UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Game Recap: Lumberjacks vs Mustangs – February 19th, 2025, 7:55 PM

In a showdown that felt part demolition derby and part stand-up comedy routine, the Lumberjacks delivered an 8-1 thrashing of the Mustangs. The night had everything—from record-setting assist chases to defensive fumbles so epic you’d wonder if the playbook was written on cocktail napkins.

First Period: Mustang Mischief & Lumberjack Retort

The game opened with a flash of Mustang brilliance. With the face-off taking place near Mustang goalie Colin Farr, Michael Cimis scooped up the puck and fed it to Van Bailey. Bailey’s dazzling backhand-to-forehand move sliced through the Lumberjacks’ defense—led by a hapless Luke McCormick—to give the Mustangs their lone goal of the night.

Not to be outdone, Lumberjack superstar Zach Dayno answered in record time. After a face-off misadventure, Dayno’s third whack of the puck found the back of the net, tying the score and setting the tone for what was to come.

Second Period: Breakaways, Botched Power Plays & Tripping Mayhem

The Mustangs tried to rally. Van Bailey streaked for another breakaway while slick passes from Sweet Baby Ray Nolan left defenders spinning. However, the Lumberjacks’ defense—anchored by Luke McCormick—kept the Mustang surge at bay.

Things got extra goofy when Mustang enforcer Greg “The Butcher” Marsh tripped himself deep in his own zone, handing the Lumberjacks an extra look at their growing lead. And while Mustangs’ goalie Colin Farr tried to hide behind a mountain of desperate saves, it was clear that the momentum had decidedly shifted.

Third Period: Lumberjack Rampage & a Hat Trick to Remember

The final period was a Lumberjack clinic. The famed DMD line— Zach Dayno, Nate DeLuca, and Neil “The Real Deal” MacKenzie—proved too much for the Mustang defense, combining for a whopping 16 points (4 goals, 12 assists). While DeLuca chipped in two goals (and yes, even tossed in four “apples” for a total of 6 points), the icing on the cake was delivered by latecomer Jordan McGee.

Arriving like a man on a mission, McGee lit up the third period with a natural hat trick. After a nifty tip on a rebound from Dillan Pearce's face-off play, McGee cruised in for two more goals. “That’s how you leave the party, baby!” he joked after netting his third as the final tally crept to 8-1.

On the Mustang side, defensive efforts by Chris Mudge, Jodie O’Neil, and others couldn’t stem the tide. Even a quirky tic-tac-toe play involving Greg Marsh and Andrew Kimbell resulted in a save that left Kimbell muttering, “That one is going to haunt me for years.”

Final Thoughts

While the Mustangs may have started the night with some spark, the Lumberjacks turned the game into a full-blown comedy of errors for their foes. With record-setting assists by Zach Dayno (7—and yes, that’s a record that’ll need double-checking) and a hat trick hero in Jordan McGee, this 8-1 win will be remembered for its wild plays, colorful quotes, and a reminder that sometimes, it’s not just about winning—it’s about making your opponents look like they’re on a permanent blooper reel.