I League Week 5

Week 5 is now in the books with the Gold Division pretty much narrowed down to 4 teams for the keg, while the Silver Division is more confusing than the whole Anna Nicole Smith thing…

3 Stars.
-Shawn Haley (Borrachos): 2 Goals, 3 Assists - Borrachos 5-1 win
-Jim Stuckeman (Borrachos): 3 Goals - Borrachos 5-1 win
-John Pinnard (Mayhem): 2 Goals – Mayhem 4-2 win
Honorable Mention: Jeff Vaughan (Patriots) - 1 Goal - Patriots 2-0 win

Goalie of the Week: Jesse Gonzales (Patriots/Borrachos): 15 of 15/17 of 18 and shutout. (Patriots 2-0 win/Borrachos 5-1 win)

Mayhem 4 Spiders 3
Mayhem continues to roll over opposing teams, this time with a 4-3 win over the spiders. Mayhem looked beatable early when the spiders got on the board first as the always dangerous Chris Gallagher scored. Mayhem answered right back as John “A Leaguer” Pinnard scored the equalizer early in the 2nd. Mayhem then went on a scoring tear at the beginning of the third by getting three goals in one minute. Greg Mersberger, Chris Conner and Pinard all hit the back of the net to give Mayhem a 4-1 advantage. Spiders arose to the challenge by getting two goals from Chris Nicoleta and J.J. Nailow to make it a 4-3 game. Mayhem was able to withstand a tremendous spiders charge late in the game and remain undefeated on the season. Next game for Mayhem is no easier as they do battle in possible keg matchup against their next opponent: The unbeaten Ice Holes.

Patriots 2 Stickmen 0
Patriots continue their winning ways with a shutout of the Stickmen. MVP and Norris Trophy front runner Jeff Vaughan had the game winner for the Patriots on a cannon blast from the point for the 1-0 lead. Rahul “Ambassador of Fun” Sharma had the insurance tally from Daniel Barr midway through the third. Patriots goalie Jesse Gonzales looked brilliant shutting the door on all 15 Stickmen shots, including a post to post gem. Patriots again dominated play by shelling the Stickmen net with 23 shots. Pats will go against the Borrachos next game…Chuck Norris wishes he was Jeff Vaughan.

Blue Devils 2 Shockers 1
A good battle between the top two teams in the silver division ends with the Blue Devils atop after their 2-1 win. BD drew first blood when James Debaro scored on a Mark Cameron Assist. The second period also belonged to the Blue Devils as they extended the lead on Dave Loggins goal from Dan Monrreal. Shockers would make a third period charge as they made it a one goal game on Nick McMacken’s goal from Jason Howell. Blue Devils Goalie Tom Cox rose to the occasion and handed the shockers their second loss of the season. Shockers still have a shot at the keg in a very muttled Silver Conference, while Diablo Azul remains at the top. From Ray “Dancing Hippo” Workman after the game, “We are a Team of Destiny this season”. Note: statements were made when alcohol was present. Insert opinions here. On a related topic…Fear the offensive prowess of Todd Smith.

Borrachos 5 Slackers 1
Borrachos stay in the hunt for the Gold Keg game with a 5-1 trouncing of the Slackers. The Borrachos version of Sergie Zubov and Mike Modano (Shawn Haley and Jim Stuckeman) teamed up for all the Borrachos goals on the night. Well done lads. Stuckemen stays atop the leader board in points as he notches a hat trick, while Haley continues his awe inspiring abilities with 2 goals and 3 assists. Not to be left behind, Igor Templistsky (fellow Russian Comrade?) and John Cervantes also had assists on the night. Slackers managed to get one past Borrachos goalie Jesse Gonzales on a Jim Debarro goal, but Gonzales made sure the rout was upheld, making 17 of 18 saves. To those who will start whining about ringers again…Borrachos now look ahead to their schedule and have nothing but powerhouses their final three games: Patriots, Mayhem and Ice Holes.

Ice Holes 2 Leftovers 0
This wasn’t the unholy massacre we thought it would be. Leftovers hung in there but the Ice Holes Defense only allows 9 shots for Goalie Doug Taylor to easily wipe aside. Ice Holes struck in the first on a Michael Cook goal and then added their second goal with two seconds left in the 2nd from Jared Junker. Ice Holes remain in the ranks of the undefeated in the Gold Division and proudly hold, currently, the lowest goals against average mark in the league with a commanding 0.20 GAA. Opposing Offenses Should Study Film.

Komets 1 Fugaweez 0
The Komets found a way to win in regulation in this one and keep the struggling Fugs in a season tailspin. This one was scoreless through almost 2 ½ periods before hockey sensation Steve Benefield takes a breakaway home for the Komets one and only goal. Komets goalie Brett Bryant kicked aside 13 of 13 while opposing goalie Bobby Michaelides looked almost as stellar going 16 of 17. We did notice there were 5 Phantoms lurking around the komets locker room…hmmmm…

Snipers 3 Brewzers 2 (SO)
The Snipers Shootout winner gives them an upper hand in a very tight silver division race for first place. The Brewzers were the first to score in this one on a Jamil Jabri goal. This was short lasting as the Snipers struck back on a Paul Coyne goal. Snipers would then take an advantage late in the 2nd period on Brett Fitch’s goal. Brewzers had some heroics left in them though; with 35 seconds left in the game Paul Thurston knots the game at 2-2. After a scoreless OT frame, Joe Tomme had the game winner for the Snipers. Goalies looked great in this game as the Snipers Goalie Patrick Donaghue stops 27 of 29 while Brewzers netminder Mike Moore makes 23 of 26. Good game kids. Silver division is now massively jumbled due to this win.

Puckers 3 Stingers 2
Stingers drop another one on the season and see their keg hopes diminish just a bit more. Puckers started the game off with a John Ward strike for the 1-0 lead. Stingers would rally for the tie late in the third from Mike Best’s shot. Momentum stayed with the Stingers for a couple more minutes before being stolen back by the lucky puckers as Rick Gregory lights the lamp for a 2-1 puckers lead. A minute into the 3rd the Puckers buried the dagger with Ryan Rintala’s goal to make it 3-1. Stingers got a late one from Rick White, but too little too late.