What makes these men SUPER? Do they change in phone booths? Can they leap tall buildings? Are they faster than a speeding bullet? Are they more powerful than a locomotive? The answer is “NO” to all of the above – BUT they have survived to 40 despite enduring countless slashes, illegal body checks and unsportsmanlike conducts – AND they are ready to strap it on once again at 8,000 feet. That’s SUPER.
C2C with Vail fixture and coach Chip Flanagan return to defend its hard-earned crown. 2011 MVP goalie Jim Schwartz is between the pipes and the scoring duo of David King and Paul Thomas will lead the attack.
The Elder Statesmen with a Hobart Statesmen nucleus (thus the name) want to sit at the mountain top again. A healthy addition of fresh “young” legs join the fun. They join a core of experienced vets like Steve Govett (A), Dan Pratt (D), Peter Schaffer (LSM) and Bill Edell (M).
Rob Gormley’s Yellow Dog pack placed third last year thanks to an 11-10 win against Millennium / Rock-It Pocket the last day. They are off the leash this year adding new talented scorers Rowan Allen and Mike Bonofazi. Rob Perella at close defense and Jeff Pulcipher in goal lead the guard dog breeds.
The player run team of Millennium / Rock-It Pocket brings its mix of Colorado and New England talent once again. They add Lyle Shirley as a face-off man to an already stout crew anchored by Danny Cisneros in goal and Sam Hovey on attack.
The Middlebury alumni classes from 1984 to 1994 will rally behind coach Erin Quinn and manager Bob Sideli. This makes year 16 for the squad in Vail.
Team Galileo returns to the Shootout with a dedicated squad hailing from both coasts and all points in between. Most recently known as dEPHiant/NYAC, the team draws a solid core of players from the New York Athletic Club, Williams College, Denison University, Yale and other programs. Organizers Tom Wenzel and Chris Oldham will again take the field more than thirty years after their first collaboration as teammates at Denver’s Graland Country Day School. Goalie Marty Malinow anchors the defense, supported by stalwarts Wenzel and Paul “Otto” Wimer. Seasoned middie Pete Schwartz and new addition Paul Harkins will work to move the ball upfield to returning attackmen Ed Akel, Jeff Alpaugh and Ross Wimer. Malinow’s company, Galileo Weather, is a team sponsor.
New in 2012 are the Moondoggies squad. While Moondoggies is a California-based team, it has grown to include key players from around the U.S. and Canada including John Rosa, Dewey Jacobs and Peter Schmitz.
The Princeton Obsoletes make their ninth appearance in Vail playing for the Bobby Campbell Scholarship Foundation. Many of the players hail from the Princeton, New Jersey area and either played with or were coached by Bobby Campbell. Bill Rexford is key on defense and Damon Webber will add scoring power from attack.
Mad Greens Inspired Eats will again be captained by Andrew Paredes. This is the second season for the Greens who gather players from the Denver Metro area, many of whom coach youth and high school lacrosse.
The Vail Village’s Vendetta’s restaurant lends its name to last year’s Air Force Graybirds. Mike Jacobi (AFA ’81) and Cat Stevens (AFA ’74) will command this crew of Air Force alumni and Midwest City Lacrosse Conference “old guys”. Missing from the team is Dan Connelly (AFA ’73) who will receive a “sticks up” from the team as he recovers from cancer surgery.
Don’t you love the name Aged Spirits? Former Colorado high school players (Arapahoe, Cherry Creek, Columbine and Englewood) use that name. Tom Mott at attack and Brooks Thoroughgood at midfield are keys.
Rumor has it the Navy Old Goats are pulling some battleships out of moth balls for the 2012 campaign. No one has leaked any names.
To round out the 13-team field we have Cactus Lacrosse from sunny Arizona. That tanned contingent grabs friends from lacrosse powerhouses Syracuse, Hobart and Johns Hopkins to add depth.
It promises to be an interesting bracket after it is set from first day round robin play. No doubt it will be another SUPER one. |
