Anderson Angle

1.       You weren’t even 20 when you formed the XHL.  Did you ever imagine it would still be a thing going into your mid 40s?

Like most people, I don't think I thought anywhere near that far ahead.  When Jim and I first started the XHL, my motivation was just to have somewhere to play hockey.  There weren't any leagues around and there was no organization at all.  I had no idea it would take off the way it did and that we would still be playing 26 years later.

2.      You were more of a golfer and basketball player back in your late teenage years.  What made you decide to give hockey a go?

It mostly came about during my first winter after high school.  I was commuting to Clarion University but arranged my schedule so I only had to go 2 days a week.  I had some extra time that winter so I was looking for something to do.  Jim had some extra ice skates and an old stick, so we grabbed a puck and went out to Kyle Lake.  I was horrible, but I fell in love with hockey almost instantly. 

3.      After all these years, do you still look forward to XHL on Mondays in the winter time and SRHL on Thursdays in the summer time?

For sure!  When I was in charge of the league in Brockway, I would spend a lot of time looking at the radar hoping the weather would cooperate so we could play.  I remember being so disappointed when we had to cancel on a given night.  I can't say I get quite as excited now, but I still look forward to it.  It's a nice respite from the day-to-day demands of being a husband and parent and helps me get some good cardio.

4.      You asked me about teams loading up in these leagues.  Whats your take on that?

I've never been a fan of it.  Balanced teams make for way better leagues.  When one team loads up, usually another team or two will do the same to try to keep pace.  It creates an arms race.  Inevitably, it means that some of the other teams will struggle.  I don't know how it's any fun for anybody to play a game that is already decided before the puck even drops.  I don't enjoy being on either side of those games.  

5.       You formed XHL back in 2001 and ran XHL up until 2012.  What were some of your most satisfying accomplishments when you were running the league back then?

It comes back to all the relationships that were formed from those years.  No kidding, some of the best people I've met in my life came from the XHL.  I attended several of their weddings and they attended mine.  People have come and gone over time.  But when I see players from years past, I always feel like there is something to talk about.  The camaraderie is something that I'll always cherish.

6.      You moved the league to Reynoldsville after all the summertime rain outs.   Did you ever consider becoming a meteorologist after having to watch the radar so close on XHL nights?

Haha...I hated that aspect of running the XHL.  We had people driving from Clarion, St. Marys, Ridgway, and other places then.  I felt awful when we had to cancel after they drove to Brockway.  I tried to anticipate what might happen, but there were times I was wrong and made the wrong calls.  In short, I think I'll stick to my regular jobs over meteorology.  

7.      Hockey used to only be in the summer time.  Now its pretty much year round.    How tough was it waiting from August to spring time to be able to play hockey again?

That was another really difficult part of those early years.  We basically had 8 months off a year from any organized play.  Pick up was more prevalent back then, but it wasn't the same.  That said, I used to do a lot of skating on my own in Brockway.  All that time on my own helped me improve immensely.  

8.      You resigned from president of the league back in 2012 but now you find yourself taking a big role for the Randy Carlson tournament.  Did you ever think it would take off as well as it has when you organized your first tournament?

Definitely not.  The first year we played was as a way to remember Randy Carlson.  Eventually, Mike Berta came up with the idea of pledging money for each goal he scored and it led to the idea of raising money in his memory.  Then, when I met Summer, she helped me take the tournament to the next level with a basket raffle.  Then we branched out and added people to a board and here we are...raising thousands of dollars a year 20 years later.

9.     Tell us a little bit about Randy Carlson and what made you want to put the event together on an annual occasion?

Randy was a great guy.  His passion for the game was infectious.  He was fun to be around and he loved playing with us.  Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with melanoma and he went downhill very quickly.  I remember him visiting us at the Rollerdrome a couple weeks before his passing.  He looked like a shell of himself.  It hit me pretty hard.  He was a young guy who had been so full of life and cancer had robbed him of his future.  It felt right to do something on his behalf and I'm so glad we can continue to honor him now.

10.      Despite having a couple 4s beside your age, you appear to still be going strong.  Is there anything else you do besides hockey that keeps you in the good shape that you are in?

That's very kind of you.  I'm not the workout warrior that Peach is by any means.  I hate treadmills, stepping machines, weights, and dieting.  I think I'm pretty blessed to have pretty good health and metabolism naturally.  This will make me sound old, but I do really enjoy walks.  I try to get one in every day.  Also, having young kids keeps me active.  For example, we do a lot of swimming in the summer.  

11.      The playoffs begin Monday.  What do you expect?

The Invaders are clearly the team to beat.  They only lost once all season.  That said, I do think that any of the top 4 teams are capable of winning the championship.  It's looking like the Eagles will play the Invaders in a best of 3 while the Colonials will play the Yeti in a series.  Those are both great match ups.  

12.     What other Random thoughts are going through your head?

I could go just about anywhere with this, but I'll focus on the Penguins.  Who could see this season coming (maybe Matchock because he's an eternal optimist when it comes to the Pens)?  I thought they would be in the running for Gavin McKenna.  Instead, they look like they could compete with just about anybody in the Eastern Conference in the playoffs.  That said, I think Tampa Bay and Carolina are bad match-ups for them.  Buffalo and Columbus are hotter than a flicker's nest right now too.  But I'd just enjoy getting to watch playoff hockey again.  There's really no pressure.  They are playing with house money.