UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	Nords by 2
OVER/UNDER:	8.5

OOOH! An early season match-up between Whalen Cup contenders! All in all, I'm gonna have to go with the Nords deeper line up that will make the difference in the third period, and favor the Nords by 2 goals in a 5-3 win. The Gamblers may still have the best line in the league, the feared MMA line, but they will have to battle the Nords TWO scoring lines and one tough checking line to get the victory. However, that does mean the MMA line will be on every other shift, so the Nords better play well defensively or they are toast.

GAMBLERS WIN IN FINAL 30 SECONDS OVER NORDS!

This game featured "the best refereeing the UVHL has ever seen". More than one player uttered similar sentiments about Perry Bove and Niko Louras' guest appearance on UVHL ice for the late game as a favor to the Commish. Both refs were quick, assertive, professional, and really fuckin' good! Thanks, Fellas, it was greatly appreciated, and we hope to have you back again. This was a great game to play in, and it was great hockey that felt like a playoff game in only week 2!

It took a while, but the Nords scored first with 4:00 to go on Jordan McGee's rebound goal off a Shawn McDermott shot as he charged the net after receiving a pass from Alex Brands. Both goalies had traded big saves prior to the first goal, and both squads were skating well. Nords wing Greg marsh and Gamblers' D Marc Gattie each went to th ebox for coincidental roughing minors after a scrum in front of Condon at 2:47. The Nords scored with 12.1 seconds to go on Drew Crapser's charge in from the point that saw him find a tiny hole over Condon's shoulder off of passes from Brands and McGee.

The Gamblers pulled within one at 10:04 of the second with Marrazzo's first of two assisted by UVHL superstar MMA linemates Will Meyer and Dan Ammel. With a full moon, lunar eclipse, and Haley's Comet all occurring on the same night, McDermott snapped a 30 game goal-less streak with a wicked slapper on a "defenseman's wet dream" puck squirting out off the side boards that he put past a slew of players into the right side of the net past a partially screened Condon at 7:10 from Marsh and McGee. Maybe such a goal hurt the Nords, because it was so rare, and possibly the focus was temporarily lost, or maybe it was the dreaded two goal lead, because after that the Gamblers caught fire and took charge of the game. Ammel scored at 6:05 from Marrazzo to reduce the lead to one, and then Ammel was the beneficiary of a bouncing puck that hopped over the Nords' lond defender's stick that sent him in on a breakaway at 2:24 to tie the game at 3-3. Momentum had officially shifted. Nords D Tom "Minister of Defense" Dakai went to the box with 45 seconds left in the period, but the Nords held off the MMA line's potent attack, and JT was equal to the task in the Nords' net.

Penalties were the main theme for the Gamblers early in the third and the Nords had their chance to put it away with a 2-man advantage as defenders Gattie and mike harrington were in the box for hooking at 11:52. The Nords PP STUNK! P-U! It was horrible. Nobody was in front, the puck was on the perimeter, and the Gamblers iced it more than once and even got a shot on net. gattiw went to the box again at 5:39 for tripping, and the Nords stunk it up again. Other than a shitty PP, the Nords played really well all night, and Turner had a very strong game in net. The squads saw time tick down, and each took a time-out in the last minute and a half to prepare strategies. Both goalies turned away opportunities late in the game, but it was a perfect pass from Meyer to Ammel who then found Marrazzo cutting across the slot, and Marrazzo's quick shot found its way over the shoulder of a moving Turner just under the crossbar for the dramatic game winner with 29.9 seconds to go!

Final Score: Gamblers 4, Nords 3

Final Tally: Check the Boxscores section, eh! Don't forget to vote for the Long Trail UVHL Player of the Week!

Final Analysis: So close, yet so far. A mere 30 seconds from a shootout and the Nords are denied a crucial point they deserved by a tenacious Gamblers squad who walk away with 2 points all by themselves. It was a SICK goal, and the Gamblers earned it, and in doing so they reiterated that they are the team to beat, and are looking for a repeat in 2009-10. The Nords seemed to lack urgency after the halfway point and allowed Meyer to rally the troops for a comeback, but both teams played extremely well in this hockey game and I wish it was like this every night in the UVHL. Great goaltending, great chances at both ends, good defensive play, hard work paying off, with skilled plays and speed determining the outcome. Marrazzo definitely deserves the Player of the Week award for week 2 with his SICK, clutch GWG, plus his other 2 points (G, A) matching linemates Ammel (2G, A) and Meyer (3A) to combine for ALL 9 POINTS scored by the Gamblers. Hmmm...do I notice a pattern here? This is definitely the BEST LINE in the UVHL. If you can match them and solve Condon, then you've got a chance, but you had better play all 45 minutes or they're gonna get you...

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
NDQ	04:00	Goal	McGee, Jordan(4)	Assist(s): McDermott, Shawn(3) Brands, Alex(4)
NDQ	02:47	Penalty	Marsh, Greg(1)	2 minutes for Roughing
GMB	02:47	Penalty	Gattie, Marc(1)	2 minutes for Roughing
NDQ	00:12	Goal	Crapser, Drew(1)	Assist(s): Brands, Alex(5) McGee, Jordan(3)
2nd PERIOD
GMB	10:04	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(3)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(2) Gattie, Marc(1)
NDQ	07:10	Goal	McDermott, Shawn(1)	Assist(s): Marsh, Greg(5) McGee, Jordan(4)
GMB	06:05	Goal	Ammel, Robert(2)	Assist(s): Marrazzo, Matt(3)
GMB	02:24	Goal	Ammel, Robert(3)	Assist(s): none
NDQ	00:45	Penalty	Dakai, Tom(1)	2 minutes for Holding
3rd PERIOD
GMB	11:52	Penalty	Gattie, Marc(2)	2 minutes for Hooking
GMB	11:52	Penalty	Harrington, Mike(1)	2 minutes for Hooking
GMB	05:39	Penalty	Gattie, Marc(3)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	00:30	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(4)	Assist(s): Ammel, Robert(1) Meyer, Will(3)

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Game Comments:
The Dark Canuck Fairlee, VT Registered: Dec 2004 Posts: 340	Early line Oct 14th, 2009 11:09 PM Vegas has the Nords winning this one by 2...Total "Frenchy-Style" meltdown by J-Rod Condon...and Mighty Will Meyer will blow a tierod, ending his run as Mighty Mouse. GO NORDS
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 724	Damn Gamblers! Oct 21st, 2009 11:05 AM Awesome game last night from the Gamblers! We, the Nords, got out to a quick start and blew our wad and the Gamblers just continued to pour it on! The game winning goal was a heartbreaker, but it was one of those beautiful plays that leaves you in awe. Ammel finding Marrazzo from behind the net in the high slot, let a NASTY snapper go up over the shoulder of Turner under the crossbar. Solid game guys, but we'll get you next time! KP
hkydoc WRJ, VT Registered: Jan 2004 Posts: 517	Marrazzo for POW Oct 23rd, 2009 09:18 PM SICK, SICK goal! That play alone gets him POW in my book. The MMA line was lethal, and was the difference yet again in a Gamblers win. We shoulda had you on the PP chances we had, but we sucked. Congrats on a great win, Gamblers. McD P.S. Oh yeah...I SCORED!!! (but I'd trade it all for a win)