2009 - 2010 BOSTON SWAMP RATS / HOLBROOK SWAMP DONKEYS TRYOUTS ANNOUNCED

(Holbrook, MA 6/19/09) The Boston Swamp Rats / Holbrook Swamp Donkeys organization of the American Inline Hockey League have announced their tryout dates and information for the 2009-2010 AIHL season. As is always the case, both teams will be chosen as a result of the tryout process, so as many as 36 spots are available between the Elite and Minor league levels.

The Swamp Rats / Swamp Donkeys organization is a leader in the sport both on and off the floor. The Elite Level Swamp Rats finished 3rd in the New England Division this past season before being eliminated in the playoffs. The Minor Level Swamp Donkeys finished the regular season with the league's best record and eventually represented the New England Division in the AIHL's Eastern Conference playoff weekend. Off the floor, the team has set the bar for other organizations with, among other things, their live game video webcasts, presented by Dave Gardner, the official voice of the American Inline Hockey League.

There will be two separate dates for players to tryout. The 1st tryout will be held on Saturday August 1, 2009 from 3:00 'till 5:00 PM. The 2nd tryout will be held two weeks later on Saturday August 15, 2009 from 3:00 'till 5:00 PM. Tryout fees will be as follows; players trying out who were rostered on the '08-'09 Swamp Rats or Swamp Donkeys will pay $25.00. Players who were not rostered within the organization last season will be charged $50.00. Players who participate in the 1st tryout will be allowed to skate in the 2nd tryout for just $10.00.

Both tryouts will be held at the organizations home rink, the Holbrook Sports Center, which is located at 616 South St. in Holbrook, MA 02343. For further information regarding the tryouts or the organization in general, please contact Ruppy Hailey at 603-234-6825. We hope to see you there!

www.bostonswamprats.com
www.swampdonkeyshockey.com
www.holbrooksportscenter.com
www.ratcastradio.com

RATS...THE SEASON COMES TO AN END
(Long Island, NY) The Boston Swamp Rats fell in Long Island in two straight games, and with those losses the season came to an end. The team and organization would like to thank all who supported the Rats in 2008-2009.

SWAMP RATS DISARM THE MULISSHA
(Holbrook, MA 4/9/09) The Boston Swamp Rats took another important step towards locking up 1st place in the New England Division of the American Inline Hockey League this past weekend when the team took a pair of games from interstate rivals, the Massachusetts Mulissha. The Swamp Rats (19-8-1-0) came into last weekend's action holding on to a slim lead over the Long Island 495ers and the Suffolk Sharks, while the Mulissha (9-17-0-2) needed to win both games to remain im playoff contention.

It quickly became apparent that Boston was the squad who wanted to earn the available points, as they scored early and often in game 1 against a Massachusetts team that seemed to have trouble getting things going. The Swamp Rats opened up a 4-0 lead throughout the opening 13 minutes of play before the Mulissha were able to get on the board with a goal of their own. Unfortunately for the Mulissha, that would be the only time that they would light the lamp in this one. The Swamp Rats however continued to apply relentless pressure at the other end of the floor and went on to score 5 more unanswered goals to open up their lead to 9-1 and that is how the game would end.

Game 2 picked up where the 1st game had left off, with the Boston Swamp Rats scoring just :47 into the contest. After another Boston tally the Mulissha answered back with a goal of their own to cut the deficit in half, but the Swamp Rats never looked back as they went on to score 6 unanswered goals to put this game away by the score of 8-1 in favor of the good guys.

With the sweep, the Swamp Rats control their own destiny regarding 1st place in the New England Division. Their remaining games will be played on Saturday April 18th and Sunday April 19th against the afforemention 495ers and Sharks respectively. As a result of the sweep, the Mulissha have been officially eliminated from the playoff race and after finishing the remainder of their schedule, will begin to prepare for the 2009-2010 AIHL season.
 

RATS SPLIT IN THE JAMBOREE
(Long Island, NY  3/29/09)
The Rats went 2-2 on the Jamboree weekend.

SWAMP RATS SPLIT WITH ANTS
(Holbrook, MA 3/21/09)
The Ants came in hungry and took game one from the Swamp Rats. The Rats responded by taking game two and splitting the set with the Ants who moved into 4th place in the New England Division.

We have videos from Game 1 and Game 2 on the media player. Click the menu tab.

Boston Swamp Rats sweep the Suffolk Sharks

On Saturday night March 14th the Suffolk Sharks came to town and were sent home with two losses by the home town Swamp Rats.

We have videos from Game 1 and part of Game 2 on the media player. Click the menu tab.

SWAMP RATS EXTINGUISH THE FIRE ANTS

(Holbrook, MA 3/1/09) The Boston Swamp Rats looked to expand their winning ways this past weekend when they played host the the visiting Hartford Fire Ants. The Ants had begun to build a reputation of being a giant killer as of late on the heels of their impressive performances against Mid-Atlantic Division powerhouses the Garden State Savage Wolves and the Philadelphia Brawlers. The Rats came into the games after an impressive sweep over their cross-town rivals, the Massachusetts Mulissha, back on the 7th of February.

Game 1 was actually a fairly close contest, tied at 3 goals each after 15 minutes of hockey, but the Swamp Rats lit the lamp early and often in the closing frame to secure the victory. When the dust had settled, Boston won the game by the score of 8-3 while outshooting the Fire Ants by a 37-29 margin.

Game 2 was all Swamp Rats, with the home team taking a 5-1 lead into the locker room at intermission. The good guys kept up the pressure, outscoring their opponents 7-3 in the 2nd half to provide the 12-4 final score. Boston got scoring from throughout their roster in this one and with the win, the Swamp Rats extend their winning streak to 4 games.

The Swamp Rats return to action on Saturday March 14, 2009 when they host the Suffolk Sharks in a battle for 1st place in the New England Division. Tickets are just $5 and are available at the door or via the team's website, www.bostonswamprats.com .

SWAMP RATS TAKE A PAIR FROM MULISSHA

(Holbrook, MA 2/9/09) The Boston Swamp Rats looked to get back to their winning ways after a disasterous trip to New Jersey two weeks ago when they were swept by the Garden State Savage Wolves. Standing in their way was a fiesty Massachusetts Mulissha team who earned a split with Boston on January 17th. The Swamp Rats came into the game tied for 2nd place in the New Division while the Mulissha stood 4th place.

Game #1 was a tightly contested battle in which both teams would swap the lead, but it was the Swamp Rats who would pour it on in the final minutes to walk away with a game 1 blowout victory. Both teams were able to notch a goal each during the 1st half, but the floodgates would open in the final stanza. The Rats took an early 2nd half lead but the Mulissha answered back with 2 of their own to regain the lead. Boston then lit the lamp with 4 unanswered goas before the Mulissha fired back with a goal to make it 6-4. The Swamp Rats went on to score 3 more goals before the final buzzer sounded and took this one with by the score of 9-4.

Game #2 looked to be a similarly battled game after 15 minutes of play of you used the scoreboard as a barometer, however this game belonged to Boston from the opening faceoff. Strong goaltending for the Mulissha kept them in the game early as Boston was turned away on 3 seperate scoring chances that should have been goals, only to be spectacularly stopped by Scott Camara. At the other end of the floor, Massachusetts managed to climb back into the game and after 1 half of hockey the game was knotted up at 2 goals each. The 2nd half once again belonged to the Swamp Rats, but this time the good guys were burying their chances. The half opened with 3 quick goals to open up an insurmountable lead and Boston never looked back as they took this one by the score of 8-5.

The Swamp Rats will try to extend their winning streak on Saturday February 21st at the Holbrook Sports Center when they take on the resurgeant Hartford Fire Ants. The puck will drop for this high paced, action packed night of hockey at 6:00 PM. Tickets are only $5 and are available at the door or you can order them by visiting the team's official website at www.bostonswamprats.com .

Boston Swamp Rats / NJ Surge video
We have video and audio from this weekend's action. Click on the VIDEOS tab. Here is the link: www.stickam.com/channel44
 

SWAMP RATS TAKE 5 OF 8 POINTS FROM THE SURGE
(Holbrook, MA 1/15/09) The Boston Swamp Rats took on the New Jersey Surge this past weekend at the Holbrook Sports Center after a long break from hockey during the Holiday Season. The layoff did not appear to affect the good guys, as they had to be on top of their game if they were to have any success against a scrappy New Jersey team.

Game 1 started out all Swamp Rats as they took a commanding 2-0 lead midway through the first half. However, it was the visitors who knotted things up with 6:09 remaining in the opening stanza to once again make this a game. The Rats briefly regained the lead a minute and a half later but the Surge answered back with a goal of their own with just over 3 minutes to go in the half. That would be the extent of the scoring in this one as both netminders shut the door throughout the remainder of the game. Overtime came and went with both teams unable to capitalize on their scoring chances and this one ended locked up at 3 goals a piece.

Game 2 found the Swamp Rats assuming control from the opening face off. Boston registered 5 goals before the Surge were able to light the lamp mid-way through the second half for their only goal of the game. The Swamp Rats found the back of the net 2 more times giving us the 7-1 final score.

Game 3 would be quite different with the Surge skating stride for stride with the Rats in a game that was tight from the drop of the puck. This game was back and forth through out the entire contest until the Surge pulled ahead 4-3 with 8:11 remaining in the game. The Swamp Rats threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Surge net but were unsuccessful until they tied the game with a power play goal with 55 seconds to go. Unfortunately for the Rats New Jersey took the ensuing face off and iced this game with just 41 seconds to play. The Rats pulled their goalie but were unable to penetrate the New Jersey defense and the Surge took this one by a score of 5-4.

Game 4 was another tight one but the home team proved to be too strong for the visitors and the Swamp Rats finished their long day of hockey with a 6-4 victory. The Surge hurt their chances of victory by logging frequent flyer miles to the sin bin. Boston took advantage of the undisciplined play of their opponents and never looked back.

The Boston Swamp Rats are next in action this Saturday evening at the Holbrook Sports Center when they take on the Massachusetts Mulissha.