The Last of The Smoke

   On March 29, 2002 the Knoxville Speed of the United Hockey League hosted the Asheville Smoke. The two teams had to do a shootout to decide the game. The Smoke won by a score of 8-7. The following night the two teams traveled to the Asheville Civic Center in Asheville. Smoke left winger Jeff Petruic worked very hard to make sure that this game did not go to a shootout, he had 5 goals and 2 assists in the Smokes 15-3 win. Much to the Speeds chagrin the two teams met in Asheville again the following night. The score this time was even worse, the Smoke took a 16-3 win to close the season. The Smoke had 31 goals in 2 games and 39 goals in 3 games.

   What I find interesting is not only did neither team make the playoffs, neither team was heard from again. Both teams dropped out of the league before the 2002-03 season. Petruic continued on his long career 18 years in Organized Hockey and never a day in the NHL. He would return to the United Hockey League two more times before calling it a career after the 2006-07 season.

    The answer to yesterdays trivia question is the 24 Major League Baseball Clubs scored 14,532 runs in 1914. Todays trivia question is a very tough one, what was the name of the United Hockey League team that was the last hockey team that Jeff Petriuc played for? The answer in tomorrows daily blog about some basketball growing pains. With baseball season starting today, will I be doing a lot of Baseball? Probably, Have a great Baseball season everyone!!!