UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Gamblers vs Mustangs

After a loss in their first games, both the Mustangs and Gamblers are looking to get into the win column.  Both teams had flashes of offensive brilliance but also struggled in their own end.  The Gambler's Evan "Almighty" Cline's UVHL debut was one to forget as he let up 10 goals against a powerhouse Tuck team.  In his defense he made 29 saves, many quality, and his defense was absolute horseshit.  

Cliner's counterpart is UVHL legend Colin "Neither Near Nor " Farr who once put up an impressive 4-15 record for the Nordiques back in 2015-2016 with a 6.74 GAA.  Farr retired from the UVHL after the 2017-2018 season when he posted an impressive 3-4-0 record for Tuck, but came out of retirement this season to backstop the Mighty Mustangs.

This should be a fun game to watch as both teams have some very talented players.  The Mustang's "Mad" Max Gavin potted 2 goals last week en route to his Player of the Week(POW) nomination and 3 other players also have 2 points in their UVHL debuts; Matt Derouchie(1g,1a), Jamal Sabky(1g,1a) & Schuyler St. Germain(2a).

The Gamblers are heading into their 18th season, starting in 2004 as the Bruins and going 0-9-0 with a -29 goal differential.  Since then, they've put up some ridiculous numbers; 211 wins, 99 losses and 11 OTL.  Scoring 1,724 goals while allowing just 1,233.  Led by their fearless leader, Will "The Thrill" Meyer who is the all time UVHL leader in points(535) and Goals(319) in just 214 games, although most of them have come against legendary UVHL alum, Kenny "The Cat" Lallier.  Linemate Matty "The Milkman" Marrazzo sits second in points(534) and Goals(265) but is the UVHL record holder with 269 assists in 266 games.

Vegas thinks that the Gamblers will outlast the Mustangs; 6-4 including an empty netter.  

Gamblers Power Past Mustangs

VIDEO RECAP:


Week three of the 2023-24 UVHL season saw the first meeting the between perennial powerhouse Gamblers and start-up Mustangs.  The Gamblers were looking to redeem themselves after a week one 10-5 blowout at the hands of Tuck.  The Mustangs were looking to improve on a a 7-4 loss to the Lumberjacks from the previous week.

Despite the outcome of this game, it was the Mustangs that struck first and actually carried play for large portions of the game.  The Mustangs outshot the Gamblers 35 to 26, but Evan "Wine &" Cline set up shop in the Gamblers net, turning away many good scoring opportunities.  Cliner's counterpart, Colin "Neither Near Nor" Farr wasn't quite as sharp.  Farr was good enough to keep his team in the game but the better goalie won tonight.

The Mustangs broke through halfway through the first on a "Mad" Max Gavin to Craig "the Swiffer Picker Upper" Switzer goal.  Switzer's twisted wrister from the point found a hole in Cline at 7:16.  The Gamblers tied the game with 3:52 when Matty "The Mailman" Marrazzo delivered, curling from behind the net and beating Farr short side for the equalizer. "I just score goals, that's what I do" said the Milkman, "Farr clearly hasn't been drinking his 2%."

AFTER THE FIRST: Game tied at 1.  SHOTS: Gamblers 10, Mustangs 8

The second period started with Will "Mighty" Meyer going to the dirty areas and chipping a "Sugar" Ray Nolan rebound past Farr just over 3 minutes into the frame.  The Mustang's Gavin tied things up taking a back door pass from Matt Derouchie and carved through the low slot before tucking the puck past an out-stretched Cline.  "I could have done that with my eyes closed," Said Gavin, "but I didn't because I wanted to see Cline's 'oh shit' face."  It was a beautiful goal.  Cline rebounded with a handful of huge saves to keep the game timed before the Gamblers struck with a pair of late goals just 25 seconds apart.

"Mad" Max Woods got his first of the night breaking in 1 on 1 with Will "Oh Fudge" Mudge.  Woods fired a high hard shot off Farr's chest that bounced up and rolled down Farr's back and in.  Woods took a Mudge stick to the face and crashed into the end boards and didn't even know that he scored until seeing the faceoff at center ice.

Luke "Merriam" Webster, looked up how to shoot in the dictionary pre-game, and it paid off as he took a face-off win from Meyer, pulled the puck into the slot all alone and let a half-clapper rip under the arm of Farr for a 4-2 lead with just 1:13 to play.

END OF THE SECOND: Gamblers up 4-2.  SHOTS: Mustangs 18, Gamblers 21

The Mustangs turned things up in the third, peppering Cline with 17 shots to the Gambler's 5 but Cline was too good.  The only goal of the frame came on the power-play with just 1:49 to play after Farr did his best Hasek, flopping around to save a pair of point blank shots before Woods found the 2nd rebound and put it past an out-stretched goaltender for the 5-2 lead.

Overall it was a great matchup, and proved that the Mustangs are legit.  If they dial in their shooting and clean up a couple of mistakes, they'll contend for the Whalen Cup by the end of the year.