Sunday, May 03, 2009

Sinking de Mayo

"True" I-league

LSI (0-1-0) 1
Whalers (2-0-0) 6

The arguments for ringers on the roster surely loom for the Whalers, last week they dispatch the BD-I, this week the Imports fall to their harpoon. The game was over at the end of the first. Thomas Aarons is the lead-off shooter for the Whalers and his tally is joined in short order by team mate Joshua Monaco- his goal turns out to be the game winner. The lone Lone Star Imports goal belongs to Mike Bierwiler. David Svoboda picks-up the Whaler offense again and Monaco closes the first period with his second. The formalities ensue and two more periods equals two more Whaler goals, Brad Watson and James Penney. Welcome to true I-league, Topher.

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

The Spiders had a disappointing opener last week, losing by a three goal margin, this week they waste no time establishing a three goal lead. Brian Couture capitalizes on the power play, Freddy Gilbert follows suit at even strength, and Couture scores again before the Warriors finally make it on the board. Sean Griffin makes the first Warrior goal and Lisa Michaelides tries to make a game of it, bringing the Warriors within one. . . The Warriors have most of the third period but without Dallas Lehr's appendix, they fall short, eventually giving-up an empty net goal to Couture- a weak hat trick. Sexton allows only two goals on the twenty-eight Warrior shots.

Mutineers (1-1-0) 6
Grave Diggers (0-1-0) 3

The Mutineers reverse the whip on the champion Diggers, last week they lost six to three. Patrick Haley returns to I-league after his failure in the 'Teers goal last week and opens scoring for the Mutineers. Stephen Smith gets his Diggers on the board and ties the game, but Nate Hamilton regains the Mute lead and Patrick collects his second of the night on the power play. He completes the hat trick about four minutes later. With nearly two full periods of play left the Mutineers heap-on two more goals: Brooks Willhoite, Casey Payne. Tom Edwards scores with only two seconds left in the second period trying to turn the momentum but fails to inspire more than one late third period goal on the power play, it falls to Tim Rivers. Making the final score Mutineers three, Grave Diggers three, and Privateers three. . . how will we ever sort this out?

Snipers (0-1-0) 0
Stickmen (2-0-0) 7

This one was one of the most lop-sided games in the history of beer league- not only could the Snipers fail to score a single goal, they couldn't road block one man: Kyle Rybak. Rybak scores the first five goals of the game. In the third period he takes a break to sign autographs while Steph Trapp and Lynne Young carry the offense in his absence. McCollister posts a shut-out on eighteen shots, Matt Walker was smiling when I talked with him after the game.

Shockers (1-1-0) 5
Soul Patch (0-1-0) 1

The Shockers roar back with an expansion team whoopin', their sophomore session makes it time for some freshman hazing. Josh Rooker delivers the first Shocker and just before the first period ends two more Shockers find the twine: Jackson Chang, Justin Driscoll. Driscoll doubles his total with the only goal of the middle frame. The third takes a while to develop, but Eric Yepez drains the fifth Shocker goal in the eleventh minute. With ninety-four minutes left in the game Joey Otsuka sees his shut-out stolen away by Brad Aho, only eight shots against- he may have been a little cold.

Brewzers (0-2-0) 2
Puckers (2-0-0) 3

The Puckers are marching toward another top four finish. It was an auspicious start for the Puckers, generating next to nothing in the way of scoring chances they watch as Jamil Jabri beats Donaghue in the first and John Parker befuddles him in the second. But the Red Army rallies the troops and when Parker puts his Brewzers down a man Jason Arias starts the charge up San Juan hill. Rick Shelby ties the game only half a minute later and in the ninth minute Kyle Boltz makes it three for the Puckers. Patrick Donaghue seals the deal and maintains the perfect record for the team, BULLY!

Blue Devils I (1-1-0) 1
Silverwings (1-1-0) 0

The Silverwings entered the game with a win, the Blue Devils with a loss. Penalties were six minutes on the Devils, none to the Wings. Shots were 18-18. The advantage appeared to be for the Silverwings. The game winner belongs to Casey Jenkins, the only goal of the night when he beats Eric Spivey with a slow, low shot from the point. The Silverwings can't find a weakness in the Blue Devil's defense.

SND

After last week's one goal games who could have predicted these blow-outs?

Ice Bats (0-1-1) 1
Komets (2-0-0) 8

The Bats never had a chance, the first shot of the game, from Ram Lavani, ends-up behind Nunn. Scott Baldree and John Thompson give Nunn a couple more goals against. Rodney Forehand and Dustin Nation get goals in the second period, two times apiece. The Komet domination is briefly interrupted by an Ice Bat whimper from Corby Antropik. In the final period of this demonstration the Green Giant completes the hat trick with his third national deposit. It was a rude awakening for the Sunday morning pick-up stand-by, David Nunn, without his strong third period his save percentage would have been below 50%.

Privateers (1-0-1) 9
Patriots (1-1-0) 2

My sad, sad story started with a close win last week- one that had as much to do with luck as skill. Entering this one I knew that I would have to turn out another stellar performance if the Pats were to gain the victory. My head would soon be shrunk by the appearance of the rare triple hat trick. . .

The first period begins with a sweet feed from behind the net from Joel Bush to the waiting Tony Finazzo, who directs it into the elbow of the goal above Ellis' glove. The Pats fought hard and escaped the period without any more damage on the scoreboard but in the second the shot from Matt Taylor in the first minute finds the back of the net. Tony Finazzo draws Ellis off his angle and puts one over his outstretched right pad. Joel Bush collects two (one off Ellis from behind the net) making an all but insurmountable lead before Kendall Bernard finally bags the first Patriot goal. Finazzo makes his hat trick soon after. Joe Picardo tries to keep it close with his coast to coast Patriot tally, but more hat tricks had to be handed out. Joel Bush has his dealt to him on a silver platter with a deflection off his belly of an errant Ellis clearing attempt. Taylor makes two more goals to complete his without any more resistance from the Pats. Ellis will likely be putting a lot of work into his game this week.

Blue Devils (1-1-0) 7
Canadiens (1-1-0) 1

A. J. DiBenedetto lays his defeat squarely at the feet of Chris Gallagher, it's not likely he would have many arguments from the rest of the league. The Devils get their first goal from Scott Speelman on the power play, but have to toil away for thirteen minutes before David Ogle gets their second. Martin Berryman collects the third Blue Devil goal and at the end of the second period Chase Hannah drives home another Blue Devil power play. Nate Hodges finally shows-up for the Devils with his first goal, right off the face-off in the third. Charlie Heine picks his spot, not to be denied and then Val Kuntz cleans-up DiBenedetto's rebound in her favor. Everything was roses for Ol' Blu at the other end until William Ashman spoils the shut-out lees than four minutes from the horn.