League News
Some internet issues, crushing news (read about it here), and general laziness all contributed to a bit of a delayed summary, but hey, better late than never, right?
All four of October 12th's games were exciting in their own ways. We saw a battle between the league’s two top teams. A few hard fought contests by other teams looking to turn their seasons around. There was clutch penalty killing across the board, a few scoreless periods, and even a hat trick!
Without any further adieu, let's get to it...
Blue Roosters vs Dover Gold - Game Summary
The puck dropped at 6:30pm between the Blue Roosters (3-1-1-0) and Dover Gold (0-3-0-2), and this was a game where neither team refused to give an inch early on. Blue opened the scoring about 90 seconds into the game when Forward Adam Holmes put one home assisted by Forward Mike Henniger. This would put Blue ahead 1-0; until Gold responded 30 seconds later. Gold Forward Ralph Baer buried a goal off a feed from Forward Kendra Dow.
Gold would return to the ice at the start of the second with some momentum, leading to a second goal being scored quickly by Forward Sam Raynor from John Hall. Gold would ride this lead for most of the second, but a full-strength goal by Blue’s Mara Bovee and a power-play goal by Adam Holmes would give Blue the 3-2 lead heading into the locker rooms.
At the start of the third period, Blue's newest player - a DCEHL vet - Don Sutherland would score an early insurance goal. Gold would battle back, with Baer finding the back of the net (his second of the game) about two minutes later to bring them to within one goal. They wouldn't be able to score again to force a shootout, and ultimately, Blue would come out on top in a 4-3 final score.
Grey Squirrels vs Purple Pain - Game Summary
In the next game, the Grey Squirrels (4-1-0-0) would face off against the Purple Pain (3-0-1-1) for the first time this season. Both teams would start the game with strong defense, keeping either team off the board. Purple successfully killed off two penalties as well, showing Grey that even when they're down a player, they came to play.
It would be a few minutes into the second when Grey would break the ice, with Forward (and DCEHL points leader) Brad Bickford would score, assisted by D-man Dalton Briggs. Their lead would last for about two minutes when Purple Forward Kevin Dalton would connect with Forward Benedict Christen, tying the contest at 1-1. Both teams would lock it down and keep each other from scoring for the remainder of the period.
The final frame was another period of tit-for-tat, with Purple and Grey trading goals. Purple would score first, courtesy of an unassisted goal by DCEHL rookie, Rick Alvarez. Grey would answer back with just over five minutes to go by way of a goal from Dalton Briggs (his second point of the night). Neither team would get the upper hand before the final buzzer, leading to a shootout. This is where Grey would propel themselves to victory, securing a 3-2 shootout victory.
Red Army vs Black Knights - Game Summary
Game three would be a contest between perennial rivals, the Red Army (3-2-0-0) and the Black Knights (2-3-0-0). The game would begin with a bang as a lapse at the blue line would give Red Captain Phil Saltmarsh a breakaway. He'd tuck away the puck five-hole to give his team an early boost and a 1-0 lead. They'd extend their lead with just over 3 minutes left in the period when Saltmarsh would once again find himself on the breakaway. While Black's net-minder Ed Gontarz would deny the initial shot, Red Forward Steve Ladd would find the rebound and punch it home, giving them a 2-0 lead. Black wasn't about to go into the locker room skunked though, and they'd get their first of the evening when Black Forward Tim Colletto would wrangle a bouncing puck and go bar-down over Red goalie Chris Childress' shoulder. The period would end with Red still up 2-1.
The game's second frame would be largely uneventful with both teams battling hard, but having trouble finding their scoring touch. Red and Black would both kill off penalties, denying each other any momentum off special teams. Red would finally break through, with their third goal of the night coming from Forward Ryan Long, who fired a hard pass into the slot that Forward Mike Sinkewich would receive and hammer home, giving them a 3-1 lead.
Red would hold their lead for the entirety of the third period, and would score the backbreaker with just under 3 to go. Red Forward John Gesek would find himself on a breakaway, but would put the puck wide due to some defensive pressure. That was when Steve Ladd would follow a lively bounce off the boards and pound the puck home. Black would dig deep and score a second goal to try and close the gap with just over a minute left, but it wouldn’t be enough. Red would go on to win, 4-2.
NHMS vs PowerPro Electric - Game Summary
Monday's shinny would conclude with a game between NHMS (1-4-0-0) and PowerPro Electric (3-2-0-0). The first period would start off with a bang when White's blue-liner John Wentworth would score the team's first goal of the night just a few minutes into the game. This would put them up 1-0, and they'd take that lead into the locker room.
The second period would once again see both teams battling hard not to give an inch. It wouldn't be until just past the halfway point of the period when White Forward Drew Koellmer would score and give his team a 2-0 lead. When it looked like all the wind had been sucked out of Green's sails, they'd find some life as Forward Joe Kewley would connect with Forward Ryan Sargent to bring them to within one. Kewley's goal would just be the beginning though.
No more than three or so minutes into the third, Kewley would strike again, tying the game 2-2. He'd follow this four minutes later, capping off a natural hat trick and giving his team a 3-2 lead late in the third. White would kill off a penalty to avoid any further bleeding, but they'd be unable to tie it up. When the final buzzer sounded, Green was on top 3-2, giving them their third win of the season.