THE

UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Brewers
Nordiques
1st
1
0
2rd
3
2
3rd
2
1
FINAL
6
3
Shots
39
29
February 1st, 2011 - 9:20PM
Union Arena - Woodstock, VT
Pre-Game
Recap
Box Score
Discussion
Game ID: 721

Brewers man-handle Nords

This game went off exactly as billed: it was physical, Poirier got hooking penalties, and Kelly Park the "Mouth of the North" was loud and obnoxious! I asked Park what he would do if he didn't have this league as an outlet for his anger, and he said that he just didn't know what he would do with out the UVHL. I think he would implode, personally, in a self-directed rage of ball busting criticism and sarcasm. Regardless, this was a fun game to watch, and it reminded me of last season's Whalen Cup Final between these two squads where the Brewers controlled the play physically, and thereby ultimately controlled the game. There was 1 fan in the stands for the Nords as play began. At the 12:13 mark "The Original" Chris Johnson missed on a 3-on-1 shot cross ice against John Turner (JT) in the Nords net. Park hustled back to stop Aaron Mancuso's chance, and then got a tripping penalty that he complained about to Hadley for making the call. The first Brewers PP shot on net was a save by JT, and then the puck went up and over him into the top corner by Brian Smith, on a rebound I think, at 5:35 from Jason Yehle. A player showed up a little late for the Brew Crew and that made it 9-on-8 on a night where only one UVHL team had 10 or more players show up. Nords defenseman Drew Crapser made his first appearance since the Whalen Cup Final in April, and he sucked wind all game, but did not suck in his 2011 debut. A nice pass was made to Brian Racicot for a partial breakaway, but Garren Poirier hustled back and caught up to him slashing Racicot's stick to stop the shot from being hard, and Matt Crowson made the easy save. Tom Dakai played some good D in the slot to cover for a challenging JT as the puck came to the top of the crease behind Turner and Dakai was right there to clear it out of harm's way. Some great moves were made by Jordan McGee at 1:24 trying to beat the Brewers, and McGee had 2 good chances that were just barely stopped by Crowson. A pre-game predicion at Stateline Sports earlier in the day was made by the Brewers Chris Dubin for a goal for him over JT's shoulder and glove when I saw him and Brewers D Dan Charette getting their skates sharpened. At this point, the prediction had not come true, and shots were 14-8 for the Brewers.

A beautiful tic-tac-toe Nords goal from Pierce Mayhew to McGee to Racicot at 14:46 saw the puck go quickly from the right side boards to the center to the other side of the net in record time. Crowson made a nice save on Park in the slot at 13:10. A pass in front from Johnson to Pomeroy found its way through the 5-hole at 11:52 to put the Brewers up 2-1. Crowson made a nice save and Yehle blocked a shot on the very next play as the Nords pressed to tie it back up. There was a good pace and the teams were playing very even with chances at both ends. There was lots of physical play, too, as predicted, and the refs let it go evenly. A breakaway pass was sent to McGee who sped in on Crowson, but Poirier hooked McGee as he was getting the shot off and there was no call at 10:05. Mancuso took a big shot that just got through JT's 5-hole as he came out to challenge, but was sliding to his right and could not quite put the squeeze on it, with CJ and Pomeroy getting the assists at 5:37. There was a tangle on the boards as Poirier held Park in some sort of prison love grab, and Poirier accidentally "fell" on Park and touched him inappropriately. Park naturally took offense and threw a girl punch from his knees Poirier's way yelling "I'm not your bitch, Bitch!", and they both went to the box for roughing with Poirier getting the extra 2 for holding at 3:19. There were several other colorful expletives uttered, but I was too busy laughing to write any of them down. Like I said: it went off as predicted, and this was evidence of that fact. Brian Smith stabbed the Nords in the heart and basically finished them off with an unassisted SHG at 2:04. However, the Nords are stubborn, and answered on the PP less than 30 seconds later on McGee's goal from Phillips and Mayhew to finish the period with a 4-2 deficit to the Brew Crew. The goal came after a battle down low and the Nords wingers forcing the puck to the front of the net with McGee finishing it off. This was such a good game to watch! Shots ended almost even this period with 15 coming JT's way, and 12 towards Crowson.


Poirier added insult to injury scoring at 13:34 of the third from Yehle just finding a small hole through JT. The Brewers D were scoring and contributing, and it made a diference. Crapser was exhausted in his first game back with only 3 D on the Nords, and less forwards able to backcheck. JT's pads were working hard on several kick saves, and the shots were 4-0 until a 5-hole goal by the Dirty Dentist Roger Phillips solved Crowson at 11:51 from Park. Big Nords winger Greg Marsh blew by Poirier with an outside in move, but could not score. There were several sloppy passes by the Nords wingers right to the Brewers throughout the game, but even more were delivered in the third. Was it fatigue? Was it pressure? Or ws it purely sloppy play? Luckily for the Nords there were no shots on goal from these horrible neutral zone turnovers. CJ slashed a streaking Phillips knocking the stick right out of his hands at 8:26. On the PP Crapser took a good shot from the point, and the Nords had 3 quality PP shots. CJ was daydreaming watching the play as his penalty expired and his teammates yelled for him to exit the box. park and CJ got physical in the corner, and then Marshy showed some acceleration up the L boards from his own blueline past Yehle for a hard low shot that Crowson saved with the R pad. There was a shot right off the faceoff for the Brewers after a Nords timeout, and there was lots of reffing going on from the Brew Crew's bench throughout the game. JT made a beautiful foot save while down on his ass to keep the puck out of his net. The Nords pulled the goalie with about 1:02 left and CJ sent the puck down and it just barely crossed the goal line for an empty netter at 0:59.

Final Score: Brewers 6, Nords 3

Final Tally: Smith was the only multiple goal scorer, and he had both of them on special teams with a PPG and a shorty that killed the Nords and ended up being the GWG giving him a POW nod. Sorry, CJ, but 2 assists and an empty netter doesn't get you a POW nomination, but everyone now knows that you got 3 points, and yes I did see them.Several players had 2 points, including Jordan McGee, Jason Yehle, Garren Poirier, Roger Phillips, Pierce Mayhew. Turner faced 39 shots, Crowson 29.

Final Analysis: The Brewers outmuscled the Nords and controlled the game. The Nords wingers made sloppy passes and therefore the Nords had less chances and less puck control. JT really couldn't have played any better and only wanted the Mancuso 5-hole goal back. Crowson was sharp in goal for the Brewers coming up big several times. Poirier was a force, and played great at both ends, and earns a POG nod for his efforts. McGee was everywhere for the Nords, and he can't be expected to do it all by himself every night, and he gets "De Tird Star" of the game for his heart, skill, and hustle.

See you on the ice! (after the frickin' doors are closed!)

McD

LEAGUE PICK 'EM
 0%
Brewers
100% 
Nordiques
5 PICKS
THREE STARS

Brian Smith

GOALS: 2
POINTS: 2

Garren Poirier

GOALS: 1
POINTS: 2

Jordan McGee

GOALS: 1
POINTS: 2

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