![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.btsh.org\/bruise\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/100_1237.jpg\" "\\"X-Factor\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nGAME OF THE WEEK<\/strong> <\/p>\n Filthy Gorgeous at Denim Demons<\/strong> Butchers at Tompkins Square Riots<\/strong> Poutine Machine at Mathematics<\/strong> Gut Rot at Mega Touch<\/strong> Cobra Kai at La Famiglia (Formerly the Tuques)<\/strong> Unicorns at Dark Rainbows<\/strong> Rehabs at Happy Little Elves<\/strong>
\nWhat The Puck at Sky Fighters<\/strong>
\nLocation:<\/strong> Tompkins East, 3:00 PM
\nAll-Time Series:<\/strong> Sky Fighters lead 7-2
\nGame Notes:<\/strong> The best game of BTSH’s opening weekend pits perennial contender and 2009 runner up What The Puck in a championship game rematch against the Sky Fighters.\u00a0 Larry “Mad Dog” Zimmer’s Orange Juggernaut boasted the league’s top offense in 2009, and with all of their primary scorers returning, the team is expected to light the lamp often once again.\u00a0 Despite a mid-season ankle injury, Adriano “Muscles Marinara” Bratta led the team with 20 goals.\u00a0 This year, the offense should be further bolstered as he returns at full health.\u00a0 The Sky Fighters were led by defender Martin “Ocho Cinco” Cejka, who also registered 20 goals.\u00a0 However, unlike previous seasons, Cejka had a much stronger and more noticeable supporting cast, including David Cernan and Greg “Mr. August” Cohan.\u00a0 Together, Cernan and Cohan combined for three of the Sky Fighters six goals in the championship game. With revenge still on What The Puck’s mind, the defending champs will need this supporting cast to step up once again.
\nKeys To The Game:<\/strong>
\n1. With the Sky Fighters raising their championship banner in an elaborate pre-game ceremony, they will have a clear mental edge as the game begins.
\n2. Although What The Puck lost in the championship game, the team is quick to point out that it was their second game of the day, as they had just finished a grueling semifinal against Fresh Kills.\u00a0 The team is looking forward to the chance at avenging its loss while fresh.
\n3. This contest will feature the two most recent August centerfolds from the BTSH Hunk Calendar.\u00a0 What The Puck’s Salvatore Malguarnera, Jr.<\/a> was showcased in 2009, while the Sky Fighters Greg “Mr. August” Cohan<\/a> will be highlighted in 2010.\u00a0 Interestingly, 2008’s Mr. August, Bryan “Stork” Welch, will be reffing.
\nEli\u2019s Pick:<\/strong> Sky Fighters. They weren’t intimidated for the championship game, and they won’t be here either.
\nDerek\u2019s Pick:<\/strong> What The Puck.\u00a0 Mad Dog is too crafty to lose to the same team twice in a row.
\nWatchability: <\/strong>5 Hoppers.\u00a0 It’s the championship rematch and also Opening Day.<\/p>\n
\nLocation:<\/strong> Tompkins East, 1:00 PM
\nAll-Time Series:<\/strong> Tied 2-2-1
\nGame Notes:<\/strong> The Denim Demons begin their quest to repeat as Rubens Division and regular season champions.\u00a0 However, it will be tougher this year as top players Micael Holmstr\u00f6m and Jeff Kamen will not be playing for most of the season.\u00a0 Filthy Gorgeous, likewise, will be without the services of phenom Paul “Ashy Larry” Vernon.
\nEli\u2019s Pick: <\/strong>Filthy Gorgeous.\u00a0 Vernon hasn’t been on the team for years, but they still looked pretty good last season.
\nDerek\u2019s Pick: <\/strong>Filthy Gorgeous.\u00a0 The “Gentleman” James Pereira show begins.
\nWatchability: <\/strong>4 Hoppers<\/p>\n
\nLocation:<\/strong> Tompkins West, 1:00 PM
\nAll-Time Series:<\/strong> First Meeting
\nGame Notes:<\/strong> This inter-division Schumacher Conference matchup features the league’s two expansion teams.
\nEli\u2019s Pick:<\/strong> Butchers
\nDerek\u2019s Pick:<\/strong> Butchers.\u00a0 The team may be new, but the players will still have a lot of chemistry together.
\nWatchability:<\/strong> 2 Hoppers<\/p>\n
\nLocation:<\/strong> Tompkins East, 2:00 PM
\nAll-Time Series:<\/strong> First Meeting
\nGame Notes:<\/strong> League sideshow and new Mathematic Hector “$howT!m3” Melendez begins his career as an official starting goalie, while Poutine Machine’s Patrick “Sven” Larsen begins his career as an official captain.
\nWatchability: <\/strong>2.5 Hoppers. $howT!m3’s antics are always worth an extra half Hopper.\u00a0 Thus, he is half as valuable as Dan Hopper, who is worth a full Hopper.<\/p>\n
\nLocation:<\/strong> Tompkins West, 2:00 PM
\nAll-Time Series:<\/strong> First Meeting
\nGame Notes:<\/strong> Gut Rot (in its Mexican Standoff incarnation) and Mega Touch both lost their play-in games in the 2009 playoffs.\u00a0 Both teams will look to rebound and get off to a winning start in this MacNeil Division contest.
\nEli\u2019s Pick: <\/strong>Mega Touch
\nDerek’s Pick: <\/strong>Gut Rot. Why not?
\nWatchability: <\/strong>1.5 Hoppers<\/p>\n
\nLocation:<\/strong> Tompkins West, 3:00 PM
\nAll-Time Series:<\/strong> Tied 2-2
\nGame Notes:<\/strong> The biggest story entering this game is the Tuques’ last minute name change to La Famiglia.\u00a0 Ironically, due to a naming rights agreement, they were unable to change the name of their home court, so the game will still be played in Tuques Arena.
\nEli\u2019s Pick:<\/strong> Tuques<\/span> La Famiglia.\u00a0 I’m still getting used to this name change.
\nDerek\u2019s Pick:<\/strong> La Famiglia.\u00a0 Dave’s new superstar initiative strikes again.
\nWatchability:<\/strong> 3 Hoppers<\/p>\n
\nLocation:<\/strong> Tompkins East, 4:30 PM
\nAll-Time Series:<\/strong> Unicorns lead 5-4
\nGame Notes:<\/strong> This game will be the first\u00a0contest\u00a0of the triangular series among the Unicorns, Dark Rainbows, and Happy Little Elves for the prestigious (yet imaginary) Fairy Tale Cup.\u00a0 The Unicorns are currently in possession of it (or would be, if it existed).
\nEli\u2019s Pick:<\/strong> Dark Rainbows
\nDerek\u2019s Pick:<\/strong> Dark Rainbows
\nWatchability:<\/strong> 3 Hoppers. Rich Glanzer of the Happy Little Elves will be unhappy with the result of this game regardless of the outcome.<\/p>\n
\nLocation:<\/strong> Tompkins West, 4:30 PM
\nAll-Time Series:<\/strong> Tied 2-2
\nGame Notes:<\/strong> These teams last met in the first round of the 2009 playoffs, with the Rehabs besting the Elves 3-1.\u00a0 However, the Elves took both of the 2009 regular season meetings between these Hackett Division rivals.
\nEli\u2019s Pick:<\/strong> Rehabs. You were expecting something else?
\nDerek\u2019s Pick:<\/strong> Rehabs
\nWatchability:<\/strong> 4 Hoppers<\/p>\n