Blazing Ptarmigans

The Blazing Ptarmigans are a co-recreational broomball team based in Glenview, Illinois.
Despite having a home base in Glenview, team members live in a variety of Illinois communities, from Chicago to the far south to Lindenhurst, Illinois in the north and Island Lake, Illinois to the west. Champions of the Glenview Co-Recreational Broomball League in 2005, the Ptarmigans placed 3rd in the USA Broomball National Championships in Rosemount, Minnesota that same year.

The Ptarmigans are known for their fierce defense and superb goaltending, as goalkeeper Dianne Cullen led the Glenview Co-Recreational Broomball League in goals-against average for two straight seasons (2004-05 and 2005-06) despite being the oldest goalie in the league (born 1957). In 31 of the Ptarmigans' first 60 games, their opponents managed no more than one goal. Cullen announced her retirement following the 2007 USA Broomball National Championships. Her son, Matt Cullen (not to be confused with the National Hockey League player of the same name), is the team's all-time leading goal-scorer.

In their first game at the National Championship level, the Ptarmigans surprised the broomball world by defeating Iowa State University's co-rec squad by a score of 3-1. It was the first game the Ptarmigans ever played on an NHL-size rink, as the Glenview games are played on short ice (also known as a studio rink). In fact, in a sport dominated by Minnesota squads, the Ptarmigans have been the lone representative from the state of Illinois at two of the last three USA Broomball National Championships. The 2006 tournament was contested in Westlake, Ohio, where the Ptarmigans lost to the Cincinnati/New York Eclipse 2-1 in the quarterfinals. The team also took their game to the National Championships in Blaine, Minnesota in 2007, finishing 1-2 with a win over the Megatherium Club.

On November 15, 2006, thirteen members of the Ptarmigans were featured on the WGN-TV morning show in Chicago live, scrimmaging and helping spread the word about broomball to the Chicago viewing audience. Team captain and founder Mick Cullen also gave a demonstration of the two proper ways to take a slapshot.

With a 6-3 victory over the Glaciers on December 17, 2006, the Ptarmigans tallied the 30th win in team history. Their all-time record through the 2007 National Championships stands at 34-25-6, including a league record of 32-18-6.

The Ptarmigans recently announced they are heading up an effort to start a brand new full-ice co-rec broomball league in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin at the IcePlex. This is part of a plan to found the Wisconsin/Illinois Broomball Association.

Team achievements
Glenview Co-Rec Broomball League champions, 2005

3rd place, USA Broomball National Championships, 2005

Glenview Co-Rec Broomball League runners-up, 2006

Current roster
1-- Ursula Nieves (Forward)

2-- Jason Gola (Wing)

5-- Dan Lee (Defense)

13-- Lisa Curran (Defense)

16-- Carrie McGowan (Defense)

17-- Karen Kemnitz (Goalkeeper)

18-- Matt Cullen (Center)

27-- D.H. Gallego (Defense)

32-- Molly McFadden (Wing)

40-- Tom Schweiss (Center)

54-- Michael Cullen (Wing)

61-- Mick Cullen (Defense/Wing/Center)

77-- Julie Schweiss (Defense)

99-- Debbie Hudachek (Forward)

Former Ptarmigans
3-- Nathaniel Marx (Defense)

4-- R.J. Dusak (Center/Defense)

7-- Stephanie Altergott (Wing)

9-- Stephanie Gekiere (Wing)

12-- Josh Altergott (Defense)

15-- Dianne Cullen (Goalkeeper)

19-- Elisa Cullen (Forward)

41-- Mark Schweiss (wing)

86-- Ed Montano (Center/Wing/Defense)

Other teams currently in the Glenview Co-Rec Broomball League
Bloodshot Ice

Crushed Ice

Glaciers

Lunatics

Powdermilk Biscuits

Rink Rats

Rocky Vander's

Slip Shots

Wingers

References and external links
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See Also

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