Lowes bests Best Buy, 4-3.

The season kicked off with the guy who held the Coffee Cup in last season's Championship photo on the ground holding his own cup in a last minute 4-3 loss.

And while Andy Long was coping with the loss, Mike Chapman managed to teleport in from 1999 scoring one and assisting on one in the Lowes win.

Only 9 skaters showed up for Lowes on this opening day.

"It's Onello's team, nobody shows up for an Onello team," said Bill Osbahr.

Best Buy got on the board first, as Mike Cormican scored while doing all the work, with Long picking up a charity assist.

Jim Wilkinson countered for Lowes, and it was 1-1 at first union break.

The Lowes 4th line then scored twice on one shift as Steve Kaneb and Dan McCarthy each found the net as the navy team went ahead 3-1.

Bill Osbahr managed to jam one in on a struggling Brion O'Connor late in the 2nd, and the lead was only 3-2 heading into the last period of regulation.

Brian Armand wasted no time getting back into game shape, as he whiffed on a pair of breakaways that would have broken the game wide open.

It looked like the 3-2 lead would stand up, as Best Buy had a hard time getting any decent scoring chances. Long then tried to take on Sully against the boards at center ice, and lost badly, prompting a mad rush for the baby changing station in the new ladies' room.

The Non Call that Shocked the Breakfast Table, Long called it.

"Jon Morin is standing there grinning like a Cheshire cat," said Long as he exited the ladies room. "Brian Armand actually said to me BEFORE he went over to add in assists, 'Hey Andy what happened on that interference?' "

"One Ref is twenty feet behind the play and can spot the last chicken finger at a Chinese buffet from a back table didn't see it," whined one player. "The other ref, who can spot a skate lace hanging in the crease from the red line, didn't see anything either. That game should go into the books as a tie. We would have scored on the power play."

Ironically Best Buy would tie it on a Bobrycki goal with 3:11 to play, but lost it with 28 seconds left on Chappie's brilliant goal.

"Hey Beef, bring in your certificate from the Stevie Wonder School of Officiating to this weeks game will ya?" said Long on his way out of the rink.

Boxscore:

Hockeytown A; 05-Sep-2008 06:30 AM; 2008 Regular; Friday

Lowes (Friday) 4 vs Best Buy (Friday) 3

First Period

1. Best Buy, Cormican, Mike (Long, Andy) 11:27
2. Lowes, Wilkinson, Jim (McCarthy, Dan / Morin, Jon) 13:38
Penalties - None.

Second Period

3. Lowes, Kaneb, Steve (Chapman, Mike / Onello, Tony) 05:38
4. Lowes, McCarthy, Dan (Armand, Brian / Morin, Jon) 06:38
5. Best Buy, Osbahr, Bill (Caruso, Chris) 17:05
Penalties - None.

Third Period

6. Best Buy, Bobrycki, Rick (Cormican, Mike) 15:49
7. Lowes, Chapman, Mike (Sullivan, Steve) 18:32 (gw)
Penalties - None.


Goal - Lowes: O`Connor, Brion; Best Buy: Fijux, Rene

Power plays - Lowes: 0-0; Best Buy: 0-0

Officials: Brian Corbett, Dave Gardner, Sharon Gardner