulled to within two goals twice but another tally from Wenograd off a turnover and a late goal from Matt Borlik sealed the deal for the Squirrels, 6-3. Drew Thiemann was stellar in net and the Squirrels out shot Scurvy, 34-19. Squirrels missing in action; Ben Sumner, Sergio Balatan, Phil Van der Vossen, Paul Kobernick, Brian Jackson, Donnie and Wade Marks.

On an unrelated note, Desi Richelsen and half the Squirrels came out of the closest shortly after the game as Richelsen led a gang rape of team leading scorer Ed Bager at center ice. Due to the incident Bager will no longer be on the Squirrels active roster.

Bager Leaves Squirrels

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You’ve heard him whine. You’ve heard him complain. You’ve heard him talk about Michigan State when no one else in the room even cared. You’ve also seen him hit the goalie in the chest pad a million times and miss on breakaways. And you most certainly haven’t seen him use a backhand shot.

But you’ve also seen him lead the Squirrels to a winning record for every season he’s been on the roster, three of which were championships.

Ed Bager, who is leaving the Squirrels for the hockey-crazy and tobacky-chewin’ state of North Carolina, has played for the Devils/Squirrels since 2002. In 2001, as a member of the Dragons, Bager frequently participated in blowouts against the team when it was known as Recreational Hazzard. In 2002, that team he helped beat, then known as the Devils, recruited Bager as he regularly showed up at Sunday pickup. Since then, not only did he lead the team to winning records and championships, he also recruited players such as Kit Watson and Matt Borlik.

During six seasons in a Squirrels’ jersey (not counting the Devils), Bager compiled 56 goals and 72 assists. He led the roller team in scoring in 2004, and currently leads the ice team with 25 points. He registered a goal and two assists in his final game against Scurvy, a 6-3 victory. After the game, the team piled on.

The team will miss his bottomless pit of energy, scoring touch, the Miller Lite he always brings, his Bethesda house parties, and quite a few other things. No. 14, you will be missed.