UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Game Recap: Tuck vs Whalers – 9:20 PM

In a night of sibling rivalry and goaltending shenanigans, Tuck managed to edge out the Whalers in a defensive slugfest. With Tuck’s regular netminder, Jenkins Marshall, off on a mental health week (rumor has it he was at Goaltender Fantasy Camp with Marty Brodeur), Tuck had to call in a replacement. Enter Luke “The Nuke” McCormick – the Lumberjack’s own pipe-protector – who stepped in to guard the net. This set the stage for an epic duel against his own kin, as Whalers’ very own Big Game James McCormick manned the other side. In the end, the younger brother in net proved to be the hero.

First Period: A Bizarre 3-on-1 Bonanza

At 12:05, Tuck struck first to lead 1-0. A one-on-one between Tuck’s crafty playmaker, Nicky Sullivan (no link available for this speedster), and the Whalers’ slick Yehle somehow morphed into a wild 3-on-1. Sullivan fed David Husband, who found Matthew Ouellette. The puck bobbled off Ouellette’s stick and crashed the far post for an open-netter.

Tuck dominated the opening period with 10 shots compared to the Whalers’ 5, leaving the visitors scrambling to find their footing.

Second Period: Sibling Showdowns & Slapstick Saves

Things heated up in the second frame. Tuck’s Nicky Sullivan dished out a slick pass that set David Husband on a break, while the Whalers’ defense – including backchecker Nate “Power Skate” Robinson – couldn’t quite keep up. A collision saw Whalers’ Bentley Boonyaharn (link) and Husband trade more than just pucks, resulting in the game’s only penalty.

Then, at 7:04, the Whalers tied the game 1-1. Brandon Chiasson ignited an end-to-end rush on the power play – snatching a puck from behind his own goal and zipping up the boards. Channeling his inner power forward, Chiasson looped the puck past Luke McCormick (the very man replacing Jenkins Marshall) to even the score. After a clumsy 10-foot attempt from Ben Rouillard – who ended up with the puck in his gut – he quipped: Sometime’s it’s hard to pick a corner, They’re all my favorites.

The Whalers outshot Tuck 15-5 in this period, lighting a spark that promised more action.

Third Period: The Game-Winner & Defensive Grit

At 10:56 in the third, Tuck delivered the game-winning blow. David Husband sliced through the neutral zone and found Kyle Lockwood on the far boards. Husband then drove into the crease and set up a screen in front of Jared “J-Rod” Condon, clearing the way for Lockwood’s high shot to seal the win for Tuck.

Final Recap

In the end, Tuck emerged victorious in a defensive battle full of near-misses and quirky plays. The epic goalie matchup between Luke “The Nuke” McCormick and Big Game James McCormick provided all the drama you’d expect when family feuds hit the ice.

On the flip side, the Whalers’ top line – missing star Ezra Mock – was spearheaded by Captain/GM Dan VeNard (link unavailable), whose underwhelming performance left fans scratching their heads. In a game of tight defensive battles and off-ice antics, the true story was the comedy unfolding around every play.