Remember that time you lost your tooth and rather than tell your parents you just stuck the pearly white under your pillow and waited for the Tooth Fairy to give you whatever she was supposed to give you?Except she DIDN'T! Because you did not tell your parents.
Or that year when you were too old to go out and bum for candy on Halloween, but too young to not go out in a costume, so you went door to door for (groan) Unicef?
Yeah. Good times.
So why bring up these unhappy, still undoubtedly raw memories? Because Tim Zenchak just did the hockey version of the Tooth Fairy/Unicef thing. Tim used his well-honed spidey-sense to correctly divine the mysteries of the NHL playoffs to edge out Randy Oldfield for the Littlefield Cup by one masterful point. The difference ended up being Tim's ability to predict the Hurricanes over the Canadiens in five games, versus Randy's six game call.
Unfortunately, Tim ended up winning the Pool in the one year that we declared there would be no prize for winning the pool.
Which is a fairly atypically poor way to finish up the year.
So, we've decided to change up the Pool, as only an atypical Panel-o-Judges can.
If Tim contacts us within the two week period proscribed by the Rules he will receive an awesomely fantastic prize: namely an official Boston Bruins hat clip and magnetic ball marker.
And yes, we are making the assumption that Tim plays golf and will spend years of putting pleasure using this fine, likely imported and heavily tariffed product.
Claim it in good health, Tim.
As for the dreaded anti-Littlefield nee Claude, now Ulf Samuelsson RoboCop Cup, Kevin Vahey once again raced out to an early if belligerent claim on last place. Kevin is no stranger to the anti-Littlefield nee Claude, now Samuelsson, having walked home with the Cup twice before. Alas, he was not able to "win" a record-breaking third time as the Hurricanes scored three goals in the final game, making Andrea Lindgren, who was fourth from last place, the Samuelsson 'winner.' Congratulations, Andrea.
She will undoubtedly recall that we had also pronounced the anti-Littlefield nee Claude, now Samuelsson a prizeless affair. Which strikes us as decidedly miserable.
Ergo, if Andrea claims her anti-Littlefield nee Claude, now Samuelsson Cup within the two weeks proscribed by the Rules she will also receive an awesomely fantastic prize:
namely a Boston Bruins gold, hairy headband wig, perfect for lounging around the rink, cruising the grocery aisles, or gussying up that formal outfit for an evening out at fancy pants dining.
The rest of you - away already! It's June. Time to turn the page from ice to sand.
Another year is past the half-glass and down the river. Congratulations to all (both) Cup winners.
If you happen upon me somewhere on a golf course between Boston and Cape Cod you spring for the chowder and I'll spring for the single
malt.
Until then, grab a towel and head for the beach because the Pool is closed.
See you next year.