March 29, 2003

ISENGARD, Middle Earth—The penalties were handed out five by five as the Dom-Land Caribou and the Fighting Uruk-Hai tried to beat the bejeezus out of each other in a 1-1 tie.

The Caribou played shorthanded again as Frodo sat out with slight post-concussion syndrome. Head coach Elrond did not want to risk his player against the Uruk-Hai, a club notorious for excessive and unecessary roughness.

"Yeah, I'm disappointed," said Frodo. "I want to be there, helping my team. It was coach's decision, though. Do you hear a ringing sound?"

It was a fight-filled evening with Uruk-Hai after Uruk-Hai marching into the penalty box for five-minute intervals.

Uruk-Hai head coach Saruman denied rumors that his team had been put on a grapefruit diet to make them meaner.

Many members of the Isengard team were also given instigating penalties. The 'Bou fought back valliantly, Sam in particular.

"They said some things that just weren't right, if you understand me," said the Caribou forward whose knuckles were quite raw. Team trainers gave Sam an extra fudgesicle after the game.

Sam wasn't the only 'Bou fighting as many of the taller players got third-man-in penalties.

"They were stepping on the hobbits!" said Boromir. "Those skates are sharp! What were we supposed to do?"

The league is looking into this game for possible suspensions including Coach Saruman for allegedly whacking Gandalf with his staff as the 'Bou goalie came to the bench for another water bottle.

Pippin scored for the 'Bou.

"Woo!" he said.

Lurtz scored for the Uruk-Hai.

"Hrah!" he said.

Gandalf made 30 saves in the tie.

Next up for the 'Bou is a back to back at the MGRWTWPPB against the Ithilien Rangers and the Uruk-Hai.

Notes: The outcome for the exhibition game against Harry Potter and Co. has been chosen, and fans will find out when the game is played. The date of the game is tentatively set for the end of April. Members of the Harry Potter team are technically minors and need parent or guardian consent to travel to Middle Earth. Locating Mr. Potter's "guardian" has proved difficult. Hogwarts school officials have expressed concern over the usual after-game "festivities" (i.e. keg parties).

Notes II: Read about the aftermath of the Elfhead concert at the Merry-Go-Round...Rink...Thing Where a Penguin Plays a Banjo here.

Notes III: View all the Dom-Land pictures and how they came to be here.

The Uruk-Hai with way too many...players on the ice, as well as some non-regulation equipment. (There will be a 'Bou player for next week's picture. Bubbles had a hat due Monday. See hat here)

~~~

The suggestions have been suggested and here are the choices for the remaining expansion team. The elvish teams that were formerly on the poll have been combined to form a single team. They will be one of the two expansion clubs for next season. That leaves an opening for one more team.

****POLL UPDATE****

Due to the large volume of votes and the strong support of all the elvish teams, Caribou website administrator Bubbles has decided to alter the poll after 250 votes. If all three elvish teams are still leading after 250 votes, they will be combined onto one team called "Hot Elf Action" or something like that. The remaining choices will be left, and fans will then be able to choose the other expansion team. Haldir thanks everyone who voted for elf teams.

The official announcement of the expansion teams will be on April 11.

Please do not vote more than 50 times. Thank you for supporting the Middle-Earth Hockey Association.

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