It had been close to 3 years since the Gorillas had laced them up for an exhibition game down at Navasink CC. Before that, the last Gorilla league game was a losing playoff game in March 2015. Too much time had past without a Gorilla gathering. How could this be after 45 years of scrimmaging together on a weekly basis or playing 2 to up to 20 games a year competitively and then hanging at some of those popular NYC haunts like Eric's, Boxer's,The Bistro early on and Hartley's in NJ in the later years. It's tough after all those years to go 'cold turkey' and, while some of us continued to remain in touch and also play the game we love, not be together as a team.

All it took was a quick suggestion from my boy and fellow Gorilla, Greg Schwedock, to put things in motion. Why hadn't I thought of this before. The Stuyvesant HS Alumni game, which Greg and I have played in since 2004 around Thanksgiving at Chelsea Piers, could not sustain it's intra-mural set-up and could only field around 15 skaters. Greg jsuggested in passing "let's get the Gorillas together for this one". Jon Alpert (airborne to Mother Russia during the game) seconded that thought and away we went. I know it's a tough time of year, but thank all of apes that responded yea or nay.

 

Since I started assisting Coach Ira with running the team, it's never been easy for me and Saturday night was no exception. I have always felt responsible for the experience. I have always had to tell myself "You can't screw up hockey". As it turns out even I couldn't screw this one up. I mean how could I with the likes of past Captains 'shirtless' Joel Rosenstraus, 'Helicopter' Pat McMahon, and 'James' Jimmy O'Boyle along with old-time Gorillas Mike 'original' Lyden, 'Staten Island' Rob Yurman, Steve 'Semphk' Senken, Steve 'BC" Sachs, Billy 'LI' Wilson, 'The Woodman' Woody Freiman, Ed 'Manos' Shendell and young apes Greg Schwedock and goaler Dan Weiss showing up with hugs and ready to play as best their aging legs would allow. Adding to the warmth were the off-ice Gorillas including 'Clocker' Chris Conklin, 'Officer' Mike Hevaghan and last, but not least, Vinnie The Fan. Sorry for those who originally were going to make it but wound up on the DL - Mike Geller (back), Al Chin (back), Stu Hackel (knee) and  especially Bob Blume 'Coke' (vomititious virus).

 

It felt like old-times dressing and during warm-ups (we hung Ira's #3 near the bench) as long as you looked past Senken falling down in warmups and not being able to get up, . . . . . until the game began. Then reality set in with the younger and swifter Stuy team commanding most of the possession and rebounds as they built an early 2-0 lead. Our boys weren't generating much other than gaining their sea legs until O'Boyle fed elder Schwedock from behind the net for a dead-on 12 footer that he promptly missed wide and was derided the rest of the game and afterwards. Freiman also had a semi breakaway but, being the forever magnanimous soul, slowed down and waited, waited and waited for Senken to arrive for the cross ice tap-in that never happened (it's on video somewhere). Stuy went up 4-0 by the end of the first.

While Weiss and D McMahon was holding down the fort in the 2nd period, young Schwedock started to join the offense. He potted 2 semi-ugly goals to make the gain respectable and help the rest of us forget our aches and pains. Captain Jimmy scored from out front early in the turd to make it even closer. After giving one up to Stuy, McMahon turned back the clock with a scorching, rising  net bulging slapper that would have made all of Trail, BC proud to make it  5-4 Stuy. It's sort of irrelevant that Stuy added a couple of late goals, because we all survived and were able to shake hands, take our pictures with Joel, and his protege Greg, shirtless and get off the ice in one piece. The smiles in the back CP locker room was all I needed to know "we didn't screw it up".

Most of us, including Lyden's extended family, made it to The Half King for a little food, adult beverages and tales going back 40-50 years. Pat made a heartful toast to Coach and mentor Ira (more will come on his impending 90th birthday in mid-December) and, while some of us were somewhat bemoaning the fact we lost, Senk made it crystal clear that while we were together to play the most important part was to hang out, tell tales and make fun each other.

 

A BIG Green Gorilla shout out to Joann Lyden and Ed Shendell for being the proud winners of auctioned '40th anniversary patch' green Gorilla T-shirts to benefit The Climate Mobilization (TCM) in their courageous fight against climate change. Please take the time to read Greg Schwedock's facebook post . . . . https://www.facebook.com/schwedock?__tn__=%2CdlC-R-R&eid=ARAgIGPYmAL0wNPyO8obiy21ZEHPkaBWmtNK5b-baw7PBUYiNnL5ukj4J2eFEaJ7kZTgPt4oMNZ-VaGU&hc_ref=ARRdQzsEm6eAcxoIr0g8-OzdydQwhk3U4xVgR1XPXQdXr_lhIkYnLP1cYkvchSwXgeA   . . . with more pictures as well as an invite for all who wish to donate (especially this "Giving Tuesday") to TCM.

 

There are pictures below and there will be more Gorilla information forthcoming including game videos, Ira's 90th birthday in mid-December, a Gorilla website update and a possible upcoming exhibition game this winter hosted by the Bernard family at Navasink CC.