Back to Basics this Friday November 12

Edmonton, AB - The Pylons return to the ice this Friday following a long layoff. They suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday, October 30, falling 4-1 to the Avalanche.

Apparently, it wasn't pretty. Rolph refused to play, and then couldn't bear to watch. She left the stands, covering her child's eyes, long before the final buzzer.

And it didn't smell pretty, either. Todd smelled faintly of Bombay Breeze. And owing to a grocery mishap, Smith and the Anakas smelled like feta. (Don't ask.)

Pylon veterans were more philosophical about the loss, being much more used to losing than they were to winning. However, there is no doubt that the team's earlier success left an impact. The newer Pylons were relieved to see that cookies were still distributed, but there was little question that losing cookies weren't near as sweet.

And speaking of losing cookies, it was also clear that Rivalin had yet to recover from the previous week's three-hour late-night trip through Edmonton, with a side trip, on foot, into the ditch off the Whitemud. Ross had yet to recover from, well, being Ross, although with a goal and a penalty she is clearly in the running for the next tournament MVP, regardless of whether or not the Pylons play a game.

The Pylons also seemed to suffer from a lack of focus on many levels. Anaka Jr, still refusing to wear contacts, repeatedly confused Ross with Todd, and Basnett or Annala with Sadoway, who was out of the country. You might think that a player who has been so often mistaken for another would be more circumspect. You'd be wrong. It was also noted that Basnett seemed distracted during the game; word was that the arrival of her sister, who is not exactly baby-sitter material, was imminent.

The game was important to Coach Wachter, who most certainly realized he may never stand on a Pylons bench feeling quite as rested as he was at that very moment. He was still heard to be favouring the name Pylonia Woywitka, however.

There were positives. Murray's secretary Turnell made sure Murray got to the game, despite Turnell's protests about her ineffectiveness in that role. P-LO kept it close, and Santarossa kept her point streak alive. And some creative line-juggling netted the Pylons a goal.

The team spent the two weeks between games reflecting on their first loss, and gradually began to look forward to the rematch, scheduled for November 27. Or at least, the party following the rematch. Did someone say tequila?

The Pylons will see you on the ice Friday night at Enoch, where they face the Kryptonite. They will remember the basics. The basics are the basics, and that's why they are the basics.