Fat Ladies, Marbles, Cups, Cliches & Good Luck

The Ray Miron Presidents' Cup

 I could spend time today talking about last nights game and analyze the one goal lead, being outshot, giving up three goals in a little over four minutes and a myriad of other issues but what happened last night doesn't matter at this point. What matters at this point is what happens tonight. Here are my thoughts:

- This team has been in this must win position many times during the season and they have always played their best in big games. I see no reason for tonight to be any different.

- Coach Martinson always says our best players have to be our best players in big games and I look for that to happen tonight.

- The team with the better goalie usually wins. Aaron Dell  is the better goalie. I look for that to happen tonight.

- The Americans have played three previous Game 7’s and are unbeaten in those contests beating Laredo on home ice and Odessa on the road, both during the 2010 season, to go along with their win this year against Missouri at the Allen Event Center.

 - Tonight's showdown will mark the sixth Game 7 in CHL Finals history and the second Game 7 of this year’s post-season (Allen defeated Missouri by a 7-3 score in Game 7 of the Conference Semifinals).  Overall, there have been 28 Game 7’s in CHL playoff history with the home team posting wins in 18 of those.


- I am already nervous and all I am going to do is watch so I thought I would post a few of the time honored cliches we have all heard about the "big game" for you to enjoy:


- Tonight is for all the marbles
- There is no tomorrow
- The fat lady will sing tonight
- Anything less than a championship is unacceptable
- Second is the first loser
- Tonight is for bragging rights
- It all comes down to which team wants it more
- It's gut check time
- Winning isn't everything, it is the only thing
- There is no I in TEAM
- If you're not first, you're last, tonight is the night

I will end this post the same as yesterday because it really captures what team sport is all about at any level and what the Allen Americans represent.  A bunch of men playing a game, strangers coming together for a common goal, willing to do anything for each other.

Win today and we walk together forever."
—Philadelphia Flyers Coach Fred Shero wrote this on his famous chalkboard before the Flyers' 1974 Stanley Cup finals victory.

GOOD LUCK TONIGHT BOYS. MAY YOU WALK TOGETHER FOREVER AFTER TONIGHT!