Blazing Ptarmigans Co-Rec Broomball Team
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The Blazing Ptarmigans are a co-recreational broomball team based in Glenview, Illinois.
Despite having a home base in Glenview, team members live in a variety of Illinois communities, from Chicago to the far south to Lindenhurst, Illinois in the north and Island Lake, Illinois to the west. Champions of the Glenview Co-Recreational Broomball League in 2005, the Ptarmigans placed 3rd in the USA Broomball National Championships in Rosemount, Minnesota that same year.
The Ptarmigans are known for their fierce defense and superb goaltending, as goalkeeper Dianne Cullen led the Glenview Co-Recreational Broomball League in goals-against average for two straight seasons (2004-05 and 2005-06) despite being the oldest goalie in the league (born 1957). In 31 of the Ptarmigans' first 60 games, their opponents managed no more than one goal. Her son, Matt Cullen (not to be confused with the National Hockey League player of the same name), is the team's all-time leading goal-scorer.
In their first game at the National Championship level, the Ptarmigans surprised the broomball world by defeating Iowa State University's co-rec team by a score of 3-1. It was the first game the Ptarmigans ever played on an NHL-size rink, as the Glenview games are played on short ice (also known as a studio rink). In fact, in a sport dominated by Minnesota squads, the Ptarmigans have been the lone representative from the state of Illinois at each of the last two USA Broomball National Championships. (The 2006 tournament was contested in Westlake, Ohio, where the Ptarmigans lost to the Cincinnati/New York Eclipse 2-1 in the quarterfinals.) The team will be taking their game to the National Championships again in 2007 in Blaine, Minnesota.
On November 15, 2006, thirteen members of the Ptarmigans were featured on the WGN-TV morning show in Chicago live, scrimmaging and helping spread the word about broomball to the Chicago viewing audience. Team captain and founder Mick Cullen also gave a demonstration of the two proper ways to take a slapshot.
With a 6-3 victory over the Glaciers on December 17, 2006, the Ptarmigans tallied the 30th win in team history. Their all-time record through their game of February 25, 2007 stands at 33-21-6.
The Ptarmigans recently announced they are heading up an effort to start a brand new full-ice co-rec broomball league in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin at the IcePlex. This is part of a plan to found the Wisconsin/Illinois Broomball Association.
Contents |
[edit] Team achievements
Glenview Co-Rec Broomball League champions, 2005
3rd place, USA Broomball National Championships, 2005
Glenview Co-Rec Broomball League runners-up, 2006
[edit] Current roster
2-- Jason Gola (Wing)
5-- Dan Lee (Defense)
7-- Stephanie Altergott (Wing)
12-- Josh Altergott (Defense)
13-- Lisa Curran (Defense)
15-- Dianne Cullen (Goalkeeper)
16-- Carrie McGowan (Defense)
17-- Karen Kemnitz (Goalkeeper/Wing)
18-- Matt Cullen (Center)
19-- Elisa Cullen (Wing)
27-- D.H. Gallego (Defense)
32-- Molly McFadden (Wing)
40-- Tom Schweiss (Center)
41-- Mark Schweiss (Center)
54-- Michael Cullen (Wing)
61-- Mick Cullen (Defense/Wing)
77-- Julie Schweiss (Defense)
[edit] Former Ptarmigans
3-- Nathaniel Marx (Defense)
4-- R.J. Dusak (Center/Defense)
9-- Stephanie Gekiere (Wing)
86-- Ed Montano (Center/Wing/Defense)
[edit] Other teams currently in the Glenview Co-Rec Broomball League
Bloodshot Ice
Glaciers
Lunatics
Powdermilk Biscuits
Rink Rats
Rocky Vander's
Slip Shots
