Fink tries to reconcile a 9-year feud with the Killingworth Guppies.

In a rare sign of generosity, former founder/player Steve Fink has donated the official “LIVE STRONG” Lance Armstrong bracelets to the current members of the Killingworth Guppies organization. Steve was one of the original investors into this organization's early development. And was a member of the board of directors for many years.

  Steve made his start on the ponds of Rosamondo Park where he and his friends would play pond hockey. “That was pretty fun”, states Fink. “Other than the occasional slap shot to the lower back from Brian Blair, it was a good learning environment for me”. Said Fink, via satellite hook up from his corporate offices in Charlotte.

  It was just after one season on the pond when Steve was called up to the Clinton league where he was better known as the “Killingworth Patriot”. No doubt nicknamed after the very public feud with the Clinton Rocket. It was here and on the black top of KES and tennis courts of HK with his long time friend Brian Kelly and Brother Pete that Steve fine-tuned his skills that would later be showcased as a Guppy. “I always thought the kid wanted to be a goalie” added Guppies Captain Brian Kelly, “In high school I used to blast those little orange plastic pucks at him”. “No helmet, no pads, just a glove and a stick. The kid was crazy. You should have seen some of the welts he walked away with. I guess that experience made him give up the goalie life and be a forward”.

“I think at that time, my brother Steve was better known for his reckless abandonment and energy. He was always going 110%. Even after he got a concussion from chasing Greg Bousquet into the corner after the ball at HK. Even after sliding under the fence in Clinton and running into the tennis net pole. It was kind of scary at first, but we grew to expect that that was part of his game. He's not the skilled finesse play that I am. I don't know, maybe he was the power forward or something”, stated Peter Fink.

  The first season of the guppies, Steve would be among the team leaders in goals and was a major player to the team's success in the 1995 Whalers Alumni Tournament. He had it all, money, fame, endorsements, everything a nonprofessional athlete could want. However, it was at this point in his career where things took a turn for the worse and the relationship between the guppies and Steve turned sour.

  Captain Brian Kelly assigned Steve Fink and Kyle Bilafer to the St. Pete Tritons of Eckerd in the southern league. Speculation has it that BK was not happy about sharing the limelight in K-Town. “The kid wasn't that good, he spelled Defense with an O (Offense), any GM would have sent him down. We brought him in too fast,” said Brian Kelly. Another up and coming superstar, Marc Crayton had this to say, “Off the rink, it was evident that BK resented Steve a little bit. He does the same thing to me”.

  “Yea, it bothered me a lot, but I just wanted to play hockey. There was a very friendly environment in St. Pete. It was a good time,” said Steve.

  During his year in the southern league, Brian Kelly would add insult to injury by added a couple high end free agents and winning the Waterbury C-League Championship. However, Steve Success in St. Pete was again noticed and he was called up for the 97 team. “I had heard of them winning their first championship with out me, but I was looking forward to an exiting 97 season “ I was already clearing a space on the mantel for my day with the cup. It was exciting”. Said Steve.

  But it was not to be. The 97 seasons turned out to be a disaster and Steve was again sent down to the Southern League. “Good riddance”, added Armenia, new chairman of the board and financial backer. “He still owes me $45 for the jersey”.

Steve didn't handle this move as well as the first. It was a downward spiral with drugs and alcohol and failed relationships. Meanwhile, the team flourished winning 5 of the next 7 championships. The resentment grew.