ANN ARBOR–General Manager Mark Woods proved once again his inability to put a team together, as a patchwork Hopslam squad dropped a close game to rival Cubs AC 1-2 Tuesday night on Olympic Ice.
Conspicuously absent was the high-flying speedster line of Scott Coates, Gary Witt, and Bob Brock. Witt canceled after citing alleged “car trouble.” Brock, who has complained to management in recent games over feeling “overlooked” by the media, cited family or work reasons.
Coates refused to talk to the media over the incident.
Among the the other key missing players included defenseman Brittany Szczepanik and winger Shawn Lopez, who purportedly forgot he had a “thing at 7 pm.”
The team was forced into makeshift lines, including the somewhat controversial decision to move defenseman Mark Woods to left wing.
“I felt completely lost and ineffective,” said Woods. “That’s not much different than I normally feel, so I guess I played about the same, eh?”
Left winger Al Juback scored mid-way through the first period to give the team an early lead. However, Cub defenseman Brad Wilson was able to tie it up with a nifty shot just over the shoulder of goalie Mary Beth Trainor.
“Nice job, Mary Jo,” said Juback.
Center Doug Nelson grabbed the lead for Cubs in the second as the two teams traded shots for the rest of the game.
The high absenteeism has fueled speculation that a team lockout aimed at management may be imminent. “I’m pretty sure Scotty has said something about being a socialist when it comes to people, and a capitalist when it comes to money,” said sources close to the team.
There have been unconfirmed rumors of Coates handing out pamphlets at TC Gators in Canton containing quotes from literary and political figures such as Karl Marx, Leon Trotsky, and revolutionist Che Guevara. Sources say the pamphlets could actually be “dirty notes or limericks or something,” however.