Breakfast with Pandora Books

Breaking News! Zimrothian goalie not returning

by Greetchen Wilke-Savujer
for te Borscher Sportteelegraaf (a national sports newspaper in Borschland)

Image by Krzysztof Pluta from Pixabay

Meenesanne, Borschland, Nachtober 19 - Allegations came this week from a statement of the Zimrothian Association of Ice Hockey Clubs (ZDRT) that the young goaltender Gareth Velnath was harassed and vilified during his brief time with Meenesanne and as a result will not be returning to Borschland.

The ZDRT further stated that there would be no discussion of refunding the 40,000 schilling transfer fee that Meenesanne paid to Nurnar Limited, Mendar Nurnar’s Zimrothian goaltender development firm.

“We are not a rich club,” said Meenesanne general partner and president Mattheus Drachtenfeel in a press conference just before the game versus. “We are not like Te Staff, investing thousands upon thousands on unproven players. When we make a payment of such a sum, we expect there to be value in the exchange. The value advertised by the Zimrothian (Nurnar) was not achieved, to say the very least.”

The language in the transfer contract states that if the player so transferred is unable to meet the requirements of the team, the entire payment shall be refunded. But it is vague in the enumeration of those terms beyond the traditional interpretation of failing a physical.

“Velnath reported to Meenesanne in good faith and played as many games as he could under enormous hostility and undue pressure,” said Nurnar in a telegram. “As far as we are concerned, he has discharged his duty and more. He will be playing for the Royal Lancers second team and you will see him soon in an international tournament. He is that good.”

The “second team” mention from Nurnar inflamed Meenesanne partisans the more. “If he is so good,” said trustee Brock Gunderthaal, “why isn’t he playing with the Royal Lancers' first side?”

Players on the Meenesanne side expressed surprise at the allegations of hostility and pressure. “We were behind the kid all the way,” said captain Henrick Ujsner. “We knew it was going to be rocky for him at the start, being so young and all. But we thought he’d weather it.”

Despite Nurnar’s statement, Meenesanne have not closed the books on this situation and are considering legal action, though it is unclear how much influence Borschic law can have on Zimrothian citizens.

"We would like to avoid an international incident," commented Drachteenfeel.

Meenesanne has been limping along with one goalie, Erick Ritsche, who most recently gave up 6 goals at resurgent Tarlunz. Meenesanne hesitated to purchase the contract of Zwischellund netminder Toor Heelbeerg, as Zwischellund was playing Eahnstaff for a chance to go to the second round of the Flowering Branch Cup, but as now the Midlanders have been eliminated, Heelbeerg figures to see time on the first team.

Week Four - Borschland Hockey League

Check out the standings---> look right under Borschland Deep Dives!

3 Bjaward Te Staff 1

Te Staff’s early season woes continued as they traveled to a spirited Bulltown to find their opponents tough and energetic on the puck. Bjaward built a 3-0 lead before Te Staff finally got a marker from veteran Bernt Gruun. Bjaward’s Breet van Hejgl stopped 28 shots while defender Joris Sudmaas chipped in two assists.

4 Holtzlund Onatten 1

Back on home ice, the Axe Men made short work of the traveling Longshoremen. Onatten tend to do much better at home than away, and they have never done well in Erichels at the foot of Mt. Borschika. Lourens Noordhall, the winger who is the son of famed mountain climber Bengt Nordhall, had two goals in this one, while goaltender Schmidt Max gave up only one (power-play) goal in 20 shots. The Lumberjacks took four penalties in this one, uncharacteristically high for Borschland hockey. "I don't mind the boys taking a penalty now and then if it means keeping the other team honest in our attacking zone," said coach Dirk Eechen after the game.

2 Dohmatische Bevinlunz 3

Dohmatische scrapped hard in a matchup between a veteran, smooth-skating team (Bevinlunz) and a young team still trying to find its identity on the ice (the Swamp Hawks). Dohmatische was holding tight at 2-2 in the third period when defensebear Valiant Black was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for baring his teeth and snarling at Bevinlunz center Severin Handschin. The penalty proved costly, as Handschin assisted on a wrister from Gunther van Wijk at 2:37 to go. Bevinlunz is the only team with a perfect 12 points from their first 4 games.

3 Meechen Sichebach 2

Meechen’s Wiebe Kappe, beloved forechecking defender, got the game winner for the Proud Lions at 11:52 to go in the third, after Sichebach had tied it earlier in the period. Sichebach’s defense has stabilized after giving up 6 goals to lowly Meenesanne, and their performance against a disciplined Lion side was admirable, but they will need to find ways to score more if they want to stay out of the bottom of the table. Meechen looks solid and confident as they lean on Zimrothian goaltender Welneth Ungarth, a four-year veteran.

5 Rjaward Lojren 2

The Cattle Drivers continued their winning ways at home, dispatching traveling Te Lughaus and their star winger, Kai Ganesmund. Ganesmund had an assist, but Rjaward’s Jens Klijnehoop had a brace of goals and an assist while netminder Franck Pharendaal did an able job in stopping 21 shots. Pharendaal is indeed the grandson of former second minister Klaes Pherandaal and is sometimes called Mr. Parliament (in Borschic, Meester Volksvertegenwoordiging) by his teammates. Rjaward has now scored 20 goals in their first 4 contests, tops in the league.

2 Atterische Sajbell 0

Atterische’s regular netminder Markus Ortel yielded to his younger and more handsome counterpart, Wiebe Minther, in this one and Minther did not disappoint, turning away 31 shots against a frustrated Triton squad. Afterward, Minther brushed off the idea of a competition between him and Ortel, saying “I play when the coach tells me to play.” Atterische got goals from winger Jens Jeppernackt and Zimrothian defenseman Koldar Vorochel.

4 Matexipar Meenesanne 0

Matexipar’s Jaan “The Brick” Brichterglad was not tested much in this one, foiling 17 shots from outmanned Meenesanne, while Matexipar’s dynamic duo of Vitellius Vitellienus and Sigiswald Zberg shook 19-year old Zimrothian goaltender Gareth Valneth for three goals and three assists between the two of them. Valneth has given up a total of 23 goals in the four games he has played and will be replaced in net next game by journeyman Erick Ritsche.

4 Wrischer Tarlunz 3

Wrischer’s offense got enough to best the determined Steelmen, who were hoping for a point away from home up until 47 seconds left to go in the game. The first line for Wrischer had contributed 2 goals and 3 assists, but it was young Silvius Silvulus, the Vinasolan third-line winger, who potted the fourth and deciding goal for the Bargemen on a breakaway.

Week Three Results - Borschland Hockey League

New! Standings found in the sidebar to right under Borschland Deep Dives.

0 Sichebach Te Staff 2

Te Staff got well on the road after two straight home losses. Sichebach’s defense stiffened, but that wasn’t saying much as Te Staff’s anemic offense again scored only 2 goals, a welcome one by Sherm Reinhardt. The City’s Loflin first-line goaltender Korka enjoyed an easy night thanks to captain and defender Jeeluj Sudmaas.

4 Bevinlunz Holtzlund 3

Bevinlunz won a controversial game as Holtzlund gave the Merchantmen everything they wanted and more. With :58 left on the third period clock and the score tied 3-3, Holtzlund netminder Schmidt Max stopped a shot from Bevinlunz’s top winger Albuj Ploof and left a rebound in front of the crease, which centerman Roger Wijkenschaud gratefully scooped toward the top left of the net. But at the last possible second defenseman Frenz Ulbrecht deflected the puck with his stick and it went over the crossbar. Ulbrecht was called for high sticking and Bevinlunz poured on an attack that Holtzlund could not contain, winger Jens Holsloot potting a tip-in with 8 seconds left. Holtzlund Coach Dirk Eechen  put the situation this way: “It never was high sticking and never will be.”

2 Meechen Matexipar 2

An early-season monster matchup ended with the Iron Sticks earning well their point away from home against a game Lions squad that got off 37 shots but came away with only 2 markers. Matexipar principal goalie Jaan “The Brick” Brichterglad, a victim of an undisclosed illness the week before, returned to put in a stellar evening. Vitellius Vitellienus, the international from Vinasola, got his third goal of the season and an assist.

6 Rjaward Onatten 2

The Cattle Drivers made short work of an overmatched Longshoremen crew in their home opener for the season. Onatten’s Zimrothian netminder, Cendar Perdath, was pulled after giving up 4 goals on 7 shots in the first period. The rest of the way was better sailing for the Longshoremen, but a brace of goals each from linemates Gerd Zijterwoode and Henrick Te Kleerk made the difference for the confident Lassomen. Rjaward coach Conrad Ujdellin praised his boys this way: “They came out with fire in their eyes and never looked back.”

3 Sajbell Dohmatische 1

Sajbell held serve at home versus a Dohmatische team that was disorganized on offense and error-prone on defense. Six penalties on the Swamp Hawks, two on Loflinder defenseman Parn Uptek, resulted in only one power play goal, but it was the difference, as the Sea Gods’ winger Klaes Gootwen broke a 1-1 tie early in the third. Sajbell’s last goal was an empty-netter. Dohmatische is putting the most diverse team in the league on the ice with 8 international players and it remains to be determined whether this team can gel enough to contend for the championship or the Flowering Branch Cup.

4 Bjaward Lojren 0

The Bulls of Bjaward dispatched their opponents from the coast with ease amidst the pomp and ceremony of Bjaward’s traditional opening ceremonies, which featured a Grain Goddess pageant and the team entering the ice from an airship with a huge Bjaward logo on its balloon. The Grain Goddess is a local beauty who, once elected, is bestowed with the power to betroth one couple whose parents are unwilling to bless the union. This year’s Goddess, Hannelore Noordwoode, remained mum on who she might pick this year, as the Bjaward team put forward four individual goal scorers, including centerman Aleex Meessenhammer, who also had an assist.

3 Atterische Tarlunz 2

Trinity! Atterische’s Rijk Rijkstad was the hero of this game as he found the net thrice on the night to overcome the tenacious Steelmen. Traditionally in Borschland a “hat trick” is called a “trinity” and instead of hats raining down on the ice, women throw roses or other flowers, and if the goalscorer picks one up, the thrower is entitled to a kiss. Occasionally there is a dispute over who threw the flower, and tonight there definitely was as two young ladies claimed the honor. Rijkstad, Solomon-like, gave a kiss to both of them. Atterische’s netminder Markus Ortel, who stopped 26 shots, told the press in the merry and noisy changing room afterwards that there should be a similar honor for goalies that make shutouts. Rijkstad quipped, “You make a wall, you don’t let anyone through, not even the women.”

7 Wrischer Meenesanne 3

Look out for Wrischer! The Weavers of Meenesanne are not the best competition, but the Bargemen, two seasons past their historic championship, are looking unstoppable on offense. The prolific first line had four goals tonight, 2 by Beenz Grechtlin and one each by Tomas Scheelgrav and Korin Kugellicht. Meenesanne’s second-line winger Kai Grootlund had two goals, though that was cold comfort on a night when their netminder Gareth Valneth, 19-year old Zimrothian, had to be pulled early in the third period, having given up 7 goals on 22 shots.

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The Mirror and the Mage

I was pleased to spend a Saturday with the North Carolina Junior Classical League, giving a workshop on Archaic Latin and introducing Breakfast with Pandora Books' newest release, The Mirror and the Mage.

The Mirror and the Mage follows 14-year old Lucius Junius Brutus, who will one day becoming the liberator of Rome and the founder of the Roman Republic.

On the cusp of adulthood, Lucius longs to follow his brother into the army of King Tarquin the Proud, but his father sends him to the remote shrine of Numa Pompilius to be a priest.

Lucius thinks he will spend his life guarding dusty sacred scrolls, but he soon finds out that the scrolls have power-- and powerful enemies. To save the city, Lucius must become a magus magister-- a mage with mastery over spells that work only if the Latin grammar in them is correct.

Standing in his way are the Etruscan haruspices, seers and soothsayers who practice their own brand of magic using mysterious hand mirrors.

In addition to the e-book and paperback edition of the book, there is a beta version of a Roman magic game that you might want to check out here. You can try your hand at "perfecting grammar" (casting spells) and defeating opponents of various kinds.

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Valete, omnes! Take care, everyone!