The End is Near

First of all, my sources are confirming the rumors that the Major division will soon be rebranded as D-league. This will not assuage those who complain about ringers, or at least not for long, since the complaints will soon be that there are too many players of C, B, and even A quality. . . on somebody else's team. I'm still having fun no matter what they call it, I hope some of you can do the same.

Secondly, here's the weekend in review. . .

minor

Warriors (4-0-1) 5
Grave Diggers (4-2-0) 6

The undefeated Warriors had to search high and low for a goalie, finding A. J. DiBenedetto just before the Zam finished the surface, unfortunately he gives-up the first goal to Digger Kyle Amman on a first period power play. But, in the second the Warriors light up Ellis for three unanswered goals- first to Mac Miller, then to Nate Hodges, and finally to Dallas Lehr. The Diggers close the period when Bruce Davis brings them within one. Ellis starts the third with more insane antics leading to two more goals from Hodges- an ugly hat trick. Kyle Amman fires back two Grave Digger goals completing his own hat trick, and Randy Chappel comes up with the tying goal in the final minute of regulation. The game carries on to a shoot-out, Where Ellis gets a measure of revenge turning away Lehr, Hodges and for the win- Clark Sandlin. Move over refrigerators, the Diggers are what's cool.

Silverwings (1-2-2) 1
Chiefs (6-0-0) 4

The Chiefs continue their roll through the league, leading the charge with two goals in the first: Bill Broad and Richard Wojcio. In the second they cool off on the scoring and collect a couple penalties, but their PK is unfaltering. Marie Lindley delivers a potent blow for the Silverwings. Ayala closes off the net, ending the Wing rally before it begins. With a goal from Mike Kirkland and one from Ben Stillwagon, the Chiefs have established themselves as the greatest I-league minor team. . . ever. With their first win occurring last week, in what league will the Silverwings find their fortune?

Shockers (2-4-0) 2
Puckers (3-3-0) 1

The Shockers gave-up the first win to the Silverwings, the first career shut-out to Eric Spivey, and appeared to be in total disarray following the eight goal loss. It certainly didn't look promising when the first shot whizzed by back-up goal tender Jon Ellis' blocker as Matt Roberts puts the Puckers in the lead. The Shockers refuse to lose, they return fire with Thomas Mathias' goal. The Pucker's short bench and Blubaugh's conditioning eventually catch up with the Red Machine when Jackson Chang drains the third period game winner. The Puckers suffer another defeat but maintain a tenuous grip on a .500 record, good enough to tie for fourth, and a spot in the bracket. . . in an eight team division.

Ice Holes (0-5-1) 0
Mutineers (3-3-0) 4

The Holes give a valiant effort in the first keeping the Mutineers off the board, but they can't score anything themselves. In the second the Mutineers get online Eric Ahlstedt delivers the game winner while the Hole offense hardly gets out of their own zone. In the third Mike Kirkland collects a power play goal for the Mutes and before the game ends Ahlstedt earns a hat trick. What was all of this talk about the Mutineers not being able to buy a win? Sure, it is the Ice Holes.

MAJOR

Blue Devils (4-4-0) 3
LSI (3-5-0) 5

The Devils drop another important game. With two quick goals in the first the Devils looked to be in control, but in the second Chris Zoll and Charlie Heine's gains are erased by the Import offense, specifically James Macha and Gabe Rivera. With a tie and two talented teams, not to mention a goalie change for LSI, the third period was set for high drama. And, it delivered. Rivera strikes again to put the Imports in front for the first time and Jay Peters ties the game about a minute later. The Blue Devils had been spectacular on the penalty kill, but four times proved too many when Cory Cooper put the Imports back on top. As times got desperate, Blubaugh was forced to flee the net for the extra attacker, it back fires though ending in an empty net goal for LSI player Ken Lentz.

Patriots (8-0-0) 7
Spiders (4-3-1) 3

Adam Sugarwala creates a panic on the Patriot bench when his first two shots at the net pass by Ellis for goals. But in typical veteran fashion the Patriots fire back three unanswered goals from Jeff Eagle, John Newell, and Kendall Bernard for the lead. The Spider's Bill Wessel claims the tying goal but the Pats score again for the lead, this one from William Craft, to close the middle frame. In the final period the Pats big guns put their skates on the Spider's throats with three more goals: Roy Haenselmann, Dallas Lehr, and Jeff Eagle. Earlier in the session this Pats squad appeared to be very balanced, but the scoring that has increased has been offset by the drop in goal play, this needs to get fixed before the playoffs. . .

Snipers (1-5-0) 0
Ice Bats (6-2-0) 2

The Bats don't provide much drama. . . at least not in their play. They continue to deliver wins with lots of attitude. This game was all about goaltending, just one side though. Ice Bat net minder Joey Otsuka turns in a perfect game on seven shots, while Terry Redmon gets a workout facing forty-two for the game. He holds off the best the Bats can get for two periods, but Andrew Latham breaks the dam in the early third. No hope for the Snipers as their captain heads for the box allowing Raul Gilbreath to put them down by two- and perhaps two scoring chances left in the tank.

Privateers (6-0-0) 4
Canadiens (4-2-0) 3

The second most dramatic game of the night stars A. J. DiBenedetto (again) in a losing effort (sadly, again). The Privateers score first when Jeremy Boyd makes the most of the power play opportunity, a lead that would last until late in the third when Chris Gallagher would tie the game. Joel Bush reclaims the 'Teer lead less than a minute later. And who should answer the call but Gallagher for the tie, followed by a lead changing goal from Young Kim, with a little hard work on defense the last half of the third would be behind the Canadiens with a quality win. . . The 'Teers send shot after shot in the general direction of the net and with less than two minutes left in the game Brian Zientek beats A. J. and ties the game. As the clock winds down Patrick Haley sinks the Canadien's battleship, but this goal with only ten seconds left in the game shouldn't fall at A. J.'s feet but rather at those of William Cravens, who put the Canadiens down a man in the closing minute.

Brewzers (2-6-0) 5
Whalers (1-7-0) 3

Both of these teams were looking for goalies on Saturday, whatever that means. Steven Coolyard of the Brewzers and Beck Schooley of the Whalers cancel each other out in the first period. But in the second it wasn't even close, the Brewzers serve up the Whalers a la mode with goals from Josh Sutton, Brit Broostrom (WOW), and Collyard. Collyard opens the third with his hat trick leaving a three goal mountain for the Whalers. Paul Thurston scores the first in that climb and Thomas Aarons takes the next step but the Whalers apparently have Sherpa impostors leading the way.

Komets (3-4-1) 2
Stickmen (3-4-1) 3

The Sticks start it off with the only goal of the first, it falls to Glenn Listman. The Komets get the tying goal in the second from Rodney Forehand and take the lead in the third with a quick goal from Kellen Kauffman. The celebration would be short lived when the Sticks put all their hopes in one basket- that being Brad Bynum. Well, with a-tisket and a-tasket Bynum drops the two goals putting the Stickmen up by one forcing A. J. to watch the final seconds tick off the clock from the bench.

It seems like Ellis, Blubaugh, and DiBenedetto played all of the games themselves.