Another week is in the record books and another 2 games with no change in the team seeding.

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From a standings point of view, last night was totally without meaning – no change in seedings, Team Blair moves further ahead, remaining teams stay where they were, goalies GAA gets inexorably higher…sigh…. Continue reading →

Both games good and close and not exactly the results expected in the afternoon or at the opening whistle.

In the first game, Team Blair’s prospects of beating the point spread were looking a bit shaky as Ian G wasn’t on the floor during the pregame warmup. Team Jacquie got on the board early as Ashmore’s shooting was accurate and to the mesh but Team Blair’s 2016 additions were pushing fast and hard to the Team Jacquie net. Justin was able to stop most but not all of the the innumerable shots and Team Blair exited the 1st period, up by one, leading 3-2. In the 2nd, the teams traded goals and chances and surprisingly strong defense at both ends, both scoring 2 and entering the 2nd intermission with Team Blair still ahead by 1, leading 5 – 4. The 3rd period was intense back and forth with Team Blair pressing hard and actually getting back on defense when needed. The 3rd period was more or less a repetition of the 2nd, Team Jacquie would score but Team Blair would recover and score to stay 1 goal ahead. With time running out, Team Jacquie pressed hard but Team Bair was able to recover the loose ball each time and more or less run down the clock. Getting the final loose ball with 30.5 sec left should have resulted in a pretty easy ball control completion of the game ….BUT NO! pressing hard to the net and a shot on goal with 6 seconds left! Luckily the shot dribbled in, but could easily have resulted in a long end to end pass and a tieing goal. Not this time though, final score Team Blair 8  – Team Jacquie 6.

In the 2nd game, Team Lia was looking a bit thin on the bench with only 1 spare, so an emergency loan was negotiated with Team Dirka. Team Dirka got on the board fast and with Erik the Red emphasizing the end of his “inability to score streak (vs. G^2)”, the Dirks exited the period, ahead 5-3. In the 2nd, both teams imitated the first game’s script, trading goals and the 2nd period ended with the Dirks still ahead by 2, 7-5. In the 3rd, Team Lia scored 2 goals to tie it up heading in to the last 5 minutes and were pressing hard to take the lead. Team Dirka got one back and then on the faceoff, the JKOW, riled up by some questionable (to him) crease (non)calls, wrenched control of the ball on the faceoff, bulled his way to the top of the crease and buried a precision shot to the lower corner – classic old school JKOW! Pretty much took the wind out of Team Lia’s sails and the time ran out on a Team Dirka win – 9 – 7.

Good, fast, close games – could easily have gone either way. Hopefully someone got some cell phone video of the towel draped siren traipsing through the lobby after the game – pretty sure we can get more recruits if they see the scenery available! 😆

On to the next games, Week #8 Wednesday June 22, 2016 Kinsmen Arena

Team Jacquie  vs  Team Lia     8:00  –  9:00pm

Team Blair  vs.  Team Dirka     9:00pm  – 10:00pm

See you then.

G2

First game started fast for Team Jacquie who scored 4 quick goals before the fans were comfortably settled in their seats. Slowing down a bit, Team Jacquie scored 2 more to open up a 6 goal lead before Team Dirka was able to respond with a couple of late period goals – Erik the Red finally broke his long term inability to score on the BigG with his first of 2 on the night. The period ended with Team Jacquie leading 6-2. In the 2nd, Team Dirka showed that they still had some spark, scoring a couple of goals to claw to within 2 goals before a dangerous shot penalty shot broke their momentum. The teams exchanged a couple of late goals  and exited the 2nd period with Team Jacquie leading 8 – 5. In the 3rd Team Dirka pressed hard, but Team Jacquie was able to hold them off, running out the clock for a 9 – 7 victory.

In the late game, Ian G was back for his 2nd game off the injured reserve list and Team Blair capitalized quickly. A couple of pinpoint shots and quick cross crease passes finished off with quick stick goals boosted Team Blair to a 4 – 0 lead at the end of 1. Not willing to be totally dominated, Matt A scored a couple of  quick goals and both teams settled down for an extended battle. Team Lia was able to close to within 2 but a couple of late Team Blair goals restored their margin to 4. Team Blair up 8 – 4 at the end of 2. In the 3rd Team Lia pushed hard outscoring Team Blair 3-2 but the 1st period lead was too hard to overcome and the game ended with another Team Blair victory 10 – 7.

Good high quality turnout for all 4 teams. As with everything, 90% of success is just showing up – if most of the players show up, your team has a chance to run hard and then rest… and good things come from running hard! (except for goalies of course!)

Next week is the start of the 3rd round robin. Week #7 Wednesday June 15, 206 Kinsmen Arena

Team Blair  vs.  Team Jacquie     8:00pm  – 9:00pm

Team Lia  vs.  Team Dirka     9:00pm  – 10:00pm

See you then.

G2

First off, an important correction to last week’s report. It was pointed out that the report on the second game was incorrect. Team Blair had no issues with low bench numbers. They did not need the addition of Big Matt, in fact he was totally unnecessary which is why he left after the 2nd period. Blair with 6 goals and Daryl with 3 would have been more than enough to inflict another loss on Team Jacquie. Probably the goalie switch also had no bearing on the outcome (its always the scorers and never the goalies…. 😥 ). Guess I have to pay more attention to the games and take better notes….anyway, on to this week’s games.

In the early game Team Blair(less) welcomed the return of Ian G from the injured reserve list and the changes were dramatic. Both teams played a tight defensive game in the first period and went to the intermission tied at 1-1. But…in the 2nd, the floodgates burst and Team Blair(less) dominated, scoring 8 unanswered goals. Lots of fast ball movement, tight passing and precision ball placement……just F^%&^ wonderful for goaltender morale! In the 3rd, Team Dirka was able to shake off their disastrous 2nd period and scored 3 goals to mount a bit of a comeback, but Team Blair just bore down again and scored 3 answering goals to keep the goal spread at 8 – final score Team Blair(less) 12  – Team Dirka 4.

In the late game the odds were pretty clear going in – Team Lia should be 4+ goal favorite over a struggling Team Jacquie and the opening minutes seemed to back this up. Mark C stirred the crowd to a fever pitch (and got the doping team all hot and bothered getting their test kits ready) by scoring an unprecedented (for him) natural hat trick to create an early 3 goal lead. Then Dylan added a couple more and the expected Team Lia victory was inevitable….or not. Team Jacquie scored a couple and then another and finally a late period goal and the teams headed to the break with Team Lia up by only 1, 5-4. In the 2nd, some goals were exchanged and Team Lia had the extra marker exiting the 2nd period up 8-6. They might not beat the ProLine point spread but victory still seemed likely. But, in the 3rd, we learn (again) why we play the game. Both teams exchanged a couple goals with Team Jacquie getting a couple more to get close. Heading into the homestretch, Team Jacquie scores to get within 1, then again with about a minute to play to tie it up! Should they just run out the clock and escape with a tie….Hell NO! Heavy pressure at the Team Lia end and Ashmore gets the ball, and, while under heavy defensive pressure directs (what appears to be) an easy underhanded shot to the net – GOALLLLLLLL! Team Jacquie completes the comeback and is up by 1 with 12 seconds left – an extended ball control battle at the faceoff and time runs out for a spectacular come-from-behind win for Team Jacquie 12 over Team Lia 11. Fun game (for the winning team!), lots of scoring (Dylan with 4 goals – to be expected, but Mark C with 5 goals…Really???), lots of excitement…and ProLine ends up having to pay out on the long odds Team Jacquie victory!

Hopefully the reporting is more accurate this week and I didn’t miss noting anyone’s scoring highlights.

On to next week with no roster changes this time around. Week #6, Wednesday June 8, 2016

Team Jacquie  vs.  Team Dirka     8:00pm  – 9:00pm

Team Blair  vs.  Team Lia     9:00pm  –  10:00pm

See you there.

G2