Championship Preview

On Saturday April 6th, the beauty that is the WNHL will descend on the Meridian Center to decide the winner of the King Street Cup. This is what it’s all about. Think back to when you were a kid, playing street hockey, a beer in your hand, a dart in your mouth and dreams of the King Street Cup running through your head. This weekend those dreams come true. For some a first time playing for the holy grail, others seek to add on to their legacy, but the goal is the same. To drink OV from the holiest of all grails.

C Boz doing some off season training, circa 1988

However, before the headliner you have to have the opener. Like when Hendrix opened for the Monkees game one on the night will see the Crown Room Kings battle the Welland Stelcobras in a battle for not last. This is not just a fight to not be last and forced to live for a year with Vash on Iron Street. (It’s in your contract, read the fine print boys. Don’t worry though, he said it’s the nice part of Iron Street) . It’s so much more, it’s a new GM who put together a team that looked great on paper, but once they hit the ice…well, they looked good on paper.

More importantly this will be Matt “Dboy” Sajn’s last game as GM of the Stelcobras. After three years of running the team straight into the losing column Sajn will step aside for new blood to take over the franchise. Sajn who is known for building teams that are great in the room, could never find one that was great on the ice. To be fair, trying to find that balance is like trying to find a hooker with a heart of gold.

PSA: Hookers do not look like this

Speaking of people most likely to have chlamydia, Gav Sardella and the Atlas Steelers make their third straight appearance in the finals to battle Craig “American Hell” Laro and the Townline Tunnelers. Laro chose to opposite strategy of Sajn, and chose a team that can be explosive if things don’t go their way. Cockell and Wililard have been known to say a thing or two about a thing or two, however, this is balanced by Oost never saying a word. Seriously, has anybody heard him speak before? Maybe he just lets his goals do the talking as Kenny “Lemieux” Oost has put up career highs in both goals and points. this year.

They look like this

So empty out your kids college fund, max out your wife’s credit card and call your bookie there’s money to be made. Will the Crown Room Kings find a silver lining in their otherwise dark season, or will the Stelcobras bring the fight to send Sajn out with at least a shred of dignity? Can the Atlas Steelers ride Dalton’s coattails to another championship, or will the Townline Tunnelers finish off their first place season in style?

Only one motherfucking way to find out.

Meridian Center

Saturday April 6th.

7 p.m.