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I had figured that I had an…ahem…iron-clad theme for the Ironclad league games tonight that I knew they were going to love pretty much from beginning to end.

After all, how could I possibly ignore the 40th anniversary of Bon Jovi’s “Slippery When Wet” album being released on this date in 1986?

These tracks have that nice driving rhythm that the players love during their warm-ups prior to the puck dropping at centre ice and I had done up the scoresheets and rosters in the morning thinking I had the easiest theme night I’d had in a while.

Or at least since Katie’s birthday a week ago when her playlist dominated the night! 😉

Seriously, I had truly figured I was on Easy Street with the music for tonight and I had no idea that the universe was about to throw in a huge challenge.

Right about noon is when I saw the breaking news that the extremely appropriately named Frank Beard who was the long-time drummer in the band ZZ Top had passed away at the age of 77.

No disrespect to Bon Jovi but there was no way in hell I could let that bit of news pass without comment and a tribute!

But at the same time I wasn’t really in the mood to kick Bon Jovi to the kerb either.

A few hours of pondering that googly later, it occurred to me that as we were talking about the ultimate alpha and omega exercise of the universe, it only makes sense that a member of a band rocking the last letter of the English alphabet should be the book ends of tonight’s show.

And that my friends is why those ZZ Top tracks are where they are!

Rest in peace Frank…you truly were one of the legends of the drum kit and I’ll never forget you spinning that drum during your performance in “Back to the Future III”! 🙂

Game 1 Warm-Ups

Zamboni and Game 2 Warm-Ups

Post-Game