The Final Countdown

minor

Shockers (3-5-0) 1
Ice Holes (0-7-1) 0

The Shockers inaugural season has been an emotional roller coaster, but they finish strong making the most of the weaker half of their schedule playing .500 hockey. The Holes are consistent. . . what else can you say? This was one of Goalie James Thurber's best performances, turning away 15 of 16 shots, unfortunately, with only five shots generated by the Ice Hole offense it would only take that one goal by Thomas Mathias to win the game, late in the third, for the Shockers. Talent recruitment in this league is notorious, both of these teams could contend next session.

Warriors (5-2-1) 0
Chiefs (8-0-0) 2

Topher McPherson may have been lit-up for nine goals in the Heineken cup on Friday but he proves he can handle Euless brand I-league tonight. The tension is broke late in the second when Chief Troy "Not Kelly's Brother" Clarkson puts the puck behind Michaelides. The Warriors can't get any offensive drives and eventually allow another Jim-Dandy from Rich "Oven-Chicken" Wojcio. The Chiefs have made a mockery of the minor division, but the remaining top seats have all played the Chiefs in tight games, can they manage two more wins against that competition?

Grave Diggers (6-2-0) 2
Puckers (4-3-1) 1

In another match of the minor's best, the Puckers strike first, just as their penalty expires, Matt Roberts gets a breakaway and drags across the crease to beat Ellis to the opposite post. Ellis gets a piece of the tying goal, sending a pass to Bruce Davis just past center ice for the two on 0, Brian Lochkos drains the feed from Davis. David Blubaugh stands tall in the net holding fast to the tie despite the constant attack of the Diggers- he makes thirty-eight saves. He even rejects the penalty shot from Tim Rivers. Finally the shoot-out arrives to settle the stalemate. Apparently, Tim figured out Blubaugh's weakness and he punishes Blu on the first shot, no one else scores- Diggers win!

Silverwings (3-3-2) 4
Mutineers (3-5-0) 2

Finally a game with some scoring- The first period has a goal from Silverwing Bryan Brookman and the cancelling effort from Nathan Hamilton ending the period with a net zero. Paul Reid puts the Silverwings back on top again and the Mutineers once again answer the bell when Gib "Brother Gib" Searight pounds the rebound through Eric Spivey. The Wings win the period and take the lead when Ryan Kelley scores his first goal of the game, the Mutineers can't gather the gumption to score anymore, so they make penalties instead. Kelley scores his second on the power play in the final frame.

MAJOR

Komets (5-4-1) 3
Whalers (1-9-0) 2

Brian Panice starts the Komets rollin' and Bryan Brookman follows it up. After a dry spell in the second the Komets come-up in the third with their third unanswered goal, this one from Rodney Forehand. The Komets uncork the champagne and toast their success while the Hamster scoots down the ice to score the first Whalers goal. Beck Schooley puts the champagne on ice with another Whaler goal. With their play-off hopes on the line, the Komets call a time-out and after making a pinkie promise to never lose again, they hold fast to the one goal lead, and wait on Yockey to determine which five win team will make it into the finals. What's that? Oh, somebody won six, oh well.

Privateers (8-0-0) 2
Brewzers (2-8-0) 1

The Brewzers pour on the shots and Lori-Kay Fromman puts the Brewzers in the lead. The score holds until Brewzer captain Jamil Jabri commits his second penalty and Joel Bush makes him pay. With the score tied the Brewzers just push harder, accumulating twenty-six shots but it's the Privateers who get the last yo-ho-ho, Matt Sexton refuses to allow the puck passage and Casey Payne drives the stake into the Brewzer heart in regulation.

Spiders (5-4-1) 5
Snipers (1-7-0) 1

Matt Walker and Mike Moore meet once again- student vs. pupil. Matt has the Snipers in front of him, he didn't stand a chance. Three goals rain down from the Spiders in the first alone: Bill Wessel and two from Adam Sugarwala. In the next period Sugarwala claims the hat trick. With Carina Manilow's goal finishing the game for the night, the only hic-cup in an otherwise perfect Spider performance was the power play goal from sometimes ringer Jeff Vaughn.

Ice Bats (8-2-0) 4
LSI (3-5-2) 3

A clash of two powerhouses, someone had to lose. A power play opportunity leads to the first goal from the Bats, LSI claims the lead with goals from Tim Thompson and James Macha. David Trantham responds by diving down from the point to score the knotting tally for the Ice Bats. Less than a minute later Kyle Haman restores the Import lead, setting up a ferocious third, so ferocious in fact that only one goal could be scored- late season acquisition Jason Doyton sends it to overtime, and Eric Petty wins it for the Bats there.

Patriots (8-1-1) 0
Blue Devils (6-4-0) 2

Two rivals meet again, the Pats off their first loss of the session and the Devils crossing their fingers for a spot in the play-offs. Two periods of hockey result in no goals, but in the first minute of the third Scott Speelman's wrap around attempt eventually finds its way through Ellis' paraphernalia and slides across the line. The Pats feel the absence of their defensive stalwart, Les York. Unable to get the puck out of their zone they resort to an empty net, Billy Trull hits it from 150 feet.

Stickmen (5-4-1) 6
Canadiens (5-3-0) 2

The teams trade hits in the first- a Canadien goal to Young Kim, a Stick goal to Lunchbox. The Sticks couldn't be stopped in the long period with a goal from "Big" Joe Tomme, another from Lunchbox, and Kyle Rybak's tally the Canadiens could have gone to the locker room early. Instead they stayed for another Stick goal from Big Joe, a shorty no less and another from Rybak. Along the way, Chris Gallagher nets a meaningless goal to make his bid for the Hart trophy. I still love you Chris, you're so misunderstood.