UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Powerhouse Gamblers take on Tuck

ODDS:	Gamblers By 2 goals
OVER/UNDER:	8 goals

Tuck has their work cut out for them in week one when they take on the most dominant team ever seen in the UVHL. Unlike the G-Men, Tuck's ever changing roster hasn't allowed them to find consistent line pairings like the MMA line of the Gamblers.

The MMA line consists of the top 3 scorers from last season in Willy Meyer, Matty Marrazzo & Danny Ammel. The MMA line has been dominating the UVHL for 2 seasons, and led the Gambler's to a stellar record last season. Jered "The Condor" Condon will be returning to the crease this season for the Gamblers as well, ousting fill-in netminder Greg Feiden.

Tuck returns some key members of last year's squad in Halsey Coughlin, Jimmy Hay, Stevie Bates & Dan Yacey. Their core is strong, very well skilled and smart, but the big question is can they get a build a rapport quickly enough to compete with the Gamblers?

Another question is whether Condon can return to form after a season ending knee injury last year.

Regardless, G-Men should roll, win this one 5-3

Tuck puts down Top Seeded Gamblers: 4-3

After another stellar season from the Gamblers in 2009-2010 led to an early exit in the playoffs, starting the season off with a loss might not be a horrible entry into 2010-2011 after finishing last season with a stellar 20-1-2 record.

Tuck, on the other hand, was unsure of what they had for this season, but it looked just fine to me. Missing some key skilled players in Dan "The Man" Yacey, Halsey "Turn Your Head And.." Coughlin and rookie Derek "The Other" Nowak is a scary thought since Tuck proved they could handle the Gamblers.

In retrospect, the Gamblers were missing the Leagues most dominant player and league points leader from last season, in Matty "The Milkman" Marrazzo. Marrazzo was out of town delivering milk to some friends. The MMA line, without Marrazzo was lackluster, but did receive some help from the return of Joey "You Got the Right Stuff" McIntyre. McIntyre returned from his over New Kids on the Block reunion tour from last season and deposited 2 goals and an assist. Chipping in the other goal was Willy "Wobble" Meyer who is looking to build on his career best 70 point season from a year ago.

Steve "They Killed" Kenning, took over in net for Yacey and was stellar, stopping 24 of 27 shots in route to the big win. The tandem of Stevie "Hay" Bates & James "Bates" Hay, confused the Gamblers all over the ice, as they thought they were seeing double, and both put up a goal & assist. Andrew Helming & rookie Josh Cherney added the other two goals including the late game winner with 1:12 left by the rook.

It was a great battle, fast paced and strategic game. Jered Condon saw a bit more work, seeing 31 shots and turning away 27 in his first game action since going down with a knee injury last year.

Tuck looks good, and will only get stronger with the return of some key cogs to the Tuckie Machine. The Gamblers will only get better with Marrazzo and time.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
TCK	14:35	Goal	Hay, James(1)	Assist(s): Johnson, Chris(1) Bates, Steve(1)
TCK	01:06	Goal	Bates, Steve(1)	Assist(s): Hay, James(1)
2nd PERIOD
GMB	14:34	Penalty	Dickinson, Tyler(1)	2 minutes for High Sticking
GMB	05:44	Goal	McIntyre, Joe(1)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(1)
3rd PERIOD
TCK	13:40	Goal	Helming, Andrew(1)	Assist(s): none
GMB	12:16	Goal	McIntyre, Joe(2)	Assist(s): none
GMB	09:10	Penalty	Young, Jason(1)	2 minutes for Roughing
TCK	09:10	Penalty	Carrihill, Colin(1)	2 minutes for Roughing
GMB	08:56	Goal	Meyer, Will(1)	Assist(s): Ammel, Robert(1) McIntyre, Joe(1)
GMB	05:42	Penalty	Dickinson, Tyler(2)	2 minutes for Hooking
TCK	01:12	Goal	Cherney, Josh(1)	Assist(s): none

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Game Comments:
hkydoc WRJ, VT Registered: Jan 2004 Posts: 517	Good start, Fellas. Oct 18th, 2010 09:10 PM Sounds like this was a good game for early in the season as both squads find their 2010-11 identities and chemistry. Nothing is wrong with a 1 goal UVHL game ever. McD