UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Gamblers vs Blues

With a historical domination by the Gamblers who have taken 31 out of 42 games against the Blues, the nod has to go to Willy Meyer's Gamblers squad to take the win tonight.  Although...the Blues took 2 out of 3 last season, so maybe this one should be called EVEN to start.

The Blues are powered by the ageless and bearded wonder boy Terence (TJ) Moran who was second in the league with 22 points last season.  TJs brother Bart was third with 19pts followed by Ryan LaCroix & Max Woods each with 15pts.  The Blue's Jay Seals was water tight with a league leading 1.92 GAA compared to the chunky GAA average of the Gambler's Ryan Van Schoick.  Not good Mr. Vermont Hockey!

Last week the Gamblers had a BYE and the Blues took a 1-0 forfeit win over the Lumberjacks who couldn't field a team. This one should be fun, despite the Gamblers being without wonder boy Willy "Wobble" Meyer who is Colorado doing a vision quest.

History was on the side of the Gamblers as they took their lifetime 74.4% winning percentage against the Labatt Blues to Union Arena and didn't let a slow start ruin their night.  Labatt's came out flying, netting 3 goals in the first five minutes behind a goal from Tyler White and a pair of goals from Ryan Smith.  Both White & TJ Moran picked up a pair of assists early.  

Without their fearless leader, Willy "Wheels" Meyer, the Gamblers looked unprepared as Meyer wasn't there to stir his troops with his typical "Fire & Brimstone" pregame warmup speech and human sacrifice.  It took over 10 minutes for Meyer's Men to respond when Jason "Never a Wrister" Young screamed "LET'S DO IT FOR WILLY!!!" and Max Woods finished off a Matty "Miracle on Ice" Marrazzo pass to get things started for the G-Men.  Travis Poublon was next, as Young screamed "I LOVE YOU WILLY" and Poublon immediatly converted a Ryan "Boogeyman" Bergeron pass to cut the Gambler's defecit to one.  Ryan "Vin Diesel" Van Schoik was excellent in net for the Gamblers after finally sobering up and stopping 11 shots in the period.  Labatt's goalie Jay "The Real Deals" Seals was also stellar, stopping 9 of 11.

END OF THE FIRST: Blues 3 - Gamblers 2
SHOTS: Blues 12 - Gamblers 13

The Gamblers potted the only goal of the second frame on Poublon's second, unassisted.  I wasn't there for it, but it was the goal heard around The World...ok, Woodstock...ok maybe just Union Arena.  No penalties were called...and one Gambler player was quoted as saying "This is probably the cleanest game of hockey the Gamblers & Blues have ever played."

END OF THE SECOND: Blues 3 - Gamblers 3
SHOTS: Blues 26 - Gamblers 26

The Gamblers tallied the only goal of the third period for their fourth straight goal and to complete the comeback.  Boogeyman Bergeron finished a Poublon pass with 9:24 to play.  A late penalty by The Blues capped off the scoreboard in this one, and the G-Men marched on to the win and a perfect 2-0-0 record in this young season.

FINAL: Blues 3 - Gamblers 4

SHOTS: Blues 36 - Gamblers - 38