UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	Gamblers by 2
OVER/UNDER:	7

These are the hottest two squads at the moment in the UVHL. Swirling around the Gamblers is debate about their 5-0 record. The Brewers have won their last two. Both teams are playing well, and there is enough emotion between them for things to escalate if sticks are not kept to themselves and if body contact runs out of control. The two netminders are elite UVHL goalies, and can almost win a game singlehandedly. The Gamblers are top-heavy with their first line, and the Brewers are deeper if everyone shows up. Who will prevail? My GUESS is that the Gamblers will win 4-2, but don't hold me to it.

Gamblers prove to be legit with 6th straight win

I will admit it right here, I picked the Brewers for the upset, but the Gamblers proved to be better on this night even against a much improved and deeper Brewers squad. This game went back and forth for quite a while until the Gamblers pulled ahead late in the contest. The Brewers had their chances and mounted a short lived comeback with Condon out of the net with injury, but time ran out on the push for an OT shootout. This was a good game with effort and speed from both squads, but the Gamblers just continue to find ways to win. Nobody can argue with their 6-0 record now. The times of the goals and penalties of this game (and all the other games, too) were unfortunately left off the game sheets by our substitute scorekeeper, so you will have to survive knowing just the order of the events based on my horrible memory... Sorry, eh.

The Gamblers started off the scoring with two in a row after Matt Marrazzo fed Will Meyer, and then Scott Fraser found Dan Ammel for the 2-0 lead. The Brewers answered and tied it up with a goal-mouth goal from Al Sorrentino from Aaron Mancuso and Brian Smith, and then on a wicked shot from Chris Johnson fed by Bill Fletcher and Nick Bayley. Garren Poirier was called for hooking Ammel on a near breakaway, but I do not recall if there was a PPG on either of the Gamblers first two goals or not.

In the second the teams traded goals, and the Gamblers went ahead once again on Marrazzo's first goal and Meyer's first assist (the two would connect again, don't you worry) giving them each goal and assist thus far. The Brewers tied it up after captain Poirier scored assisted by Bayley and Brock Barton. Barton got on the scoresheet again, but with a holding call this time. The Gamblers regained the lead on Brendan Drew's first career goal pouncing on a loose puck put there by Tyson Seely and Marc Gattie to enter the third period up 4-3.

Penalties abounded in the final frame and the parade went like this: Bayley for slashing, Crowson for roughing, and Crowson for tripping to the Brewer's box; Condon for high sticking and Marrazzo for tripping to the Gamblers box. As for scoring, there was that, too... Marrazzo put the Gamblers up 5-3 fed once again by Meyer. These two were dynamite in this game, but the Brewers kept at it, and had skill of their own. Bayley weaved through the Gamblers zone several times, but just couldn't get free enough to get another goal. The Brewers started to dominate for a while ina very even game, and Brian Smith picked up a loose puck on a turnover and scored an unassisted goal to bring the Brewers within one 5-4. The Brewers were pumped, but the Viagara did not give them a 4-hour smile as it wore off rather quickly when Marrazzo took their MoJo on the next shift changing the game and momentum permanently with an incredible individual effort carrying the puck and beating three defenders for the nasty goal after Meyer (who else?) gave him the puck near the blueline. With about 7 minutes left the Gamblers ended their scoring on another Meyer-Marrazzo connection giving each player 5 points - Marrazzo 3G, 2A, and Meyer 2G, 3A. On a play that happens quite often with players going to the net tangled-up, the Brewers got a good scoring chance on Condon who made the nice save. However the scrum continued right on top Condon and his right knee twisted under him with players landing everywhere, and he was shaken up and in obvious pain and limping. Condon tried to stay, but could not, and on the next play he had to leave. There was about 6 minutes to go on the clock and the Gamblers would be forced to play with 6 skaters to hold a 7-4 lead with Condon in the dressing room icing his knee. The Gamblers started to whine a little bit, but them's the rules. Luckily Hadley was dressed and ready for the next game and came in to relieve Condon allowing one goal to Bayley from Smith and Mancuso, but the Gamblers maintained the 2-goal lead for the remainder of the game and are now 6-0.

Final Score: Gamblers 7, Brewers 5

Final Analysis: The Gamblers are legit, and they play a solid team game. The Brewers scored enough goals to win, but Marrazzo's timely goal changed the game, and momentum, and provided the extra cushion for the Gamblers to stay ahead for good. Bartline wanted at least two goals back in this one, and he didn't have his A-game. Marrazzo and Meyer now share the UVHL scoring lead with 18 points each.

Final Tally: Check out the BoxScores section, and don't forget to vote for the Long Trail UVHL Player of the week, eh! The winner gets a FREE case of beer at the Long Trail Brewery thanks to CEO Brian Walsh!

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
GMB	00:00	Goal	Meyer, Will(8)	Assist(s): Marrazzo, Matt(7)
GMB	00:00	Goal	Ammel, Robert(6)	Assist(s): Fraser, Scott(3)
BRE	00:00	Goal	Sorrentino, Alfonse(2)	Assist(s): Mancuso, Aaron(2) Smith, Brian(5)
BRE	00:00	Goal	Johnson, Chris(3)	Assist(s): Fletcher, Bill(4) Bayley, Nick(1)
BRE	00:00	Penalty	Poirier, Garren(5)	2 minutes for Hooking
2nd PERIOD
GMB	00:00	Goal	Drew, Brendan(1)	Assist(s): Seely, Tyson(2) Gattie, Marc(4)
BRE	00:00	Goal	Poirier, Garren(1)	Assist(s): Bayley, Nick(2) Barton, Brock(3)
GMB	00:00	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(8)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(7)
BRE	00:00	Penalty	Barton, Brock(4)	2 minutes for Holding
3rd PERIOD
GMB	00:00	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(9)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(8)
BRE	00:00	Goal	Smith, Brian(5)	Assist(s): none
GMB	00:00	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(9)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(8)
GMB	00:00	Goal	Meyer, Will(9)	Assist(s): Marrazzo, Matt(8)
BRE	00:00	Goal	Bayley, Nick(2)	Assist(s): Smith, Brian(6) Mancuso, Aaron(3)
BRE	00:00	Penalty	Bayley, Nick(1)	2 minutes for Tripping
BRE	00:00	Penalty	Crowson, Matthew(1)	2 minutes for Roughing
GMB	00:00	Penalty	Condon, Jered(1)	2 minutes for High Sticking
BRE	00:00	Penalty	Crowson, Matthew(1)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	00:00	Penalty	Marrazzo, Matt(2)	2 minutes for Interference

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Game Comments:
vtdownhiller , AL Registered: Posts: 67	Nov 20th, 2009 07:07 AM Here's hoping Jarod's injury is just a strain and you are back between the pipe's soon...That diving save on Bailey was INSANE!!!!
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 724	The Condor Nov 20th, 2009 02:42 PM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: vtdownhiller Here's hoping Jarod's injury is just a strain and you are back between the pipe's soon...That diving save on Bailey was INSANE!!!! What happened? I missed the end of that game. Someone said a bunch of guys went to the net and Jered came out injured. KP
The Dark Canuck Fairlee, VT Registered: Dec 2004 Posts: 340	wtf? Nov 21st, 2009 10:45 AM Why is Hadley listed on the Gamblers as a back-up? and he's on the player list as well...just wondering..did he play?