PowerPlay žurnalas

     A couple weeks ago a friend and I were conversing while on our way to work. We were discussing The FA cup. Him; being a natural born Brit, has an undying love for football (soccer for anyone know hasn't noticed I don't call it that). I on the other hand always liked football, but never got deep into it until a couple years ago. During our discussion I said that it really is just a tournament for the Premiership teams. They have to most money, thus the manpower. That is when he stated to me that the thing that he loves most about the FA cup is every year there is a Cinderella story. This year the team Crawley Town FC where one game from the semi finals. This is a team who play in Npower League II. A team who half, if not more of their players salaries equal some of the players in the Premiership. And there they were. In the end I think everyone loves a good underdog story. Probably because there are a staggering amount of underdogs in all facets of life. I know I am an underdog in more than one topic of my life. As I am sure many of you are too.

     This year's National Cup in hockey had an underdog story of it's own. Not on the same levels as The Mighty Ducks vs. The Hawks, but still an underdog story of some sorts. This years underdog was canucks357's own Royal City Redshift. You may all know him. You may all know his team. And knowing his team may make you disagree with me. But he had quite an uphill battle to get there. After years of making it to the final 16, then back to back disappointing finishes the last two seasons. Canucks was determined this was going to be his year. After breezing through to the final 16, he was given his first bit of bad news. He was to face the dreaded Montreal Strippers. Pretty much punching his ticket for a long emotional ride home, he didn't know Tim Newton had recently eaten a leprechaun on a horseshoe plate. Turning away 39/40 shots, Newts led the team to their first major upset.

     Quarterfinals draw begins. Pot one contains three previous NC winners and another who has come close enough to taste victory. So no matter the draw now, it is going to be rough. Canucks is on a little bit of a high at this point after his big upset against the Strippers. He is drawn to play Burnaby Cougars. The Cougars coach Slavko74 has had his hands busy running our footy national team and one of the top Canadian teams. But h is well experienced in hockey and has shown it with wins in the NC along with league I.1 wins under his belt. This game went through regulation and overtime. It all came down to the shootout. And it was only one goals, scored by an RCR player to book canucks trip to the semis.

     This round seen the Redshift facing last year's I.1 playoff and NC winner The Mighty Oil. After doubling up last season, themightyoil was looking to win a triple crown (winning the Champions League as well as league and NC). And even deploying the same tactic, and being the first competitor to start playing on high importance against RCR, Newts managed to steal the wind out of TMO's sail. Letting only one goal on 34 shots. Redshift now had their passport to the final.

     The stage was set. This was a final that was bound to be a good one. Both teams have never won the National Cup. So this was to be a glorious day for one of them. But the strain on the Redshift finally caught up to them. Newtons let in 3 of 36 shots when his team could only muster 16 of their own. They found the back of the net once, but it was too little too late. Their fate was sealed. After a long and periless journey, they finished the runner up. The team they lost to? Les Sanguinaires. Run by the more than nice Bartimeus. His team put in an awesome effort and were rewarded in the end. It is his first ever win in the National Cup after placing fourth in season eight. So it is not like the normal underdog story of the longshot versus the powerhouse. But it is still a great story. With a great finish too. Congratulations are in order for both teams. As they both have now made it the furthest in the tournament that they ever had. And my final parting wisdom after slamming every reader with this giant wall of text. The old adage "every dog has it's day". Perhaps this will come true. Maybe not the next season, or the one after. But soon.