THE

UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Nordiques
Gamblers
1st
2
2
2rd
1
4
3rd
1
1
FINAL
4
7
Shots
31
36
December 20th, 2005 - 8:05PM
Pre-Game
Recap
Box Score
Discussion
Game ID: 260

Bruins dominate to end Nords 9 game winning streak

Very few Nords players could look at themselves in the mirror after that game and be happy with the game and effort they had. Perhaps Ian Coates, Dave Willis, and possibly Tom Dakai weren't too upset with themselves, but the rest of the Nords roster had better take a long, hard look at themselves because they GOT SPANKED by the Bruins and it is time for a gut check. No longer are the Nordiques riding on the wave of success after the tough and tenacious Bruins abrubtly ended their 9 game winning streak. The Nords had their eyes on a full sweep until their next rematch with the Storm Kings (and who knows what might have happened then...) and a potential 13 game run, but no more! The struggling Bruins, whose record has been a poor reflection of their actual ability due to several OT losses, ended a 4 game winless streak of their own with the complete domination of the UVHL's hottest team. Bruins winger Tony DeFelice continued to build on his Player of the Week win from last week and singlehandedly (yes, that's right, frickin' singlehandedly) demolished the Nordiques by scoring 5 GOALS, including a Natural Hat Trick in the second period. They may not have all been pretty, but DeFelice deserves huge props from his Bruins homies for his crash the net and bury the rebound style that has been the highlight of the Bruins offense for the last 3-4 games regardles of their recent record. Showing determination and grit, DeFelice scored the game opening goal only 46 seconds into the game to start the Bruins on the right foot, assisted by Scott Fraser who is creeping up in the defensemen scoring standings while playing stalwart D. The Nords appeared shocked, like they weren't ready to have the game taken right to them, and then Fraser scored at 9:28 from Mark Weglarz (# 15?) to suddenly make it 2-0 for the Bruins early in the first with a commanding lead. The Nords struggled for a while, stunned at the score on the scoreboard, and from the Bruins forechecking and physical style of play that put them back on their heels. However, the one improvement for the Nords was that even though the Bruins took it to 'em, they were able to break out effedtively from their own end, unlike the last time the Bruins beat them tha saw the Nords barely leave their own zone. The Nords started to roll, if only for a little while, and put a few good shifts together culminating with playboy partyboy extraordinaire Mike O'Neil's goal at 4:09 from Coates and a mystery Nords player (# 24...we have no # 24 refs! Are the jersey numbers too small for you to see?) to bring his team within one. With the momentum the Nords scored to tie the game at two apiece with Ian Coates' equalizer at 2:36 from linemate Will Meyer. Feeling more confident, the Nords were pleased with their first period comeback, and now it was anyone's game....or was it? Nords D Dan Coffey took out Bruins F Don Powers sending a not so subtle message something like 'Don't fuck with our goalie, asshole" after Powers skated in behind JT in the crease and tripped up JT from behind sending the netminder onto his back. This made JT see red, and he went after Powers in a verbal tirade only to have Rob Pelletier charge in to berate JT for sticking up for himself that saw Pelletier continue on to berate the officials swearing and pointing fingers at referee Gary Laperle, who did well to keep his cool. Pelletier was VERY lucky to not have been thrown out for yet another verbal tirade that crossed the line with UVHL's powers that be. Powers protested and denied he took out JT on purpose saying that he was pushed into him by a Nords D, but this author saw the whole play and Powers went in all alone. When all was said and done Coffey got the LONE penalty with 0:51 left in the first, which was pure CRAP after JT was on his back and the abuse of the officials that last week would have been met with a swift ejection. How about some consistency in the new UVHL, eh refs? Laperle told JT he didn't see the foul, but had no excuse to take abuse like that from anyone, and although very consistent and cool headed, at times Laperle should follow the lead of veteran refs Gove and Hatfield and put an end to the crap he takes before it crosses the line, otherwise it will keep happening. On the ensuing power play Bruins Big Daddy D Alec jessiman cought Nords superstar winger Will Meyer with a high stick that sent Meyer for repairs opening a cut above the right eye. Luckily it was nothing more serious than a few stitches couldn't fix, and it isn't the first hockey tattoo for Meyer's handsome mug either, but it took him out of the game and it just deflated the Nords who were focused and concerned for their teammate. Meyer was a class act all the way, and he knew it was accidental and a part of the game. No hard feelings were expressed, just frustration at no longer being able to play. Commish McD sat out a few sifts to tend to the bleeding Meyer until a nurse in the stands came over to see what happened, and McD conceded the repairs to the superior training of nurse vs. chiropractor for blood and guts (and she was cute, too! Did you get her number, Will?). Will was sent to the ER for some stitches and will return, maybe with a visor (good idea), in the New Year after a Florida vacation with his family. The irony is that Meyer had a visor in his hands at Stateline earlier the same day contemplating an early Christmas present for himself, but he put it back on the shelf...Murphy's Law, eh? Jessiman received the automatic USA Hockey 5-minute major, game ejection and game misconduct for the following game for the infraction at 14:22 of the second (FOR THE RECORD: The Commishes disagree with this USA Hockey rule unless the high stick was intentional, but cannot overturn it since we are a USA Hockey league. We'd be fine with the major and same game ejection, but don't like the automatic 1 game suspension for the following week. However, if it is warranted, we CAN and WILL impose additional suspensions for such infractions, accidental or not, depending on the severity of the incident). Matt Marrazzo scored a game crushing 4-on-4 goal while Jessiman's penalty serving replacement and Coffey were simultaneously in the box at 14:00 to further deflate the Nords. Incredibly, linemate DeFelice scored a mere FOUR SECONDS later from shifty center Aaron Isabelle at 13:56 to rub the Nords' noses in it for wallowing in their own pity and little violin sounds could be heard throughout the Union Arena for the Nordiques. Suddenly, and just like that, the Nords were down 2 goals again, and without Meyer & McDermott to kill penalties, and Meyer to pull them even, the outlook was grim for a team on their heels. Fraser received a minor for bodychecking at 13:24 but the Nords inept PP could not capitalize. DeFelice continued his hardnosed play along the boards freeing up a puck battling with Greg Marsh and bolting to the net looking for the give-n-go. It worked, and DeFelice scored (what was listed as an unassisted goal, but wasn't) a pretty goal over an outstretched JT to make it 5-2 at 8:33. Unfortunately, frustration set in and Marsh decided to cheap-shot DeFelice for "fucking slashing", and (I can only assume) from the mighty midget kicking his ass along the boards and scoring a goal en route to being a hero for the Bruins. Marsh tackled DeFelice, but not before he got a shot to the head of DeFelice in, just a moment after DeFelice scored, and took hold of him with red in his eyes for something (if it even did happen like Marsh said it did) that was way out of proportion to the retaliation by Marsh. Mike Harrington came in late as the third man in and took all three of them down in a writhing heap jumping on Marshy from behind. Luckily noone was hurt. The Nords had Marsh in the box for 4 min on the interference and roughing calls, and the Bruins had someone in the box for Harrington's roughing call, but somehow it went 5-on-5 with Marsh in the box for 2 and a whistle. DeFelice completed the Natural Hat Trick just over two minutes after his pretty score, this time getting help from Jay Smith and Matt Marrazzo at 6:26 to give the Bruins a commanding 6-2 lead over the stunned Nordiques. Coffey, uncharacteristically, got his second penalty of the game for a slash at 4:02, but JT and the Nords penalty killers rejected all Bruin opportunities. Dave Willis scored an inspiring unassisted goal (was it really unassisted, refs?) late in the second with 1:07 to go that was followed up by another goal by the Marsh-Willis-Smith line on their very next shift when Marshy, now calm and cool and giving his team a chance to win, scored a beauty in tight on a quick, hard shot that beat Hadley gained by some hard work from Marsh himself and assist men Coffey and Willis. Suddenly the score was 6-4 at 12:24 of the third. Both teams knowing that they were equally capable of erasing a two goal differential in either direction made the tension in the ice even higher, and 10 minutes of fast, hardworking hockey ensued. However, the Nords impotent PP continued to frustrate themselves, and teammates on the bench, after failing to capitalize, and barely control or shoot the puck, yet again on the Powers tripping call at 14:38 of the third before Willis made it 6-4 after teh penalty had expired, and they also failed to score on Marrazzo's bodychecking minor at 9:50 as well. Late in the third Nords D McDermott attempted to sneak the puck past Dave DeSchamp on the boards outside the blueline, but DeSchamp blocked it and deflected it past a flat-footed McD and would have headed in alone on the Nords net if McD didn't trip him up and send him to the ice with 5:36 to go, basically negating any chance of a late game comeback for the Nords. The Nords killed it off, but lost a crucial two minutes to mount a comeback thanks to McD's poor judgement, inability to catch DeSchamp, and unfortunately, necessary penalty. The final goal was scored by none other than, guess who, Tony DeFelice for his FIFTH goal of the game ending the contest at an impressive 7-4 for the Bruins with 2:43 from Isabelle. When all was said and done it was a hell of a game, even with the bullshit that went on, and the refs did a great job of making sure it didn't escalate and earned their money on this one.
LEAGUE PICK 'EM
 0%
Nordiques
0% 
Gamblers
PICKS
THREE STARS

© 2003-2024 Upper Valley Hockey League.
Website design & maintenance by Kelly Andrew Park