Session Half Over: The Point of No Return

Is this really I-league? Who cares, it sure is entertaining. The Stickmen narrowly avoid their first loss. The green rink becomes the stage for two incomparable linesmen. And Ellis is outdone in nutty goaltending by Jim DeBaro.

Players of the week:

So many to choose from in this week's dress-up pageant...

1. David Base 4 goals (one game)(enjoy it buddy)

2. Geoffrey Goodson 4 goals (two games)

3. Butch Hutchinson 2 goals

Goalie of the week:

without question, Patrick Donaghue 1 GA, .957 SP

Here's your re-caps:

Stickmen 3, Komets 2 OT, Shoot-out (Vegas: Sticks 5, Komets 0)

The first game of the night looks to take up where last weeks Brewzers/ATM upset left off. Just after the puck drops Scottie Baldree implants the Dustin Nation feed, putting the Komets on top. This unfamiliar position is likely the result of the re-appearance of head coach Al Zarago. Despite Al's astute coaching efforts, the lead is surrendered to the Sticks in the second. But Coach Zarago keeps his team focused and the inspired Dustin Nation sets up the tieing goal for Sean Kier. The Overtime goes without incident as both teams fall exhausted behind their net minders. Everyone in the building stood to attention as the action distilled to the final skills demonstration. And like a fine aged scotch the shooters approached, with locked knees, shuffling toward the nets. But it's Alex #%@*ing Eysermans who does it again. As the second shooter for the Sticks he scores the only shoot-out goal. Hanging in, Blubaugh makes the final, compulsory, diving save/poke check. And this time the favorites steal back victory, pride, and their perfect record from a surprising Komets performance. Al Zarago throws up his hands with a smile, "I told them, all they had to do was go high stickside. Nobody listens to me!" I'm listening Al. Listen up Komets!

Puckers 2, Grave Diggers 1 (Vegas: Diggers 2, Puckers 1)

The Diggers own the only other perfect record at 0-6-0, and they make easy work of the Puckers. Alex "no eyes" Atkins carries the only Diggers goal coast to coast in the first and it looked like the Pucker offense would not be able to answer the call. Not so. Guy Riggs moves it laterally and slides it through the gaping five hole of Jon Ellis. Donaghue does his part and holds off the Diggers until Guy Riggs again puts it in on Ellis, however he has to settle for an assist when Kent Gordon manages to stuff the rebound. The Diggers burn their time-out and generate a lot of shots with an empty net but no twine. As Donaghue hauls another shot into his glove for the whistle, the Puckers call a time-out of their own. Bobby Sirkis snatches the opportunity to draw up a play designed to hit the post, they do, Puckers win.

Iceholes 5, Snipers 1 (Vegas: Iceholes 4, Snipers 1)

David Base, David Base, David Base, David Base... The Iceholes offense was a one man army tonight. The first period is a deadlock with both goaltenders delivering stellar performances, then the second started. Raul Gilbreath put the shot in on Ellis and Dave picks up the rebound. Eysermans ties the game. Then again, it's Gilbreath to Base. In the third Nicholle Palomar takes the initial shot and Dave cleans it up, twice. Then just for kicks, Andrea Cortinas buries the Pringle shot. The key to the game: poor rebound control and suffocating crease pressure from the Holes, pronounced, DAVID BASE! Our condolences to Nick Murphee, Snipers goaltender, who could not attend the game tonight. A moment of silence, please... Nick is on his honeymoon. Married, poor guy.

Warriors 4, Spiders 1 (Vegas: Warriors 3, Spiders 1)

The first couple of periods start off in expected fashion a couple penalties, a couple goals but at the commencing of the third period, the teams notted at one, the brothers Baumgard (the linesmen) take the spotlight and turn it on themselves! Making outstanding call after call, with perfect form they raised there hands and blew whistles. These guys were machines. Possesed with incredible stamina they just kept blowing. Sixteen minutes of penalties in an eleven minute third period. The Warriors manage to keep a scoring rhythm despite the stop-start action and rack-up three goals for an easy win, Geoffrey Goodson gets two of them, Frank Casperson the other. But never fear, the Baumgard's weren't through, they still had twenty four more minutes of penalties to hand out tonight. The training regimen these guys have would intimidate Lance Armstrong. No Lynn, these guys aren't jackasses, they are pros!

Patriots 5, Brewzers 1 (Vegas: Pats 3, Brewzers 0)

The gold rink was certainly a lighter atmosphere. Yes, only one penalty in this game (Sarah "Knuckles" Buckner, two minutes, hooking) but Pat's netminder Jon Ellis (third times the charm) made a spectacle of himself. Late in the first Greg "wee willy winky" Winkleman makes a solo attempt and beats Mike Moore. The next frame sees the Pats roll. With brilliant passing and stupefying awareness, they net goal after beautiful goal. As the gap widened Ellis became more unpredictable. Most of his play takes place at the blue line for this game. Attempting dekes and passes on the fly, most with some success, he manages to hold-off the B-men with the help of his team. But in the middle of the third, as Ellis throws another ill advised pass, the puck finds its way onto the stick of Lori-Kay Frommann. She winds up and blisters one past Sabrina York (trying desperately to cover for her loopy goalie), her first goal, ever? Maybe. The Patriots take the "W" and Mike Moore takes names.

Army of the Twelve Monkeys 6, Blue Devils 1 (Vegas: BD 3, ATM 2)

Showing no signs of fatigue the dynamic duo of Chris and David Baumgard return for another exhileratring exhibition of arm raising prowess. Geoffrey Goodson and Frank Casperson (captivated by the Baumgard performance in their first game) take on another game with similar fortune, they connect for a powerplay goal in the first, Travis gets the second assist. Then another Monkey scores. On the power play again, Travis puts away the Dallas Lehr pass. Mike "heat-seeking" Missel nets the fourth goal for the Monkeys. Ryan Wacker makes a Blue Devils garbage goal, all by himself. Whereupon Geoff and Frank combine again for ATM. Everyone in the building was feeling the frustration as the penalties piled-up and finally Jim DeBaro, BD goalie, could take it no longer. In a manner that would put Jon Ellis to shame he moved out of his net, playing pucks and bodies with alike bravado. A.J. Fierrero puts another on the board for ATM and DeBaro collects a penalty in short order. No more goals but the Baumgard brothers do manage to cram six more minutes of penalties into the final 2:30 of the game, giving them a staggering TWENTY FOUR total penalty minutes for the contest, and they didn't even break a sweat.

Another outstanding night of beer league hockey. Halfway through and it's gettin' hot in hur. Only one team left unblemished and they stumbled this week. Can they keep it together next week...

bcIII