|A little Bug History Lesson||No Summer is Complete Without Some Bugs||Hey All You Summertime Bugs||Avs Take 3rd Place in the Highly Competitive NE Tournament!||Outcome of the Bugs VS. Rangers game||Results of Bugs invading the PNESHL games||Year end party and season trials|

Well, it happened!!!
As a matter of fact, there where many things that happened. First out of the gate was the fact that we actually HAD a Bug season.
Many thanks go out to Ms. Isabel and the others at the PA Center. Without their support and sponsorship, our Bug program
would have never gotten off the ground and been able to infest the rest of the adult teams and tournaments that we were able to invade.
On behalf of the Bugs, thank you very much!!!! Now speaking of Bugs, how about Mike Doyle. Yes, I know, he has been talking about this
adult program for sometime now, but with a little pushing (ok, maybe I shoved him), it happened.
Mike did a great deal and I could go on and on but I can’t type that much so lets make sure we thank him. Parents.
I have done a lot over my 30+ years in disabled sports and all I can say is that never have I had the pleasure of working with such passionate,
dedicated people who give so unselfishly of their time and energy to not only their kids, but to many others.
I am proud and privileged to have the pleasure of being in your company.
Thank you so much for your support and making sure that Mike and I have such talented skaters to be on the ice with.

Now for a recap.

Well, like any Bug beginnings, things started out slow. There were only a few Bugs at first and we were in need to expanding so that we could
take control of our environment. We started off trying to overtake the NY Islanders in our first ever Bug game and as we recall, fell a little short.
Not a bad thing, as it just made our Bug team hungry and as we all know, hungry Bugs are not a good thing to have around.
Not long after that game a few hungry Bugs went up to the Northern States and invaded the University of New Hampshire.
Given that it was on an early, cold morning, and the campus Bug patrol was off for the weekend, the Bugs went into UNH and did
what only a true Bug team can do. We took over. When we left, the damage was done. 22 goals scored by the Bugs and only 2 by the opposing teams.
Each of the three forwards on the Bug team had hat tricks and the OLD Bugs were left to ponder the question, “have we created a MONSTER!”
Well, a few more games against the NY Teams let us know that we still needed to do a little work, but there was improvement.
The Bugs then invaded the Upper East Side (or wherever we were in NY) and playing against some very stiff competition left NY with
a second place finish and the battle cry of “FEAR THE BUGS.” The Bugs tossed in a few more games in Mass and at home and had thought
the season was over when we got the call to come back to Mass and be a part of the Big Dance tournament.
Now granted, not all of our usual Bugs could skate with us, but those that did, along with a few “adopted” Bugs where able to make sure
that the door was left wide open for a Big Bug Return next year. In the end, what was suppose to be just a few games for our new Bug team
turned out to be a season final of 8-7-1. Do the math. That’s 16 games for our Bug team which I feel is a great accomplishment for just our first season.
And a winning record to boot. As with any Bug colony, there has been growth and that is a great thing. We had promotions on the team
(Danny went from GG to GM of the Team. . . you need to ask HIM about that). We had Bug growth left and right.
And we even have created the stir of the Green Bug stick. Yes, it is now fashionable to where green and blue. Mr. Mike and I,
along with our helpers, plan to line up a few things over the summer that will better position us to ensure that everyone enjoys the Bug teams
and the level of competition is met with the players we need to get the job done. We will be getting more out about this soon.
We also have great news in that while working with the other teams that are on the East Coast, they have agreed to my proposal
that we form the very first ever adult sled hockey league. It will be called the North East Sled Hockey League or NESHL. How about that!!!
The plan is to have all teams meet at a rink in Connecticut one Sunday a month for 4 months and play two games each.
The standings will be counted and a season winner will be selected. This will be a first for adult sled hockey and our Bugs started it.
We are also planning a clinic for sometime in July and will be getting the word out about that. As usual, there will be plenty of Bug ice to skate
on this summer and we have several people to thank for that. Mike will be getting an email out about that so watch out for it.
It will cover just what ice is available and when. So, rather then keep killing my fingers typing, let me just say what a pleasure
it was to be a part of something so exciting and I look forward to the growth of our program and know that with the great parents,
players and friends that we have, the Bugs will be sure to thrive. Special thanks go out to those that really put their fears of Bugs aside and helped out.
Mrs. Kathy Shelton, Mr. Ken Shelton, Mr. Jim Connelly, Mrs. Doreen Connelly, Mr. Dan McDevitt, Mrs. Kim (a.k.a. Chief Bug Administrator)
Bradford and Mr. Frank Hallman. Each of you really helped out and made it possible for Mike and me to get this done for not only your kids,
but everyone that wanted to be a Bug. We could not have done it without you all. love this game and I love working with all of you.
It was, has been, and will continue to be my pleasure to be associated with so many fine people and promising youth.
I am proud to be a part of this and thank you all for allowing me.

Thanks for a great first year!!! Jim