UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Currently, the Pre-Game Report has not been completed.

Would you like to NUDGE the webmaster? If so, click this button to send a message to the Web Master to GIT 'ER DONE!

Leafs hit 2 posts and lose closely played game to Nords 2/13:

This one was closer than it appeared in the rear-view mirror for the Nords, but they pulled away from the pack with this win guaranteeing themselves first place and the top playoff seed. The Leafs were pumped and ready, and they came out hard, like usual, and forced the Nords to hustle in order to keep up.

The first goal wasn't scored until 6:33 of the first when Nordiques winger Dave Willis was having fun on a line with Nords captain Tao Smith and Ian Bartrum (because having fun is the most important thing, isn't it?). Tom Dakai fed Smith from the blueline who found Willis for the goal and it was 1-0 Nords. Kelly Park, who was at center this evening, set-up defenseman Adrien Melrose for the goal to make it 2-0 just over a minute later at 5:19. That was it for the first period entries, but Melrose stated on the Nords bench in only his 3rd UVHL game ever that "There aren't any easy games in this league, are there?". Nope. The 4th season is by far the best UVHL season and there are no nights off anymore!

The Leafs came within one goal at 12:50 after Brian Racicot scored from linemates Jason Loomis and Chris Gogan, and then Racicot hit the post moments later on a shot that almost tied the game. Dakai went to the Nords box for interference at 8:16, and I believe that it was on the ensuing PP that the Leafs hit the post again, and it could have been 3-2 Leafs at that point! There was lots of action late in the second, and the Nords luckily extended their lead back to two on Mike O'Neil's goal from Greg Marsh with 2:40 to go. Feeling hot, Nords forward Ian Coates got an unassisted goal at 1:36 and the Nords had a commanding 4-1 lead, although the feel and mood of the game was much closer than the score indicated. The Leafs cleared the puck out along their left wing boards and Nords D Shawn McDermott could not contain a streaking Dave Fitts without throwing some interference his way, and McD sat at 0:33 for the minor penalty. However, the Leafs could not capitalize on the PP.

In the third Willis went to the Nords box for tripping at 14:06, and the PP momentum the Leafs had with the 5-on-3 could not overcome the Nords D who killed off both minors. It got nasty at 10:13 when JT went behind the Nords goal to play the puck, misfired, and got unintentionally clipped in the head by the elbow of pursuing Leaf F Dave "Boots" Bouthillier, and JT took exception to it and gave Boots a one-handed slash on the forearm with the goalie stick that cut Boots' forearm and made it swell up immediately. Boots lost it, understandably, but did not retaliate further, and thankfully there was no fracture. The penatlies doled out were 2 for a slash and 2 for interference, and that was that. In the dying seconds of the game Marshy scored wth 8 seconds left from Park to add to their scoring totals.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
NDQ	00:00	Goal	Willis, David(1)	Assist(s): Smith, Tao(1) Dakai, Tom(1)
NDQ	00:00	Goal	Melrose, Adrien(1)	Assist(s): Park, Kelly(1)
WHL	00:00	Goal	Racicot, Brian(1)	Assist(s): Loomis, Jason(1) gogan, chris(1)
NDQ	00:00	Goal	O'Neil, Michael(1)	Assist(s): Marsh, Greg(1)
NDQ	00:00	Goal	Coates, Ian(1)	Assist(s): none
NDQ	00:00	Goal	Marsh, Greg(1)	Assist(s): Park, Kelly(1)
NDQ	00:00	Penalty	Dakai, Tom(1)	2 minutes for Interference
NDQ	00:00	Penalty	McDermott, Shawn(1)	2 minutes for Interference
NDQ	00:00	Penalty	Willis, David(1)	2 minutes for Tripping
NDQ	00:00	Penalty	Turner, John(1)	2 minutes for Slashing
WHL	00:00	Penalty	Bouthillier, David(1)	2 minutes for Interference

LOG IN:
Username:		You must be logged into your Forum account to leave game comments. Please log in to the right to add your Brilliant Diatribes & Thunderous Verbal Attacks about this game.
Password:
	forget username / password? create account

Game Comments: