UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	Storm Kings by 2
OVER/UNDER:	10 goals

The 2007-2008 UVHL Co-Champions, Storm Kings & Tuck, face off in a rematch of the game that never actually matched. Last seasons finale was postponed due to a scheduling conflict with Tuck on Spring Break. The Storm Kings then REJECTED all attempts that Tuck made to reschedule a match, and requested the lamest outcome of all, a draw. Leaving the UVHL with it's FIRST and hopefully LAST co-championship.

This season shall be different for Tuck, who has been DEVESTATED by Degrees. With a number of key performers from last season moving on to a better life. Tuck will need to find their groove, but with their dirty Micks, Ryan McGovern(Defense) & Ryan Fitzgerald(Goalie) protecting their end, and Adam "Mantle Piece" Mantin providing some offensive punch, they "MIGHT" be just fine.

The Kingers on the other hand return the same power house squad from a year ago, with a few slight alterations. They are solidified by Danny French "Fries" in net, a SOLID defensive corp with Tommy "Guns" Scull, Ricky "Anger Management" Hughes, Artie "PIMS" Stout and Stuey "The Reach" Close. Up front they have Rookie of the year Robbie "The Price is Right" Barker, "Tiny" Timmy Leroy & "Mean" Dean Cashman. The Kingers continue to dominate year in and year out, but tend to consistently have rostering issues. If they can field a consistent roster night in and night out, they are scary.

Some of tonights determining factors would be whether or not Tuck's Mantin makes the game. An insider has told me that he has a Hot Wax Appointment and will be late or miss the game completely. After talking briefly with Mantin, I was able to get a quote from him "I%u2019ll be there in time to sneak the game winner past Frenchy." Another factor will be the play of local legend Danny French. After a spectacular season last year(6-1 with a sub 4 GAA) the pressure may be too much for the old man. Robbie Barker's weight is also an issue, as a good source has verified Barker being on a strict Fried Foods diet mixed with zero exercise.

My prediction, Storm Kings 6, Tuck 4

Storm Kings double up Tuck on opening night

Could the Storm Kings have their strongest squad ever? Methinks this is possible in Season Six... A very svelte Frenchy returns in net with a repaired knee, and the Cardigan Short Bus made the long trip for opening night carrying power forward Rob Barker (often touted by his own teammates as the best Storm King ever in the modern era), the return of UVHL Hall of Famer Ryan "Rusty" Sinclair, the ever dangerous Tim Leroy, speedy newcomer Patrick Turcotte, and veteran Mike Fitzgerald all the way from Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, NH. This 5-some may carry the Kingers to first place and give them their best chance yet in the UVHL playoffs...when they are here. If they are not, can the veteran squad of ageless wonders continue their UVHL dominance? Only time will tell... Tuck returns for their 5th UVHL season with a mix of returning players with very capable goaltender Ryan Fitzgerald, scoring ace Adam Mantin, and tenacious-D captain Ryan McGovern leading the squad of first year Tuckies. Tuck with three Whalen Cups in four seasons is a UVHL powerhouse, but with roster turnover every school year you never know what kind of team they will be able to ice, but they always practice together from early September and play like a team. Therein lies their strength. However, it would not be enough on the first night of Season Six.

The Kings got it started early in the first only 30 seconds in and Sinclair continued right where he left off two seasons ago with a goal from Barker and Leroy. Barely 2:46 later Sinclair scored again, this time from Turcotte (or Fitzgerald, also wearing #18). Tuck settled down and regained control answering at 9:44 on a Pace Ralli goal, and then they tied it at 6:54 on an unassisted marker by Albno. With the score 2-2 Tuck goaltender Ryan Fitzgerald made a great save off his right foot on a Ronnie Dupius deflection from a Rick Hughes point attempt at 6:37. Tuck pulled ahead at 5:30 of the first and held the lead, albeit briefly, on a Berner goal assisted by Nowak. Barker tied it at 3 at 2:09 unassisted through the 5-hole of Fitzgerald sending the game to the second even up.

Sinclair put the Kings ahead for good at 13:49 from Leroy. Tuck forward pace Ralli made an awesome individual effort showing great hustle at 12:40 as he stopped a Hughes point shot and chased it down the left side of the ice. Ralli handled it, skated with it, lost control, then dove and shoveled it past a sprawling Hughes and Tuck hit the crossbar on the ensuing shot attempt. The ref thought it didn't go in, but I was right behind the net and it appeared to go in and out quickly off the rear bar of the net. In typical hockey fashion the Kings then went down and scored to make it 5-3 as Turcotte (or was it Mike Fitzgerald also wearing #18?) potted his first UVHL goal at 12:07 from defenseman Tom Scull, who garnered the first Storm King point of the game from a non-Cardigan player. Tuck captain McGovern played some solid D and led by example blocking a hard shot from Mike Fitzgerald at 12:02. Some scoreless hockey ensued highlighted by a couple of great chances by Tuck at 9:04 as Frenchy stopped 2 low shots. Sinclair scored another after deking out two Tuckies and snuk it past Fitzgerald for an unassisted effort at 8:42. Barker was fed by Leroy for his third of the game at 8:15 to put the score at 7-3 and out of reach for Tuck. However, the hardworking Tuckies did respond just over a minute later after King defender Hughes, who has the featured player photo on the UVHL main page this week, stopped a 2-on-1, but Tuck somehow kept posession and Nowak scored assisted by teammates Albno and KiKuchi. The second period scorefest continued with three more Kings goals in succession by Barker from Sinclair and Leroy at 4:59; Hughes from captain Dean Cashman at 4:27 to FINALLY get a non-Cardigan Kinger in the goal column; and Leroy with his first goal of the game at 1:49 from Barker and Hughes. Tuck tallied one more in this nine goal period at 0:56 when Koshiba lit the lamp from Cheng and Berner to end the period with the Storm Kings up 10-5.

The third period was more evenly played as far as the socreboard was concerned, and the play was back and forth. Tuck kept working hard, and showed glimpses of good team play and chemistry. In time it may be enough to keep up with the Kings, but not tonight. Sinclair scored his 5th of the game at 13:51, another unassisted effort. Tuck answered at 10:58 as KiKuchi added a goal to go with his assist, and this one with help from Berner for his 3rd point of the night and Nowak for his 4th point of the contest. The scoring ended at 10:50 on Leroy's second goal from Barker, and the teams just seemed to take it easier after that and had some fun without scoring for the last 10 minutes.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
STK	14:30	Goal	Sinclair, Ryan(1)	Assist(s): Barker, Rob(1) LeRoy, Tim(1)
STK	11:44	Goal	Sinclair, Ryan(2)	Assist(s): Turcotte, Pat(1)
TCK	09:44	Goal	Ralli, Pace(1)	Assist(s): Nowak, Derek(1)
TCK	06:54	Goal	Albro, Pete(1)	Assist(s): none
TCK	05:30	Goal	Berner, Nate(1)	Assist(s): Nowak, Derek(2)
STK	02:09	Goal	Barker, Rob(1)	Assist(s): none
2nd PERIOD
STK	13:49	Goal	Sinclair, Ryan(3)	Assist(s): LeRoy, Tim(2)
STK	12:07	Goal	Turcotte, Pat(1)	Assist(s): Scull, Tom(1)
STK	08:42	Goal	Sinclair, Ryan(4)	Assist(s): none
STK	08:15	Goal	Barker, Rob(2)	Assist(s): LeRoy, Tim(3)
TCK	07:10	Goal	Nowak, Derek(1)	Assist(s): Albro, Pete(1) Kikuchi, Ryuji(1)
STK	04:59	Goal	Barker, Rob(3)	Assist(s): Sinclair, Ryan(1) LeRoy, Tim(4)
STK	04:27	Goal	Hughes, Rick(1)	Assist(s): Cashman, Dean(1)
STK	01:40	Goal	LeRoy, Tim(1)	Assist(s): Barker, Rob(2) Hughes, Rick(1)
TCK	00:56	Goal	Mikoshiba, Takashi(1)	Assist(s): Cheng, Stephen(1) Berner, Nate(1)
3rd PERIOD
STK	13:51	Goal	Sinclair, Ryan(5)	Assist(s): none
TCK	10:58	Goal	Kikuchi, Ryuji(1)	Assist(s): Berner, Nate(2) Nowak, Derek(3)
STK	10:50	Goal	LeRoy, Tim(2)	Assist(s): Barker, Rob(3)
STK	05:00	Penalty	Hughes, Rick(1)	2 minutes for Body Checking

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Game Comments:
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 724	McD you lazy Bastard Oct 18th, 2008 03:27 PM Please give McDermott a rash of shit for not having this game writeup done yet. He was sick and didn't even work all week. Perfect time to do some write ups. IS HE REALLY THE COMMISH!?!?!?!? OR JUST AN EMBARASSMENT!!! KP
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 724	Just testing Oct 19th, 2008 12:22 PM Testing to make sure that it will show multiple game comments on the homepage.
hkydoc WRJ, VT Registered: Jan 2004 Posts: 517	McD is.... Oct 19th, 2008 04:17 PM DEFINITELY a second rate commish and a total EMBARASSMENT!