December 23rd 2007 - by Adam Goodman
“Remember, Bob’s Spaghetti tonight T.J.”
That’s the alarm Ice forward T.J. Syner wakes up to every Thursday morning courtesy of fellow forward Greg Squires. A tradition that has been going on for three seasons can be given some superstitious credit for the Ice’s home winning streak.
Before every Friday night home game at the Pepsi Coliseum, Indiana Ice forwards Brent Gwidt, Jake Skjodt, T.J. Syner, Greg Squires, Patrick Cullen, Brandon Blandina, and John Kemp all gather on those Thursday evenings to partake in a tradition known as “Bob’s Spaghetti”, or “B.S.” for short. The name can be attributed to one of the Ice’s billet family coordinators, Bob McCutcheon, who invites the players over for a carb-loading feast.
“It helps the guys begin to prepare for the game the night before,” Bob explains, “and it’s really great to see the camaraderie these guys show.”
The dinner table conversation is overwhelmed by the back-and-forth banter between the players, each one trying to find a story that will out do the other. Every so often there is a break in the action when the “no cell phones at the table” rule is compromised, which directs all attention onto the guilty party.
“We like to give each other a hard time,” says Squires, “It’s all in good fun.”
After eating a hefty meal and the all-important razzing settles, it’s time for “Carolyn’s cookies.” Carolyn, Bob’s wife, makes her cookies every Thursday evening for the players, and “they sure don’t last long,” she says, as she sets down a plate full of about two-dozen cookies. The cookies were inhaled in a matter of seconds as soon as they hit the table as it was like watching a face-off with only one cookie left.
“That’s why I make extra and save them so they have some to take back home” Carolyn reacts.
“As long as Jake doesn’t eat them on the way,” Cullen chimes in.
The secret to the Ice’s success seems to be in “Bob’s Spaghetti”. Looking in the newspaper on Saturday morning after another Ice victory it seems that a lot of the scoring comes from the players who sat at Bob’s table on Thursday night. The success extends beyond the dinner table and into the players’ careers as Bob points out that former Ice defenseman Mike Blundon, now playing for the Quebec Nationals, and former Ice forward Jay Sprague, who won the 2006 NCAA National Championship as a player for the Michigan State Spartans both had seats at his table while they were members of the Ice.
This season the Ice has yet to lose a home game at Pepsi after being indulged with “B.S.” enriching the tradition of the Thursday night dinners. Although only one member of this year’s crew is expected to be back next season, Blandina looks to keep it going as he is in the process of recruiting newcomers.
As the night comes to a close the players gather around the head of the table for a group picture and memories of a great tradition that they will carry with them into their future endeavors. The “special” relationships these players have built with their teammates off the ice leads to success on the ice.
Bob and Carolyn McCutcheon are the coordinators of the Indiana Ice Billet Families and are responsible for securing good housing families for the Ice players who come from all over North American and even overseas to play in the USHL. If you are interested or want more information about becoming a billet family, contact Jason Burkman by phone at (317) 925-4423 or via email jburkman@indianaice.com.
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