Sunday, March 08, 2009

I'm Easy, Like Sunday Mornin'

minor

Silverwings (1-1-2) 8
Shockers (1-4-0) 0

The Shockers' inaugural session has been at the very least, forgettable. Going into this weekend only two teams had a worse record: the Ice Holes and the Silverwings. The Wings get a modest start, just one goal late in the first from Justin McCullough, but in the second, "ringer" talk reared its ugly head. The Silverwings collect goals from Sergio Castillo, Steven "Chilly Willy" Janis, and Kyle Ammann. . . all on the power play. Jason Vrendenburg scores two more for the Wings at even strength. In the final period, things were getting dramatic, the Shockers had lost Justin Driscoll to penalties and the bench was erupting at every call or non-call from the officials. The Shockers end-up in the box on two more occasions and give-up two more goals, Ryan Kelley and Kyle Ammann. Run time may have saved me from witnessing too much violence, and it probably helped usher in the first shut-out for Eric Spivey.


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

The pregame forecast called for a few more goals but the defense was out in force for both teams. Finally in the second the Mutineers' Jr. Honeycutt drives one through Boby Michaelides, and with the quickness on the Mutineer roster, the Warrior system looked all washed-up. After a pep talk in the second intermission the Warriors used their patience to control the neutral zone and make some quality scoring chances, Ryan Haley smothers everyone. Scott "Mindo" Dolbee has turned the corner, elevating his game to I-league minor standings and refuses t let his goal streak die, late in regulation he ties the game, then just before time expires secures the win. The Warriors are tied for the fewest losses, but due to the odd scheduling at the opening of the session, are second in wins.

Ice Holes (0-4-1) 0
Puckers (3-2-0) 3

The Holes can't buy a win. The Puckers lost a big game last week and appeared to be in total disarray, but rebound with a dominant effort scoring two in the first period alone. The first goes to Charlie Heine and David James follows suit soon after on the power play. In the second Chris Kirton proves 2009 to be his year scoring the final goal of the game, his third of the session. Chris is having a career year. The Puckers hand Blubaugh a shut-out to Blubaugh with there best defensive game in recent memory, only twelve shots against.

Chiefs (5-0-0) 3
Grave Diggers (3-2-0) 1

It was the feel good event of the year. In the first, Richard "Oven Chicken" Wojcio puts the Chiefs up on a breakaway, but can't get an other despite throwing twenty-five more shots on net. Finally in the third, Harold Banks buries the puck On Ellis' open backdoor, in what looked to be the killer for the Diggers. But no, the Diggers counter immediately, penetrating Josh Ayala with a sweet feed from behind the net to Tim Rivers. With only one goal between the Diggers and sweet, sweet overtime the Chiefs went into a full court press culminating in a goal from Ben Stillwagon, preserving their perfect record and destroying whatever may have been left of the Grave Diggers' pride. . .

MAJOR
Patriots (7-0-0) 8
LSI (2-5-0) 2

The Pats are rolling, it's a John Newell goal sandwiched by two Brad Allen goals in the first and in the second Butch Hutchunson makes short work of the power play opportunity to put the Pats up four to zero. James Macha sinks an LSI goal to end hopes for a shut-out but Jeff Eagle kills the attempt at momentum scoring a Patriot goal only thirty seconds later. In the final period, Brad Allen starts-off Pat scoring by completing the hat trick, subsequent goals from Jeff Eagle and Doug Phillips put the game out of reach for the Imports but Gabe Rivera puts one more on the board to keep his personal stats up. Ellis' personal stats look terrible, two goals on six shots.

Privateers (5-0-0) 3
Komets (3-3-1) 0

The Komets give a valiant effort with a huge part of the falling at the skates of netminder Brent Bryant. The 'Teers score first, Brian Zientek, putting the Komets behind in the second minute. They have to hold fast to that one goal, as Bryant wouldn't allow another until the third when "Z" solves him again. Patrick Haley collects the final goal of the game, redeeming himself for the six minutes of penalties he piled-up on the game. Bryant turns away twenty-seven of thirty shots.

Canadiens (4-1-0) 8
Whalers (1-6-0) 1

LSI returns to the rink in their alter ego and exact a measure of revenge on Ellis who stands between the pipes for the Blow Holes. Cameron Bogle puts the Canadiens on top but the Whalers quickly even it up when Paul Thurston tickles the twine. Mike Kirkland finishes the first with a Canadien lead. . . and the game winner. In the second, Chris Gallagher kills the penalty in fine fashion scoring a breakaway shorty low on the glove side. Mike Kirkland scores another, this one on the power play. Gallagher makes another shorty in the third period and Kirkland gets the hat trick. Ellis makes an acrobatic save to stop Gasllagher's hat trick but still gives-up two more Canadien goals to Lisa Rieck and Rob Diaz.

Brewzers (1-6-0) 2
Stickmen (2-4-1) 4

The Sticks get a much needed win, even if it's against the Brewzers. The scoring was back and forth leading with the goal from Stickman Brad Bynum. The Brewwzers answer with Steve Sepeda. Alex Eysermanns ptus the Sticks back up on the power play, but the Brewzers tie it again with a goal from Steven Collyard. Stickmen guest, Bryan Brookman scores the game winner and David Counce puts it out of reach for the Brewzers.

Ice Bats (4-2-0) 6
Blue Devils (4-3-0) 4

The Devils start the game holding their m.o. two goals in the first fall to Ryan Wacker and Jay Peters. They score two more unanswered goals in the second: Val Kuntz and Ckarlie Heine. But in the third, Eric Petty breaks the dam with the first Bat goal, Joel Blixt scores one more and Andrew Latham scores two to tie the game before the third minute of the final period can pass. The Devils go into a tail spin and their desperation turns into penalties which the Bats convert into a winning game, those goals belong to Joel Blixt and Frank Casperson. The Devils step out of the driver's seat for the play-off hunt with this loss.

Snipers (1-4-0) 1
Spiders (4-1-1) 2

A great goaltending match-up. The Spiders deliver the first goal in the middle of the first, Andrew Patti spends the remainder of the period and all of the second with his sphincter in a pucker as Matt Walker turns away all Spider shots and at the other end Syzmonik eventually gives away the lead to Jeff Alenik. Roger Gray responds on the next shift, regaining the Spider lead leaving Syzmonic and the defense to hold on for the remaining seven and a half minutes, they answer the bell and the Spiders have third place in the majors locked-in just above the log jam of eight point teams.