Big Winners At The Laker Game

At Friday's hockey game, our family seemed to be the only winners, since the Lakers lost 4-3. With Papa and Nana up from Cadillac visiting the kids and the new baby, we decided to take in a game. Luck was on our side, as Papa won the 50/50 draw and I was able to catch a game puck for Trevor. Lily was given a 'chuck a puck' from another fan after her pop spilled, so she was able to partake in that. Too bad the Lakers lost, but we still had a great time together. Next week Ferris State is up, so we'll catch one of those games, too. Not too many left. Here is my article on the game from the Michigan College Hockey Online site:

http://michigancollegehockey.blogspot.com/2008/01/lakers-split-series-with-visiting.html

New Team Member Arrives

We are happy to announce the arrival of Brian David Scott Burrill. He was born on Friday January 11 at 0747. This monster weighed in at 9 lbs. 7.1 oz., and was 20 1/2 inches long. He and mommy are doing well, and we brought them both home today. He's pictured here sporting his Whitecaps jersey, and he also has a Laker jersey he'll grow into very soon. He should make his first hockey game before the season is over, and maybe even take in a baseball game this summer. He'll be rooting on Lily and Trevor when they play baseball and soccer for sure.

Lily And Trevor Skate With The Lakers

Following the Lake Superior State Lakers 4-1 win over visiting Bowling Green State, Lily and Trevor were able to get on the ice with their favorite hockey team. Members of the team were nice enough to sign autographs and get pictures taken with them. Pictured here with the kids is freshman defenseman Dillin Stonehouse. We were also able to chat with Nathan Peterson, and some of the other players we have come to know. In the game itself, the Lakers won 4-1 over the Falcons on Simon Gysbers goal and three assists. Dan Eves, Rick Schofield, and Zac MacVoy also scored for the Lakers, getting them their first CCHA win of the season. Here is my article on the game at Michigan College Hockey Online:

http://michigancollegehockey.blogspot.com/2008/01/lakers-earn-first-ccha-win.html

Trevor Joins The Lakers In Hockey Clinic

Trevor participated in the 'Have Fun, Play Hockey' clinic at Lake Superior State. This was a clinic put on by LSSU, the CCHA, and Fox Sports Net, who was there filming for an upcoming show. The clinic was a big success for all, and the Laker players showed their usual professionalism and class dealing with the youngsters who aren't enrolled in a hockey program. Trevor hasn't skated much lately, but players like Pat Aubry, Carter Lee, Brian Mahoney-Wilson, and Rick Schofield really helped him out a lot. Even head coach Jim Roque helped him with his skates. Trevor has already stated that he wants to learn more hockey, and I'll probably start taking him skating again, to get ready for next season.

UPDATE: The next day Trevor was on the front page of the Soo Evening News. They did a story on the hockey clinic, and he just happened to be in the right spot. There is also a feature on the Michigan College Hockey Online web page here:

http://michigancollegehockey.blogspot.com/2008/01/micho-staffers-son-learns-from-lssu.html

Hockey Season Starts With Lakers 'Blue-White' Game

The 2007-08 hockey season started for us on Saturday, with the annual Lake Superior State Lakers 'Blue-White' Game, which is an intra-squad scrimmage where the team splits up and plays each other. Nana and Papa came up from Cadillac to spend some time with us and watch the game. The game was special for us, as family friend Nathan Peterson was trying out for the team as a walk-on. We were happy to support Nathan, as he played great and showed up some of the scholarship players. Nathan stayed with us in 2006, when he was playing for the Blind River Beavers in Canada.

In the game itself, the White team came out on top again. Sophomore transfer Zac MacVoy scored two goals to lead the White team to a 7-4 victory. Other goal scorers for the White were captain Troy Schwab, Matt Cowie, Jason Blain, Steve Oleksy, and Josh Sim. Schwab and Sim also added two assists apiece. Dan Eaves had two goals for the Blue team, while Brad Cooper and walk-on candidate Kyle Waisanen rounded out the scoring. Justin Gutwald and Nik Sellers had two assists each for the Blues. The goaltenders switched team back and forth, so they all saw some action. Pat Inglis had 15 saves in the game.

Lily The Ballerina

Lily has started her ballet class and is loving it. She has class every Thursday at Lake Superior State through the Sault Academy of Performing Arts. At the end of the season in May she will be part of a big musical number called 'Send In The Clowns'. That is fitting for Lily. More pics will come in the future, this is her getting ready for her first class. She's having fun and making lots of new friends.

'Caps Win! 'Caps Win! 2007 Midwest League Champs!

The West Michigan Whitecaps repeated their task of a year ago by winning the 2007 Midwest League Championship in a grueling five game series against the Beloit Snappers. The 'Caps won the decisive game by the score of 11-5. Michael Bertram had three hits and two RBI's and Scott Sizemore went three for five with two runs scored. West Michigan releiver Luis Marte gave up two hits and struck out a season-high nine over five scoreless innings to earn the win. The 'Caps surged in the fifth inning, scoring eight runs on five Snapper's errors. "If any field in the league in any part of this country could cause that many errors in an inning, I'd pick Pohlman Field every time," Bertram said. "The field is so rocky and hard, especially in the outfield, so I'm not too surprised there were that many."

This is the Whitepcaps third championship in four years, and it's fifth in fourteen seasons in the league. The Whitecaps jumped out to a two game lead in the series, squeaking past Beloit 4-3 and 3-2 at 5/3 Ballpark in Comstock Park. Beloit bounced back with two wins of thier own, including a 5-0 shutout in game 4, before West Michigan wrapped up the series on the road.