UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	Gamblers by 1
OVER/UNDER:	7

I expect a 3-2 or 4-3 game in favor of the incredibly tough and resilient Gamblers, but I wouldn't be surprised if Tuck hands the UVHL's top team their first regulation loss of the season. This one went to a shootout the last time these two squads met, and Tuck won it. There is no better 1-2 punch on D in the league than McGovern and Helming, and methinks the edge in net goes to Tuck as well. Tuck has more depth on forward, but no team can match the MMA line, or Allison Malcolm's play as a positional center. This is gonna be a good one!

Gamblers continue their dominance and improve to UVHL RECORD 12-0-2!

This was an entertaining and solid game by both teams. Feiden and Kenning were turning away chances at both ends, and both squads were class acts. There was absolutely no bullshit, trash talk, whining or complaining. Gamblers Captain Will Meyer said that it was the most fun he has had in a UVHL game all season, and he even SMILED out there on the ice! WTF? We had become so used to Willy's intense, competitive scowl that to see him enjoying himself out there reminded me of the days when he played Midget hockey for Hanover and had a belly, bowl cut, and half of his baby teeth still in his grill!

Well, sometimes we think we're right but we're wrong. I'm GUILTY! Thankfully it didn't result in the determining goal to decide the game because when Tuck defelected the puck back into their zone with the Gamblers MMA line still inside it resulted in a nice goal by Will Meyer to put the Gamblers up 3-2. USA Hockey Rule 626 indicates that offsides is waived off when a defending player brings the puck back in to their zone. However, Situation 27 explains that if it is deflected then it is still offsides. OOPS! I must have missed that chapter... I had waived off the offsides thinking that you can't put the other team offside (CJ got it right calling it offside just so you know, and Gattie thought I made the right call, so it looks like we all learned something), the Gamblers scored, but luckily they scored two more after that and I'm only 3/4 asshole, not 100% (depending on who you talk to!). Thanks to Tuck defenseman and former captain Ryan McGovern who researched this after losing much sleep. Ryan was immediately promoted to our off-ice Referee-In-Chief!

Even though I didn't give him a POW nod, Feiden was probably the difference in this game because he didn't allow Tuck to come back. There were several quality scoring chances that he nabbed that would have allowed Tuck to tie it up before the Gamblers slowly expanded their lead. Allison Malcolm was getting under people's skin and had to be given a warning for roughing and high sticking! Jeez! She barely weighs more than Liam Oliver out there, but plays like she is Zedeno Chara!

The Gamblers have made UVHL history and have the best record through 14 games in our 7 seasons. Congrats! It is an amazing accomplishment, and this squad has the best team game that I have seen since our inception. Great goaltending and the best line the UVHL has ever seen definitely helps, but the defense is underrated and there is some depth at forward, but to compare talent with some of the Storm King rosters would be unfair to the Gamblers because top to bottom the Kingers were superior. Some Storm King squads were absolutely sick with talent, and no team can touch that, but the Storm Kings did less with more, and the Gamblers are the defending champs and have fought to a 12-0-2 record winning close games, forcing shootouts, winning in shootouts, and scoring in the last 2 minutes of play to stay alive. Like I said, the best team game so far in UVHL history. 'Nuff said, Bub.

Final Analysis: So, what does it look like for these two teams for the remainder of the season? I think the Gamblers are a lock for first overall and are Whalen Cup favorites. Tuck will battle for a first round bye and second place with the Nords and Brewers, and could find themselves in the Championship with the Gamblers.

Don't forget to vote for the Long Trail Player of the Week! A case of beer is on the line, eh!

Thanks to all for a great first half of the season, Kelly Park now takes the reigns for the remainder of the 2009-10 season. See you at Bentley's for post-game wings and a Bleu cheese bath!

McD OUT!!!

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
GMB	11:07	Goal	Ammel, Robert(20)	Assist(s): none
TCK	10:24	Goal	McKay, Simon(4)	Assist(s): Nowak, Derek(9) Helming, Andrew(9)
TCK	09:47	Goal	Helming, Andrew(5)	Assist(s): Carrihill, Colin(2)
TCK	06:20	Penalty	Cape, Tony(2)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	05:00	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(20)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(20)
GMB	04:11	Goal	Meyer, Will(19)	Assist(s): Marrazzo, Matt(17) Harrington, Mike(7)
2nd PERIOD
GMB	14:50	Goal	Ammel, Robert(21)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(21) Marrazzo, Matt(18)
TCK	13:11	Penalty	Helming, Andrew(5)	2 minutes for Hooking
GMB	05:04	Penalty	Fraser, Scott(6)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	01:02	Goal	Meyer, Will(20)	Assist(s): Marrazzo, Matt(19) Harrington, Mike(8)
3rd PERIOD
GMB	01:32	Penalty	Harrington, Mike(7)	2 minutes for Tripping

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Game Comments:
hkydoc WRJ, VT Registered: Jan 2004 Posts: 517	Goalie duel? Jan 19th, 2010 12:20 PM Wow, Yacey vs. Feiden. Interesting... This is gonna be a good one! McD
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 724	Gamblers by 1 huh? Jan 19th, 2010 01:35 PM This is a tough one to call. Early game for the Tuckies. Do they get all of their guys to show up for the early ones? I know the Govenator injured himself on Sunday night, so that is a huge factor. I'm going with the Blers on this one, but it could go either way. I also heard the Danimal is injured too.
McG Hanover, NH Registered: Posts: 47	Jan 19th, 2010 02:07 PM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: hkydoc Wow, Yacey vs. Feiden. Interesting... This is gonna be a good one! McD Roster update: Kenning vs. Feiden
hkydoc WRJ, VT Registered: Jan 2004 Posts: 517	Class act Jan 20th, 2010 01:29 AM Both teams were a class act tonight, and it needs to be recognized (and it is appreciated). Great game by both squads! McD