Jun 10 2014
A special interview with Steve Stark of Starktoons mere days after the 2014 Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament.
Featuring:
Darryl Clarke (View Askew Vulgarians)
Jim Edelston (LA Mings)
Dave Mader (Eden Prairie Mallrats)
Steve Stark (Jay & Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie)
Jun 05 2014
By Sean Allen
Brant News
June 1, 2014
The appeal of Walter Gretzky is enough to draw street hockey players from all across Canada and the northern U.S. to Brantford for the annual tournament held in his name.
And to find out why one only had to watch as “Canada’s Hockey Dad” held court surrounded by dozens of View Askew Street Hockey League players moments before the official ball drop at the eighth annual Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament on Saturday at Lions Park.
The Great One’s dad had the VASHL players in stitches – telling jokes to the throng of players from Philadelphia, Chicago and all over Ontario that had gathered around.
“What do the Toronto Maple Leafs and my lawnmower have in common?” Gretzky asked. “They both spend the winter in the basement.”
The VASHL contingent is the largest at the annual street hockey tournament in support of the Lung Association. Eight teams from the league that was formed by fans of actor-director Kevin Smith made the journey to Brantford this season.
Even though it’s been four years since Smith personally took part in the tournament, the VASHL players remain committed to the annual event.
While the journey across the border to play in Brantford began as a chance to rub elbows – literally in some cases on the forecheck – with Smith, VASHL commissioner Darryl Clarke says its about a lot more than a chance encounter with their favourite filmmaker.
“This is a chance for the friends that make up our league to all get together,” he said. “Some of us only see each other this one time a year in Brantford.”
Clarke, who lives in Illinois, said the VASHL league has players from Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and New Jersey playing in Brantford this season.
The league was established in 2009 when Smith committed to come to Brantford to play in the tournament for a chance to meet Walter Gretzky.
The View Askew Vulgarians, Puck U, Leonardo Reapers and Monroeville Zombies were the first four entries – backed by Smith – that formed the league.
Other teams continue to join, even after Smith last made an appearance at the Brantford tournament in 2010.
“In fact, there was a team put together strictly from Brantford folks that wanted to be a part of VASHL just two weeks before this tournament,” Clarke said. “One of the players was involved in another tournament we played in and just liked the way we kept things friendly – no hacking and not overly aggressive.”
Lung Association fund development co-ordinator and tournament organizer Sandy Lee said 135 teams signed up for the event with more than 1,500 players roaming around the dozen rinks at Lions Park.
The tournament is a key fundraiser for the Lung Association – as evidenced by a $5,000 cheque that was handed over by Scotiabank during the ball drop ceremony on Saturday.
In his official remarks during the ball drop, Walter reminded those in attendance from the U.S. that they were in the “centre of the universe” and he said he wanted to see them all back next year.
via brantnews.com
Jun 04 2014
Kings/Hawks wasn’t the only game this wknd: The View Askew Street Hockey League faced off with Canada’s Dad himself! http://t.co/ciLQ4wqNUi
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) June 2, 2014
Jun 04 2014
By Carrie Moran
Clerks
Further to my last post, I wanted to share a little of the weekend and my impressions.
The opening ceremonies were on Saturday and of course Canada’s Hockey Dad, Walter Gretzky was there to pass on his words of thanks and sportsmanship. In fact he was around the rink all day, from about 8:30 in the morning until early into the evening. I heard that a few of his grandkids were playing in the tournament and he wanted to see all their games, bless his heart. The Brantford town crier was also in attendance to make things official.
There was also a jersey presentation for Walter, from the View Askew Street Hockey League. The is a special division of teams made up of players from across Canada and the US who are fans of Kevin Smith of Silent Bob fame. This is also the division I played in and truly had a lot of fun. I think I made some new friends, hopefully not any enemies. I don’t think I slashed anyone… much.
I am still having nightmares thanks to the Vulgarians goalie.
There were a few younger teams that caught my eye over the weekend as well. The ones to the left because I can entirely respect this many teenage boys who can enjoy their sport in the way it was intended while also having fun with it. Not to mention the ones in the cutoff shorts won their division.
Then on Sunday morning, when I was exhausted and cranky it was two atom teams that went out on the rink played their little hearts out. There’s nothing like seeing a game like that to restore your faith in youth sports. The referee I worked with Sunday morning was pretty phenomenal too.
Finally I would like to close with a reminder to Robert Lavigne of VASHL’s Monroeville Zombies. When I say don’t mess with me on the rink, I mean it! (yes, that is my stick around his neck).
Jun 03 2014
By Vincent Ball, Brantford Expositor
Sunday, June 1, 2014 8:18:45 EDT PM
At six-foot-two, James McCutcheon is a pretty intimidating sight when he puts on his goalie gear for his ball hockey team, the aptly named Vulgarians.
But, just in case his height and size aren’t enough to put a little fear in opponents, McCutcheon has added a fearsome-looking mask, which is black, white and brown with tufts of orange hair-like material sprouting out from all angles.
If nothing else, it helps McCutcheon stand out in a crowd.
“It’s done up in a zombie theme,” McCutcheon, 42, of Philadelphia, said after back stopping his team to a 9-2 victory Saturday afternoon during the eighth annual Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament at the Steve Brown Sports Complex at Lions Park.
“You have to be a little off-kilter to play goal in ball hockey and, well, this is a little off-kilter.”
McCutcheon says it’s “pretty tough” playing goal.
“It’s hot with all of this equipment on and the shots can be pretty tricky and that includes the slow rollers.”
Still, he wouldn’t give it up for anything.
He loves the game. And he and his teammates have been coming to Brantford for the annual Gretzky tournament for the past six years.
His team includes players from across the United States and Canada.
In addition to a love of street hockey, they are all fans of movie producer, director and actor Kevin Smith, who, in turn is a big fan of the Walter Gretzky tournament. Smith has played in the tournament.
Earlier this year, the tournament received provincial recognition when Festival and Events Ontario named the seventh annual tournament as one of the top 100 events of 2013. The tournament attracted more than160 teams and 2,000 participants and raised thousands of dollars for the Lung Association.
This year’s tournament, held on the weekend, attracted 135 teams and 1,500 competitors.
Teams came from across the United States and Canada.
Organizers were hoping to raise $23,000.
More than three million Canadians cope with one of five serious respiratory diseases – asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, tuberculosis and cystic fibrosis. The local lung association has a fundraising goal of just over $150,000 annually.
The tournament held an official opening ceremony with several dignitaries including Brantford Mayor Chris Friel and the city’s Lord Mayor – Walter Gretzky.
Sandy Lee, of the Lung Association, organized the event. The highlight of the weekend for her was the participation of high school student Sam Loslo, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in February 2011.
“He (Sam) loves the game but couldn’t play for a couple of years because he was sick,” Lee said.
“But he’s back playing now and the one thing about Sam is that he always has this big smile on his face.
“I saw him after his game and asked him how he did. He said they had lost but he then he said it just got him all pumped up for the next game. And he had this really big smile.”
Nov 11 2013
Part two from the first annual South Jersey VASHL weekend. Mott takes over!
Featuring:
Tom
“Mott” Tyrell (View Askew Vulgarians)
Mike Hoffman (Leonardo Reapers)
Katie Seavy (View Askew Girls)
Dave Mader (Eden Prairie Mallrats)
Mike Crandall (Leonardo Reapers)
Jim Edelston (LA Mings)
Dylan Gonzalez (Funployees)
Colleen Hoffman (View Askew Girls)
Mat Laskowski (Funployees)
Ashley Bourguignon (Eden Prairie Mallrats)
Alan Harris (Funployees)
Cathy Bislich (Videographer)
Atul Trivedi
Nov 07 2013
Part one from the first annual South Jersey VASHL weekend.
Featuring:
Tom
“Mott” Tyrell (View Askew Vulgarians)
Mike Hoffman (Leonardo Reapers)
Katie Seavy (View Askew Girls)
Dave Mader (Eden Prairie Mallrats)
Mike Crandall (Leonardo Reapers)
Jim Edelston (LA Mings)
Dylan Gonzalez (Funployees)
Colleen Hoffman (View Askew Girls)
Cathy Bislich (Videographer)
Atul Trivedi
Aug 21 2013
When a Captain’s Podcast in Cleveland turns into a fire hazard.
Featuring:
Mark Bell (Monroeville Zombies)
Katie Seavy (View Askew Girls)
Chris Fenos (Funployees)
Mike McCutcheon (View Askew Vulgarians)
Dave Mader (Eden Prairie Mallrats)
Mike Crandall (Leonardo Reapers)
Darryl Clarke (Commissioner)
Brian Maxwell (Monroeville Zombies)
Jim Edelston (Eden Prairie Mallrats)
Dylan Gonzalez (Funployees)
Mike Hoffman (Leonardo Reapers)
Jaemeel Robinson (Funployees)
Ashley Bourguignon (Eden Prairie Mallrats)
Alan Harris (Leonardo Reapers)
Colleen Hoffman (View Askew Girls)
Cathy Bislich (Videographer)
Jeff Mader (Eden Prairie Mallrats)
We are the View Askew Street Hockey League! We are a group of Kevin Smith fans who get together to play street hockey (often for charity) and have a great time.
