UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

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Potter's 5-1 UVHL Spring debut win over Smoke Eaters

Its about frickin' time, eh. At long last arguably the best current men's league hockey team in the Upper Valley has joined the best of the rest for some competitive hockey! Veteran referee Carl Hatfield remarked between periods how good the hockey was and that it was faster than in Woodstock, and even lamented the fact that the Hartford, VT based Potter Construction squad was not a regular team in the UVHL. "They'd add to the league" Hatfield said. The Commishes fully agree. Whatever the future has in store for this talented class act of players is to be seen, but for the moment all UVHLers get to enjoy the quality competition that Potter brings to the UVHL's Spring version of the Mud League. The defending Mud League Champs from 2005 served notice that they will be the force to be reckoned with starting off the 2006 season with a convincing win without Cup winning goal scorer extrordinaire Dan McGee, the deceptive playmaker Gino Riffle, and "The Talent" Kevin Louzier who showed up part way through the game. The newest version of a Jay Campion, Upper Valley Hockey General Manager, squad called the Smoke Eaters named after Jay's favorite BC minor league team (or is it Jr. A?), was a little light on the bench for opening night, but that didn't stop Ryan Sinclair from showcasing his talent and getting the first goal of the Spring Season to make it 1-0 Smoke Eaters with 1:01 left in the first from Stu Close. The Eaters looked pretty sharp in their red Chicago Blackhawks jerseys donated by Frenchy, the same jerseys worn earlier this season by the Storm Kings (who now are by far the best outfitted team around in their new authentic JT-designed Storm Kings jerseys). Potter looked just a little bit sluggish out of the gate and seemed to be getting used to a real game as opposed to Sunday Night pick-up hockey, but they quickly found their chemistry and team game and struck for 3 goals in a 1 minute and 30 second span in the middle of the second period. UVHL All-Star Will Meyer answered for Potter at 10:30 of the second period from Kevin Gilbault and Kevin Louzier. What, say you? Meyer on Potter, not the Nordiques? For the record, Will was on Potter last Mud season and actually scored the game-tying goal with less than a minute to go in the Final against Murphy's that led to McGee's OT winner, and Meyer opted to return to Potter for a likely Mud season repeat championship after winning the Whalen Cup with the Nordiques this 2005-06 UVHL season. Could he make it three championships in a row? Lebanon's Gary Smith made UVHL history and became the first original Potter player to score a goal in the UVHL at 9:35 assisted by New York State native Tom Crapser. Meyer scored again at 9:00 to complete the 1:30 onslaught, and was set-up by Anthony Shaw and Gary Smith. From the beginning of the second period and through this part of the game, Frenchy was phenominal in net, and truly was having one of his best games all season. Once Potter found their legs and game form, the score would have been doubled if not for Frenchy's acrobatics in net. This author must also report on Ryan Sinclair's nasty sick skill and speed, and Sinc put on several puckhandling clinics and had several quality scoring chances, and even rung a couple off the post and crossbar, but the shots he did get on net were met equally well by former Hartford Hurricane netmnder Jake Obar who had a fine game of his own. Perhaps if the Smoke Eaters had a full bench, instead of only 8 skaters until Stu Close showed up to make 9 players halfway through the second period, then Sinclair would have had a supporting cast, but all the Smokers could do was fend off Meyer & Co. and try to keep it close, and they did for the majority of the game. Also making their UVHL debuts this evening were Mike Fitzgerald, Bill Morrison, and Mike Salvatoriello on the Smoke Eaters. The only penalty of the game went to Sinc at 10:00 of the third for slashing, but Frenchy and the Smoke Eaters defense shut down the Potter PP attack. Potter defenseman Josh Obar was set up by Will Meyer and Jason Rouillard and snuk in from the point and slapped one past Frenchy to extend the lead with 6:21 to go. Late in the game Kevin Gilbault added a goal to go with his assist at 1:48 from Meyer and Louzier to end it 5-1.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
SME	00:00	Goal	Sinclair, Ryan(1)	Assist(s): Close, Stu(1)
PTR	00:00	Goal	Meyer, Will(1)	Assist(s): Gilbault, Kevin(1) Louzier, Kevin(1)
PTR	00:00	Goal	Smith, Gary(1)	Assist(s): Crapser, Tom(1)
PTR	00:00	Goal	Meyer, Will(1)	Assist(s): Shaw, Anthony(1) (1)
PTR	00:00	Goal	Obar, Josh(1)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(1) Smith, Gary(1)
PTR	00:00	Goal	Gilbault, Kevin(1)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(1) Louzier, Kevin(1)
SME	00:00	Penalty	Sinclair, Ryan(1)	2 minutes for Slashing

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