UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Mustangs Look to New Year for New Results

The UVHL's newest whipping post has a big picture of a horse as their logo.  The Mustangs have started their UVHL journey with a dismal 1-6-0 record in 2023.  The only high point was an impressive 6-5 shootout over powerhouse Tuck in week 3.  Beyond that, they've scored the fewest goals(19), allowed the most(44) and have the worst goal differential(-25).  They're even tied for last (or first depending on how you look at it) in penalties per game with 1.

Tonight they face off against a talented, yet inconsistent, Lumberjacks team that sits below .500 with a 3-4-1 record.  The Jacks aren't much better, sitting one spot higher in all primary categories; goals(28), gaols allowed(39) & goal differential(-11).  

The Mustangs don't have a single player in the top 20 in scoring but have one of the most talented teams in the UVie when the right players show up.  Led by Schuyler St. Germaine's 6 goals and 2 assists and Matt Derouchie's 6 points.  Their fearless captain Chris "Oh Fudge" Mudge leads the league in "F-Bombs" and Good Looks.  

Their goaltender Colin Farr "From Good" has been average at best, but the defensive structure in front of him has been abysmal.  Hey fellas, a little defensive zone play might keep your goaltender from walking into the middle of Route 89 or 91.  

The Jacks host two players in the top 20 with Jordy "McBreakaway" McGee(12pts) & "Thrillin" Dillan Pierce(10pts).  Production drops off quicly after that.  The addition of Scotty "Sugar" Shaw(5pts in 3g) has been a bright spot that adds some talent, age and wisdom, but the lackluster play of their captain / manager / gm / bearded clown, Jay "Reg Dunlop" Zanleoni has been noticeable.  Their goaltending has been up and down just like their goaltender's libido.   Ryan "The Libido" Libbey has had nights where he looked like he would rather be getting sodomized by his defense than stopping pucks.  

It's a tough one to call, but the Lumberjacks have taken both matchups this year;  7-4 on October 25th and 7-1 on December 6th.  The saving grace is that it is a New Year and an early game tonight, so the Mustangs might be able to get some of their early bedtime players to show up.

Vegas thinks that the Lumberjacks take this one by 3 goals.  6-3 Jacks.

Lumberjacks Hand Mustangs 5th Consecutive Loss

This game featured two struggling teams who would look to turn things around and start heading in the right direction. The Mustangs came into this one having lost their last four games and the Lumberjacks going winless in their last two and five of their last six. 

The Lumberjacks got the scoring going early as Jordan McGee went end to end before finding Neil Mackenzie out front for an easy tap in to make it 1-0. Despite a small push by the Mustangs following the goal, the game would begin to slow down for a bit as both teams would have trouble sustaining any kind of pressure in the offensive zone. That was until Matt Derouchie buried a one-timer five hole on a feed from Schuyler St. Germain to knot things up at one. Within three minutes the Lumberjacks responded on a seeing eye pass from Tim Patten across to Andrew Kimbell who found the back of the net. They carried that one goal lead into the second.

Less than two minutes into the second period Mustang’s forward Matt Derouchie Stole the puck from Ryan Frisch and went in all alone on a break away but was shut down by goaltender Ryan Libbey. Then just minutes after Libbey’s big save, Matthew Day netted a backhand to extend the Lumberjacks lead to two goals. Both goalies would be heavily tested as the period progressed especially when Mackenzie dangled around a Mustang defencemen and tried to go high glove on Colin Farr, but Farr stood his ground and made the save. The Mustangs fought hard to get back in this game, but a tripping penalty by Chris Warrington would not make that task any easier. Fortunately for them they had a solid penalty kill lead by their goaltender Farr which would give them momentum leading to a goal shortly after the penalty expired. This time it was Craig Switzer who cashed in on a one-timer cutting the lead in half. The surge continued for the Mustangs as St. Germain had a wide open cage but was robbed by a diving Libbey. Things calmed down after that save, and the score remained 3-2 Lumberjacks after two periods.

To start the third it was the Mustangs who carried the play with some grade A scoring opportunities but did not have an answer for the Lumberjack netminder Ryan Libbey. Just over a minute into the third Mustang defensemen Chris Warrington found the loose puck on the side of the net, but again Libbey sprawled out for another spectacular save. Great goaltending was able to weather the storm for the Lumberjacks. It wasn’t long before the Lumberjacks doubled their lead as Matthew Day dished a pass over to Scott Shaw who found the top corner. Four minutes following Shaw’s tally, Day added some insurance with his second of the game going high glove on Farr. The two teams went back and forth for the remainder of the game each having multiple scoring chances but Day's second was the last of this high scoring affair. The game ended in a 5-2 victory for the Lumberjacks who have next week off, but will look to keep it going against the always dangerous Tuck on the 17th. The Mustangs on the other hand dig themselves into an even deeper hole and will have to sit on this loss until they take the ice again next Wednesday the 10th versus the Gamblers.