UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Championship Game: Whalers @ Gamblers

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

After 24 Games it comes down to this....Whalers(13-9-2) @ Gamblers(22-1-0). Last time these two teams met, in the final game of the regular season, the Whalers ruined the Gamblers perfect season and the Nordiques payed for it last week with an 11-3 ass-whooping.

The Gamblers will surely be looking for redemption and the Whalers had better be ready to receive their wrath.

The Whalers made quick work of the Brewers last week 7-3, but it was a good tune-up for the championship game. The only issue is that their netminder, Kenny "LaOldFart" Lallier, will be much busier in this one than he was last week. If Kenny isn't on, this could get ugly fast.

This should be a dogfight from the puck drop, but the Gamblers won't be caught off guard again. Gamblers win it 5-3.

Miracle On Ice...2012! Whalers Oust Gamblers In OT

In a highlight for the UVHL, the Whalers and Gamblers went to overtime to decide who would take home the coveted Whalen Cup. Was it a miracle that the Whalers downed the high-powered Gamblers or was it the emergence of a future UVHL powerhouse? I would say this win fits more inline with the later.

Despite being outshot 41 to 17, the Whalers played as perfect a game as possible. They focused on shutting down the juggernaut offense and capitalized when they needed to. The oldest man in the entire Upper Valley, Kenny "Brittle Bones" Lallier, was absolutely outstanding in net for the Whalers earning a First Star and taking home Player of The Week for his 39 save, 2 goals allowed performance.

As always the MFC (Meyer Fan Club) was in attendance for this epic game, unfortunately they saw their team always chasing the clock as they never held a lead. The Gamblers came out flying and almost convert ten seconds into the game when Matty "The Mailman" Marrazzo couldn't deliver on an empty net backdoor pass from Meyer. The Gamblers continued to press but it was the Whalers that tallied first when Jonny "Doc" Stallsmith made a beauty dish out of the corner to "Jumbo" Joe Gaudet at the faceoff dots. Gaudet took a stride and then unleashed a blistering backhander up over the shoulder of Jeremy "The Seed" Seidling, off the crossbar and in.

END OF THE FIRST: Whalers 1, Gamblers 0
SAVES: Seidling(GMB) 5, Lallier(WHL) 11

The second period was scoreless and saw three penalties, but another great start by the Gamblers almost tied the score when Marc "The Narc" Gattie beat Lallier but was stopped by the post just 53 seconds in. The Whalers killed off Chris "Beer Goggles" Gogan penalty and even drew the Gambler's Willy "Mighty Mouse" Meyer into a penalty for cross checking.

END OF THE SECOND: Whalers 1, Gamblers 0
SAVES: Seidling(GMB) 11, Lallier(WHL) 22

The Gamblers put things into overdrive in the third, outshooting the Whalers 15-3. Lallier stood tall but Gattie broke through exactly five minutes in beating the old man 5-holio. The Whalers responded on their second shot of the period when Tommy "The Potty" Crapser fired an indirect pass from his blueline, off the near boards to Dillan "Fierce" Pierce. Pierce took the puck behind the Gambler's net and fed Jay "The Zamboni" Zanleoni in front who raised his hands as if he had just scored the overtime winner in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals...and he should have! Pierce was thrown out of the game two minutes later for running his mouth, and on the ensuing powerplay Ryan "Booger" Bergeron sniped Lallier through a screen to tie the game.

That took the wind out of the Whaler's sails, and you could feel that the Gamblers were going to close out the game. But regulation ended and Lallier must have said something especially special before overtime started.

END OF REGULATION: Whalers 2, Gamblers 2
SAVES: Seidling(GMB) 13, Lallier(WHL) 34

The Gamblers came out storming, outshooting the Whale 4-1 in OT, but their best opportunity came on a Willy Meyer breakaway 2:48 into overtime. Lallier stoned Meyer with a kicksave, and the puck went the other way. Less than two minutes later Scotty "Too Hotty" Shaw hit Gaudet at the offensive blueline with speed. He cut around a Gambler forward and beat Seidling with a quick shot in tight.

The crowd went wild, except for the MFC in response to David beating Goliath in the first ever UVHL overtime game.

It was an impressive game to watch, high speed & intensity. Emotions were running high and the 21-1-0 Gamblers ran into a hot goaltender and defensively strong Whalers team.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
WHL	10:47	Goal	Gaudet, Joseph(33)	Assist(s): Stallsmith, Jonathan(10)
GMB	07:44	Penalty	Smith, Gary(9)	2 minutes for Interference
2nd PERIOD
WHL	02:52	Penalty	gogan, chris(7)	2 minutes for Roughing
GMB	01:49	Penalty	Meyer, Will(4)	2 minutes for Cross Checking
WHL	01:49	Penalty	rouillard, jason(6)	2 minutes for Tripping
3rd PERIOD
WHL	14:18	Penalty	gogan, chris(8)	2 minutes for High Sticking
GMB	10:00	Goal	Gattie, Marc(14)	Assist(s): none
GMB	08:29	Penalty	Bergeron, Ryan(4)	2 minutes for Cross Checking
WHL	05:25	Goal	Zanleoni, Jay(22)	Assist(s): Pierce, Dillan (30) Crapser, Tom(10)
WHL	04:44	Penalty	gogan, chris(9)	2 minutes for Interference
WHL	03:36	Penalty	Pierce, Dillan (6)	10 minutes for Misconduct
GMB	03:31	Goal	(PP)Bergeron, Ryan(7)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(26)
GMB	02:42	Penalty	LaCroix, Topo(4)	2 minutes for Rouhing
OT PERIOD
WHL	01:25	Goal	Gaudet, Joseph(34)	Assist(s): Shaw, Scott(21) Johnson, Kirt(8)

LOG IN:
Username:		You must be logged into your Forum account to leave game comments. Please log in to the right to add your Brilliant Diatribes & Thunderous Verbal Attacks about this game.
Password:
	forget username / password? create account

Game Comments:
JTStally Hanover, NH Registered: Posts: 159	Looking Forward to It! Apr 10th, 2012 01:23 PM It should be a fun game. Last time the two teams met I felt like it was a higher level of play than we usually see, so I expect both teams will be flying tonight!
Careen Woodstock, VT Registered: Posts: 3	Really?! May 1st, 2012 12:55 PM Imagine my complete surprise upon learning that the Whalers took the coveted cup! This absolutely confirms my theory that team bonding is essential to a successful season. It was a toss up between the Brewers and the Whalers as to who won the Bentley's attendance award but I seem to remember one game when the Brewers were a no- show. I believe the Whalers had a perfect after-game attendance record, a factor that I am convinced played an important role in their success! Congrats to the Whales and thanks to you all for making my Tuesday nights fun!