What a beautiful return to Waymer: Birds chirping (tbh no clue what the bird migration schedule is like), beers flowing, and a sunny start to our Winter ‘25 season. This was a slate of close games as every match not involving the Charlottans was within one goal at some point in the last minute. We’ll dive into our week one newsletter after a new sponsor announcement and a couple of updates to keep an eye out for...
...And always remember, if you care more about SPELLING, than you do about CELLYING, this newsletter isn’t for you.
But first, let's wish our COO and dear friend Bobby Arkus a happy birthday! As a birthday present, he gets to be on the cover of the newsletter. Congrats Bob!
CSHL Insider is proud to announce our first official sponsor of 2025, Play it Again Sports - Matthews!
PIA Matthews now stocks an abundance of Youth Hockey equipment. We are working closely with their team & have some exciting announcements coming soon.
"You may never outgrow your favorite sports — but you may outgrow your equipment." Burke and Tera McKinney raised their sport-loving family in the area. While looking for a business opportunity to contribute to their home community, the couple jumped at the idea of becoming franchisees with Play It Again Sports, with both of them having a passion for service in the community and athletics in the Mecklenburg/Union County area. “Being able to offer quality used and new equipment, allows families to save both time and money, filling a void for reasonably priced sports equipment in the area we live, work and play.” - Tera & Burke
Play it Again Sports - Matthews is located in The Crossing Shopping Center: 10046-A E Independence Blvd, Matthews, NC 28105
If any business is interested in sponsoring CSHL, Roller, or our Youth Hockey program, please contact Chris Ward at chris.ward@charlottestreethockeyleague.org
In addition to this, we have two more sponsor announcements coming next week, including a major announcement for CSHL’s Youth Hockey program. Stay tuned for more updates!
UPCOMING EVENTS
MARCH 8th: CSHL Checkers Outing
When: Saturday, March 8th - 4PM against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Purchase Tickets HERE
Last year we had 130+ people come to the group outing! Hopefully we will see that number grow in 2025! Our group rate is $23 per ticket and we will all be seated in the same section!
MARCH 8th: CSHL Youth 3v3 Tournament outside of Bojangles
Registration for this tournament will open next THURSDAY. The tournament will be held outside of Bojangles Coliseum BEFORE the 4PM game that Saturday afternoon. Details about format, age groups, etc… will be posted when registration is announced. There is no youth league this date so your kids will be available to play!
Families please purchase tickets through the link HERE to sit with the CSHL Group Outing as tickets are not included with your tournament registration.
Let’s jump into the action from this weekend. With the Junior Editor on IR (torn acl) we’re not doing game logs this week but I’ll recap some of the action below.
Editor's Note: All content (newsletters, YouTube, game videos) will be posted HERE
OPENING WEEKEND THOUGHTS: B DIVISION
After a disgusting last place finish in F24 High Voltage were back with a revamped roster but the same goalie in net and buddy…JOSH MF’IN AMIGO CUMMINGS.
Cummings looked like a new man this weekend, flashing his glove more than a handful of times and keeping the Rats off the scoreboard until the third period. The Voltage looked a bit like last season as they controlled possession but couldn’t find the net…until Brad McLane broke up the game with a grimy goal in net. Fun fact, last time Brad McLane scored the first goal in a B League season his CDI team won the championship…The River Rats looked a little off this game, I know there’s a lot of whispers about this team being the weakest roster of runners & relying too much on Borruso, but I don’t think relying on a stud goalie is the problem. This was a one goal game for most of the third and they had chances late but couldn’t capitalize as a physical Voltage defense shut Karson down.
Speaking of the Jr. Editor recovering from surgery, we can’t confirm he was/wasn’t on drugs when making his predictions for the Winter ‘25 B Division Standings:
5. Flying V’s - it’s nothing against Brandon or his draft strategy, but there’s plenty of unknown talent (at least to myself, the Junior Editor). He and LaFond were able to coach that team to their strengths and win a championship, so it’s more than possible it can happen again. But can Brandon do it without LaFond this go around?
The Flying V’s didn’t miss a step in their opening game as the Brownlow/Rudolph first line combo looks devastating to other teams. This would be an above-average A Division combo & teams will struggle against them all season. Joe Huber looked like a steal in the back half of the B draft as he put in two goals & Kayla Blaisure had a big first CSHL game with two assists. Kennedy was robbed of a goal late which would’ve closed the gap for the Charlottans to 6-3 and lucky for the league office, it turns out CSHL has a ton of volunteer refs on their hands.
Editor’s Note: If you would like to ref for CSHL, contact Chris Cookingham NOT Chris Ward
The revamped Raptors looked good, especially for about 38 seconds at the end of the first where they scored two goals. This team has a lot of hustle, a solid goalie and the right guys to clean up dirty goals in LaFond, Wayne & Big Matt. Speaking of Big Matt, the late draft pick secured the first of his two goals on the day which was his first two goal day in CSHL. Frankly, the Rats didn’y look great this game but were saved late by two third period goals from LeShock & their captain, Mike Warren. Mike is confident in his draft and believes they’ll be fine moving forward. Expend a Kendall-Karson line breakout in the next couple of weeks. This was a game the Raptors would probably want to have back as three points were expected heading into the third.
The two highest-powered teams in our B Division faced off and the Voltage game back from a 3-1 deficit late to walk away with a tie. While Rudolph & Brownlow are the best all around line combo in our B Division (and look to have an insane amount of chemistry this season), the Chetta/Dunworth pairing may have more scoring upside once they play a few more weekends together. Loved seeing Kaltschnee read the pass here and beat the F24 MVG Mahisko here five-hole.
After two goals and an assist in the first game of the day, his hat trick here was highlighted by a beautiful stick pin & score move on Brad McLane.
Plays like this helped Mike Rudolph earn CSHL Insider’s first B Division Player of the Week Award for our Winter ‘25 season.
Not much to say about this blowout from the Raptors over the Charlottans, who desperately need Ray Jasinski back. There were some soft goals let in but they never had the ball control needed to truly content in this game. Kennedy cooked our commish late in the third to rob the Raptors of a point, but this game was never close. LaFond looks like he can be a number one option on a contending team and had a sweet swat out of the air for a goal early in this one.
B GOALIES
Nick Harris, Raptors - 1.50 GAA, 1-0-1
Josh Cummings, High Voltage - 2.00 GAA, 1-0-1
James Borruso, River Rats - 2.00 GAA, 0-1-1
OPENING WEEKEND THOUGHTS: A DIVISION
After all the beers on Saturday, the Wieners couldn’t find Wood as they opened their season with a loss. This was a disappointing start to the #WinterWieners^™ since they historically find success in colder seasons (hard to believe). Keenan Steckler shut up the haters and losers with a big game, scoring two and hustling all over the rink. Keenan is wearing #13 this season as a special tribute to our commish Tom Ward, Realm coach Jeff Kennedy & the James Hotchner who is out with a knee injury this season, but we’ll touch more on that a little later in this newsletter…
As seen with a lot of new ice guys, it’s REALLY easy to flip the ball out of a small rink as Marzo & Carlton both took DOGs. The Rapids had more legs in this one as McKenna & Cookie both had three points, while Wieners second round pick Luke Dobbs looked great netting two in his CSHL debut. Rapids win 5-3, Jayden tacked on an empty net goal (snipe tbh) with time expiring.
In our second match of the slate the Hoolies & Bombers were missing big pieces in Pinto & Campbell, but you wouldn’t know with how up-tempo this game was. The Bombers had all the chances early but Forbes got free behind Ward for the first goal of the game and his first of many on the season. It looked like the Hoolies may extend their lead in the second however we had an early Save of the Year Contender by Gonzo...
There was a LOT of Forbes getting free this game as he finished with a trick, including one in the third where he was completely uncovered on the PP. Cole Williams looked dominant as he had 3+1 goals, including a game winning one-timer with 29 seconds left.
With four goals, CWilly wins CSHL Insider’s Week One A Division Player of the Week. Both teams did a lot of good to go with some bad defensive coverage, but the Bombers looked more physical in their 5-3 win.
The Mighty Mullet Men may have a little bit of a Championship hangover as they looked kind of flat this game, however that could just be them missing their wall on the back-end in Caleb Brownlow who was out this week. Petrella wasn’t hungover at all and opened the scoring up, while Jack’s knee continued to look healthy as he was all over the rink this game. We got our first #SpadaforaSnipe of the season…
“If you’re name ends in a vowel and you played hockey above the Mason-Dixon line, I’m rolling with you. That’s all I got.” - W25 Anonymous GM Survey
…followed by Lindvall who is a dawg and returning from concussion following a mishap with a Lime scooter. This Gladiators team has a lot of shooting talent and can pressure teams in the opposite end but will have trouble keeping opposing teams out of the net this season. This game was tight late as there were three goals in the final two minutes, however the Mullet’s locked in the victory as Jack found second round pick Ryan Thomas with a minute left who beat Bergie five-hole.
A GOALIES
David Gonsalves - 3.00 GAA, 1-0-0
Hayden Drake - 3.00 GAA, 1-0-0
Danny MacMahon - 4.00 GAA, 1-0-0
NUMBERS NEVER LIE
After receiving a little inspiration from the fellow #13s of CSHL, we’re going to make teams of our same-numbered players and rank the top five. In honor of James Hotchner, since only one of these teams had a goalie rostered (#7s with Skylar James), for this exercise we’re going to assume each team has a current version one-legged Hotch in net.
Dishonorable Mentions
#33 - C | Borruso, F | Cummings, D| Gonzo
Respectfully, this team has a better chance of building a wall in front of the net & getting one point via a tie.
Honorable Mentions
#2 - C | DeRosa, F | Todd Wilson, D | Guia
Bench | Burns
A ton of hustle up front to go along with two big shots on the back end…but this this team won’t score enough to crack the top five.
#9 - C | Ryan Thomas, F | Michael Placido, D | Andy Zachowicz
I think having two top ¾ round A Division picks benefits this team and they score a bunch of goals. Thomas & AZ’s speed meshes well & Placido really just needs to hustle for some loose balls. Originally had them in the top five.
#11 - C | Rios, F | Mahoski, D | Uncle Steck
Rios can score around the net, Mahoski has a good shot & Steck runs things from the point…however there’s no speed on this team.
#17 - C | Isabella Noyle, F | Kayle Blaisure, D | Spadafora
Good top end talent & two college ice hockey players, just don’t have the scoring depth against the top five teams in our rankings.
#22 - C | Dunworth, F | Big John, D | Ippolito
If this team was five years younger it’s a top five roster, but they don’t have the legs to keep up with the top teams & could use a backup
#88 - C | Campbell, F | Matt Brainard, D | Haley
Great net guy but who would get Campbell the ball? Team might actually play well together, but they aren’t winning anything.
OFFICIAL RANKINGS
5. #13 - C | Kennedy, F | Keenan, D | Benny
Bench: Commish Ward
This team actually fits really well together as Keenan can do all the running while Kennedy does Kennedy shit in front of the net. Benny doesn’t have to play the entire game since he does have a backup, and since the Commish is on this team he could bend the rules if needed for an advantage.
4. #20 - C | Big Matt, F | Jeremy, D | Marzo
Honestly, I love the Big Matt/Jeremy fit, and I think if I saw Marzo play a little more they may get the 3 spot, but I’d take teams with three A players over this group, especially in 3s hockey. Jeremy would win a couple games by himself, his wrist is looking HEALTHY.
3. #7 - C | Brandon Brownlow, F | Jimmy Vincento, D | Knego
Bench: Barrier, Skylar
The only team with a goalie saw himself moved out of net in favor of one-legged Hotch. While this team doesn’t have an elite player, Brownlow & Knego would love playing together & Jimmy V forechecking like crazy would create a ton of possession & chances.
2. #5 - C | Sean Byrnes, F | Petrini, D | McKenna
Bench: Declan Baker, Michael Gallagher
A lovely trio has an elite hustle guy in Byrnes, Petrini at the net & a game-breaker in former CSHL MVP McKenna on the back end. Byrnes & Petrini would clean up a ton of McKenna shots, and there are some newer CSHLers on the bench to give breaks to the starters. Great team, however they aren’t quite first on our list…
1. #23 - C | Chris Ward, F | Mike Rudolph, D | Forbes
Coach/Fan: Junior Editor Deven Szlachetka
What a great group. Ward was the original Rudolph truther from Summer ‘24, they have three guys who can play multiple positions around the rink. Forbes gives this team a star who can score late in games when the pressure is one, but this team has a on of passing, IQ & positional flexibility. Unbiased opinion, this team wins a one-goal game over the #5s because of overall team passing.
Last note, please remember that these aren’t opinions but facts, so if anyone disagrees with the newsletter you are wrong.
See everyone Sunday!