UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	Nords by 1
OVER/UNDER:	7

This will be a low scoring tight game between two solid and evenly matched teams. Either squad could find themselves in the Whalen Cup final, but could easily be playing for third place as well. Only time will give us the answer. In the meanwhile expect: good hockey fundamentals, few mistakes and penalties, great goaltending and defensive plays, plus a dash of skill and heart. My prediction: Nords by 1, and it may be in a shootout.

Nordiques Dispatch Tuck in 2-1 Shootout Win.....Regain 2nd Place.

12/15/2009 - Nordiques v. Tuck

The Nordiques & Tuck faced off again in what was another classic UVHL battle. Call it a lack of offense, a battle of two solid netminders or just a strategic game tied at 1 that ended in a shootout. Both goaltenders were solid and came up with multiple big saves to keep their teams in the game. Tuck was without starting goaltender / Dartmouth Alumni, Danny Yacey, but were very well covered with backup goaltender / forward Steve Kenning filling the pipes with a solid effort. Kenning turned away 30 shots, allowing only 1 en route to a 2-1 shootout loss. At the other end of the ice was Nord's stalwart Johnny "Temper Tantrum" Turner who turned away 28 shots.

The Tuckies were shorthanded again, as most of their team was on break from school, or just terrified to face the Nordiques. Riding a short bench with only 3 subs, put them in a defensive mode, but they still had a good amount of scoring chances. The Nordiques were without defensive pylon and Upper Valley Buffalo Wing Eating Champion (2001-2009) Shawn "Hot Sauce" McDermott who was out with a runny nose as well as Jimmy Kerrigan who forgot his skates at the sharpener & Andy "POOOOCH" Puchilak.

Striking first was Tuck when Steve "James Hay" Bates fired a shot/pass to the net with James "Steve Bates" Hay crashing the net and tipping the pass past Turner just 40 seconds into the tilt, confusing the hell out of everyone on the ice because no one can tell them apart. The confusion was apparent even to the playmakers themselves, as during the post-goal celebration Hay could be seen high-fiving a reflection of himself in the glass behind the net, while Bates patted himself on the ass, exclaiming "Nice look Hay!" out near the blue line. Other than the first minute goal, the first period saw a nice flow to the game with scoring chances at both ends. Both teams swapped penalties with the Nord's killing off an Alex Brands Tripping call, and then Tuck killing off a late Colin Carahill holding penalty to preserve their 1-0 lead.

END OF THE FIRST PERIOD: Nordiques 0, Tuck 1

The second period was a complete wash...no goals, penalties or even memorable notes. The only thing to note was that the scorekeeper played some MAD TUNES in the 2nd period, but the Nordiques captain, Tao "Sugar Ray" Smith was left feeling empty without any Ricky Martin or Backstreet Boys bumping on the sound system.

END OF THE SECOND PERIOD: Nordiques ZERO, Tuck 1

The third period began with a huge Nordiques penalty kill with Jordy "The Irish Hook" McGee in the box for a tug. The Nordiques survived the PK, and McGee redeemed himself a couple of minutes later as he fed Greg "The Butcher of Guelph" Marsh at 9:17 to tie the game at 1 apiece. The goal came when McGee broke in with Marsh 2 on 1, froze the goalie with a dipsy doo, then fired a shitty pass across the top of the crease to a chugging Marsh who was laboring to keep up with McGee. Marsh had to lay out to tip the puck past a downed Kenning and then collapsed in an exhausted heap near the end boards. Both teams battled for the next couple of minutes, but Marshy wasn't done, as he felt his team plays better hockey on the penalty kill, and did just that for roughing up Carahill after a knee on knee collision that he felt Carahill could have and should have avoided. That penalty came with 2:01 to play, putting his team on the PK for the rest of the period.

END OF REGULATION: Nordiques 1, Tuck 1

SHOOTOUT:
The Nordiques chose to shoot first, starting with their youth, Jordy McGee who made a move but was stuffed with a leg save by Kenning. Tuck followed up with Andrew "Hellboy" Helming who made a similar move, but was shut down by Turner. The Nordiques countered with aging veteran, Roger "King of Bicuspids" Phillips who didn't even have a chance against Kenning. Turner returned the favor against either James Hay or Stevie Bates....I still can't tell them apart....I think it was Hay....nope, maybe Bates. Coin Toss = Hay. The Nordiques hung their final hopes on talented forward turned offensive defensemen, Alex Brands. Brands waled in, faked to his backhand, cutting back to his forehand and tucking the puck around the outreached leg of Kenning to put all the pressure on Tuck's Ryan "The Govenator" McGovern. Was it a smart decision to let McGovern take the shootout? One Tuck Veteran wrote in "I just checked the Tuck box score and I am confused -- Why in holy hell is [McGovern] taking penalty shots?" But McGovern lit up Turner the week before to win the shootout, so it seemed as though he deserved the opportunity. Unfortunately for The Govenator, Turner learned from his mistake and saw shot the entire way, shutting down the 5-hole in time to secure the win for the Nordiques.

END OF THE SHOOTOUT: Nordiques WIN

Thanks to Ryan "The Govenator" McGovern for some help with the write up! All of the funny shit is his!

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
TCK	14:20	Goal	Hay, James(8)	Assist(s): Bates, Steve(6)
NDQ	12:15	Penalty	Brands, Alex(3)	2 minutes for Tripping
TCK	04:25	Penalty	Carrihill, Colin(1)	2 minutes for Holding
3rd PERIOD
NDQ	12:53	Penalty	McGee, Jordan(2)	2 minutes for Hooking
NDQ	09:17	Goal	Marsh, Greg(5)	Assist(s): McGee, Jordan(13) Dakai, Tom(1)
NDQ	02:01	Penalty	Marsh, Greg(2)	2 minutes for Roughing
SHOOTOUT
NDQ	1	McGee, Jordan		SAVE BY Steve Kenning
TCK	2	Helming, Andrew		SAVE BY John Turner
NDQ	3	Phillips, Roger		SAVE BY Steve Kenning
TCK	4	Hay, James		SAVE BY John Turner
NDQ	5	Brands, Alex		GOAL Scored on Steve Kenning
TCK	6	McGovern, Ryan		SAVE BY John Turner

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Game Comments:
The Dark Canuck Fairlee, VT Registered: Dec 2004 Posts: 340	Battle for 2nd Dec 14th, 2009 08:44 PM Gonna be good game, and a battle for 2nd place overall. The Gamblers will take a few weeks to catch, but a win streak should start here for the Nords..
Z-Skate White River Jct, VT Registered: Posts: 108	Tuck by 3 Dec 15th, 2009 08:30 AM .. Do I need to say more ..
McG Hanover, NH Registered: Posts: 47	Dec 15th, 2009 09:38 AM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: Z-Skate .. Do I need to say more .. Nope, that was perfect.
rgrunds Stowe, VT Registered: Posts: 376	Tuck? Ha..... Dec 15th, 2009 10:40 AM Don't worry about those feminized elitists. They spend all their time wearing ascots, sipping sherry and contemplating their canes. (Yes, canes are an old Dartmouth tradition and were used to strike and hit the local white servant class when they displeased college affiliates). They are so spineless, they even stopped using the college team name "Indians" to please some Bikenstock clad, radical, feminist, dildo packing, hairy calf, vegetarians who claimed it demeaned colored people. Nords, go get you a Indian..... hihowareya hihowareya, hihowareya....
stevekenning Hanover, NH Registered: Posts: 15	Prediction FAIL. Dec 15th, 2009 05:08 PM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: rgrunds Don't worry about those feminized elitists. They spend all their time wearing ascots, sipping sherry and contemplating their canes. (Yes, canes are an old Dartmouth tradition and were used to strike and hit the local white servant class when they displeased college affiliates). They are so spineless, they even stopped using the college team name "Indians" to please some Bikenstock clad, radical, feminist, dildo packing, hairy calf, vegetarians who claimed it demeaned colored people. Nords, go get you a Indian..... hihowareya hihowareya, hihowareya.... Tuck by 4. Sherry at 11.
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 724	It was a good one Dec 16th, 2009 01:41 PM That game was a blast. Clean, fast paced & great goaltending at both ends. Nice Job Turner & Kenning. KP
hkydoc WRJ, VT Registered: Jan 2004 Posts: 517	Kenning AGAIN? Dec 16th, 2009 07:24 PM Wow, sorry I had to miss it. Steve Kenning and JT in a goalie battle, another shootout, and the result I predicted between two classy teams! McD
hkydoc WRJ, VT Registered: Jan 2004 Posts: 517	Great game write-up, boys! Dec 18th, 2009 12:54 AM Nice tag team Park and McGov! Funny, entertaining, and very descriptive. I give it an A-! Okay, gotta go...I'm smothered in Bleu Cheese... McD
The Dark Canuck Fairlee, VT Registered: Dec 2004 Posts: 340	too much info Dec 18th, 2009 04:11 PM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: hkydoc Nice tag team Park and McGov! Funny, entertaining, and very descriptive. I give it an A-! Okay, gotta go...I'm smothered in Bleu Cheese... McD smothered in Bleu really grosses me out Mc D...unless it was either a celery spear or a hot n' tasty chickky wing. Nice job on the write-up boys...that line about me chugging up the ice, then collapsing in a heap in the corner was definitely funny...Looking forward to the re-match fellas!
jt Woodstock, AL Registered: Aug 2004 Posts: 46	Nice job on the recap! Dec 19th, 2009 11:16 AM The write up for this game is great! I laughed, cried and was well informed! Thanks Kelly and McGov