UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Gamblers Look To Break The Funk Against Powerhouse Cardigan

ODDS:	EVEN
OVER/UNDER:	8 Goals

The Gamblers are undoubtedly a much better team than their 1-1-1 record would show. Cardigan is clearly a top competitor, sitting undefeated(2-0-1) in regulation. This should be a hell of a game to watch.

The Gambler's offense seems to be broken just like their star Right Winger, Dan "The Danimal" Ammel's leg. The MMA line(Meyer, Marrazzo & Ammel) have yet to fully click, but luckily they've had Thing 1 & Thing 2(The LaCroix Brothers) to pick up the slack.

Cardigan has been a pleasant surprise thus far. Their captain Ryan "Kitchen" Sinclair leads the league in points and assists and his new BFF, Owen Carpino, leads the league with 9 goals in three games. Their offense is undoubtedly the best in the UVHL right now.

Cardigan could sit at 3-0-0 if it weren't for a shootout loss to the well balanced Nordiques last week, the same team that upset the Gamblers 3-2 in week 1.

This game is a toss up...my gut says 4-4 tie goes to a shootout with the Gamblers winning. That is unless the Gamblers pull in a subpar goaltender to replace Ryan Van Schoik, then Sinclair & Carpino might blow this game open.

Gamblers Erase 3-0 Deficit, Roll Cardigan 6-3

After a horrific start to the game where the Gamblers fell behind 3-0 they rallied with six straight goals to reach .500 on the season. Cardigan, who fell to 2-2-0, started out strong as they dominated the Gamblers until a key cog in their offensive machine went down with a knee injury. That cog / heart of Cardigan is Ryan Sinclair, who left in the second on an accidental knee on knee collision with a Gambler player, sending the game into a dramatic turn in favor of the Gamblers.

"It really was a good game for the most part. They came out flying and we just battled back slowly, plus Van Schoik made some huge saves!" Recalled Meyer after the game. "With the lose of Sinc it hurt them Numbers-Wise as well as skill wise. They got tired quickly."

Sinclair had a pair of goals in the first to lead the way with Owen Carpino getting the other goal for Cardigan. After the first period the Gamblers looked frustrated and a bit inept, especially Willy "Weeble" Meyer.

END OF THE FIRST: Cardigan 3, Gamblers 1

Sinclair's exit early in the second was felt all over the ice from the shortened bench to the scoresheet and finally to his cherry picking on the offensive blueline. The Gamblers rolled in the second frame, collecting 4 straight goals. The MMA line of Matty "The Milkman" Marrazzo, Meyer and Dan "The Danimal" Ammel were back in top form for the first time this season as they put up 5 of the 6 goals and a combined 10 points on the night. Ammel who is back after breaking his ankle last season in a fall on some icy steps, that may or may not have involved boat loads of alcohol, led the way with a hat trick and an assist. Meyer contributed a quartet of assists while Marrazzo deposited a pair of tallies in the win.

With Ammel scoring two of his goals in the first eight minutes of the second the game was immediately attainable for the Gamblers. Ryan "Thing 2" LaCroix then tied the game with 3:46 to play from his brother Topo "Thing 1" LaCroix and Marc "The Narc" Gattie. Marrazzo deposited his 4th of the season just over a minute later for the eventual game winner and the Gamblers never looked back.

It was a penalty filled period with 12 minutes in penalties and a Ryan Bergeron hooking penalty that saw Timmy LeRoy awarded a penalty shot that Ryan Van Schoik turned away.

END OF THE SECOND: Cardigan 3, Gamblers 4

Van Schoik was amazing in the first two periods, keeping his team alive while they battled back into this game. The third period was a bit lighter for him than the first two.

Things calmed down a bit and the Gamblers added another pair of goals, one each from Marrazzo & Ammel to seal the win.

In the end, the Gamblers were too much for Cardigan, especially without their captain who will be out for at least 8 weeks. We all wish Sinclair a speedy recovery and look forward to seeming back on the ice.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
CDG	13:15	Goal	Sinclair, Ryan(6)	Assist(s): Gauthier, Graham(1)
GMB	11:50	Penalty	Marrazzo, Matt(1)	2 minutes for Hooking
CDG	10:59	Goal	(PP)Sinclair, Ryan(7)	Assist(s): Levine, Mike (1) Skelley, Tad(1)
CDG	09:11	Goal	Carpino, Owen(10)	Assist(s): LeRoy, Tim(3)
2nd PERIOD
CDG	13:37	Penalty	Carpino, Owen(1)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	11:24	Penalty	LaCroix, Ryan(1)	2 minutes for Hooking
GMB	08:13	Goal	Ammel, Robert(2)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(4)
GMB	06:14	Goal	Ammel, Robert(3)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(5)
CDG	04:49	Penalty	LeRoy, Tim(1)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	03:46	Goal	LaCroix, Ryan(5)	Assist(s): LaCroix, Topo(5) Gattie, Marc(4)
GMB	02:41	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(3)	Assist(s): Harrington, Mike(1)
GMB	02:16	Penalty	Bergeron, Ryan(1)	2 minutes for Hooking
GMB	02:05	Penalty	Marrazzo, Matt(2)	2 minutes for Slashing
CDG	01:23	Penalty	Carpino, Owen(2)	2 minutes for Holding
3rd PERIOD
GMB	13:45	Goal	Ammel, Robert(4)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(6)
CDG	08:05	Penalty	Gauthier, Graham(1)	2 minutes for Slashing
GMB	05:07	Penalty	Gattie, Marc(1)	2 minutes for Roughing
CDG	04:53	Penalty	Skelley, Tad(1)	2 minutes for Roughing
GMB	00:13	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(4)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(7) Ammel, Robert(1)

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