Retirement Looming

I-league

Silverwings (2-6-0) 1
LSI (4-3-0) 8

The beautiful Linda Mason unleashes her pythons with the first goal of an LSI onslaught. Jason Rogers received no memo on the way the game was to play out and scores the lone Silverwing tally. Andrew Pope cancels Rogers and Ken Lentz adds to the Imports' lead with two in a row. Tim Thompson gets in line followed by Cody Woodard and in the third Catherine Levesque claims hers and Pope gets his second. I'm searching the score sheet but it appears I did not play in this game (one of very few this Saturday).

Shockers (4-3-1) 0
Blue Devils I (6-1-1) 5

I did get to deliver this stinker, though. Mark Millard and Neal Wacker both score late in the first and the Shockers were sent reeling. The lone second period goal belongs to David Ogle and in the third the BDI's continue raining on the Shocker parade, the latest of the Wacker clan to join the blue and black grabs another goal and the final minute of the game is filled with another Blue Devil goal, this one belongs to Martin Berryman. Blubaugh sees several quality scoring attempts in the final period legitimizing his shut-out.

Brewzers (1-7-0) 4
Soul Patch (5-2-0) 5

"Terrible" Tom Buckner leads the Brewzer charge but a couple of Patches, Kenneth Watkins and James McClelland reverse field for the Soul Patch lead. The Brewzers respond with another Buckner goal and, on the penalty kill, one from Steven Collyard to complete the scoreboard flip-flop. The pattern is broken when the Patches make their next run, starting with another goal from Watkins, followed by one from Donnie Marcontell for the lead and the cushion goal from Carlos Badello late in the third. So late in the third that the Brewzers can't find but one goal- Chris Leonard's, his hockey sabbatical over in time for this heartbreaking loss. The clinic is off?

Puckers (6-1-1) 2
Stickmen (6-1-1) 3

This was the epitome of I-league, just ask anyone in attendance. The Puckers take the lead with a goal from Jason Arias and add to it with a goal from Brian Cudaback. The Sticks find their legs with a goal from Jeff Thomas and tie the game with one from Kyle Rybak. The third period passes without a single goal and likewise the overtime period, the shoot-out looks to go in the same fashion as Shooter after so-called shooter turn back to the bench empty handed. It takes nearly both entire rosters before a goal from one of the Sticks finally decides the game, this apparently happened after the Scorer slipped into a coma.

Snipers (4-2-1) 5
Grave Diggers (0-4-3) 4

As all of the missing Diggers return from their vacations, it looked like a victory was only thirty-six minutes away and Tim Rivers does his part, putting his team out front. Manny Zamora ties the game for the Snipers but the Diggers return fire with a goal from the versatile Randy Chappel. Kendal Fries scores for the first time in my memory for the Sniper tie and sets-off a Sniper spree. Dennis Sutton lays one in for the Snipers and Nidal Jabri avenges his brother's still living memory with a lead padding goal. Chappel cannot be contained and cuts the lead to one and the only goal of the third ties the game for the Diggers - Bruce Davis, a la power play. Another long shoot-out exhibition finally yields a goal when , after ten shooters, Tom Buckner wins the game for his Snipers.

Spiders (4-3-1) 3
Whalers (6-2-0) 4

Yet another performance by yours truly ends in disaster. Brad Watson knocks in a cross crease pass for the first Whaler goal but the Spiders tie it up on the power play. The Whalers take the lead again with a goal from Josh Monaco, but William Wessel gets the equalizer. Monaco strikes again for the late Whaler lead, but the Spider power play yields a Carina Manalo goal that sends it to another shoot-out. Paul Thurston is the first and only scorer keeping the night a little younger with only eight shooters, and a Whaler victory.

Mutineers (2-6-0) 1
Warriors (4-3-1) 3

Chris Dolbee is the first Warrior to score and after a mere twenty minute his Dad joins him on the score sheet. John Swartzbaugh finally gets his Mutineers on the board, but it would prove to be the only goal in a sad effort from the 'Teer's farm team. In the final throes of the game Mac Miller drops another Warrior goal for the easy win. Ryan Haley plays one of her best games but gets no help from her offense.

SND

Patriots (1-7-0) 1
Canadiens (3-4-1) 4

Things looked promising, early on for the Pats, when Butch Hutchinson gets involved it usually creates a snowball, and he scores effortlessly on a quick breakout. In the final minute of the period, on the power play, the Cans get the tying goal from Danny Ronan, and just a few minutes into the second they make it a two goal lead, Gabe Rivera makes his first of the night and Ken Lentz scores the Canadiens' third. The Pats look to rally in the third, but A. J. DiBenedetto seals the front of the net even through two Patriot power plays. I abandon the net as the final minute ticks off the play clock and eventually one more goal is added. . . Gabe takes two on the game, the empty net is filled.

Komets (6-1-1) 4
Blue Devils (3-4-1) 3

Chase Hannah of the Blue Devils is the first to score, after only seventeen minutes of play, but the big man, John Thompson, on the Komets' point makes the power play goal for the tie and within the close of the middle frame Graham Dunlap had secured the Komets' lead. Dunlap adds another in the third on Buell's penalty. When The lines reset and Buell returns to the bench a knowing nod circulates the Devil end of the ice and the rally starts with a John Lloyd goal and Gloria Buell even redeems herself with an assist on the tying goal scored shorthanded by Daryl Weiland. It appeared that the Komets would not be able to weather this storm, but at least one Komet would not be denied. . . Dunlap hits the hat and the Komets win.

Privateers (7-0-1) 3
Ice Bats (4-3-1) 1

In the first period David Trantham rings one off the cross bar and in beating Sexton and the 'Teers for the lead, and the Bats hold onto that lead, until the third period. Gus Mask is the first Privateer to find my weakness half way through the final period, then in the final minute on a Bat power play, Sexton turns away yet another rush and watches as Young Kim redeems his only flaw on the game with a shorty for the lead. After the ensuing faceoff, I dive onto the bench for a better view of Joel Bush's empty net goal, watching yet another game slip away. Matt Taylor shoots one under my off my leg well after the buzzer and a brawl follows, allowing the 'Teers and Bats to live up to their reputations, whether deserved or not.