GREG AND GRANT KOSTAL
The Kostal brothers burst onto the Apocalypse scene for the 1991-92 rebuilding year. Their infusion of skill and production helped carry the team through some desperate years. Both Greg and Grant brought a new vitality to the ‘after spongee’ drinking and card playing.

GREG KOSTAL
Greg Kostal became known as a dedicated, dependable player on the ice and a booze swilling card shark off it. Greg was a stalwart on defense for Apocalypse Now throughout most of the 1990’s. Number 44 was a dependable defensive defenseman who always liked to surprise us with a glimpse of his offensive capabilities.

The ‘bastard’ was a tremendous competitor both in spongee and in a game of Hearts. Greg is remembered for tagging along with the boys at the 1995 Grey Cup, always with a deck of cards in hand. This booze-hound had a true passion for spongee and drinking. He would complete an eight year career, retiring while in fifth place in career games played (82). Greg was a pillar of strength on the blueline. He was a throwback, a knock-off of old-school defencemen from yesteryear. “He is the guy you want out there in the last minute of a 3-2 game because you know he’ll get the puck out,” one of Apocalypse Now’s fidgety, shell-shocked goalies once said of Greg.

There was no one in the game of spongee who was more committed to playing well each and every shift. There was no cutting corners for Greg. He held so much respect for the game. “I ate, drank and slept spongee, and then I drank some more,” remembers Greg.

(THE POWER OF POSITIVE DRINKING)

GRANT KOSTAL
If he could drive the earth, he would – to a much warmer climate. The ultimate warm weather player, who was known to wear a ski-mask if the temperature ever dipped to less than minus ten.

Grant was a fiery player with the vision and instincts of a pure scorer. He had a deadly accurate shot, but he also had a dark side. He was more than willing to use his stick or mix it up with members of the opposition whenever the mood struck him. Grant’s on-ice accomplishments are not diminished by his unsavory off-ice habits. Rick Tocchet comes to mind when describing Grant’s abilities. “In my view, he loved betting more than he loved spongee,” said an unnamed teammate.

A Kenny Rogers fan – the gambler was willing to wager a bet on almost anything. Although many are certain he has, Grant has never admitted to betting on spongee. Most sports would rule a gambling player ineligible for the Hall of Fame, but compulsive gambling, womanizing, alcohol and drug addiction are selection criteria for Apocalypse Now and Grant would be enshrined in every category.

Grant only played the game for six short seasons. His time with Apocalypse ended much too soon. Like his brother Greg, Grant never had the pleasure of having his name engraved on a spongee championship trophy. That would be the only disappointment of an otherwise outstanding career – one that will never be overlooked in Apocalypse history. You can bet on it.

“You always said, the cards would never do you wrong, The trick you said was never play the game too long” – Bob Seger