THE

UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Labatt Blues
Brewers
1st
0
5
2rd
1
6
3rd
3
3
FINAL
4
14
Shots
33
49
November 24th, 2009 - 9:20PM
Union Arena - Woodstock, VT
Pre-Game
Recap
Box Score
Discussion
Game ID: 603

Brewers click in scorefest against Dead River

They have been playing better every week, but if you had told me the Brewers would score more than 10 goals in this one I would have said you were crazy! Dead River welcomed two UVHL rookies to the line-up in this one: big defenseman/goalie Matt Barrett, and slick centerman Ricky Golden. There were so many ridiculous goals in this game I can barely count them all. Some were from hard work; some were due to skill and great passing, while others were due to poor positioning by Hadley who was often too deep in his net and hampered by a knee that he probably shouldn%u2019t be playing on anymore if he expects his team to be competitive. Hadley%u2019s glove was sharp, though, and he did make a few great saves, but when you%u2019re pelted all night by the Brewers and face at least 50 shots you%u2019re gonna make a few nice ones along the way. The Oilers definitely missed the tenacious play of MIA defensemen Rick Hughes and Tyler Dickinson in this game.

The Brewers were clicking at both ends of the rink and in the neutral zone. In fact, it could have been one of the best all around games I have ever seen this UVHL franchise play. They caused turnovers and backchecked. They gathered the puck in their own end and broke out beautifully. They crossed the offensive blueline with speed and creativity and made a plethora of offensive opportunities for themselves. Bartline was there with the timely save when the Oilers did get a shot through. It wasn%u2019t until late in the game the Dead River woke up and started to have some creativity and success themselves, but until that point it was all Brewers. The Oilers lacked chemistry, and gave the puck up often or made passes to no one. The brewers started the game with 7 unanswered goals, with 5 in the first and two more in the second before Dead River got on the board. Game over. Now, if you think I am going to go ahead and list the goals here, you are sorely mistaken. I will refer you to the Boxscores section because there are too many to re-type here. I will recall a few nasty goals for you, however. Christian %u201CDr. Narcissus%u201D Isaac made his season debut for the Brew Crew and ripped a wicked slapper past Hadley for one of his 4 goals (and ZERO assists!) on the night. At one point, Isaac sat motionless from the waist down at the inside of his blueline fiddling with the puck instead of passing it or getting it out of the zone, and then he coughed it up for an Oilers scoring chance. Brutal, even if you are up 11-3. Nick %u201CDr. McSelfish%u201D Bayley weaved and bobbed and bobbed and weaved through the Oilers for a beautiful skilled hardworking goal for one of his 4 goals and 5 assists. Bill %u201CThe Bald Eagle%u201D Fletcher was charmed all night and he potted 4 of his own, many from in close, and also garnered 3 assists.

As far as penalties went, the pre-game report prediction was accurate as there were several infractions reminiscent of Old Time Hockey. Coincidental minors for roughing were doled-out to the Brewers Brian Smith and the Oilers Greg Hadley at 0:34 of the second as Hadley took offense defending his crease. Garren %u201CDr. Hook%u201D Poirier was nabbed for his namesake preventing a partial breakaway by Dead River%u2019s dangerous power forward Rob Pattison at 11:53 of the third. Poirier and Tenacious D Tom Scull got into it behind the net after a tough play and the fists started flying. At one point it looked like both players were caught up in the back of the net like dolphins as the net almost got pushed over as the combat spilled over on the back of the goal. Both players received 5 minute majors for fisticuffs and receive a game misconduct for next week%u2019s action.
Final Score: Brewers 14, Dead River 4

Final Analysis: Time for a change in goal. I hate to say it, but the Oilers are not playing with any confidence, desire, or heart in front of Hadley, who is being very brave tending goal each week on a recovering knee. The Brewers could have beaten anyone on this night, they were that good, so the Brewers deserve credit for the impressive win and the Oilers do not necessarily deserve the blame for a brutal loss. Frustrations rose as the game got out of hand, Pattison took a run at someone late in the game, and the fight between Poirier and Scull was unnecessary and meant nothing as it wasn%u2019t to defend oneself, stick up for a teammate who got run, or served any purpose but to blow off steam between two angry players. Listen. If you show up and suck, then you%u2019re gonna get beat bad in a UVHL game. Nobody ever made the Storm Kings or the Whalen Cup champion Tuck teams hold back in the third when they were up 8-1. They kept going and didn%u2019t play down to a team that didn%u2019t show up, and that%u2019s the way it goes. Show up and be ready to play, or go play pond hockey. I%u2019m NOT saying that the Oilers didn%u2019t show up here, because they fought hard, the Brewers were just that much better, and if you%u2019re losing bad then try and have some fun, don%u2019t let the frustrations get to you because the game is over already and having a fight for absolutely nothing is pointless. Both Poirier and Scull should have kept their cool, and because they didn%u2019t they won%u2019t be there to help their teams next week. Too bad%u2026because they%u2019re really good guys when they don%u2019t have their helmets on!

Final Tally: Check out the Boxscores section and don%u2019t forget to vote for the Long Trail UVHL Player of the Week. The winner gets a FREE case of beer thanks to Long Trail CEO Brian Walsh!
LEAGUE PICK 'EM
 11%
Labatt Blues
89% 
Brewers
9 PICKS
THREE STARS

Nick Bayley

GOALS: 4
POINTS: 9

Brian Smith

GOALS: 0
POINTS: 0

Christian Isaac

GOALS: 4
POINTS: 5

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