The Stiefel Hockey League is just ending their successful summer season and entering their fall season, which is expected to start mid-September.
The league is made up of a diverse crowd of players, most doing it just for some fun, friendly competition. Currently, the league has at least five teams already signed up for the fall season but is still accepting team and individual sign-ups.
Anyone interested in signing up can do so by emailing or calling Caleb Cragle at caleb.cragle@gmail.com or 724-971-0311.
Here’s what some of the players have to say about their experience being part of the hockey league:
Name: James Sabatino
Hometown: Ellwood City 
Number/Team/Position: #54, I play for Firing Squad, I play Defense and Goaltender.
How Long Have You Played: 3rd year in the league.
Favorite NHL Player: John Tavares
Number One Hockey Pet Peeve: When my stick gets broken.
Before A Game I Always: Have a good meal and practice skating for about a half hour.
Name Something My Teammates Don’t Know About Me: Sometimes I may say no to free food.
Best Moment In League Play This Year: When I played goaltender for Firing squad and got a 23 save shutout against Venezie’s Sporting Goods.
One Thing To Know About Stiefel Hockey: Is it’s a great place to play and everyone gets along.
Name: John Brown
Hometown: North Sewickley
Number/Team/Position: #2 for Rage, playing Defense
How Long Have You Played: At Stiefel on and off for around 17 or 18 years now. I was just cleaning out a box in the garage and found a windbreaker jacket that we received from winning the championship way back in 1999, it still fits.
Favorite NHL Player: I think my favorite NHL player is now retired, though he is still playing pro in Russia, Pavel Datsyuk. I’ve always liked the way the Russians played the game…
Number One Hockey Pet Peeve: A Slew Foot, I go crazy over a slew foot… (which is the action of a player using his feet to knock an opponent’s skates out from under him with a kicking or leg dragging motion from behind, has become a common infraction throughout Minor Hockey leagues across the country.)
Before A Game I Always: Double check I have my skates, have arrived at many a game without them… That and eat a banana.
Name Something My Teammates Don’t Know About Me: Several of my teammates have known me for 20 or 25 years, they already know where all the bodies are buried.
Best Moment In League Play This Year: Not a specific moment, but a series of moments spread out across every game that I have competed in so far this year. This season, in particular, has reaffirmed my love for the game. High level players competing hard against each other, but still exhibiting respect for one another, giving it their all, while maintaining a standard of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
One Thing To Know About Stiefel Hockey: Each year 4 or 5 guys will choose to volunteer a LOT of their precious free time to organizing and conducting a league where grown men skate around an asphalt rink chasing an orange plastic ball around, and they do so with little thanks and no compensation. So, a sincere “thank you” to those fine gentleman.
Name: Ryan Bartolomeo
Hometown: Ellwood City
Number/Team/Position: #21 Marauders, wing
How Long Have You Played: 3 years
Favorite NHL Player: Patrick Laine
Number One Hockey Pet Peeve: Breaking a brand new blade or stick.
Before A Game I Always: Warm up with the same shots.
Name Something My Teammates Don’t Know About Me: My real name (I go by Bart).
Best Moment In League Play This Year: Scoring a hat trick.
One Thing To Know About Stiefel Hockey: Great league to start playing in if you never played hockey, or if you just wanna learn the sport. It is tons a lot of fun.
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