CHANGES AT ICE OASIS

By Richard Cranium

The IOAH schedule is now into the 9th fall/winter week of games. The teams are settling in with the new and veteran players. There might even be weekly updated standings.

But the big news is the change in ownership and the month long wait to get beer back in the grill!

“I don’t know who these guys are,” commented Otter sniper Ted Brown. “They better have good beer or I’m out of here!”

During the past week, this photo has surfaced on many web sites as the alleged owners of the new Narazeth Ice Oasis.

“I’ve very concerned about the future existence of this rink,” said Gary Ahern. “They don’t look like hockey people. Sure, a lot of hockey players play golf but I don’t like the looks of this.”

Ahern went on to say that there was a drawing taped to the lobby window depicting the “new outside look” of the Ice Oasis.

“Hey, I’m an architect, my license plates say I’m an architect and that drawing looks a lot like Disneyland’s It’s A Small, Small World!” voiced an irritated, beer withdrawn Ahern.

Some of the players on the Oldtimers; Rex Mann, Art Wong, Chip Mesec and Rich Militec researched the background on Narazeth Enterprises. They found out through their Silicon Valley sources that the company was into converting buildings and vacant land into senior citizen housing.

“It’s kind of a nice fit since they might be able to convert Yack’s old living quarters into a one bedroom condo,” said Mann. “I would buy it, then I wouldn’t have to commute to the games. Also, that would give the neighborhood thugs a 24/7 opportunity to steal my Beamer when I leave the top down.”

All week long there have been many rumblings on what exactly will happen with the beloved Ice Oasis. Speculation for the short term is the rink will stay with increased fees for memberships, teams, cheeseburgers, beer and skate sharpening. Other revenue induced ideas that have been floated around include: parking fees, player bench rental fees (standing room is free), sub fees, grill cover charge, warm up charges and there is the likihood of coin operated shower/soap/shampoo fees. There has even been talk that the coin/bill changer will have a fee.

There have been a couple of positive changes.

“I saw that the employees were now wearing name badges,” said Otter Chuck Jewett. “I never knew how to spell Tirso’s name and now I not only have his first name but his last name too. I’ll be able to send him a Christmas card this year.”

Alan Scheer had said that he only saw Chris Knight when he had all his gear on and didn’t know how he looked in his street clothes.

“All this time, I thought he was some high school student carrying a laptop around the facilty,” quipped Scheer.

Nonetheless, there is much concern for the Ice Oasis’ longevity in the years ahead. It is a business and it needs to make money.

Longtime Otter and Yackel winger Tommy Muthig expressed his concerns today on the phone.

“I received this mass email yesterday and there was a slipup in the wording. It said and I quote “We at Nazareth are very exited about this opportunity and we are committed to bringing the Rink to its full potential”. The word “exited” was used. Does that mean we are leaving?”

Muthig went on to say that around noon today he received a suspicious email from CoastsideNet's new junk email protection service saying that they had quarantined its first suspected junk email message directed at him and he could look at it if he gave them his password. It was addressed to “dear adult@iceoasis.com.”.

“I’m just a simple guy trying to play hockey twice a week and not get injured,” said Muthig. “Now I’m getting suspicious emails.”

The change in ownership may also affect the “Gordie Howe Game” scheduled for Friday January 16th at 10:45pm.

“My dad who lives in Michigan bumped into Mr Howe while he was pumping gas into his minivan last month,” said Muthig. “I lived near the Howes when I was a kid and used to baby sit Mark and Marty. My dad found out Mr Howe was coming out to San Jose with the Red Wings for their January 17th game and told him that I lived there.”

Muthig told this reporter that he contacted Howe and asked him if he wanted play with the Otters against the Falcons.

“I knew Howe had played pro in six decades so I offered to pay him a $1 and buy a pitcher of beer so he could keep his streak alive to seven decades,” explained Muthig.“We were also going to do a Yackel fundraiser as Gordie agreed to sign autographs and pose for pictures. Now I just don’t know what will happen.”

More to follow………