Shaking Things Up

The epicenter of the earthquake was recorded just two miles from the rink, though reports cannot confirm that the earth was shaking in response to the weight of Komet's player/coach Wil Dobson's ego approaching the Starcenter. More likely, Euless was sobbing at the prospect of not having me in town for another fantastic Saturday night. But you guys were there, and this is what was happening while I was pursuing my dream job as a pajamist.

I-league

Whalers (4-0-0) 3
Mutineers (1-3-0) 2

The Whalers continue their conquest of the I-league. Patrick Haley appears to be the only consistent offense for the Mutineers but tonight he is denied the hat trick. His first goal gives the early lead to the Mutes, but the Whaler's own offender, Brian Hamstra, ties the game. Richard Walter finds the back of the net to put the Whalers ahead. The scoring drought runs for the duration of second period and is only ended by Haley's second opus. The Whalers muck about for most the final period of regulation, unable to find the winning shot until an unlikely hero emerged. . . Darrin Ellis strikes with an unassisted goal to save the Whalers from sudden (and possibly, certain) death. Possibly certain. . . yeah, I said it.

Silverwings (1-3-0) 1
Puckers (4-0-0) 5

The first period was like a seventh graders' first date, lots of awkward contact and no scoring. But immediately in the second, the Puckers get one from Jason Arias and another from Steven Niekamp before the first minute passes. Niekamp strikes again at the end of the period for a three to nil Pucker lead. Jimmy Studer is the next Pucker to contribute, then the Silverwings make a go at it. A. J. DiBenedetto feels the pain of his goalie (since his recent attempts at filling the net) and pops in the first goal in a series of. . . well, one. Studer gains his second of the night when the Wings go on an ill advised and desperate empty net strategy. Casey Jenkins collects the games only penalty, the thug! So maybe it was too many men, that doesn't sell papers.

Shockers (2-1-1) 4
LSI (2-1-0) 5

Catherine Levesque makes her triumphant return to Euless with two early goals for the Imports. The Shockers return the game to even with goals from Eric Yepez and William Dobson. Nick McMacken breaks the tie in favor of the Shockers but the Imports equalize with Linda Mason's goal and regain the lead when the Shockers put them on the power play- Mason passes to Tim Thompson for the score. Jared Holt keeps the Shocker dream alive with a goal in the final five minutes of regulation and the battle continues through the extra period, and twelve shooters before William Cravens' demonstration goes unanswered by the Shockers, assuring the LSI victory.

Spiders (2-2-0) 0
Snipers (1-1-1) 3

Two goalies squared-off for a battle royale, after most of the first period had passed Kyle Rybak comes away with the first goalie puzzler. It takes another fifteen minutes before Jeremy Brown gets beat again, Sniper Jamil Jabri puts his team up by two. Brown finds himself digging-out Rybak's second goal from the back of the net early in the third. The Spiders try to make use of the four minutes of power play, end up losing some of that time to a penalty of their own, and can't find the answer for their persevering net minder. The Spiders are looking for a spark, a game against the Snipers is often the panacea for a struggling team, Matt Reid delivers the shut-out tonight.

Soul Patch (1-2-0) 4
Grave Diggers (0-2-1) 3

My compatriots lose another close one, Soul Patch makes the first goal off a shot from Brad Aho, but the Diggers equalize with Tom Edwards' goal. The Patches put their stamp on the game with another from Aho and their third goal from James McClelland. The Diggers rally back again to tie the game in regulation with goals from Randy Chappell and Chilly Willy. The night leads to another shoot-out and the Soul Patch's first shooter, Josh Jones, finds the twine. Despite throwing their best shooters at the problem, the Diggers fail to equal the feat and settle for one point.

Warriors (2-2-0) 5
Brewzers (0-4-0) 2

Nothing could stop these Warriors tonight, even short handed they were a force to be reckoned with. Chris Dolbee gets the ball rolling and Clark Sandlin gets the second Warrior goal, followed by another Chris tally. The Brewzers finally capitalize on a power play when Kevin Cook's shot squeezes past Matt Reid. Mitch Gnatowsky and Clark Sandlin both score in the final minute of the second. Kevin Cook collects his second of the night in the only offensive action of the final frame. Michaelides doesn't look as hot in his second consecutive night out of the net, know your role!

Blue Devils I (3-1-0) 4
Stickmen (3-1-0) 0

Perhaps the earthquake hit the Stickmen? The previously undefeated Sticks make it through the first unscathed but in the final seconds of their power play, they lose possession, then the lead, as Mike Zahner collects the shorty for BDI. In the third, another Shorty (this one to Matt Weinrich) seals the Stickmen's fate. The Blue Devils I rolls with a goal from Mark Millard and even Val Kuntz. Kyle Rybak looks good in net, in spite of the "L", turning away 27 of the thirty-one he faces, and Ol' Blu gets a shut-out.



SND

Patriots (1-3-0) 2
Komets (4-0-0) 3

The Pats feel a rush of confidence as they look back to see Doug Phillips in their net. . . Two goals find their way past the Komet's Brent Bryant, one from Jeff Vaughn, the next from Mac Miller. The Komets know their destination- Dustin Nation fires-off the first in the Komet flurry. Dustin's goal is followed in a minute by Kellen Kaufman's. With the game tied in the third, the Patriots withdraw again and lose their third straight as late in the third Billy Ashman vaults the Komets into their fourth win.

Privateers (3-0-1) 4
Blue Devils (1-2-1) 0

The Blue Devils take another step back in their see-saw season, they manage only sixteen shots in this release of testosterone. Young Kim punches in the first Privateer goal in a relatively tame first period. In the second things started to heat up- sure Randy Perry and Bob-O both score for the 'Teers, but the real heat generates between the goal lines. The Devils pile-up eight penalty minutes, Privateers two. In the third it goes crazy on you with thirty-four Blue Devil penalty minutes and a meager fourteen for the 'Teers. . . oh, and Tony Finazzo scores a Privateer goal on one of those power plays. I wonder if Blubaugh has any Sticks left after this game?

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

A. J. DiBenedetto finds the first goal of the game behind him when Ice Bat forward Mark Smith shoots past his prone body, but he finds the gumption to skate the full length of the rink and collect the equalizer for his team mates. Gabe Rivera and Chris Gallagher take his cue and add to the Canadien's lead, but a spurt from the Bats reverses course, Tim and Tony Marra both score for the tie and Chuck Dolbee takes the Bat lead. Rivera scores again for the tie, but his efforts are expunged by more Bat droppings: David Trantham and Jaqueline Zee. Gallagher tires of sitting on his hands and scores another goal to put the Canadiens within one but they can do nothing with the remaining three minutes. The Cans are crushed by the opportunistic Bats offense, they were clicking tonight, in a clean game. . . coincidence?