On February 18th through 20th, 2012 the Buffalo Trace team of the Manhattan Roller Hockey League participated in the NARCh East Coast Winternationals tournament held at the Dream Sports Center in Apex, North Carolina per the schedule and game results shown below. Pictures of the team in action, including their February 20th Mens Silver Finals game against the Mississauga Rattlers (white jerseys), have been pasted below.
Results from the tournament are listed below and also available on the NARCh Winternationals Scores, Photos and Blogs Page. NARCh CEO Daryn Goodwin mentions Buffalo Trace Captain Chris Pelka in his East Coast Winternationals closing remarks blog post. Highlights from this tournament can be seen on these Day 1 Highlights and Day 2 Highlights YouTube videos.
The five other teams playing against Buffalo Trace in the Mens Division were as follows:
Alkali Buffalo Fusion from Buffalo, New York
Cannibals Venezuela from Caracas, Venezuela
Mississauga Rattlers from Mississauga, Ontario
Silicon Valley Quakes (playing as NorCal Elite) from the San Francisco area
Suffolk Sting - a PIHA team from Moriches, New York (Suffolk County on Long Island)

Buffalo Trace Captain Chris Pelka (at right) and teammates at 2012 East Coast Winternationals in Apex, North Carolina


Members of Buffalo Trace and Silicon Valley Quakes teams during a lengthy shattered glass delay caused by a collision on the boards between Kyle Roberts of BT and the bearded Quakes player

The Buffalo Trace team as Silver Medal runner-ups in the Mens Division at the 2012 East Coast Winternationals (back row left-to-right: Rob Pfeifer, Seth Rubin, Captain Chris Pelka, Christopher Moreira / front row left-to-right: Brandon Gregor, Kyle Roberts, goaltender Jim Murray, Blake Kotler)
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18th, 2012
OPENING ROUND MEN’S DIVISION GAMES 
Suffolk Sting (12) over Buffalo Trace (4)
Mississauga Rattlers (7) over Cannibals Venezuela (1)
Alkali Buffalo Fusion 4-4 tie with Silicon Valley Quakes / NorCal Elite

Silicon Valley Quakes / NorCal Elite (6) over Mississauga Rattlers (0)
Suffolk Sting 4-4 tie with Alkali Buffalo Fusion
Buffalo Trace 5-5 tie with Cannibals Venezuela
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19th, 2012
Buffalo Trace 3-3 tie with Silicon Valley Quakes / NorCal Elite
Suffolk Sting (6) over Mississauga Rattlers (1)
Alkali Buffalo Fusion (5) over Cannibals Venezuela (3)

MONDAY FEBRUARY 20th, 2012
Men’s Silver Playoff: #5 Seed Buffalo Trace (4) over #6 Seed Cannibals Venezuela (3)
Men’s Gold Playoff: #3 Seed Alkali Buffalo Fusion (4) OT over #2 Seed Silicon Vally Quakes / NorCal Elite (3)
Men’s Gold Final: #3 Seed Alkali Buffalo Fusion (6) over #1 Seed Suffolk Sting (5)
Men’s Silver Final: #4 Seed Mississauga Rattlers (6) over #5 Seed Buffalo Trace (4)

The Buffalo Trace team (pictured above last year playing as Brother Jimmy’s BBQ) won the four team Adult Silver+ Division at the Coastal Cup Regional Qualifier tournament held at the same rink on February 26th and 27th, 2011.
TEAM ROSTER AT 2011 COASTAL CUP TOURNAMENT:
Chris Pelka (Captain)
Jay Flood
Brandon Gregor
Blake Kotler
Wes McDaniel
Chris Moreira
Rob Pfeifer
Seth Rubin
Chris Musso (Goalie)
MANHATTAN ROLLER HOCKEY LEAGUE FREE AGENT TRYOUT SKATE: In advance of the Spring 2012 season the Manhattan Roller Hockey League is holding a free agent tryout skate on Saturday, March 3rd 2012 at 11:00AM at the 96th Street and First Avenue rink in Manhattan (weather and rink conditions permitting / Sunday March 4th at 11:00AM will be used as a backup date in case of rain or snow on March 3rd).
Any adult roller hockey player interested in trying out should contact the MRHL Chairman Tom Smith at tom.smith.mrhl@gmail.com. Players must be on at least an intermediate skill level and 18 years of age or older. The MRHL captains will be invited to this tryout skate so they can see available free agents playing but there is no guarantee tryout participants will be asked to join a team.
No player will be allowed to participate in this tryout unless FULL COMPLIANCE with the following rules is exhibited:
Helmets Must be puck-rated with a FULL cage or FULL face shield. NO half shields or helmets without any facial protection can be used. Goaltenders MUST wear skates and a puck-rated helmet. If you come to the tryout without a proper helmet you will not play.
Shin Guards / Hockey Pants No player should come to this tryout without shin guards and long pants that cover them. Any player wearing shorts simply will not play. Non-covered shin guards are illegal in any inline league.
Gloves All players must wear hockey gloves.
Skates Both Inline and Quad skates are allowed.
Elbow and Shoulder Pads and Cups While they are not required the Manhattan Roller Hockey League strongly advises players to wear elbow pads, shoulder pads and protective cups. All such protective gear MUST be covered by fabric per USA Roller Sports rules (jersey sleeves over elbow pads and long inline pants over shin guards).
JUST FOR LAUGHS: If you have not seen it yet check out this video of the Memorial Cup trophy breaking during the awards ceremony after a 2008 Canadian Hockey League championship finals between the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League and the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League:











































