Walsh: "It's Poop Stain Season Again!"

Kingfishers GM Matty Walsh at team headquarters



Blacks Harbour, NB - It may be on the edge of moose season in Charlotte County, but Fundy Kingfishers GM Matty Walsh has declared it "poop stain season." Walsh was referring to the seemingly overpowering squad the Bonny River Ratz have put together in the off season.

Walsh noted, "If I told you to get a bunch of my hockey heroes and put them all on one team, you'd probably have the Bonny River Ratz 2011-2012 squad. Mark Taylor, Joe Stevens, Carl Chambers, Jim Buchanan, JD Cote, and on and on. If this hasn't got around to the rest of the league yet, there will be some very frightened people at the Fundy Arena this fall I'm afraid when they find out. It's definitely poop stain season where I'm sitting."

Walsh says "Piss on the Ratz!"

"The Ratz are nothing but a joke!"

Kingfishers GM Matty Walsh shows what he thinks of the Bonny River Ratz Roster Moves

Stevens Meets Alcohol Compliance Supervisor

Stevens: "I guess he got the last laugh"

Joe Stevens and Alcohol Compliance Supervisor Outside Fenway Park

Boston, MA - After making our way through the crowded streets of Boston outside Fenway Park, we spotted a guy in a bright yellow shirt with "Alcohol Compliance Supervisor" stitched on his shirt. We had no idea who he was or what he did, but thought after swilling a few pops on the street, on a rick-shaw, in a parking lot in plain view of police, we thought it would be funny to get a picture.

After we got in the game, and the heat was really turned up, we thought it would be a good idea to have a pop or two. The vendors were hollering out "Beer for Sale!" and we kept waving our hands but nobody was paying attention. Then we spotted the guy in the yellow shirt and it all became very clear. The section we were in was not allowed to have beer delivered to it and this guy was there to make damn sure of it too. We had to go and wait in line like the other common folk.

We learned what an Alcohol Compliance Supervisor was doing at Fenway Park and what his duties were.      

Buchanan "excited" about 2011-2012 Season

Buchanan: "3 Buchanans = Total Chaos

Jim Buchanan reflects on upcoming season

Bonny River, NB - Jim Buchanan took a few minutes to sit down and do an exclusive Hockey Voice interview late Saturday. Buchanan, usually and very quiet and reserved guy, opened up about the upcoming FIHL season and how he sees it playing out. Buchanan touched on the signing of his cousin Gregg Buchanan and called it "monumental in the whole scheme of things." He added, "I went to management after last year's playoffs and told them Taylor can't do it all. We need somebody to come in and give us some secondary scoring and take care of the rough shit if it flares up. We got a guy out winning the block shot championship every year who also happens to has almost 900 career goals. Something had to give. I'm hearing the Ratz are planning on putting the Buchanan boys all on the same line and that's exciting. (Russell, Gregg & Jim). I think total chaos might be an understatement, but we'll see."

Ratz making roster moves to deal with cap issues

Dewar, Frost and Buchanan all sign 1 year deals

L to R - Carl Chambers, Matt Dewar, Warren Giesbrecht, Gregg Buchanan, Greg Justason, Joe Stevens, Jason Frost, Mark Taylor, Jim Buchanan. (Taken in Falmouth, ME in late July, 2011 by Sports Illustrated)

Bonny River, NB - Puck drop is weeks away and the Bonny River Ratz have been aggressive in the off season in hopes of bringing a championship to the community. Last December, the mini-metro area suffered a devastating flood and it was at that time team captain Joe Stevens said he was determined to turn things around.

Stevens said, "I looked around when me and my friends were performing miracles and said how can I really give back? Grabbing the Fish Bowl might just do the trick. We tried last season but were unsuccessful again. I met with my advisers and developed a plan to turn things around. We have brought in local boys Jason Frost and Gregg Buchanan to give us some toughness. Then when we were in Maine this summer, Matt Dewar was on a line with ex NHL-er Gary McAdam and the legendary Mark Taylor and performed beyond our expectations, so we're giving him a shot as well. It's unfortunate, but we're also announcing the release of Andrew Moffitt. He is a businessman, so he should understand that this is solely a business decision."

Former Ratz star has new haircut

Former Ratz Star Mark Johnson

Stevens ready for 2011-2012 Season

Stevens: "A little heavier but meaner"

Joe Stevens with furry friend on the New Road near Second Falls

 

Bonny River, NB - The 2011-2012 FIHL season is drawing near and it appears team captain Joe Stevens will be at the top of his game. Stevens has been on a strict regiment since the horn blew on the Ratz playoff hopes last spring. Throw in a mid-summer hockey tournament and the odd can of beer and you have a recipe for success, or so it would seem. Stevens noted in a telephone interview with the Hockey Voice that he "is ready to go right now."

 

"The Ratz have not rebuilt this offseason, once again we have re-loaded. From what we have heard from a lot of the experts, the Ratz are heavily-favoured to take it all. Taylor needs 9 goals for his 900th and that is a walk in the park for a guy like that. We are bringing in some tough guys to go along with the mostly finesse guys we already have. All in all, it's a great looking squad, eh Guy?"