Week 7 I league: Snipers Secure/Patriots Leading...

Only one game remains before playoffs, only few precious spots remain for the might that is the battle who decides who lifts Lord Stanley's Keg...The Patriots have gained a foothold on the Gold Division while the Snipers have wrapped up a bid for a big game...

Three Stars
1. Jesse Henderson-Stickmen: 3 Goals, 1 Assist (Stickmen 5-1 win)
2. Josh Briscoe-Stingers: 3 Goals (Stingers 8-4 win)
3. Brian Conner-Mayhem: 2 Goals, 1 Assist (Mayhem 5-3 win)
Honorable Mention: Jeff Vaughan-Patriots: 2 Goals (Patriots 3-0 win)

Goalie of the Week: Jesse Gonzales: Patriots: 15 saves on 15 shots. 1 Assist. Shutout. Patriots 3-0 win.


Mayhem 5 Borrachos 3
Mayhem starts off strong with a 3-0 lead going into the second period, but had to fight and claw to survive a surging Borrachos squad for the 5-3 victory. Mayhem’s always dangerous Conner brothers scored a total of 3 goals and 2 assists on the night, while John “Iowa Stars” Pinnard and the great Greg Mersberger hit the back of the net for Mayhem. The Borrachos did make the game interesting with I League scoring leaders Jim Stuckeman and Shawn “Johnny Ringo” Haley, who both scored as did Doug Hamelwright. Mayhem will face the Komets next week, while the Borrachos will face the angered Ice Holes.

Patriots 3 Ice Holes 0
The Patriots gained posession of the top spot on the Gold division with one game left with a 3-0 shutout of the previously undefeated Ice Holes. Patriots dominated this one for the most part as the great Jeff Vaughan once again amazed the world with 2 goals while Rahul “Awesometown” Sharma added another one. Jesse Gonzales looked up to the task by not only getting the shutout, but also notching an assist on the Sharma goal. Ice Holes couldn’t get momentum in the Patriots zone for any real part of the game, while the Patriots sent attack after attack into the Ice Holes’ part of the ice.

Fugaweez 4 Blue Devils 2
The free world rejoiced as the Fugaweez knocked off the Evil Empire, aka Blue Devils with a 4-2 victory which wasn’t decided until late third period. BD struck first on a Mark Cameron goal, but the Fugaweez would answer right back on Carl Moser’s goal. It remained tied until late in the third when the Fugs won the momentum battle with a huge goal from David Osbourn for a 2-1 lead. Fugs would then get a much needed empty net insurance marker from Matt Osborne with 30 seconds left. Diablo Azul would get scrappy and find a way to score with 17 seconds left to make it a 3-2 game. But the game was iced by an empty netter by Osbourne with almost no time left as the Fugs continue to look better as the season concludes. Bobby Michaelidies looked like a champion in this one, especially in the closing seconds where a bombardment of Blue Devils shots rained down. Props also give to Tom Cox for only giving up 2 goals on 17 shots. This one was chippy and very entertaining to watch. Gloria Buelle is an offensive fighting machine.

Stingers 8 Shockers 4
An offensive escapade of doom in this game. Josh Briscoe gets the Hat Trick, while Roland Widmann, Robin Burkahart, Greg Carter, Rick White, and Scott Childress all score for the Stingers. The Shockers were almost as equally up to the task as Jason Howell scores twice, alsont with goals from Sandra Main and Nick McMacken. The game was actually competitive at the end of the 2nd with the score 3-2 Stingers. However the goals flowed in the third for the Stingers as they lit the lamp five times.

Komets 6 Spiders 4
Komets put up big numbers in this one and send the Spiders reeling in a “New NHL” style game. The Spiders actually held the 2-1 advantage going into the third on goals by Chris Gallagher and David Richardson while the Komets first period goal came from Bruce Frankle. The Komets must have taken steroids between the 1st and 2nd periods as they rattle off 4 goals in the second frame. Melissa Ross, Dustin Nation, Mike Bresnahan, and Sean Kerr all lit the lamp for the Komets. Los Komets would extend it to a 6-1 advantage on a strike from Dustin “Barbarian” Nation. Spiders would rally on Gallagher’s second goal and Chris Nicollette’s goal to make it 6-4, but the rally would stop short. Believe it or not, the Komets have a shot at the Keg. Yes…we can’t believe it either. More on that later…

Stickmen 5 Brewzers 1
Brewzers hurt their chances at getting to the Silver Keg game with a big loss to the Stickmen. Stickmen were up 3-0 after the first off two goals from Jesse Henderson and one from Jim "O’Reilly?". It would reach 5-0 as Henderson got his third and "Ken" added a tally. However apparently the stickmen would be without a goalie after the three minute mark as there were fisticuffs involving goalie and player, we don’t know what happened here. Needless to say, the Brewzers got one, but couldn’t hit an open net over the course of three minutes. Mike Moore was absolutely pummeled with shots in this one as he faces 17 shots alone in the first and 31 overall. Where’s the defense lads? Brewzers task to make it to the keg game gets no simpler as they take on the Patriots next week.

Puckers 3 Slackers 1
This one was ALL puckers. Rob Constantine gets two goals and Kevin Luckenhoff adds one for the Puckers’ three goals, while Jason Lamen gets the lone Slackers goal. Puckers threw 35 Shots on Slackers Goalie Jason Jones who kicked 32 of those out. Phenomenal. A shortened Slackers bench probably had something to do with a lack of offensive punch. One would be wise to fear the puckers if they play like this next season.

Snipers 3 Leftovers 0
The Snipers officially have clinched a spot in the Silver Keg Game (congrats boys) with their 3-0 blanking of the lowly Leftovers. Tom James had a first period score for the Snipers while Tom Buckman had two goals in the 2nd period. Brett Fitch had two helpers in this one. Patrick Donaghue gets the shutout win for the Snipers as he kicks aside all 11 shots he faces on the night. The Snipers will wait with anticipation as to who their opponent will be on April 7th for the Silver Championship.

Keg Scenarios: With one game left, we still have an open Champioship game race.

Gold
Right now all three teams have beaten each other in a bizarre three way tie. (Mayhem over Patriots. Ice Holes over Mayhem. Patriots over Ice Holes). Head to head tiebreakers are pretty much out the window as are fewest losses and most wins. Goal Differential will be what decided who goes to the Gold Keg Game.

Patriots: Currently hold first place based on Goal Differential over Mayhem and Ice Holes. A win against the Brewzers and a higher GD will hold their spot in 1st or 2nd. An Ice Holes loss this weekend puts the Patriots in the Keg game.

Mayhem: Hold second place based on GD over the Ice Holes. Mayhem would needs a win and to hold a higher GD over the Ice Holes to make the Keg or a Patriots loss.

Ice Holes: Play the Borrachos this Saturday and would need a sizeable win, a win and patriots loss, or mayhem loss to make the keg game.


Silver
The Snipers are already in the Keg Game, they await the #2 team.

Blue Devils: Have the Best chance as they play the Stingers in a very tough game. A win, and the devils are in. However, they can still make it with a loss, but they would need a Brewzers loss against the Patriots and Komets loss against Mayhem (both very possible things).

Brewzers: Need a Blue Devils loss against the Stingers and will need to beat the Patriots. They hold a head to head tiebreaker over the Komets.

Komets: If the ultimate Cinderella story is to unfold here, a miracle must take place. The Komets must first beat Mayhem, then the Blue Devils would have to lose to the Stingers and the Brewzers would have to fall to the Patriots. (again, the later two are very possible, but Komets would have to pull a miracle to beat Mayhem). If the Komets do beat mayhem and get to the keg…one must remember the Komets beat the Snipers earlier in the season….oh dear!

Still to come this week:
-Scoring Leaders
-I League Player Profile
-Beer Fiasco Continued: Euless gets Duncanville's Beer Nazi.


Polarizing....we know

I League Week 7 Matchups

Week 7 is upon us and while a beer fiasco looms over the heads of all I and D leaguers, hockey must go on! One would call this "seperation saturday" as the wheat and the chaff will be seperated, while some playoff pictures could get confused to the max.
(a couple of time changes this week: The Snipers/Leftovers and the Mayhem/Borrachos game was moved to earlier time)


Leftovers vs Snipers 6:15pm
Snipers should take the day in this showdown. However the leftovers proved last week they can score and play a little defense in the process. Snipers chances of making the keg game go up exponentialy with a win.

Mayhem vs Borrachos 7:30pm
The league's highest scoring team will take on one of the most defensive sqauds in what is nothing less than a playoff game. The loser of this one will be left praying for help to get to the championship game in the Gold Division. This does feature Mayhem goalie Chris Duran against the scoring machine of Jim Stuckeman. Bobby Sirkis is prepared to announce his retirement if his mayhem boys lose this one. Shawn Haley will out drink the entire Fugaweez team if the Borrachos win.

Stingers vs Shockers 8:15pm (Green)
Stingers man for man have the advantage, but Shockers may have the momentum to play better. We dont know who will be in net for the shockers. But one thing is for certain, a loss, and the shockers are out of the keg. There hasnt been a total eclipse in a while, we think it might be time for one.

Puckers vs Slackers 8:45pm (Gold)
Dont tell the puckers they can play spoiler...they tend to get up for these games when they are. Slackers will throw all they have at the lucky puckers to try and win back to back games.

Fugaweez vs Blue Devils 9:30pm (Green) I league Silver Game of the Night
A classic here as both old school I league teams battle. Fugaweez can put a dent in the BD season of destiny with a win, while the Ray Workman and his band of merry men will try to scrap by Lehr, Sandlin and Co.

Brewzers vs Stickmen 10pm (Gold)
While all the talk in the silver has been focused on the Snipers/BD...the Brewzers are silently waiting for one of those teams to slip. However they face a must win situation against a solid Stickmen squad who, again, will fight for the supremacy of Gold Division awesomness...

Komets vs Spiders 10:45pm (Green)
Los Komets will try and topple Mike Gallagher and his group of dangerous spiders. Komets will have to figure out a way to get the puck past Jeremy Brown who was solid in his OT win last week. Jeff Vaughan says TiVo this one and go watch the Brewzers/Stickmen game.

Patriots vs Ice Holes 11:15pm (Gold) I league Gold Game of the Night
The Season is on the line for the Patriots who are winners of their last four games. The Ice Holes who tout the league's only undefeated record will go up against a solid Pats squad who's season is on the table. Its the #2 offensive team vs the #1 defensive squad. Gonzales vs Skupien. Gilbreth vs Vaughan. Some are calling it a preview of the battle of armeggedon. You decide.

$9 Beer

There's protest a-brewin' over price hikes at the Crossbar, including $9 for a pitcher of Labatt. There's talk among D- and I-league coordinators of a boycott, and even talk of moving post-game gatherings to another bar. We can't support moving to another bar. How lame would it be to schlep over to the same bar where ChrisChris losers imbibe with their generic buddies? I'm out. The CrossBar is our bar.

But I would throw in for a boycott. They want $9 for the equivalent of five plastic cups of cheap beer? If the management at Sonny Bryan's had any imagination, they'd use beer as a loss-leader (duh) and make their profit on food. We're starving up there.

C'mon folks. It's hockey. It's beer. And, it's un-American to gouge on a foodstaple like beer.

Week 6 I League

Three Stars
1. Dallas Lehr: Fugaweez: 3 Goals (Fugs 4-0 win)
2. Jeff Vaughn: Snipers: 2 Goals (Snipers 3-2 OT win)
3. Don Lagrone: Stickmen: 2 Goals (Stickmen 3-2 OT win)
Honorable Mention: Bryan Brookman: Patriots: 2 Assists (Patriots 3-1 win)

Goalie of the Week:
Matt Skupien: Ice Holes. 22 saves on 22 shots. Shutout. Ice Holes 1-0 win

Week 6 is in the books and the standings remain tight at the top of Gold and pretty much all of Silver. An undefeated fell and a couple shutouts as well as OT games occurred.

Ice Holes 1 Mayhem 0
This one was all it was hyped up to be and more. Both teams came into this one on fire in all categories. The game was scoreless with 2 minutes and change left in regulation, when Ice Holes’ superstar Raul Gilbreth fired a cannon past Chris Duran in for the game winning goal. Mayhem pressed in the Ice Holes’ zone the rest of the period but the up and coming Ice Holes’ Goalie Matt Skupien made every save and earns the shutout in the winning cause. Ice Holes’ schedule gets no easier as they face off against the red hot Patriots next week.

Patriots 3 Borrachos 1
The 2nd battle in the top tier of the Gold Division ended with the Patriots getting a much needed two points to stay with Mayhem and the Ice Holes. Borrachos struck first on a Jim Stuckmen spinning deflection on a Shawn “Super Ringer” Haley’s helper. Patriots then responded with 3 goals unanswered as Steve Benefield, Paul Coyne and Butch Hutchinson scored while Bryan Brookman threw in 2 helpers to keep the Patriots’ keg hopes alive. The Patriots shredded the Borrachos D by throwing 27 shots on young borrachos’s goalie Tyler Taub. Borrachos playoff hopes are limited while the Patriots destiny is still in their hands and have their biggest game of the season so far next week against the undefeated Ice Holes.

Snipers 3 Puckers 2 (OT)
The patr …er, we mean Snipers stayed in the hunt for prime playoff seeding with an OT win against the lucky Puckers. The Great Jeff Vaughan was the hero and savior in this one as he unleashes the hammer of Thor from the blue line for two of the snipers’ three, including the winner in OT. Snipers got their first goal from Brett Fitch while the Puckers scored their two goals off the sticks of Rob Constantine and Ryan Rintala.

Stickmen 3 Blue Devils 2 (OT)
Stickmen successfully defend Gold Division honor with a hard fought extra frame victory. Blue Devils do get a point and stay right atop the Silver Division. Sticks got up to a 2-0 lead midway through the 2nd period on Ken Halford and Don Lagrone goals. Blue Devils stormed right back getting two goals of their own from Scott Speelman off a Ray “Dancing Primate” Workman and Dave Loggins. The game went to OT, where Lagrone hit his second of the night, this time, the game winner. When discussing the game upstairs, we unearthed the following truths: Lunchbox hates Eyezermans, Todd Smith is a Thug and the Blue Devils would have won if Workman’s red line cannon would have found the net…it was saint patty’s day…so everything was on the record…

Slackers 2 Stingers 0
Slackers pull probably the greatest upset so far this season in a shutout of the struggling stingers. Nate Williams and Dale Johnson both get goals on the night to hand the stingers their 3rd consecutive loss. Stingers were in the penalty box all night while the Slackers remained at full strength for all of the game. Credit to Slackers netminder Mark Johnson who stopped all 18 shots thrown at him. Meanwhile, Josh Briscoe hung his head in shame.

Spiders 2 Brewzers 1 (OT)
Spiders get the goal from Bryan Conture for the OT winner to slow down the surging Brewzers squad. Brewzers started the game off with a Jamil Jabril goal midway through the first. Spiders tied it with a minute left in the 3rd as Chris Gallagher scored his eighth goal of the season. Half of the OT framed passed by before Conture goal on a Patti Greco assist beat Brewzers goalie Josh Hill. The loss slows the Brewzers down in their hunt for a top spot in the silver.

Leftovers 2 Komets 1
Jeff Vaughan was correct. This game was indeed a battle. Leftovers faced a Komets squad who were coming off a shutout of the Fugaweez. Leftovers ended the komets shutout streak with a minute left in the third on Scott “The Kid” Dolbee goal. Komets would respond in the 2nd on Bryan Brookman’s tally to knot the game at one. The spunky leftovers squad would answer right back on Greg Espinoza’s strike for the 2-1 lead. Defense was the game in the 3rd as both squads couldn’t find the net and the Leftovers hold on for the 2-1 win. Mad Props to Sean Griffin who had both helpers on the Leftovers goals.

Fugaweez 4 Shockers 0
Shockers drop back to back losses for the first time this season. Fugaweez were looking for revenge after their 3-2 shootout loss to the shockers at the beginning of the season. After a scoreless first period, the Fugs put two on the scoreboard; one from Dallas “TO” Lehr and another from Glenn Englehart. The third period was more of the same as Lehr completed his hat trick on the night. 10 Penalties on the night in this one, we are glad to see combat ensuing on the ice. Shockers need a win badly to stay in Keg contention, and will have to get it against an angered Stingers team next week.

Keg Watch

With only 2 weeks remaining until the playoffs here’s how the races shape up. In summary: if your team is listed below: If you win out, your chances of getting to the keg game are very high.

Tie Breakers:
-Head to Head
-Least number of Losses
-Most number of Wins
-Goal Differential
-Penalty Minutes
-Coin Toss

Gold
As it stands only 4 teams have a shot at the Keg game, but the stat that will be most watched is the Goal Differential Stat in addition to the Head to Head Tiebreakers. The Patriots vs Ice Holes game this Saturday will be pivotal.

Ice Holes
Control their own destiny but have the Patriots and Borrachos to deal with. Currently hold head to head tie breaker over Mayhem.

Mayhem
Hold the Head to Head tie breaker over the Patriots. Remaining games put them against a desperate Borrachos team and then finish the season in an easy game against the Komets.

Patriots
Have the Head to Head over the Borrachos and will need a win on Saturday to remain in the hunt. After that, the Stat that will determine who goes will most likely be Goal Differential. Remaining games are Ice Holes and then the Brewzers.

Borrachos
Will have to win out and have some help in order to have a shot at the big game. Remaining games wont get easier as they will take on Mayhem and the Ice Holes.

Silver
A wide open race has teams jockying for position in a very tight standings. The question is who can win their last two. There should be few if any ties in the standings, but competition in the games will be fierce.

Blue Devils
Play a scrappy Fugaweez team bent on a Spoiler attitude and then wrap the Regular Season up against the always dangerous Stingers team.

Snipers
Come to be known as patriots of the silver division, the snipers have been the hottest team in the Silver division but lack a couple head to head tie breakers. However, they have only a moderate last couple of games against the Leftovers and the Slackers.

Brewzers
The Brewzers have been victimized by the OT loss. However due to lack of regulation losses, Brewzers sit very nicely if ties breakers come around. Brewzers last two may present a problem as they must win both games against solid Gold Level Competition: The Stickmen and the Patriots.

Komets
This team has been the enigma this season. However it all comes down to one thing for the komets: A Miracle. They have the capability to beat the spiders, though they’ve never done it in franchise history, and then would have to pull the greatest upset of all time, against Mayhem the following week.

Shockers
After starting the season off hot, the team has cooled off a little. The loss to the Fugaweez did damper the shockers’ hopes quite a bit. However the last two games are winnable against a slumping but dangerous Stingers team, and then finally the Fugaweez for a 3rd time this season

Slackers
A complete miracle is needed here, but we’ve seen crazier things happen. Pretty much Slackers must beat the Puckers (an accomplishable feat), then defeat a surging Snipers team.

last but not least....scoring leaders.

coming soon:
The Beer Crisis at the Cross Bar
Player Spotlight- Shawn Haley: Manifest Destiny Personified

Blue Devils: Hype or a Drunken Team of Doom?

I league Preview: Week 6

Ice Holes vs MAYHEM 6:30pm Gold (I League game of the Night)
A possible Keg game preview. Two undefeateds tangle in this one. Mayhem has already predicted a 5-0 win. All of I league pulls for IH.

Slackers vs Stingers 7:15pm Green
Two teams out of keg contention battle for nothing. The mighty Josh Briscoe says this will be a game to forget.

Patriots vs Borrachos: 7:45pm Gold
Stuckeman vs Sharma. Haley vs Hodges. Gonzales vs Gonzales!? Who will Gonzales play for in this one? The winner of this one has a lock on 3rd and maybe 2nd.

Snipers vs Puckers: 9pm Gold
Jeff Vaughan says see the Slackers/Stingers preview.

Blue Devils vs Stickmen: 10pm Green
The Silver Division Leader faces a tough opponent in this one. Stickmen have a chance to defend Gold Division honor.

Brewzers vs Spiders: 10:15pm Gold
Brewzers are trying to hang in with a jumbled silver division. Spiders still mad from the defeat at the hands of mayhem a couple weeks ago.

Komets vs Leftovers: 11:15pm Green
We hope people can get off the ice in this game. But for some reason Jeff Vaughan declares this game to be a classic. We don’t know why.

Shockers vs Fugaweez: 11:30pm GoldApparently the Shockers and Fugaweez tangle for the 2nd time this season. Last time they met it was a shockers shootout win. But if you miss this game, Fear not! Because they tangle AGAIN in a couple weeks

D-League Standings

We're in the homestretch of the D-League season, and clear upper and lower divisions have developed. Only eight points separate first and sixth place, so it should be an interesting race to the playoffs. Six teams or four? We don't know. Stay tuned.

Click here for a better look at the standings.

Question for the room: Are the Beerflyers beatable? By whom?

-BC