Rub A Dub Dub, Three Men In A Tub

GAME OF THE WEEK
Rehabs vs. Fresh Kills
Location: Tompkins West, 4:00 PM
All-Time Series: Tied 4-4
Game Notes: This Rubens Division contest pits the defending champions against one of the most loquacious teams in BTSH.  Despite winning the BTSH title game last year, Fresh Kills was an average team throughout the regular season.  However, this year, they open the season with a lot more confidence and are determined to prove last year’s playoff run was more than lighting in a bottle.  Even after a disappointing finish to the 2008 season, the Rehabs also enter this game brimming with confidence.  Rookie sensation Sean “$howJu” McClain gloated, “Boy, is it gonna be good to hand the defending champs their first loss of the season!”  Will this statement motivate $howJu’s new team or will it simply serve as bulletin board fodder for the defending champs?
Keys To The Game:
1. Due to a previous commitment, Rehabs captain Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli will miss her team’s opening game.  In her absence, assistant captains Gina Hackett and Kami Moore will run the show.  It is speculated that Bryan “Stork” Welch will chime in as well.
2. Although he continues to garner less fanfare than some of the other BTSH goalies, Fresh Kills netminder Dave Gil de Rubio remains a key component of their defense. His reliability and consistency enable them to be a lot more aggressive on offense.
3.  While he is always up for spirited and good-natured competition, Fresh Kills captain Kevin “The Planet” Foster does not care for the trash talking preceding this game, as he is really just a sensitive guy.
Eli’s Pick: Rehabs.  This is the type of game they usually thrive on.
Derek’s Pick: Fresh Kills.  I underestimated them throughout the entire 2008 playoffs, so I’m making it a point to pick them on opening day.

Sky Fighters vs. Mega Touch
Location: Tompkins East, 1:00 PM
All-Time Series: Mega Touch leads 5-3
Game Notes: The Sky Fighters look to spoil the debut of a rebranded Mega Touch team that is beginning a new chapter in its franchise’s history.
Eli’s Pick: Sky Fighters
Derek’s Pick: Sky Fighters

Corlears Hookers vs. Tuques
Location: Tompkins West, 1:00 PM
All-Time Series: Corlears Hookers lead 2-0
Game Notes: It has now been three years since several players defected from the Tuques to form the Hookers.  The Tuques continue to seek revenge.
Eli’s Pick: Corlears Hookers.  They have been stewing over their title game loss for five months and will take out their aggression on the Tuques.
Derek’s Pick: Corlears Hookers

Mexican Standoff vs. Gouging Anklebiters
Location: Tompkins East, 2:00 PM
All-Time Series: Gouging Anklebiters lead 8-4
Game Notes: This Schloeder Division matchup features two teams that struggled immensely last year.  Both will look to begin the season on the right foot.
Eli’s Pick: Gouging Anklebiters
Derek’s Pick: Gouging Anklebiters.  And that “right foot” is Schuie.

Mighty Squirrels vs. LBS, Inc.
Location: Tompkins West, 2:00 PM
All-Time Series: LBS, Inc. leads 4-1
Game Notes: The Mighty Squirrels enter this Schloeder Division tilt on an 11 game losing streak.
Eli’s Pick: LBS, Inc.  Make it 12.

What The Puck vs. Mathematics
Location: Tompkins East, 3:00 PM
All-Time Series: What The Puck leads 3-1
Game Notes: What The Puck will have extra motivation to win this Woodsworth Division battle, since the divisional namesake will be suiting up for them.

Cobra Kai vs. Filthy Gorgeous
Location: Tompkins West, 3:00 PM
All-Time Series: Filthy Gorgeous leads 3-0
Game Notes: This game is being dubbed by some as the Ashy Larry Classic, as it will feature two of his former teams.
Eli’s Pick: Filthy Gorgeous
Derek’s Pick: Filthy Gorgeous.  Cobra Kai lost a lot of firepower in the offseason, and the free agents will take a few games to assimilate.

Denim Demons vs. Happy Little Elves
Location: Tompkins East, 4:00 PM
All-Time Series: Denim Demons lead 1-0
Game Notes: The Happy Little Elves are currently undefeated on opening day.
Eli’s Pick: Denim Demons.  They get the early jump in the Rubens Division.
Derek’s Pick: Denim Demons

Unicorns vs. Dark Rainbows
Location: Tompkins East, 5:00 PM
All-Time Series: Tied 4-4
Game Notes: This game will be the first leg of the triangular series among the Unicorns, Dark Rainbows, and Happy Little Elves for the pretigious (yet imaginary) Fairy Tale Cup.  The Unicorns are currently in possession of it (or would be, if it existed).
Derek’s Pick: Dark Rainbows.  John Meyer in net and White Jesus on offense…it’s like the Rainbows of old!

 
BTSH Survivor Pool

This season, in addition to the media’s picks for game winners, the weekly previews will also include a survivor/suicide pool among several distinguished league members.  Here are the picks for week 1:

Ara Arnn (CK) – LBS, Inc.
Caroline Currie (FK) – What The Puck
Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli (REH) – Gouging Anklebiters
Phil Donohue (GA) – Gouging Anklebiters
Alex Eben Meyer (MT) – Denim Demons
Rich Glanzer (HLE) – What The Puck
Rachel Greene (MSQ) – Filthy Gorgeous
Craig LaCombe (UNI) – What The Puck
Abigail Meisterman (DD) – Sky Fighters
Hector Melendez (REH) – Sky Fighters
Andy Pratt (MATH) – Mexican Standoff
Enayet Rasul (CK) – Sky Fighters
Sean Reynolds (DR) – Denim Demons
Adam Rubens (DD) – Sky Fighters
Monica Russo (FG) – Dark Rainbows
Josh Sadlier-Brown (CH) – Denim Demons
Matt Spedalari (TUQ) – What The Puck
James Stein (SKY) – Denim Demons
Corey Winters (WTP) – What The Puck
Larry Zimmer (WTP) – What The Puck