BEST BEAN BAGS-
for Touch and Flag Football
Lisa Richards-514-684-5245/514-916-6752
Email-lise_r@sympatico.ca

Team USA Jerseys
were courtesy of  
1st Team Sports
www.flagfootballgear.com

July 14/15th
Canadian Challenge-
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec-Canada



Team USA Men-Roster-
Bill Madden-Manchester,NH-OL
Bob Hayden-Woburn,MA-OL
Arty Hazard-Derry,NH-DL
Jim Wilson-Londonderry,NH-WR
Tom Wilson-Londonderry,NH-OL
John Wiggin-Marshfield,MA-QB
Steve Wiggin-Marshfield,MA-NG
Jim Zimolka-Londonderry,NH-RB
Adam Desanctis-Billerica,MA-WR
Joe Adamson-Davis,CA-WR
Kyman Harris-San Fran,CA-WR
Mark Nations-Atlanta,GA-WR
Kevin Kurek-Cleveland,OH-DL
Bob Nara-Cleveland,OH-DB
Tom Rogers-Cleveland,OH-QB
Jay Walker-Celveland,OH-DB
Dave Yoder-Boston,MA-OL
Ghazi Al-Marayati-Nashua,NH-OL

Womens Roster
Phuong Nguyen-Dallas,TX-QB
Jill Camuso-Peabody,MA-WR
Claudia Apey-Miami,FL-WR
Gaye Harris-San Fran,CA-Rusher
Krystal Wilcox-Providence,RI-DB
Elizabeth Williamson-Wash DC-Rusher
Tiffany Wilkes-Miami,FL-WR
Robin Tortora-Boston,MA-WR
Nicole Musco-Lake Worth,FL-WR
Erin Brant-Lake Worth,FL-WR
Mellisa Savage-Lake Worth,FL
Ashley Thames-Lake Worth,FL

Canadians ready to take off, eh!

This weekend’s challenge in Quebec could serve as warning

By John “Biz” Bistowski

Come this weekend, Team USA will be once again asserting its presence on foreign soil. The defending World Cup champs travel north to Quebec, Canada where they will have to swim through a virtual pool Canadian piranhas, all of which are looking to take chomp out of Team USA  - flag football’s premiere team.

It’s the Canadian Challenge in Saint-Jean-Sur Richieu, July 14-15. And awaiting the U.S. squad at the site is the 7-Man Screen “A” Division. It’s a bracket that contains an assortment of hungry teams from the host country and Team USA captain/International Flag Football President, Jim Zimolka is wary.

“Canada has some impressive talent,” Zimolka stated. “If there is one country that can beat us at our game it will be Canada.”

Add motivation to that talent and you get the feeling that Zimolka’s concerns are not unfounded.

“There are a lot of teams (in the tournament) who would like a shot at the U.S.,” said Glen Cooper, two-way starter and captain of Montreal’s Monster Gym – one of the favorites in the Challenge.

Who could blame the northerners for wanting a piece of the U.S. squad? Twice in international play the Canadians have bowed to Team USA in dramatic fashion. Last year’s Canadian Challenge final went to double overtime where the U.S. prevailed 12-6, and in this year’s World Cup in Florida, Team USA won the championship game 10-9 only after a failed point after attempt stymied the Canucks.

“We weren’t even aware that we could run the ball,” explained Cooper of the World Cup loss. “We had been playing in the 4-on-4 bracket where you could only pass inside the 5-yard line. After the game the officials asked us: ‘Why didn’t you guys run the ball in from the one?’”

Despite Canada’s desire to dethrone the Americans, Zimolka says this is a mostly friendly rivalry.

“I have a great relationship with the Canadians,” he said. “I took three (Canadian players) to Russia with me last September.”

Wonderful, but will this U.S. diplomacy erase the frustration of two World Cup defeats (the U.S. beat Canada 22-0 in 2000) and last year’s Challenge? Will it erase the frustration of eight straight years of Stanley Cup drought in hockey’s homeland? Of year after year seeing another U.S.-based city march the Holy Grail of hockey down Main Street, USA?

Not hardly.

Like the little brother that is always one-upped by his older sibling, Canadian flag footballers are looking for a fault. They are looking for that chance to be on top for once. The Canadians thirst at the opportunity to quell the ulcer that rips them apart from the inside out.

“Losing to the U.S. eats at them,” says Zimolka.

When asked if the Challenge would be a gauge in determining Canada’s ability to compete internationally, Cooper answered: “We’re definitely using this tournament a lot from the Canadian side,”

For Cooper and his fellow countrymen the cure to their ills are simple: eliminate the visiting U.S. squad to set up an all-Canada final on Sunday. That would be the perfect scenario for the hosts and it would go a long way in erasing any doubts about their abilities in the sport. It would also serve as a shot heard ‘round the World that the mighty U.S. does indeed have a chink in its armor.

Without doubt, these are tremendous motivational factors for the Canadian teams. Many other considerations add to an uphill climb for the American team. For one, Team USA will not be at full-strength. The U.S. contingent will be without the services of San Diego native and ace QB, Jim Dutra. Another circumstance that could lead to the upset of the U.S., is that the tournament is on Canadian turf and this weekend’s non-contact format is one that heavily favors the home teams.

“ Touch football is much bigger in Canada than flag,” Zimolka said. “This year, however, teams have switched over to flag so they can be competitive at the World Cup. We don’t expect to do well because we’ll be playing the Canadian game.”

“The biggest difference I found was the size of the field,” says Cooper, who plays receiver and safety for MG. “The U.S. game is played on a field 40 yards wide, where we’re much more used to playing on fields 50-55 yards wide. It’s a lot harder to go down field (on the narrower surface).”

If Team USA is not a qualifier for the tournament final, then Team Energy Cardio of St Jean, Quebec appears to be the odds-on favorite to meet Monster Gym for the big dance. The squad will be playing in its hometown and is touted as a team of Canadian “ringers.” Energy Cardio is a conglomerate of two of Canada’s top teams. Not entirely different from what Team USA does when assembling a team for World Cup play and other major tourneys.

Strategies by Canada – like putting together an all-star team such as Energy Cardio – are the obvious signs that the Canadians get it. They understand what it will take to climb the ladder to achieve the upper echelons of World-class flag football.

“Last year we had to squirm at the last minute just to put a team together for the World Cup,” said Cooper. “This year there won’t be a problem. We already have 50 or 60 guys who are interested in going.”

 Zimolka credits Canadian point man Frederic LaChance for surging ahead with flag football in the great white north. Lachance has brought near-championship caliber teams to the World Cup and has generated a great deal of interest in the sport in Canada.

For LaChance, Cooper, and the rest of the pioneers of Canadian flag, the Challenge may simply be the springboard that launches Team Canada into the flag football limelight.

“If the USA is not careful,” warns Zimolka, “it can easily lose this year’s World Cup.”

But indeed the World Cup is in the future. This weekend is the here-and-now, and the U.S. will have to deal with the task at hand. That task is to meet the challenge of the Canadians in the battle of Quebec, and to defend its title in a sport that is inherently American.

(John “Biz” Bistowski is a former flag football player and coach. He currently officiates both football and lacrosse, and has officiated in the Boston Metro Flag Football League)

 9Man Exhibition Game

Canada finally beats the USA  7-6!

Team Canada was finally on the winningside of a close game with Team USA.
An extra point was the sole difference as these two evenly matched teams battled it out in the pouring rain. The USA stuck first on their first posseson when QB John Wiggin connected with Joe Adamson on a 30 yard bomb. Team USA took the lead into the half 6-0. The Canadians scored on a 15 yard pass, and completed the game winning extra point early in the 2nd half. Kevin Kurek of Team USA blocked a field goal attempt early in the game.Canada showed great discipline and great  improvement from last years game.

Registered Teams-
7Man-Men

Championship AA
Energy Cardio 30 Panthers 21
MVP-Sebeastine Leifer-Energy Cardio,Andre Batson-Panthers

Semis
Energy Cardio 26  USA 16
Panthers 21 Monster Gym 17

Championship A
Titans 35 Cactus 0

Semis
Titans 29 Hitmen 12
Cactus 26 Jeckyle Pub 6

Championship B
Rapaces 41 Longueil 20

Semis-
Rapaces 27 Longueil B 0
Cactus 26 Wolpack 6

Order of Finish
1. Energy Cardio-St Jean,Quebec
2. Panthers-Scarbourgh,Ontario
3. TEAM USA-USA
4. Monster Gym-Montreal,Quebec
5. Titans-Montreal,Quebec
6. Cactus-St Jean,Quebec
7.Hitmen-Kirkland,Quebec
8.Knights-Montreal,Quebec
9.FMB-Berthersville,Quebec
10.Temple-Three Rivers,Quebec
11.Rapaces-St Jean,Quebec
12.Lonqueil-Lonqueil,Quebec
13.Jeckyle Pub-Three Rivers,Quebec
14.Lonqueil-B-Lonqueil,Quebec
15.WolfPack-Montreal,Quebec
16.Bodigirls-Berthersville,Quebec
17.BC Brothers-Montreal,Quebec
18.Captain Morgan-Three Rivers,Quebec
19.One Excel-Candiac,Quebec
20.Crapules-Victoriaville,Quebec
21.Crack Ou Casse-St Jean,Quebec
22. Theo-Three Rivers,Quebec
23.Falcons-Monttremblant,Quebec
24.Deliers-Three Rivers,Quebec

Women-A
Championship
Flamingo's 26 Devils 6
MVP-Sue Marinucci

Semis
Flamingos 20 Phoenix  13
Devils 24 Geants 6

Quarters
Flamingos 
Devils   
Phoenix  24     USA 6
Geants  


7Man-Women-B

Championship
Chiefs 26 Warriors 19
MVP-Angie Ducharme-Warriors

Semis-
Chiefs  18 Excellence 0
Warriors 20 Bitchs 14

1. Flamingos-Scarbough,Ontario
2. FlagMag/Devils-Ottawa,Ontario
3. Phoenix-Scarbourgh,Ontario
4. Giants-St Jean,Quebec
5. Storm-Scarborough,Ontario
6. USA-USA
7.Chiefs-Montreal,Quebec
8.Warriors-Montreal,Quebec
9.Excellence Sports-Three Rivers,Quebec
10. Bitches-Three Rivers,Quebec
11.Fleurdelys-Montreal,Quebec
12.Denis Dupoit-St Jean,Quebec
14.Trojans-Lake Worth,FL-USA
15.Survivors-St jean,Quebec
16. Bethovans-St Jean,Quebec

4Man-Men
Championship
MTA 20 Mr Steer 12
MVP-Bob Nara

1.MTA-Cleveland,OH-USA
2.Mr Steer-Londonderry,NH-USA
3. Obelix-St jean,Quebec
4.Jaguars-St Jean,Quebec
5.Rapace-St Jean,Quebec
6.Keene-Keene,NH-USA

Cardio Energy’s defeat of Team USA Shrouded by Controversy!

In 7-man action, the previously undefeated Team USA lost to last year’s tournament champion and hometown team Cardio Energy 26-16 in a heavily disputed game.
     Team USA took a commanding lead 16-0 early in the first half on a 20-yard TD pass to BobNara, and a 10-yard pass to Jay Walker. Both two-point conversions were good. Cardio Energy scored just before the half to end the scoring at 16-6.In the second half, with the hometown team losing, one official made some extremely questionable calls, seemingly taking the game into his own hands. With 15 minutes left in the game and the USA leading 16-6, Cardio Energy marched down field to the USA 15-yard line. On 4th down, the USA stopped them on an incomplete pass. This is where the controversy began and escalated into perhaps the most biased officiated game in international play. The head referee (we will call him Napoleon) threw a penalty for roughing the passer, automatic first down (The QB was standing and the rusher had the flag in his hand - clearly a call to assist the hometown team). Cardio Energy then scored as they had four more plays from the 5 yardline. This made the score 16-12.  On the USA’s ensuing drive, the first play, Team USA was called for impeding the rusher and Cardio Energy was called for holding. Offsetting penalties - replay the down, right??? Not exactly, according to head referee, Napoleon, “…I threw my flag first” (against the USA) “the other flag doesn’t count!” An obviously controversial call screaming with bias. What happened next was an embarrassment to the sport, as this same ref threw five more penalties against the USA on the same drive putting them at their own
2-yard line. (15 yard’s for disputing the call (who wouldn’t of questioned that ignorant call), 15 yards for arguing the call, 5yards for False Start, and 5 yards for delay of game (no 10 second warning), and the last penalty was on a punt where the USA boomed it 55 yards and no return. The USA was penalized for a false start – but only after there was no return.
Cardio Energy played well the last 15 minutes and capitalized by getting the ball at the USA 30-yard line and scored with 5 minutes remaining to take the lead 20-16.

The USA had a chance with two minutes remaining and the ball on the Cardio 40 yardline, when tournament MVP-Sebastian Leifer picked off Tom Rogers and returned it 60 yards for the final score and gave Cardio a 26-16 win.
Penalties- USA- 16 for 200 yards
                 Cardio- 2 for 15 yards

Team USA players-Quotes-

Bob Hayden,  “I feel like im in Mexico”,

Bill Madden-“ We just got tabernac’ed-EH”;

Adam Desanctis-“It’s a shame the Referee determined the outcome of the game, With out him this would have been a great battle”


Jim Zimolka-“When we lost in 9man, not one player complained, we had a good game with fair officiating. This game was disgraceful, Ill have a hard time convincing players to return to Canada.”


 Canadians reactions-
Carmine Pollice-Hitmen-For all fans of the WWF, Sunday's semi-final was a classic example of a handicap match where one competitor has to beat two opponents.Unfortunately for Team USA the referees were one of the opponents.

Anonymous-“I'd like to think that some flags were not
thrown based on who the teams were, but in games in both men's and women's
there were a number of questionable flags thrown on out of town teams”

 It was unfortunate that one official had to play such a large part of this game as the Cardio Energy team had the skills to compete with the USA Team without the help of the officials.

On a positive note the tournament was well organized and drew 46 teams nearly double of last years.  The complex had beautiful green fields and a beer tent.  Many of the Canadians were eager to meet and play the USA teams. All Teams played in pools of three teams. The Top teams of each pool advanced to the A Division and the other two teams dropped to a lower division for playoffs.

In the Women’s A Division the Flag A Tag Flamingos defeated the FlagMag/Devils 26-6,Flamingos MVP was #77 Sue Marinucci. The USA women’s team went 0-3 losing to the Geants 24-6, FlagMag/Devils 20-6, and Phoenix 22-6.  The Women’s B final saw the Chiefs defeat the Warriors 26-19.
In the Men’s A Div, the Titans defeated Cactus 35-0, while in the B Division Rapaces defeated Longueil 41-20. The 4man was an All American final as MTA of Cleveland defeated MR Steer of Londonderry, NH 26-13.MTA’s Bob Nara was the MVP.
*Team USA Men went 2-0 on Saturday, defeating the Titans 32-18 and the Knights 14-7.
Lake Worth High School of Lake Worth Florida traveled to the tournament going 1-3. Four players also played for team USA,Nicole Musco,Erin Brant-Mellisa Savage-Ashley-
FlagMag-Editor-Kodi Wilson

Memorable Moments
 
Mr Big-Candy Bar
Bartender giving Joe a ride to Boston??
How many people slept in the car??
Canadian Beer-good stuff.
Sweet Lou- Sleeping in the Chair.at the Catus
Play #12-
Pool Party-skinny dipping
USA(women) vs Phoenix-What do you mean we have to kick off to start the game and the second half???  ooh its the playoffs!!!
Sleeman-Beer
Go Carol Go Carol-(Phoenix)Nice Thong!!!
16-year olds w/tattoos.
Forward pass on the kickoff??  Elizabeth scores-wow!!!
Bunnies- Lous dance!!
The Creepy Guy!!
Adams visit to the Hospital
Ashley scoring on a kickoff return!!! awesome

PHOTOS-click here