UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Battle for Second Place

The Whalers and Lumberjacks meet again in a battle for second place in the UVHL standings. The Lumberjacks (6-3-0) have been on a tear, winning four of their last five games, while the Whalers (5-3-0) are coming off a dominant performance against the Mustangs. Both teams are looking to gain ground on the first-place Gamblers, and this matchup could have major playoff implications.

Head-to-Head Record

Lumberjacks lead the all-time series 26-7.

• 12/18/2024: Lumberjacks 6, Whalers 3


• 11/20/2024: Lumberjacks 9, Whalers 5


• 1/31/2024: Whalers 7, Lumberjacks 3


• 12/13/2023: Whalers 4, Lumberjacks 3


• 11/15/2023: Lumberjacks 10, Whalers 0


• 10/18/2023: Lumberjacks 6, Whalers 0

Key Players to Watch

Whalers

• Ben Rouillard - Leads the Whalers with 13 points (4G, 9A) and has been a consistent playmaker.


• Ezra Mock - 7 goals in 6 games, including some highlight-reel finishes.


• Ean Small - 11 points (3G, 8A), a key part of the Whalers’ offense.


• Jered Condon - Sporting a 4.00 GAA and an 0.874 save percentage, Condon will need to be sharp to hold off the Lumberjacks' offensive attack.

Lumberjacks

• Nathan DeLuca - The league’s top scorer with 24 points (15G, 9A) in just 9 games.


• Zach Dayno - 16 points, including 7 goals, has been a crucial part of the top line.


• Neil MacKenzie - Leads the team with 11 assists and controls the tempo of the game.


• Luke McCormick - 5-3-0 record, 4.00 GAA, and an 0.879 save percentage. He’ll need to be sharp against the Whalers' attack.

What to Expect

The Whalers have struggled historically against the Lumberjacks, but their offense has been clicking lately. Their top line of Rouillard, Mock, and Small has been dominant, while their defense, led by Dan VeNard, will need to step up to slow down DeLuca and company.

The Lumberjacks' trio of DeLuca, Dayno, and MacKenzie have been tearing apart defenses, averaging over 5 points per game combined. If they get rolling early, it could be a long night for the Whalers.

Quotes from Around the League

Nathan DeLuca: "The Whalers are a good team, but let’s be honest, they don’t like playing us."

Ezra Mock: "We’ve got some unfinished business with these guys. We’ll see who’s laughing at the end."

Luke McCormick: "Mock keeps talking, but I don’t think he’s ever scored on me. Maybe tonight he finally gets lucky."

Jered Condon: "DeLuca, Dayno, MacKenzie—blah blah blah. They can’t score if we keep the puck in their end."

Prediction

With the top two offenses in the league squaring off, this game could be a shootout. The Whalers have been improving, but the Lumberjacks have dominated this series. Expect a fast-paced game with plenty of scoring chances.

Final Prediction: Lumberjacks 5, Whalers 4

Post-Game Recap: Whalers 6, Lumberjacks 2

The Whalers (6-3-0) skated away with a commanding victory over the Lumberjacks (6-4-0), showing no mercy despite some early drama and a missing star on the Lumberjack’s roster. Without Nathan DeLuca and with Zach Dayno arriving late, the Lumberjacks looked out of sync for much of the game. Let’s dive into the action and the ridiculousness that followed.

First Period: A Balanced Start

• Whalers 1, Lumberjacks 0 (9:04): A lazy breakout pass by Evan Seely turned into a Whaler’s goal when Scott “The Angry Elf” Christian kept the puck in and found Ezra Mock for a sneaky backhander. The Lumberjack’s goalie barely flinched. “I’m just glad Ezra didn’t deke five times before shooting like Nate Robinson,” quipped Dan VeNard.


• Whalers 2, Lumberjacks 0 (6:59): A smooth strip by James “Big Game” McCormick set up a beautiful 2-on-1 with Dan Fenton feeding Nate Robinson for a twisted wrister. “Nate’s wrist shot is so quick, even I feel bad for the goalies,” joked Fenton.


• Lumberjacks 1, Whalers 2 (4:06): Jordy McGee channeled his inner playmaker, finding Alex Brands for a sneaky wrister through a sea of bodies. Great hockey IQ, terrible defending.


• Lumberjacks 2, Whalers 2 (0:44): Neil “The Real Deal” MacKenzie tied it up with a textbook 2-on-1 against VeNard. “I just thought, why not let Neil have his moment?” said VeNard sarcastically.

End of First Period: Tied 2-2. Shots: Whalers 14, Lumberjacks 15.

Second Period: Whalers Take Control

• Whalers 3, Lumberjacks 2 (5:03): Robinson struck again, ignoring every passing option en route to a solo effort that baffled Luke McCormick. “If he ordered Applebee’s as efficiently as he shoots, we’d all be home by now,” said VeNard.


• Whalers 4, Lumberjacks 2 (1:20): VeNard redeemed himself with a snipe from the near boards, courtesy of a slick feed from Ezra Mock. “1980s D1 talent, baby,” VeNard beamed post-game.

End of Second Period: Whalers 4, Lumberjacks 2. Shots: Whalers 10, Lumberjacks 8.

Third Period: Whalers Shut the Door

• Whalers 5, Lumberjacks 2 (12:44): Ean Small turned defender Marc “The Narc” Gattie into a meme with a toe-drag that left his jockstrap somewhere in the stands. “Nasty sauce,” said VeNard. “Consult a doctor if you’re still thinking about that goal tomorrow.”


• Whalers 6, Lumberjacks 2 (1:53): Ben Rouillard and Small teamed up for the final nail in the coffin. Rouillard’s cross-crease pass found Small, who chipped it in for his second goal of the night. “It’s like these two are playing chess while we’re stuck on checkers,” said McCormick.

End of Regulation: Whalers 6, Lumberjacks 2. Shots: Whalers 34, Lumberjacks 31.

Final Thoughts:

The Whalers’ top players shone brightly, while the Lumberjacks clearly missed the star power of Nathan DeLuca. Condon stood tall when needed, and the Whalers’ offense proved too much for the depleted Lumberjacks.