Some Interesting Garbage

It's not often that I'm busy for the entire day on Saturdays. Usually, I'm out doing something, but still have time to catch a game or two on TV, on the radio, or over the internet that interests me. Today, though, I'm busy all day. That will, of course, limit my blogging output to basically nil later today. Because of this, I'm relying on Sports Illustrated to pick up the mantle and run with it today. The story being presented is of one of the most interesting teams that lasted just two years in any league.

The UHL's Danbury Trashers played out of the Danbury Ice Arena in Danbury, Connecticut in the UHL's Eastern Division. They lasted from 2004-2006, and their entire history is littered with crazy stories. Founded by James Galante, a garbage disposal mogul, after seeing the enthusiasm for the game at his son's high school games, the Trashers took advantage of the New Haven Knights folding and the NHL lockout. What went on behind the scenes, though, is the stuff heard only in legends and in the movie Slap Shot.

Here is Sports Illustrated's telling of the story of the Danbury Trashers. There is some PG-rated language, so just a warning to those with tykes who may read this blog.

Ok, let's run down the amazing stuff the Trashers did.

• AJ Galante was named President and GM of the Trashers at the age of 17. According to reports, UHL commissioner Richard Brosal thought the announcement was an April Fool's Day prank.
• AJ's friends designed the logo. Let me rephrase: teenagers designed the logo.
• The team, at some point in their two year history, employed the following players: Rumun Ndur, Michael Rupp, Brent Gretzky, Jon Mirasty, and Stephen Peat.
• In two seasons, the team won no fewer than 44 games, and lost in the UHL Final in the second season.
• In both of their seasons, the Trashers eclipsed 2200 PIMs, averaging over 30 minutes in penalties per game in their two seasons.
• As heard in the video, the Trashers trainer "washed their jerseys in Crisco" so opposing players couldn't grab onto them.
• In Season One, Ndur was suspended for 20 games for attempting to kick a linesman during a donnybrook. Unhappy with the officials' work in the game, James Galante went to ice level, entered the penalty box, and reportedly punched a linesman. As a result, the linesman was also suspended five games for his part in the fracas!
• In another brawl in that season, Chad Wagner broke free of a lineman escorting him off the ice, charged the Adirondack Frostbite bench, and grabbed the Frostbite head coach while two other Trashers players pummeled him. As a result, Wagner was banned from the UHL.
• In June 2006, James Galante was charged with 72 various charges including racketeering. As a result of the many charges and fines, the Trashers were forced to disband.

Wow. That's a heckuva story written by the Trashers. With the way the game is played today, I'm almost certain we're never going to see a team like that again. And that's probably a good thing based on how the history of the Trashers ended.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!