FALMOUTH, MAINE, DECEMBER 4, 2012 - The Morning Hockey Club
will be losing one of the great all time goaltenders according to an
announcement by league GM Gerald Nadeau yesterday. The brief statement issued by the MHC began,
"Jimmy “the Glove” Secunde has decided to hang up his goalie pads. He has some back issues that could become
serious if he continues bouncing around between the pipes."
This is the second net minding great forced to give up the
backstopping role in recent years, as fans worldwide remember the recent
retirement of Glenn Michaels over similar health issues.
Among other achievements during his stellar puck stopping
career, Secunde led the legendary Gold Weasels to their successful run to
capture the inaugural Cardinal Richelieu Cup series. A converted forward, Secunde applied himself
with unparalleled diligence to the art of getting hit with the puck and often
amazed with his dazzling saves and position play, especially those patented helmet
and face mask stops.
With characteristic modesty, Secunde said, "I had more
fun than you could imagine, just a little disappointed I could never play quite
as well as I wanted."
The good news is that Secunde will continue to skate with
the MHC, returning to the forward position come springtime. "I'm hoping to work my way back into
some sort of aerobic fitness, so I'll be there for the upcoming Monday skates,
and will probably poach a few other sessions here and there, as well."
"Jim, we can’t thank you enough for the effort you put
in," Nadeau said, "your sense of humor and the great attitude you
have while playing, we all should take note. You’re a great sport and we’ll
miss you."
Secunde's career was not without controversy, however, as he
was subjected to the largest fine in MHC history over the Richelieu Cup for
"desecration of a relic" when he placed the eulogized ewer in his
fire pit and posed for a photo that due to his celebrity quickly went viral. He has been working off the $ 1 billion fine ever since
and was reportedly considering taking up a career as a male model to garner the
cash needed to retire it. In a surprise
move, however, league officials have announced that given Secunde's decision to
trade goalie pads for shin pads the fine is being forgiven. Neither Secunde nor league officials would
comment for the record but anonymous sources confirm that the league decided to
remit the penalty in recognition of Secunde's other contributions to Morning
Hockey.
The MHC also announced that another outstanding forward, Jamie
Paschal, who has been filling in ably for Secunde here and there, will be
taking over in net on both Monday and Wednesday going forward. Paschal's early performances have shown he
will be a capable successor to Secunde and all MHC players welcomed the
announcement.
We know all good things come to an end, but the semi
retirement of Secunde is bittersweet for all MHC players and fans worldwide,
who will miss his unique style between the pipes. "It's like when Bobby
Orr retired," said MHC fan Shawn O'Hara of South Boston, "but maybe a
little worse. But at least we know Jimmy will still be out there with the
club."
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