JOHN "LUKE" LUUKKONEN
He may be one of the senior players, but he has a wealth of experience
on this game. Luke has had his Best of Seven game for about 25 years now and it shows.
His only complaint is that he has a harder time finding the goalie handle lately. Something
about having to stand further away from the controls?? Luke always maintains that he plays
better the more beer he consumes!!! True enough, Luke says, we're going to have to modify the
length of those control rods if his beer belly gets any bigger.
Luke has quite a portfolio of plays. He can score from any player, but the best has to be his
smooth little "tuck and roll" shot from right winger to the crease and the center man tipping
it in to the open side. He makes it look easy!!! He also has a nice move coming out of his own
end using both defenceman passing across the front of his own net and before you know it, has
it slammed home for the score. Nice move Lukester!!, but some of the wily veterans pick-pocket
the play and the attempt backfires...touché.!!! PS. don't let him get a breakaway with his
centerman, or 8 of 10 its in.
VERN HARMON
Vern is another one of the top players, after having owned a Best of Seven game for a number of
years now.
Vern has many other interests as well. He likes building/flying his own model radio controlled
airplanes. He is also heavily engaged in the art of fine car building/racing... Awesome Camaros!!.
And lookout Rusty Wallace, he has started stock car racing!!!
Vern's favorite and most effective play comes high from the right wingers blue line. He sets it
up slowly, but from there, it's a blurr. Most of us don't know if he went high or low on the
shot.???? He's also got the "Gretzky" move down fairly good too. Left winger throws it around
behind the net and bounces off the opposite boards and right in front of the net then skillfully
slams her home with the centerman. An opponent has to be very wary of Vern's right defenceman
also. He seems to know exactly where to maneuver the puck for wicked, quick shot into the net.
Verns is a tough competitor but his worst enemy is himself, so if you can pocket a couple of
garbage goals on him, you might have a chance to beat him.
DON "Cowboy" GWEINWESER
Yea we know...we don't know how to pronounce it either! Don has't been around for League this year and
we are looking for him to come out of retirement and shows us some moves. He has one of the best
goalies going!!
"Cowboy" lives just out of the city of Saskatoon on an acreage, raising sheep, goats, pigs or
whatever. He says he going to farm until all his money is gone. (Eh...Don the employment office
opens next month!! )
Dons best play is his right defenceman from the mid-slot with a quick shot to the net. But you
have to watch the crafty ol'cowpoke, cause he'll surprise you ,(and himself sometimes) with a
patent winger to centerman goal. You always know when Don pops one in on you. If you don't see
the net bulge first, he'll let you know with a hoot and holler as to who scored...YEEESSS!
EVAN STRUEBY
Evan has left the building.???
RYAN "Rye n'Coke" FAUCHOUX
One of the fastest players in the league, but with lots of experience behind him, (not drinking...
but at tabletop hockey!). His Uncle Dan was one of the original inventor/builders
of the "Best of Seven" hockey tables 25 years ago, so has been around the
game for most of
his life. Although he did not play much until he moved to Saskatoon last year
and joined the
league, his game has improved considerably. The old vets are having a tough time picking up
anything in the win column against Ryan when he is on his game.
Ryan's best play is a very quick move with the right winger from the corner up the slot for the
centerman to bang it in. Another best play (that his opponents like) is when he scores on
himself. When he loses a game, you can bet he scored on himself at least once. Ryan is used of
playing a very fast paced game, so seldom does he stop the puck to set it up for a pass-play
and would rather just "let her rip". Good thing the Best of Seven hockey game comes with a dome,
cause there have been many times when Ryan's slap shot from the defenceman could have taken out
an eye. I know everyone has ducked at one time or another thinking that puck is going to
drill'em right between the lookers.
LIONEL FAUCHOUX
Another one of the "senior" players at 49, Lionel moved to Saskatoon from Prince Albert,
Saskatchewan in 1998 and joined the league. Not only does Lionel bring with him a lot of
experience playing the game, but also has a vast knowledge of the games history and repair know-how.
He was partially involved with the game during its infancy, when his brother Dan and friends
decided to invest a ton of money and time into constructing a quality tabletop hockey game back
in the 1980's, ala "Best of Seven Games Inc". Lionel is married with two kids, and yes Ryan is
his son, so you can bet there is some good rivalry going on during league play there.
Lionel has a few good plays that will generally score a goal or two per game, but has been
known to drop a few from the weak sides when he finds his opponents sleeping at the rods. He
likes the "Gretzky" move (or "circus shot" as some call it...Luke), but will usually bring on
the "Bronx cheers" from the fans when he pots a goal that way. Players have to be wary of his
dog "Pochacco" too. We think he has been trained to sniff opponents' crotches while playing
against Lionel to throw them off their game. Shouldn't that be two minutes for interference???!!!
We are going to the rulebook for this one.
Some say Lionel has picked up the level a notch or two. Probably cause the guy doesn't
work anymore and spends his time practising at his condo...not!!!
Brett Cross
One of last years expansion teams, this guy has lots of guts!!! Brett says he has never
played the game very much, but somehow we all think he is "B.S.ing" us, cause he plays the game
well. His favorite move is to pass back to his left defenceman and let it rip from there,
sometimes rather slow at it, but fairly effective at times. He bought a game off Lionel in
2005 and it is obvious he is spending some time on it.
Other than waiting
for the next league play to start, Brett pays the bill working in the trucking industry.
MARK "Putz" FRIESEN
Mark, another of last years expansion teams...vicious, vicious player. He
is here to win
and win big...only thing is he has got to learn how to play the game first...
(lol). Actually
Mark is rather good at the game for an expansion team and for not having
a game of his
own at home to practice on. He really likes to favor his right winger (the office!).
He has a few clumsy moves, and he is very fast with
his goalie, but
his centerman likes to go to sleep at the blue line most of the evening. Problem
is he always
has one hand on the goalie and that makes it hard to pass to his other players...
like his centerman. Everybody likes playing Mark...(cause they know they can get a couple of
points off him)...as he really gets into the game. The league is considering bringing in an
additional ref. when Mark plays or we're going to have to start breaking up fights during league play.
BERT WOWCHUK
One of last years expansion teams. He is a skilled player as he demonstrated on opening
night with a fast pace of play and good moves from everywhere. The games he lost were mostly
just one score away, so we can expect a lot of quality play coming from Bert during the rest
of this season. Bert has the most fun at the game, win or lose.
Bert has really involved himself with the game again. He now has four of his own
games at home
and all in good working condition. He is one enthusiastic guy and will soon be hosting league
nights....YEA!!...now we can drink someone elses beer!!!
ADAM GWEINWESER
"Whoooaa Adam let's not get too excited." Adam is new to the game a couple of years ago, but shows alot
of promise. He even beat up on the old guy already. We are hoping to see more of him next season.
DAVE LUUKKENON
Yes, another Luukkenon (twins) to put up with...ahhh, but this one we can beat.
He's learning
rapidly though. He has pick up an a lot of moves from brother Luke, subsequently
adding to his win column.
MIKE FAUCHOUX
OH NO! Not another Fauchoux!! Yes this time he is coming all the way from Prince Albert to play
in the league, (100 miles away). Devoted...yes. He is a quiet guy, but he lets his players do his
talking for him. We understand he is pratising alot at home with anybody who will give him a
game. Mike likes to play the game like it was intented...fast. He will burn you quick if you take
your eyes of the board. Be real careful of the dee to dee pass...awesome!!
ANDREW BAZAN
Andrew has since moved back to sunny/rainy Vancouver in 2004.
We all know of Andrew's suberb skill level on a Best of Seven game as he has won the inagural
Western Canadian Table Hockey Championships in Saskatoon in 2002 and then successfully defended
three times. Andrew is highly competitive when it comes to table hockey and not just on a Best of
Seven game either. Adding to his accurate passing and shooting skills he is very good at being
mentally prepared for any game or opponent.
We are looking forward to having Andrew move back to toon town and join the league for the
up-coming season as his play will surely elevate the entire leagues skill level. Remember
Andrew we all drink lots of beer and whiskey before, during and after league nights, and double for you!
DARREN BRAYSHAW
Darren bought a game from Lionel in 2005 and put it in his bar location at Foxys in Saskatoon.
He has hosted the 2005 tournament at Foxys and has been a most gracious host every time the gang
shows up to play league. What a guy this fella is! And you should see him play, he has my
vote for most improved.
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