They will play any kind of game you want to play and they will play it pretty well. The Essex boys hockey team ran their record to 18-0-1 last night ... topping arch-rival BFA in St. Albans 7-4. No one really expected a shootout between these two but that was what it quickly evolved into ... and the Hornets were just fine with that. Trailing 2-1 after a period they scored four times in the second and twice more in the third to earn their second win of the season over the Bobwhites.

This is an Essex team that can win anyway they need to. Their first win over BFA was 3-2 ... they have recorded 2-0 victories over North Country and CVU ... they have now shown they can win an end to end run and gun shootout. Whatever game you choose to play against Essex you will know this ... you will have to contend with their depth ... four lines plus ... four sets of "D" ... solid goaltending. Simply put ... Essex is Essex. Heading into this year's VPA Tournament the search for a scheme to beat them continues.



Talk about trying to find a scheme to beat somebody ... the other teams in this weekend's state wrestling championships already realize there isn't one. The Mt. Anthony Patriots will win their 24th straight state title this weekend in St. Johnsbury. Nobody is disputing that ... the rest of the field is focused on getting second place. The Patriots come into every state tournament with such incredible depth ... they will have eight number one seeds this weekend ... that the rest of the field knows going in where the thing is headed.



The Celtics reached the All Star Break last night ... a 119-104 loss to Oklahoma City left Boston two games under the .500 mark ... 15-17 at the break. People will say that we have not seen the whole Celtics team together yet ... injuries ... suspensions ... blah and blah and blah blah blah ... enough all ready! They are never going to get this whole team together. They are old ... they are brittle ... they are done! It is time to bite the bullet ... it will be painful but it is time to move people ... if there is a market for Ray Allen or KG ... move them! Move Paul Pierce? Again, painful, and the package would have to be a very good one but if it is there, do it.

Rebuilding is never fun ... especially if you are a franchise with the tradition of the Celtics ... but sometimes it is the only thing to do.