UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	Tuck by 2 goals
OVER/UNDER:	9.5 goals

Can Tuck's stingy defense hold back the old-man style of hockey the Kingers execute so well? Rookie netminder Ryan Fitzgerald will be tested again this week as he tries to slow down a very good puck handling team. On the other hand, can the Kingers defensemen keep up with the speedy forwards from Tuck? Without taking 10 penalties? Hanbury, Martin, Mantin and company tend to grind opponents into the ice over the course of 45 minutes.

Last week I saw both Hanbury and Kingers new guy Rob Barker put on one man shows for their respective teams. John "Double Team" Turner should be good since this will be the first of 2 games that he'll be backstopping that night. He's sure to suck in the second one against the Bruins, seeing as he is getting old and about as limber as Marty White on Viagra!

This should be a good one. The Kingers started the season off slowly but have won their last two, whereas Tuck is coming off of a devastating loss to the Smurf Patrol and a HUGE win over the highly favored Brewers.

Tuck outplays, outlasts Kingers.

It seems like every week there is a titan matchup and it just so happened to be the first game of the night. Tuck hosting the Kingers, Tuck getting the showers, the Kingers having to walk to the Showers! It seems like a little thing but with the high maintenance Kings squad, that long walk lingers on their minds all night and can kill their games. That's what I'm blaming the Kings sloppy play on.

I did predict it right, I said it would be a 2 goal win for Tuck (6-4, including and empty netter) and 9.5 goals for the over under. DAMN I'M GOOD!!!! Brian Fleming started the night off finishing off a pass from Ben Kennedy after Tommy "It's not my fault" Scull took a bad high sticking penalty on the Kingers Power Play, which ended in Flemming's power play goal. The remainder of the 1st period was a brilliantly played chess match.

Ricky "Anger Management" Hughes tied the game only 1:08 into the second period after poke checking the puck off of a Tuck player's stick at the red line, busting down the right wing and BLASTING a slapshot glove side and up under the crossbar and passed a STUNNED Ryan "Rook" Fitzgerald. Tuck bounced back just 1:04 later when Pace Ralli, camped out in the low slot, finished off a great Burkhart pass from the corner. Michelle "La Babe" Labbe put the Tuckeroonies up by 2 on another power play. "Wicked Smaat" Scotty Turco fired a shot / pass right on the stick of "La Babe" who redirected it along the ice past John "Overly Competitive Old Man" Turner. Kinger's new guy Tim "Lanky" Leroy received a SWEEEET behind the back pass from Robbie "Big Boy" Barker, as Barker was heading behind the net and drawing the netminder to the opposite post, leaving Leroy with an open net.

With 2:55 remaining in the 2nd, Ricky Hughes got tangled up with Trevor Martin and allegedly took a stick to the face and then a punch. That's when Ricky showed his true colors, verbally abusing the refs and drawing a 10 minute Misconduct. He continued to berate and was tossed from the game. He then decided to CONTINUE acting like a spoiled brat screaming at the top of his lungs, drawing a 30 day suspension and the honor of going in front of the USA Hockey board. It is tough saying this about a guy that I really like and respect, but Hughes was way out of line and despite numerous warnings from the refs, the commish, his team mates & captain Ricky kept coming onto the bench to angrily voice his opinion to the point where the refs called the game. Rightfully so. After calming everyone down, the refs agreed to resume the game.

It is a pity that one selfish individual can possibly ruin 30 guys night by not being able to control themselves. All players were warned that there would be a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for abusing the refs and the refs were within right and did everyone a favor by letting the game continue. Guys gotta remember that the refs may be watching the play but don't catch everything, it is LIFE, DEAL WITH IT!!! Act like a grown man.

On a positive note, Turco closed out the 2nd period flying down the right wing, surprising EVERYONE by cutting to the net for the first time EVER and beating Turner 5-holio. End of 2, Tuck 4-2.

Turco struck again 3:16 into the 3rd as he batted down a bouncing puck, put it between the legs of the defenseman, cut through the slot and beat Turner top corner GLOVE SIDE!!!! It looked like the Kingers were down and out, 5-2 Tuck, but the Kings always find a way, even when they are being dominated. Tim Leroy put the Kings within 2 going 5-hole, burying a shot from the low slot. Scully put the Kings within one with 1:28 remaining in the game on a power play as he came out of the corner on his backhand and went 5-hole. When asked how he put it in, Scully responded that "It was because my chin strap was undone."

Then something interesting happened with under a 30 seconds left. With Turner pulled for an extra skater, Trevor "The Retard" Martin took a high slap shot FROM THE CORNER on the empty net catching Robbie Barker in the chest. An absolutely insanely stupid move on Martin's part. Unnecessary and completely and utterly lacking any thought. Barker was dumbfounded after the game looking down at the enormous purple welt on his chest.

Turco ended up

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
TCK	00:00	Goal	Fleming, Brian(1)	Assist(s): Hanbury, Peter(1)
STK	00:00	Goal	Hughes, Rick(1)	Assist(s): none
TCK	00:00	Goal	Ralli, Pace(1)	Assist(s): Burkart, Ryan(1) Mantin, Adam(1)
TCK	00:00	Goal	Labbe, Michelle(1)	Assist(s): Turco, Scott(1) Kennedy, Ben(1)
STK	00:00	Goal	LeRoy, Tim(1)	Assist(s): Barker, Rob(1)
TCK	00:00	Goal	Turco, Scott(1)	Assist(s): Berner, Nate(1)
TCK	00:00	Goal	Turco, Scott(1)	Assist(s): Burkart, Ryan(1)
STK	00:00	Goal	LeRoy, Tim(1)	Assist(s): Scull, Tom(1) Stout, Artie(1)
STK	00:00	Goal	Scull, Tom(1)	Assist(s): Stout, Artie(1) LeRoy, Tim(1)
TCK	00:00	Goal	Turco, Scott(1)	Assist(s): Kennedy, Ben(1)
TCK	00:00	Penalty	Ralli, Pace(1)	2 minutes for Hooking
STK	00:00	Penalty	Scull, Tom(1)	2 minutes for High Sticking
TCK	00:00	Penalty	Hanbury, Peter(1)	2 minutes for Holding
STK	00:00	Penalty	Barker, Rob(1)	2 minutes for Roughing
TCK	00:00	Penalty	Mantin, Adam(1)	2 minutes for Hooking
STK	00:00	Penalty	Hughes, Rick(1)	10 minutes for Misconduct
STK	00:00	Penalty	Hughes, Rick(1)	10 minutes for Game Suspension
TCK	00:00	Penalty	Fleming, Brian(1)	2 minutes for Hooking
STK	00:00	Penalty	Barker, Rob(1)	2 minutes for Body Checking
STK	00:00	Penalty	Scull, Tom(1)	2 minutes for Hooking
TCK	00:00	Penalty	Fleming, Brian(1)	2 minutes for Hooking
STK	00:00	Penalty	Cashman, Dean(1)	2 minutes for Roughing

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Game Comments:

hkydoc WRJ, VT Registered: Jan 2004 Posts: 517

My money is on... Nov 5th, 2007 10:55 PM Marty White on Viagara? I hope he takes it 30 minutes AFTER the game because I don't want any shower room horror shows in the game write-up... Well, my money is on Tuck because of youth, speed, and the fact that they are in second place, and deservedly so. However, Turner LOVES a challenge, and he has got a great squad in front of him on the Storm Kings IF they all show up. They have the best 5-man D core in the league with Rick Hughes, Artie Stout, Tom Scull and Stu Close, and whoever else they might put back there, be it Greg 'Goose' Gosselin or even that horny veteran Marty White. With the new players starting to hit their stride, watch out for the Kingers - this could be a great game!