THE

UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Gamblers
Labatt Blues
1st
1
2
2rd
1
2
3rd
1
1
FINAL
3
5
Shots
41
45
November 22nd, 2022 - 8:20PM
Union Arena - Woodstock, VT
Pre-Game
Recap
Box Score
Discussion
Game ID: 1417

Gamblers signing the Blues after 5-3 Loss

Week 6 in the UVHL didn't disapoint with a heavyweight bout between the Labatt Blues & Gamblers.  The G-Men hosted a league best 3-1-0 record before puck drop and the Blues sat at 2-2-0.  Both teams bring dynamic scoring and an edge that typically results in a bucket full of penalties, but for the most part there was solid defense, goaltending and both teams were on their best behavior.

The Gamblers entered the ice surface sporting their traffic cone orange jerseys, which you can rent for holiday parties and roadside work by emailing GamblersJerseyRentals@gmail.com.  The Labatt Blues were sporting their classic white jerseys, which may or may not have been soaked and stained with Natty Ice, which could be a huge problem with their sponsor if word got out.

It was a big night for the Blue's Castleton Connection line of Anthony Matarazzo, Colin Clark and Kyle Richards.  Each had a goal and a couple apples, and the Blues used 5 different goal scorers on the night, spreading out the wealth.  Max Maor & Tyler White also popped one past the Gambler's Luke "The Duke" McCormick who was fantastic in this one, stopping 38 saves en route to the 5-3 loss.  His counterpart Jonny "Hall of Fame" Hall stopped 40 of 43, including a pair of breakaways and a handful of saves he had no right making.

The Gamblers actually got on the board first just under 2 minutes into the game.  Matty "The Mailman" Marrazzo always delivers, finding Max Woods in front for a quick redirect past Hall.  That was the only biscuit Hall would surrender in the first.  The Blues bounced back with a pair of goals just 23 seconds apart in an epically horrible shift from the gamblers.  The first came off a nice pass from Mike Anderson down to Clark in the far corner.  Clark caught Richards circling all alone in the high slot for a quick snipe blocker side on McCormick.  Materazzo set up the next play, entering the zone and chipping a puck into the high slot.  Clark jumps between the Gambler’s Matty Marrazzo and Ian Gill, steals the puck, splits the defense and beats McCormick low glove side.  Great hustle, great goal, horrible defensive play from the G-Men.

That second goal came with 10:16 to play in the first and the rest of the frame was a chess match, back and forth with no results.

END OF THE FIRST: Labatt Blues 2, Gamblers 1 - SAVES: McCormick(GMB) 12 - Hall(LAB) 14

The second period saw more of the the first and it took almost half the period before the Blues were able to break through again.  This time it was Richards starting the play in the near corner and finding White at the point.  White found Materazzo backdoor, but McCormick read the pass and made the first save.  Matarazzo was able to collect his rebound and throw it under the goaltender as he fell backwards awkwardly.  3-1 Blues.

Riding the high, the Blue's Mikula got a little too excited and took a tripping call just 13 seconds later.  The Gamblers didn't wait long and scored early in the PP to cut the lead to 1.  The goal came off of a faceoff to Hall's left.  Woods won the puck back to Ryan "Thing 2" LaCroix.  Thing 2 moved the puck back to Ryan "The Boogeyman" Bergeron at the point for a quick shot/pass to Topo "Thing 1" LaCroix in the slot.  Hall of Fame made the save but couldn't collect the rebound before Thing 1 jammed it home.

Max Major regained the 2 goal lead off a faceoff win from TJ "Big Mucks" Moran.  Major absolutely ripped  snapper top cheddah on McCormick....no chance.  4-2 Blues.

END OF THE SECOND: Labatt Blues 4, Gamblers 2 - SAVES: McCormick(GMB) 26, Hall(LAB) 27

The lLues extended their lead 3 minutes into the third period on a very controversial play as Tyler white and Colin Clark attacked the net on a 2v1 with a ton of traffic knocking the Gambler's McCormick back into his own net.  The near official immediately called the goal off for goaltender interference, but McCormick, being the nice human being he is, convinced the referee to overturn the call stating there was no goaltender interference.  In a 4-2 game.  Who is this guy, Christ reborn?  Anyhoo, the goal was overturned and put the Blues up 5-3.

The Gamblers immediately went to work, pressing the next shift with extended zone time in the Blues zone before Hall made had a brain fart, trying to play and cover a puck that was played with a high stick from the Gamblers.  Hall wasn't able to cover the puck before Thing 2 stole the puck and fed Max Woods for a quick shot into the empty net.  OUCH.

The last 9+ minutes of play were fast and skilled. Both teams had to kill interference penalties, but nothing came of the calls.

FINAL: Blues 5, Gamblers 3.  SAVES:  McCormick (Gamblers) - 38,  Hall (Blues) - 40

LEAGUE PICK 'EM
 0%
Gamblers
0% 
Labatt Blues
PICKS
THREE STARS

Jon Hall

GA: 3
SAVES: 38
SAVE%: 0.927

Anthony Matarazzo

GOALS: 1
POINTS: 3

Max Woods

GOALS: 2
POINTS: 2

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