Wednesday May 24

Ducks disappear in second half of the game, Senators pull away in convincing fashion

(10)Senators vs Ducks(5)

On Wednesday evening, the Ducks had their hands full versus the Senators. For about half the game, they hung neck and neck with them, but ultimately crashed and burned in the second portion. Talk about nothing going right for a side hoping to do way better. When you cant get to the ball first or run back to try and slow down a rush, you’ll often pay the price. The Senators did an excellent job boxing out the Ducks while excelling on their transition game. It seemed like everyone was touching the ball before somebody would go on to score. At least five players collected three points or more with R.Kilgour and M.Lafleur sharing the most with five points apiece. There was no question that the Ducks couldn’t match the pace of a quicker and more engaged team. The lanes just kept opening up for the Senators, who have enough quality to bury their chances. This is a good result for a side that seem to have all the elements to go very far into the post season.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Richard Kilgour of the Senators. Always responsible at both ends of the court, R.Kilgour was glad to have a very productive night collecting two goals and three assists.

F.Girard and B.Sorice set the tone for Stars thumping over Hurricanes

(5)Hurricanes vs Stars(12)

Its hard enough to stop one player, but when two are playing at the height of their game, it becomes that much more difficult. Twenty minutes had gone by and the Hurricanes were late to receive the memo on how to slow down F.Girard and B.Sorice. The dynamic duo made an early mess combining for five goals that saw F.Girard complete a natural hat trick in only five minutes. Its never pleasant falling behind by such a large margin in a fairly short period of time. The Hurricanes did show some character despite the awful start by getting involved more offensively thanks to T.Angelis’s hat trick. Still , they were too far behind, but took it upon themselves to remove their net minder for the extra attacker after trailing 9-4. Surely, it was a desperate move trying to overcome a five goal deficit with just over ten minutes remaining. Eventually, the Stars would close out the deal for good when N.Boctor-Awad and P.Carone each fed the empty cage. This victory for the Stars was an important one as they’ll need only a couple of points with two games remaining to try and capture a top two seed which would give them an automatic first round bye.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Fred Girard of the Stars. It took him only five minutes to score a natural hat trick that helped provide a 6-1 lead only twenty minutes into the game. The forward went on to notch a total of five goals and a helper.

Ducks challenge much better in second game despite dropping it late to the Golden Knights

(9)Golden Knights vs Ducks(7)

Considering how the Ducks looked earlier in their loss to the Senators, this contest was a lot more promising for how they played it out. They actually looked like the less tired team as they often got to the ball first. Unfortunately, a bad start and a heart breaking finish saw them fall short. The Golden Knights got the ball rolling right away netting two early goals as it looked like it was going to be another long night for the Ducks. However, that didn’t change the mind set of just keeping at it. Even though the Ducks fell behind 6-3 at one point, they kept battling back by applying some serious pressure. Eventually, that hard worked appeared to pay off when D.Galloro evened the score at seven goals apiece with less than a minute remaining. For sure the thought of heading into overtime crossed everyone’s mind. But with about thirty seconds left to go, T.Settino made a brilliant move to release a back hand-from the slot area that beat G.Kanaras top corner. That was T.Settino’s seventh point of the game sharing the same amount with T.Nardelli. The Ducks may have dropped a game that they felt they deserved better, but wont be overly disappointed considering it was their second match, and that it could have easily gone either way.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Monika Estrela of the Golden Knights. Throughout the entire time, M.Estrela kept making the right play. Her passes kept getting through, and four goals stemmed-from the smart and gritty forward.

Tuesday May 23

The start of the Dek Elite regular season has finally arrived. With the ball about to be dropped, every team has high hopes for their upcoming season. Whether its the GK looking to defend their title or for the rest of the teams to de-throne them, there is plenty of optimism throughout the entire league. The regular season kicked off with its first two games on Tuesday night.

Sitting Bulls use five unanswered goals to stun Black Knights

(6) Sitting Bulls vs Black Knights(4)

The Sitting Bulls started off their season in a thrilling fashion, scoring five unanswered goals to stun the Black Knights. A strong finish to the first period sent the Black Knights into the intermission with a 3-1 lead, but the Sitting Bulls eventually got their comeback cooking. All it took was one minute for things to turn around in a hurry with J.Sirois scoring two quick goals to complete his hat trick. The Sitting Bulls were able to hit the Black knights with some serious pressure where they did most of their damage in such a short period of time. Once they fell behind, the Black Knights  had no answers on how to recuperate. C.Placentine would go on to add his second, and S.Patel rebounded with a solid second period making some nice key saves. In the perspective of the Sitting Bulls side, its not the right way to start a game finding yourself down 3-1 after one period. But to their credit, they stuck with it, and played with enough purpose and belief to overcome the hurdle. The problem was more so for the Black Knights inability to close out the deal along with the inability of scoring at even strength since all four tallies came on the power play. Since its only the first game of a young regular season comprised of many new faces, losing in this fashion wont be a big deal as the players look to gel together and grow as a team. Chemistry takes time, but the Black Knights do have the right pieces in order to put it together.

Team Greece torched in loss to Mtl Machine

(0)Team Greece vs Mtl Machine(7)

Once J.Lulic opened the scoring, the Mtl Machine would continue to dent the scoreboard cashing in four times in only seven minutes. M.D’Ettore was perhaps the master mind behind the madness as the skilled forward helped set up three of the fours goals that saw J.Forese benefit twice. While the Mtl Machine seemed to have no issues on how they played out their season opener, the same couldn’t be said for a side that has to be wondering what went wrong. Team Greece were outplayed for most of the game, and couldn’t generate much up front with zero goals to show for. Even if your stuck heading into the final frame down 4-0, you try to make the best of the final frame despite it being a difficult task to overcome. Instead, things continued-from where they left off with the Mtl Machine showing no mercy. M.D’Ettore added a goal to his point total while P.Gendron and J.Morina added some comfort tallies to end the night earlier than expected. No doubt it was a disappointing start to the season if your Team Greece, but its only one game and things will  get better as they’ll nourish the roster with more quality players.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Jimmy Sirois of Sitting Bulls. With his side looking down and out, J.Sirois was the catalyst behind the comeback bagging three goals that included two to break the lead and provide an insurance marker.

Monday May 22

Dialled Snipers respond in second game to split with Sharpshooters

The Snipers knew after their loss to the Sharpshooters that they truly didn’t show up the way they needed for an opening game into the regular season. Scoring only one goal on barley enough scoring chances just wont cut it. That did eventually change in the second game where the Snipers offense came to life. And who other than your captain to lead the way. Ali Khanafer used one sequence to collect two big goals in a minute and a half, and the Snipers had the luxury of playing in front carrying a 3-1 lead. You never want to fall to behind against the Snipers. The Sharpshooters realised it as they were unable to find enough room out there to generate some decent chances. Ahmad Khanafer widened the gap by three mid way into the final frame, and the Snipers bounced back to even their night after closing it out on a pair of empty net markers. Both goaltenders were influential in their respective wins. P.Delli Colli allowed an early goal in the first encounter before shutting the door the rest of the way. As for M.St-Laurent, the net minder returned the favour by allowing only one goal as well in the ensuing match.

(1)Snipers vs Sharpshooters(3)

(6)Snipers vs Sharpshooters(1)

Country Club looking in sync , HC Jokerit need to find answers after slow start to season

You always want to get a good start to your night. Since anything can happen during a hockey game ,the Country Club made sure to get the momentum right away. They scored three unanswered goals in the first period, and M.Dupuis  was able to stop everything in sight. On both power play opportunities, J-S lavoie and P.Dupuis made sure to bury their chances. The HC Jokerit didn’t like that they fell on the short end coupled with the fact that they couldn’t get at least one to spark some life. Although they finally got on board in the second match, the end result mirrored the opening game. The Country Club did most of their damage by the final frame where they ignited on four goals. Nobody scored more than once out of the total six tallies which suggested that everyone was bought in what was a collective team effort. Of coarse you need your goaltender to deliver. M.Dupuis had one of those nights that kept frustrating his opponent. After facing a total of 31 shots in both games, Dupuis allowed only two goals in the four periods.

(4)Country Club vs HC Jokerit(0)

(6)Country Club vs HC Jokerit(2)

Degenerates prevail in tight checking tilt

Goals by S.Marricco and D.Charbonneau, plus a 16 save shutout by C.Stavriadis along with the special teams working propelled the Degenerates to a 2-0 victory to kick off their regular season. If you’re the RCGT Knights, searching for that first goal becomes a priority after seeing your offense go dry. That moment finally came when C.Gurian used a blistering shot to beat C.Stavriadis. Unfortunately some penalty trouble enabled the Degenerates to bounce back and take the lead on two power play goals by M.Chenier and P.Paikopoulos. Although a slight margin, the Degenerates used the lead to their advantage by eliminating a ton of time and space-from the RCGT Knights. Most of their chances had to come-from far shots which enabled C.Stavriadis to see the ball and make the necessary saves. Rather than taking the gamble of trying to protect a one goal lead, J.Melo was able to increase the margin with just over two minutes remaining. The Degenerates, looking back felt that both games should have been decided by a larger margin. But with T.Sauk in net guarding the cage, the RCGT Knights were always in it due to his stellar performance. Maybe some more game changers up front will position the RCGT Knights to be a lethal threat. They do have the defense and goaltender to solidify those areas which leaves perhaps a goal scorer or two to be more competitive.

(0)RCGT Knights vs Degenerates(2)

(2)RCGT Knights vs Degenerates(4)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Mathieu Dupuis of the Country Club. Primed and ready to preform, M.Dupuis captured a shutout in the first encounter while enabling his side to take the second game by allowing only two goals.

Sunday May 21

Flyers barely hang on after better start vs Kraken

(7)Flyers vs Kraken(5)

The Kraken gave up some early goals, and were stuck playing catch up the rest of the way. The Flyers kept up the pressure as they slowly built themselves a nice 4-1 lead by about the mid way point of the game. E.Allen set things in motion by scoring two goals while taking care of his own end by breaking up some plays. While it seemed like the Flyers were on their way to an easy night, this game had more in store, with the Kraken showing more bite in their game. A dormant offense finally got to work as they eventually got to M.Savoro a few times . At one point, the Kraken pulled themselves within one when G.Papdakis scored with only two minutes left on the clock. Knowing that it takes only one shot on net for an equaliser, two minutes is enough time when riding such a momentum. Unfortunately, the comeback effort eventually came to a halt thanks to D.Galloro’s second of the game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Errol Allen of the Flyers. He showed right away to his teammates that the slick defenseman came ready to play. E.Allen set the tone on two early goals, and was a force throughout the time carrying much of the play.

Panthers picking a terrible time to end season, Sabres looking in fine form for what’s ahead

(4)Panthers vs Sabres(9)

They have reached the end of the regular season, and both these teams wanted nothing less than a positive finish. Even if it involved losing, as long as it’s a close game that could have gone either way. Sadly for the Panthers, they picked the worse time to play this poorly. Too many things went wrong for a side that’s aspiring to make a legit run into the playoff season. The Panthers look to pride themselves on how they play without the ball, but tonight they were clearly schooled by a side that looks ready and primed to cap off a strong and successful season. Just past the mid way point, the Sabres were smooth sailing riding a 7-1 lead. As expected, the father son tandem between C.Zafiropoulos and A.Zafiropoulos were there to pop a couple each. M.Tzouvadakis kept the Panthers offense honest making some key saves early on. Three goals came due to penalty shots for the Sabres with J.Martuccio, L.Bavellas and A.Zafiropoulos getting the better of B.Allahwardeyan. Its just not the way you want to end your season knowing that you have the potential to go far if you’re the Panthers. For a third place team, this loss has to cause some concern for how out of sync they were. With two weeks to put it behind them, the Panthers will have to dig deep and regain their confidence in order to compete well enough in the playoffs. Its not like they don’t have the players, but a question of putting it together.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to M.Tzouvadakis of the Sabres. Maybe he wasn’t influential for the win, but the net minder made it easier for his side to built a huge gap by allowing only one goal after thirty minutes of play.

Bruins getting hot at the right time in rout of Canadiens

( 8 )Bruins vs Canadiens(4)

You always want to have a strong end to your regular season. For the Bruins, they strung three consecutive wins, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. However, the same cant be said for the Canadiens, who looked flat footed and a step behind in the first portion of the game. They only got on board passed the mid way mark which saw them down 4-1 by that point. Sometimes, you just need that first tally to spark some sort of life. Rather than things getting better, the Canadiens couldn’t make ground as the Bruins would reply a couple of times in order to maintain there lead. A.Zakarian and N.Macri were to much for the Canadiens defense to handle. Both players have a strong front net presence which makes it hard for most players to contain. By the time it was said and done, the two power forwards had each scored twice while chipping in with some assists. The Canadiens could have used some of there guys to get going early on but only started to be more engaged when the game was perhaps out of reach. R.Santosuosso had a strong performance in the losing cause as the forward bagged three of the four goals scored by the Canadiens.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Alex Zakarian of the Bruins. When A.Zakarian is on top of his game, watch out if you’re the opposing defence and net minder. The power forward will use his size and strength to release some heavy shots that only a ready and focused net minder will have a chance to stop. Tonight, he riffled a pair while setting up a couple of teammates.

Kings outlast Wild in high scoring affair

(7)Wild vs Kings(10)

A thrilling, high-scoring affair between the Kings and the Wild came down to its final minutes, where the Kings ultimately  prevailed thanks to a pair of tallies by A.Amicone. This contest looked like the Kings had the potential of thumping their opponent after mounting an early 4-1 lead. But that was only part of the story as the Wild had other plans. Powered by C.Arnoldo’s back to back tallies along with a collective push back, this game turned into a back and forth barn burner with no indication of who was going to prevail. Both sides have no shortage of talent up front, and looked completely disinterested on trying to help out their goaltenders. It really came down to who would apply that last wave of pressure. The score was all evened up at seven goals apiece before A.Amicone seized the moment converting on two occasions in a very short span. Since time was now a factor, the Wild knew that there night was over. Depending on how both teams look at this end result, you almost have to wonder who was pleased with the overall game. Are you glad if you are the first place Kings that needed the final couple of minutes to defeat the bottom dwellers Wild ? In the perspective of the Wild, this loss felt like a victory knowing that they can challenge the front runners. As for the Kings, no matter how nice a 9-1 record is, nothing will come easy in the post season.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Angelo Amicone of the Kings. In what was a crazy finish to a wild and high scoring affair, A.Amicone was there to put the final seal by notching two consecutive goals that snapped a 7-7 tie.

Blackhawks cold heading into playoffs, Predators in opposite direction collecting third straight win

(2)Blackhawks vs Predators(11)

Its one thing to be cold heading into the post season, but the Blackhawks look like rock hard icicle sticks with no heat in sight heading into the playoffs. They have to be asking how does a team that started off with a 5-1 record lose four consecutive games by a landslide. Its so bad that every area of their game is talking a hit. The offense, defense, goaltending, trying to create offense, trying to defend properly. None of it is coming together, and the Blackhawks need to start figuring things out soon if they plan on sticking around . Tonight was another blunder filled with a comedy of errors. While its obvious that the Blackhawks are dealing with their issues, the Predators have to be pleased with their overall game. And why not when your controlling most of the contest that resulted into eleven goals for and only two conceded. Many chipped in offensively with F.Bchara leading the charge with five points. Somehow, M.Braun couldn’t get at least one to go in, but was able to set up four instead. After facing close to thirty shots, B.Verducci wasn’t overly busy allowing only two goals. Overall, it was a gratifying way to end the season if you’re the Predators, who strung three consecutive wins together.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Ben Verducci of the Predators. Unless you beat him good, the net minder will deny you. The Blackhawks saw only two players figure out a solid dialled in B.Verducci.

The Sunday night Draft regular season came to an end. In a division of twelve teams, everyone will participate in the playoffs. The top four seeds will skip the first round and be placed automatically into the quarter finals. The first round match ups are as follows:

(5)Bruins vs Wild(12) Despite being in last place, do not count out the Wild. This team can surprise with some key components. Since the Bruins are coming off a hot streak, this opening series should be a close one even if the Wild have only one win to show for.

(6)Predators vs Red Wings(11) Both sides just came off landslide victories to cap off their season. When reaching this stage, it will be important to grabbing that good start to your game. Neither team has a significant advantage over one another sharing a similar goals for and goals against differential. Its playoff time and anything cane happen. The Red Wings will rely on some of their speedy players up front while the Predators have some goals scores that need to be contained.

(7)Blackhawks vs Canadiens(10) If the Blackhawks don’t shape up, they might as well not even show up for this one. The Canadiens have a coupe of players that can score on a regular basis and will look to exploit a fragile Blackhawks team. That being said, there is too much leadership for the Blackhawks to simply cave in. The game plan is simple, play tight in your own zone since it doesn’t involve much running, and patiently wait for your chances.

(8)Flyers vs Kraken(7) Too much pride on the line for these two teams. Both sides know each others tendencies very well and will need to exploit the weaknesses. Some strategy will be involved as the Flyers will look to put the right players together in order to keep the Krakens weapons in check. It will come down to how much influence T.Settino will have throughout the entire game for the Kraken.

Wednesday March 17

M.Lafleur 4 goals powers Senators over Hurricanes

(7)Senators vs Hurricanes(3)

Senators forward M.Lafleur produced a game winning performance against the Hurricanes on Wednesday night, turning a tied game into a comfortable 7-3 lead with four straight tallies. The tie was broken with M.lafleur using his patented release on a penalty shot. That was the beginning of the end for the Hurricanes, who simply got beaten by one player surrounded by a solid supporting cast. They never had the chance to adapt and prevent M.Lafleur-from shooting the ball. His power and precise shot got the better of the Hurricanes net minder on four occasions. While he was no question the catalyst behind the end result, the Senators did have M.Lauzon and F.Decoster produce also as the two players combined for seven points. The Hurricanes had a decent start to the game scoring three times in the first twenty minutes. It was-from that point on that the contest shifted in one direction with the Senators taking over on four unanswered goals. S.Sauk went through almost thirty minutes without conceding a tally to frustrate an attack that couldn’t figure him out anymore.

The Allo Mon  Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mathieu Lafleur of the Senators. With the game levelled at three goals apiece, the sniper went on a barrage bagging four unanswered goals.

Abysmal start sabotages Oilers comeback attempt

(4)Oilers vs Ducks(7)

The Oilers might have had a chance if not been for their painfully bad start to the game. They looked miserably flat footed-from the start allowing five consecutive goals in the first seventeen minutes alone. The Ducks were clearly ready and caught the Oilers off guard getting a pair of tallies by D.Galloro along with some balanced scoring. It almost appeared that the Ducks were going to blow out the Oilers in a very lopsided tilt. Instead, things started to settle down offensively as the two net minders took over the show keeping the score at bay. With only one goal to show for after 33 minutes, the Oilers started to catch some breaks in the latter stages scoring three times to at least keep the score very respectable. They would often create odd man rushes simply because they were in search of trying to score while the Ducks didn’t have the urgency of keeping their unit on the defensive side of the court. At one point, the Ducks felt they had to adjust their game better without the ball for how much pressure the Oilers were putting on. Once they stuck to that formula, it became a question of just riding out the clock. Sometimes teams get caught off trying to keep good habits going. D.Galloro had a monster game controlling much of the play-from the back end collecting a few points. E.Charbonneau provided a huge penalty shot goal for the Ducks while T.Sauk was sound in net to earn a well deserved win.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Danny Galloro of the Ducks. If you wanted a nice pass, a precise shot on net, a few dazzling moves along with the ability to read and break up plays, D.Galloro did all that for the Ducks, and was a big reason why they got a positive result.

Golden Knights roar in second portion to top Stars

(5)Stars vs Golden Knights(11)

It was a case where one team continued playing while the other found themselves a step behind. The first half didn’t really indicate where this contest was headed. The two sides traded about the same scoring chances and shots on net, and the score was slightly favouring the Golden Knights. Then, the wheels fell off for the Stars and the Golden Knights went on a complete take over scoring a ton of goals at will. No matter how much the Stars tried to defend well, the Golden Knights had to many weapons to their disposal which translated into a barrage of goals. Of coarse T.Settino had his hand in it, but it wasn’t only the skilled forward that made a mess up front. Other notables include players such as T.Nardelli and L.Bucci with both players collecting five points each while J.Pizzuco and S.Sicuso did a fine job in the back end combining for seven points. The Golden Knights happened to floor a very nice roster on Wednesday night with the replacement of some vital pieces. They had two strong lines that gelled right away. Even though the final score suggests two unbalanced teams, that couldn’t be further-from the case. The Stars were missing a key element in M.Braun which would have made a difference if he was there to play with B.Sorice. Since its only regular season, this wont mean much if you are the Stars.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Larry Bucci of the Golden Knights. Every so often, L.Bucci will put up the numbers. In tonight’s high scoring tilt, the forward was highly involved scoring once while setting up four teammates.

Sunday May 14

Bruins use strong start to edge out Wild

(7)Wild vs Bruins(9)

The Bruins jumped out to a 5-1 lead after only seventeen minutes into the game, and never looked back despite the Wild responding with a much better effort. The lead played out to be sufficient enough as at one point the two sides continued to trade goals leaving the Bruins in the drivers seat. Maybe, if they were able to slow down G.Charron just a little bit, the Bruins would have been smooth sailing the entire time. G.Charron scored four consecutive goals for the Wild to keep his side within a reasonable margin. It can be argued that the Bruins had a key element as well for why they maintained their lead throughout the entire game. In the short span of only 45 seconds, A.Zakaraian strung two goals to complete his hat trick, and provide a cushion for the Bruins that went on to edge out the Wild. As much as the Wild picked up their game after a sluggish start, the early deficit proved to be costly. M.Destounis, G.Charron and C.Arnoldo fuelled the offense in the loss as all three players shared four points each. The Bruins saw their offense come by committee expect for maybe A.Zakararian, who had a little more spice to his game collecting a hat trick.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Alex Zakarian of the Bruins. With the Wild starting to put on some serious pressure, A.Zakarian halted the momentum by posting back to back tallies in a very short span.

F.Mastrocola, A.Amicone lead the charge up front for the Kings

(6)Kraken vs Kings(8)

The Kings are known to be a strong team. They play hockey the right way, and are very difficult to stop. However, the Kraken could have maybe taken advantage of a side that saw half their regulars sitting out. That’s not to suggest that the replacements cant do the job as it was clearly the case in their 8-6 win over the Kraken. Chemistry always brings you a long way, and the Kraken couldn’t use their current roster in order to take down the division giants. Maybe some close attention to F.Mastrocola and A.Amicone could have helped the Krakens chances on defeating the Kings. The two players were again a significant reason why the Kings earned their eight win in only nine games. F.Mastrocola went on a rampage scoring three goals and three assists while A.Amicone was productive as well scoring twice as part of a four point night. Looking back at this result, the Kraken could have done much better if the focus was on trying to slow down the dynamic duo. Instead, they took the approach of opening up, and play a run and gun game which didn’t quite go their way.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Frank Mastrocola of the Kings. What more can you say about a player that produces regularly game in and game out. In his clubs 8-6 win over the Kraken, the skilled forward was lights out again collecting six points that included a hat trick.

Red Wings school Blackhawks in thumping

(2)Blackhawks vs Red Wings(12)

It was hard to see this one coming when looking down the rosters of the both teams. Its not to suggest that the Red Wings couldn’t have defeated the Blackhawks, but to do it in this fashion, not may would have expected it. The Blackhawks have a ton of experienced players that have nice elements on how to defend and play well without the ball. Clearly, they looked lost at times, and appeared to be dragging their legs as a much quicker and more engaged team took it to them. The Red Wings won most of the loose ball battles which only adds up to a ton of scoring chances throughout an entire game. They had stretches where they were scoring every minute or two apart. There is no question that Blackhawks felt discouraged and disinterested on trying compete with a side that simply didn’t stop. The offense was rolling on all cylinders for the Red Wings with your usual suspects leading the charge up front. J.Musi had a monster night notching four goals sharing a five point performance along with M.St-Martin and Z.St-Martin. On there three infractions, the Blackhawks gave up penalty shot goals. The only positive part to their night occurred in less than a two minute span when E.Gabrielli and B.Freitas-Pereira scored for the Blackhawks. Other than that, it was just a night to forget.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Joe Musi. The forward has a nose for the net, and when he gets that time and space, the defense and opposing net minders will often pay the price. Tonight, the sharp shooter tallied four times to merit the honour.

Predators use incredible late surge only to fall short on R.Lendum’s tally

(6)Predators vs Panthers(7)

If you wanted a tale of two hockey games, the match up between the Predators and Panthers provided it on Sunday night. For over half the game, the Panthers looked like they could do no wrong while the Predators appeared to be hanging on to dear life. The only reason why this contest didn’t spiral out of control was because P.Larouche was there to keeping it only 3-0 in favour of the Panthers. The net minder was stopping some nice scoring chances which clearly had an effect on his team in the second portion of the game. Eventually, the Predators started to compete much harder while generating some scoring chances after a dry offense finally came to life. Often enough, your forwards need the support of your defence, and the Predators had the right pieces in order for the transition to happen. M.DoCouto and D.Galloro were the masterminds controlling the back end which created much of the mess for the Panthers defense and goaltender to handle. At one point, the Predators had tied the game with only a minute remaining thanks to J.Tsatsakis hat trick.  It looked like the Predators had completely taken over the match by overcoming a bunch of deficits which left only the opportunity for them to take its first lead of the game. But hockey can be funny and often unpredictable at times. It took only ten seconds -from J.Tsatsakis’s  equaliser for R.Lendrum to put the Panthers back in front. Despite there being still 50 seconds to play out along with a relentless push, the Panthers were able to trap the lanes, block shots, and get the necessary saves by M.Freda in order to squeeze out the nail biter.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Rob Lendrum of the Panthers. The forward made his presence felt early on by getting the games first goal, and more importantly the games last one that ultimately decided what was a crazy finish.

Islanders put it together after slow start

(4)Flyers vs Islanders(7)

Maybe the Islanders started off a little bit slow to their liking, but they did have a good response by netting four unanswered goals. B.Monette had a major hand in it by striking twice  as did T.Kotsisris, who kept a clean sheet in net for a long stretch before M.Porato and M.Barone scored to narrow the gap by one. The Flyers had something brewing with more than enough time left over. In hopes of getting the next goal in order to level the playing field, the Islanders got their first instead courtesy of A.Passarelli’s second. The slight two goal lead was never compromised at that point with T.Kotsisris making sure to shut the door close. After setting up two teammates, M.Kardum capped off the game adding a late insurance marker. Its now three straight games in a row that the Islanders have won, and it couldn’t come at a better time with the post season just around the corner. As for the Flyers, the inconsistencies of playing one good game versus another just wont cut it if they plan on going far. That is where B.Panarello needs to take the bull by the horn and figure something out quick.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to T.Kotsiris of the Islanders. Never phased or rattled, the net minder remained calm and collective making sure his team played in front by the mid way point of the encounter.

Wednesday May 10

Oilers dig deep to end losing streak

(6)Oilers vs Senators(5) O.T

The Oilers must have thought they had the Senators right where they wanted. After all, they built a nice 5-2 lead just past the mid way point, and everything appeared to be going as according to plan. The thought of finally breaking their curse was going through everyone’s mind. Then, two quick goals in only a couple of minutes by C.Arnaldo proved to be a momentum killer. The Senators felt they had something going for them as the tides shifted in the second portion of the game. The problem for the Oilers was that they couldn’t identify the threat that C.Arnaldo posed all game long. The veteran had already collected his hat trick and wasn’t done yet tying the game late with his fourth of the contest. All of a sudden, the Oilers were stuck dealing with the thought of letting this great opportunity slip out of their hands. You never know what can happen in overtime. Often, it takes a break somewhere in order for something to give. Fortunately enough, M.Dibello seized the moment by striking first to end a streak that didn’t seem to want to go away. That was his second tally sharing the same output with J.Gravel, who had posted back to back goals early in the game. The Oilers don’t reflect what their record shows. They have something that many teams cant match which is their speed which often leads to ball possession. Also, they don’t have issues scoring. If they can tweak their defensive game, teams will have a very hard time beating them. Time will only tell as they hope the tides will turn in their favour.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Massimo Dibello of the Oilers. There is no question that M.DiBello provided his clubs biggest goal of the season so far. His overtime winner finally got them out of a slump as they can finally celebrate a well earned victory.

Golden Knights start fast, hang on late in win against Hurricanes

(8)Golden Knights vs Hurricanes(7)

The Golden Knights survived this one by a whisker, taking care of the Hurricanes 8-7 on Wednesday night. They found themselves up 8-4 before surviving three late goals that saw two of them go in with the extra attacker. V.Mancini notched his third to pull the Hurricanes within one leaving still a couple of minutes for an equaliser. When playing on your heels, you hope to win the one on one battles while relying on your goaltender to make the necessary stops. M.Mascitto remained calm and collective knowing that he could still make the difference since the Hurricanes kept applying pressure. But time wasn’t a luxury the Hurricanes had as the Golden Knights protected the house well enough in order to bleed out the clock. It was one of those nail biters that should have never gotten there when being up by a four goal margin. Since hockey has many twists and turns during most games, the Golden Knights will be happy with the end result despite appearing flat for a long duration. L.Bucci got credited the winner on a penalty shot, T.Nardelli bagged a hat trick, and T.Settino had an average night accumulating four points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Joe Pizzuco of the Golden Knights. By carrying his veteran stick, J.Pizzuco is a silent but effective asset to his team. The quarter back keeps it simple making the right decisions which helps create a lot of outlet passes to the forwards.

Ducks looking flat in loss to Stars

(10)Stars vs Ducks(5)

It was one of those games where everything looked off for the Ducks. The offense struggled to string some passes together, and the defense didn’t have the support it takes-from everyone in order to keep the ball-from going in. It wasn’t like that in the beginning so much as compared to the later stages of the game. The Ducks hung in there keeping the game extremely close despite the Stars having the better control of the match. For the Stars, it was just about pushing the pace which would eventually pay off due to their ball control and higher end scoring chances. You started to see that as of the thirty minute mark where they slowly pulled away. B.Sorice riffled a pair followed with three different goal scores to finally distance themselves for good. Overall, the Stars did a great job on executing on their plays. By simply applying themselves harder, they were able to create more lanes and options for generating a lot more chances compared to the Ducks. J.Teresi would often offer an option as a defensemen coming deep into the play to help create odd man rushes. Many contributed offensively for the Stars which is something you want-from a well rounded team. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for the Ducks, who will put this one behind them and adjust for the upcoming game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Joey Teresi of the Stars. By breaking up plenty of plays in his own end, coupled with the way he was able to jump into the rush, the Ducks looked a step behind unable to keep up with his speed and ability to carry the play.

Monday May 8 (Final Division 1 )

Classics maintain status as Champions of 4vs4 first division

Never losing when hitting the big stage, the Classics have one of the deepest rosters constructed, and can easily be considered a dynasty in the Monday 4vs4 top division. How deep ? P.Karvourias scored four goals in game one, D.Koutavas took charge in game two bagging a hat trick, and of coarse C.Gingras the catalyst behind it all setting up a total of seven goals. Add to the fact that C.Ekonomakis was there to stop a very lethal offense limiting the Dragons to only three goals. It was to much for the Dragons to handle despite having a complete roster to do so. There is no question it was a disappointing end for a team that seemingly had put all the right pieces together. The Classics were able to get here because they are a true championship threat. Star power up front? Check. Solid supporting cast that supports the ball on both ends of the court? Check. Strong special teams most definitely when you have P.Karvourias and C.Gingras out performing their opponents power play. Yup. All of that is scary, and than you add C.Ekonomakis there to making the big saves, you have an unbelievable line up that will bring you all the way. There bag of tricks was seemingly bottomless. They’ll find ways to beat teams in a variety of ways. They could out-skill and out score you. They could out-grind and out-defend you. They could out-goalie you. There were times when teams managed to play the exact game they wanted, and it didn’t even matter because the Classics had the tools to do it better. When it comes to dynasties, the Classics are working on a convincing case. While all the DNA make up is impressive for what they have shown, none of it matters if you don’t have a leader to put it all together. Pat Santullo is the head of operations for putting an incredible group of players together, and deserves full marks for what the Classics have achieved until now. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Pat Santullo and the Classics for defending their title as champs of the Monday 4vs4 first division.

(5)Classics vs Dragons(2) Game 1

(5)Classics vs Dragons(1) Game 2

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Carl Gingras of the Classics. No matter how many hockey experts you get to write out a game plan on trying to slow down Cingras, you might as well rip the paper apart and throw it in the garbage. Nothing works against a guy that decides to turn up his game and deliver when the time is right. In the most important night of the season, C.Gingras created seven goals because of his skill and vision put together.

Monday May 8 ( Final Division 2 )

M.Argiris plays overtime hero as the RCGT Knights defeat ETNA to claim 4vs4 second division title

The series between the RCGT Knights and ETNA took a while to get going, with both teams feeling each other out. The first game was very low scoring with the RCGT Knights carrying a slight 1-0 lead courtesy of J.Morina. Eventually, ETNA got there break later in the last frame when J.Cardinal finally got to S.Sauk while pulling the rug right under the RCGT Knights feet moments later on a huge go ahead marker by M.Calabrice. From-a team that looked down and out, now find themselves ahead in a best of three series due to a late surge. While getting that first one under you belt is always a sigh of relief, you still need to capture that second win. ETNA knew that it would take a lot since the RCGT Knights are a deep and experienced hockey team. Just by the way game 2 went, both sides had to figure it would take every inch of the court to get the right result. The RCGT Knights were positioned better on two occasions when D.Guarnieri broke a couple of ties. Unable to close it out, the RCGT Knights kept getting answered which left their fate to their net minder S.Sauk and their selected players in the shootout to get it done. Normally the net minders prevail in this department, but that wasn’t the case at all with both sides scoring a five out of a possible six goals. Luckily for the RCGT Knights, S.Sauk made that one save to preserve the season and give his side a chance to  take it in a do or die game 3.It now came down to a 12 minute period and potentially more for the two sides. This is a stage where the benches get shorter and the adrenaline kicks in even harder. Both teams looked like they were in survival mode for how intense it got. Every single loose ball involved a hard fought battle since ball possession is vital knowing that the next shot on net could end it. P.Delli Colli of ETNA along with S.Sauk of the RCGT Knights were beyond brilliant. They were so good that is was going to be an injustice for whoever would loose the game. Unfortunately , no matter how well you play as a team, it will always come down to that one single play. ETNA thought they had it if not for S.Sauk making a series saving stop, and F.Dominanni cutting a pass that was surely going to the back of the net as a wide open ETNA player was there to feed an empty cage. Instead, the break went the other way, and ETNA were the ones on the short end. Unable to contain a sprawling M.Argiris, the skilled forward was able to cut threw the crease and bury his back hand right under Delli Colli. It was the end of a series that really had the hype for an entertaining finish. Tonight, the RCGT Knights had the stars aligned and deserved what they got. On behalf of Hockey balle.com, congratulations go out to Scott Sauk, and the RCGT Knights for winning a thrilling series.

(1)RCGT Knights vs ETNA(3) Game 1

(6)RCGT Knights vs ETNA(5) S.O Game 2

(2)RCGT Knights vs ETNA(1) Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Johnny Morina of the RCGT Knights. When combining the ton of minutes he played coupled with the fact that J.Morina had his hand in very single goal including the shootouts, the quarterback undoubtedly deserves high marks for what an incredible asset he was for his team.

Sunday May 7

Islanders rally past Canadiens in seesaw, high-scoring affair

(8)Canadiens vs Islanders(11)

It was a terrific game, with lots of ebb and flow and plenty of feeling. At first, the Islanders thought that it was going to come easy jumping out to a 2-0 lead. Then, it was the Canadiens turn to take over with the games next five goals powered by F.Tessier’s two tallies and an assist. You have to think that a response as such will bring you a long way if you’re the Canadiens. Instead, the reverse happened again, and this time the Islanders stormed back on an enormous push with the games next seven of nine goals. Many chipped in with T.Passarelli showing his scoring touch once more by netting a hat trick. C.White was feeling it as well notching a pair, and M.Kardum couldn’t be held back accumulating six points. There was no doubt it was a fun game to watch, and perhaps for the Islanders since they got it done. However, the Canadiens may not feel much of the enthusiasm as they let go of what appeared like a commanding lead after bouncing back-from a slow start.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Frank Vitoratos of the Islanders. Highly involved-from the drop of the ball, F.Vitoratos was the engine that sparked the Islanders offense scoring once while setting up four teammates.

F.Mastrocola and C.Decotis combine for 12 points in rout of Blackhawks

(2)Blackhawks vs Kings(10)

Its not like the Blackhawks don’t have the right type of players on how to try and defend properly. Sometimes you are stuck having to go through a difficult time when nothing appears to going right. But even at that, you just cant give up goals at that kind of a rate. The Kings seemed to be scoring at will on nearly every chance they generated which can only discourage an entire team which was the case for the Blackhawks. All ten of the Kings goals were scored in the span of twenty four minutes. A.Zardarian was the one stuck feeling it more as the defenceless net minder had no control on how his unit in front of him was able to adjust. When it rain it pours, and the Kings struck with plenty of lightning and thunder during that stretch. While many contributed, F.Mastrocola and C.Decotis had identical high numbers by the time it was said and done as both players notched hat tricks while collecting three assists each. Perhaps the only bright moment for the Blackhawks occurred early when Ari Daghlian got the games first goal.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Scott Sauk of the Kings. S.Sauk may tell you himself that he wasn’t overly busy, but that doesn’t deny the fact that the netminder was occupied enough allowing only two goals in nearly an hour.

K.Labelle shines in crazy finish for the Bruins

(7)Panthers vs Bruins(9)

Sometimes it just takes a really good start in order to accomplish your goals. Since winning is the ultimate prize at the end of the tunnel, the Bruins did a fantastic job to catch the Panthers off guard, and build a nice 4-0 lead. All four goals came-from a balanced attack needing no one to be a real hero. You would have to figure such a lead would bring you a long way. It seems often enough that nothing is secured no matter what the circumstances are. Hockey can be cruel at times when things don’t go your way. The Bruins saw everything they had worked for disappear in about a ten minute span. Out of nowhere, the Panthers decided to wake up, and take over rattling off five unanswered goals to take its first lead of the game. M.Paciencia started it off by netting back to back tallies before setting up G.Missakian. R.Marshall would be the one who broke the 4-4 tie for the Panthers, who looked like they could do no wrong. This contest was now far-from being decided as an exiting finish to the night was left to unfold. The Bruins did catch the next breaks to regain the lead, but that barely lasted as the Panthers fought back twice to level with only two minutes remaining. Then, a late penalty by the Panthers set up a golden moment for K.Labelle to shine. And to his credit, Labelle delivered by snapping a very late tie enabling his side to defeat a very good Panthers team.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Kevin Labelle of the Bruins. Not only did Labelle come through in the clutch, the forward had a productive game collecting four points.

Kraken couldn’t hang long enough as the Sabres pull way

(5)Kraken vs Sabres(11)

The Kraken were holding their own for a while keeping it close, but at the end of the day, they couldn’t  insulate M.Rodriguez long enough as the net minder was stuck bearing the burden of shots he faced. You just cant play a style to trade chances with the Sabres unless you have the offense to match them. That was exposed in this game with C.Zafiropoulos, A.Zafiropoulos, T.Angelis and M.Chenier causing fits for the Krakens defense and goaltender. C.Zafiropoulos stationed himself at the right place near the net where he has only to tap in shots that come-from nice crisp passes. You almost have to stay next to him the entire time if you want him off the score sheet. The problem with trying to neutralise one player, you end up leaving other quality guys open which is the case for the Sabres. It would take a collective effort to keep up with them in order to beat them. Tonight, the Kraken couldn’t match them one on one which started to show as the game went on .A.Zafiropoulos racked up five points, A.Angelis had four points, J.Martuccio, M.Chenier along with P.Desforgers all had three points each in the win. As for the Kraken, B.DeIeso and M.Estrela did their part combining for six points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Costa Zafiropoulos of the Sabres. His three timely goals early on set the path to victory for the Sabres as the veteran had another big night collecting seven points that included five goals.

Flyers use late push only to fall short to the Predators

(9)Predators vs Flyers(7)

The Flyers did their best to mount a comeback, trailing 8-3 at one point. But a four goal response would be all the Flyers could muster to try and close the gap as they barely fell to the Predators on Sunday night. Its not like the Flyers will have issues scoring goals this season. The challenge for them is trying to prevent them-from going in. In order for that to happen, everyone needs to buy into playing better without the ball. The Predators exposed the Flyers early on doing most of their damage offensively. S.Marricco, although a temporary addition was perhaps the main reason why his side closed out their chances. The power forward had a field day striking four times due to his front of the net presence. Not even a solid core of defensive guys such as E.Allen, C.Doulis and the infamous B.Panarello were able to contain the goal scorer. After enduring a brunt of the damage, the Flyers weren’t planning on going down that easy. As a matter of fact, they made things extremely interesting in the latter stages of the match. Luckily enough for the Predators, time was on there side as they rode it out just before the Flyers got there.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Sandro Marricco of the Predators. Even if you try and contain him, the power forward will find a way to bury his chances. The Predators took this one with the huge help of his four tallies.

Wednesday May 3

Offensive flood gates open for Stars as Oilers unable to stop the bleeding

(4)Oilers vs Stars(13)

It took some time, but the Stars were in full force handing the Oilers quite a loss. Goals came throughout the entire line up, and the Oilers at one point just couldn’t find the formula on how to keep their opponent in check. B.Sorice is a mastermind up front as the clever and slick forward will make everyone around him a better player while he has the ability to bury his own chances . After stringing two quick goals for a 5-2 lead, B.Sorice  decided to take the approach of finding open teammates that led to a fair amount of chances. J.Teresi complemented the offense just as well sparking a hat trick. While the focus was all on the Stars scoring an abundance of goals, they still occupied the other side of the court with cautious. The Oilers were able to put only four behind H.Gebrayel, who was cool and collective earning a nice win in net. M.DiBello was able to figure her out twice while Zachary and J.Gravel notched the other tallies.  

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Bruno Sorice of the Stars. He makes it look so easy at times that players have a hard time figuring him out. As long as he has a second or two with the ball, B.Sorice will often have a productive night like in this case accumulating five points.

Golden Knights ignite right away in rout of Senators

(12)Golden Knights vs Senators(6)

The Golden Knights had the better start, and even a better finish as they had no issues defeating the Senators on Wednesday night. It looked as though the Senators had found their groove notching three consecutive goals to reduce the gap by two. The score was 6-4 in favour of the Golden Knights by the twenty minute mark of game. It showed that both sides had absolutely no interest on trying to defend leaving their goaltenders out to dry. Unable to make anymore ground, the Senators dug themselves in a much deeper hole with no hope of being rescued. Too many defensive blunders and lapses turned into goals for the Golden Knights. M.Barone and T.Settino were expected to get on the score sheet rather easily as both players shared hat tricks. T.Nardelli chipped in with a pair while setting up four markers. As for the Senators, C.Arnaldo was the most productive collecting three points that included two goals.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mickey Barone of the Golden Knights. From-the get go, M..Barone made plenty happen out there, setting up his clubs first two goals while adding three tallies to complete a hat trick.

Ducks fall flat after mounting a nice comeback

(6)Ducks vs Hurricanes(10)

The Ducks knew they had to be patient and not force the issue to much. Unfortunately, they couldn’t apply the simple game early enough as the Hurricanes came in storming on five goals in the first thirteen minutes alone. The only bright spot for such a disastrous beginning for the Ducks was that they had plenty of time to reset and put forth a much better effort. And to their credit, they did just that riding the games next four goals to eventually tie the game. During that stretch, B.Panarello was the catalyst setting up three of the four goals while able to add one later in the contest. Its one thing to battle back -from a deep hole, and its another to try and push the pace in search for a positive outcome. It looked as though the Ducks spent all their energy on just tying the game since they fell behind almost immediately. The Hurricanes took the life out of them on a quick three goals response. All that work of battling back put the Ducks back to square one. No matter how hard they tried to restore some momentum, it just wasn’t happening against a side committed to not repeating the same mistake. N.Macri was able to work his way through to the front of the net a few times where he buried three for a hat trick. A.Farina converted twice, and B.Verducci was significant for the win as the net minder made some nice key stops when the Hurricanes had regained their lead.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Nick Macri of the Hurricanes. When you go to the net, you’ll often get rewarded. N.Macri used his size and strength to over power the defense striking three times to collect another hat trick.

Monday May 1 (Semi finals Division 2)

P.Delli Colli’s shutout propels ETNA to game 3 victory over Brodie Boys

Unable to close out game one after leading 2-1 with half a frame remaining, the Brodie boys were stuck enduring a heart felt loss. The lagging offense of ETNA erupted late in the final stanza on three quick goals followed with the sealer when J.Tutino fed the empty cage. M.Stoico, J.Cardinal and A.Pitarelli scored within a short two and a half minute span to flip the contest, and cap off an important win to their night. You always hope to close things out when the opportunity presents itself. Sticking with fundamentals goes without saying when playing at this stage. ETNA played with fire instead heading into game two by taking too many penalties and the Brodie Boys made sure they got burned. H.Angelov took advantage by striking with the man up, and the Brodie Boys were extra cautious riding their slight lead. You almost want to search for that next goal rather than playing on your heels in a wide open four versus four format. Eventually, they got their first thanks to M.Gibson, who was able to widen the gap with half a period remaining. A.Mancini, although wasn’t overly busy, stopped the few shots he faced to earn the shutout. As it was perhaps expected, this series was going to be decided in a third and deciding game. The importance of getting that first goal usually tends to go a long way. It took barely a minute into the contest for J.Pimentel to get ETNA on board after a very long scoring drought. That kind of a start came a long way as ETNA were now the ones in control of the situation. Since time wasn’t yet an issue, the odds were good that somebody was going to score. It really became a question of who. Unfortunately for the Brodie Boys, an extra visit to the penalty box enabled J.Alfieri to capitalise, and put a serious strangle hold on the series. By that point, time started to be a concern that the Brodie Boys had no control over unless they sparked some sort of miracle comeback. It was P.Delli Colli’s turn to answer on a huge shutout win after both net minders did an incredible job keeping their clubs in it the entire time.

(5)ETNA vs Brodie Boys(2) Game 1

(0)ETNA vs Brodie Boys(2) Game 2

(3)ETNA vs Brodie Boys(0) Game 3

RCGT Knights overcome game one loss as they bounce back to knock out the Diabetoz Angels

Instead of coming out with more desperation after taking a shootout win, the Diabetoz Angels were listless and never got going the rest of the way. The RCGT Knights set the tone early in game two winning the opening frame rather handily. They led 3-1 after one before adding goals by M.Argiris and A.Provost to secure what appeared to be an easy game two. Every game has its own personality, and despite dropping the second encounter, it was up to the Daibetoz Angels to find answers and respond in a more engaged fashion if they planned on upsetting the RCGT Knights. Maybe they would have taken this deal of being split heading into a fifteen minute or more mini game. If that was the case, than they got what they wanted. The problem was that they couldn’t get anything going as their offense kept running dry. Even though its easier said than done, the first goal could have gone a very long way knowing that they have the right line of defense protecting the house. A.Ekonomakis has shown all season long that he can withstand playing with a slight lead if his players continued to buy into a committed defensive game. But in order to deliver in that situation, you need to score first. Instead, J.Prevost got their quickly for the RCGT Knights, and the Diabetoz Angels were now stuck again trying to play-from behind. It becomes extremely difficult having to bounce back against a team that knows how to manage these moments in a playoff series. The RCGT Knights are confident, experienced and know exactly how to play under pressure when the games reach this stage of the playoffs. Once A.Provost scored to double the lead, the writing was on the wall for the Diabetoz season despite three minutes left to go. J.Prevost would eventually use a late power play goal to cap off the series which at the same time saw S.Sauk record a big shutout.

(3)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(4) S.O Game 1

(5)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(1) Game 2

(3)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(0) Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Paolo Delli Colli of ETNA. Your chances of winning are good if you limit the Brodie Boys to only four goals in three games. In order for that to happen, your goaltender has to be in the zone. After a battle tested series that could have gone either way, P.Delli Colli was lights out enabling ETNA to take care of business and move onto the big dance.

The second division is now down to its final two teams. It isn’t a total surprise that these two clubs found their way here with the load of depth, experience and talent pool. The final will feature two teams playing hockey the right way. There wont be much room out there which will be expected as the two sides will have to compete hard by winning plenty of one on one battles. Quick and smart line changes, discipline, big key saves and some creative offense is a bare minimum required for whoever will win in the end.  Both sides wont have a choice but to dress all their players as endurance and the will to battle will be key on who will prevail. This series has no clear cut favourite which may just come down to who will get the lucky breaks and or bounces.

Semi final division 1

Dragons trounce Assadi Consulting inc to punch ticket in final

The Assadi Consulting inc didn’t get the starts they hoped for in order to compete with a fully loaded Dragons team. The two losses mirrored each other with the Dragons storming out of the gate grabbing some early leads. Barley five minutes had gone by in the opener, and the Dragons mounted a comfortable 3-0 cushion. Despite a late tally in the first period by J.Courteau, the Assadi Consulting inc were stuck wondering on how to adjust in the ensuing match if they planned to challenge the Dragons. And for a second straight game, it just wasn’t meant to be. This time, A.Mirolla caught the defense off guard bagging two quick goals to send an immediate message that they were the ones headed to the final. S.Mirolla then made the score 3-0 to cap off a solid first period. Not to be out done just yet, T.Bozinakis gave some life by finally getting his side on board. Although the game was still within striking distance, the Assadi Consulting inc were eventually forced to pull out their net minder for the extra attacker. But nothing came of it. Instead, B.Daniele launched a pair of balls to feed an empty cage and solidify a fairly easy semi final win. This series could have been closer than what it was if not for a pair of poor starts. Giving up some early goals only makes it that much harder to battle back against a solid hockey team. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the right time to  have an average performance  with enough talented players throughout your line up. Credit to the Dragons however for showing up on time and delivering a strong message that they mean business this season.

(4)Dragons vs Assadi Consulting inc(1) Game 1

(6)Dragons vs Assadi Consulting inc(1) Game 2

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Guillaume Vermette of the Dragons. The Assadi Consulting inc score way more than what they showed for tonight. And since the Dragons have a solid defensive core, it only made sense that a quality goaltender like Vermette allowed only two goals in four entire periods.

With the Dragons advancing to the final, they’ll be taking on a very familiar Classics team. Kick back, heat the pop corn and put your feet up and enjoy as this series will definitively entertain. There is no clear cut favourite despite the Classics winning the division while holding the title of recent champs. Perhaps the one key element that will make the difference between winning and losing is limiting your mistakes, and that involves avoid taking penalties. Both sides wont have issues in net, defensively and definitely on the attack.  A series so anticipated that TSN 3 is considering airing.

Sunday April 30

Red Wings come close in loss to well balanced Kings team

(6)Kings vs Red Wings(5)

Some good pushes early and through a large part of the game couldn’t salvage the right result for the Red Wings. The Red Wings started off petty good and remained neck and neck with a structured opponent until some late breakdowns saw the Kings take advantage late on goals by F.Mastrocola and S.Fabrici. That’s what happens when a good team as enough time and space with the ball , they end up making you pay. The one key area that the Kings owned over the Red Wings was their ability to shoot the ball coming-from many different directions. Many goals stemmed-from shots that either went in through a screen or for somebody to pounce on a loose rebound and bury their chance. Despite some of the differences, the Red Wings did fairly well surrounded by a group of players that don’t nearly match the number years of experience compared to the Kings. Losing by only one goal often comes down to a single play. Tonight, the Kings stuck with it and eventually got rewarded.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Sandro Fabrici of the Kings. Sound defensively while using his rocket launcher slap shot, the d-man blasted a pair as part of a three point night.

Bruins use four minute stretch to distance themselves-from Predators

(7)Predators vs Bruins(10)

It was a wild one for sure between the Predators and the Bruins on Sunday night. The two sides played some fire wagon hockey early on with R.Marshall jump starting the engine for the Bruins riding three straight goals.  When games remain close, you look for your players to step up and make the difference. The Bruins got that-from their group just past the mid way point rattling off four goals in only six minutes. N.Macri scored during that stretch followed with back to back goals by J.Wong and another insurance marker-from T.Scarpelli. Sometimes those sequences happen when your not focused enough on matching your opponent The Predators felt they worked hard enough in a spirited game where they were able to hang with the Bruins on a large part. Unfortunately,  some missed assignments had them falling behind unable to recover by the time the game was done. There was no question the addition of R.Marshall helped the Bruins get the job done. His speed proved to be a handful as the skilled player accumulated five points. P.Labateya collected a pair, and N.Macri helped set up three goals for the win while S.Fraga and S.Boulerice did more than enough in the loss combining for seven points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Ryan Marshall of the Bruins. His three goals in the first twenty minutes alone came a long way for the Bruins who were able to outlast the Predators after a wild high scoring tilt.

Strong start not good enough for Wild as Sabres take over with authority

(6)Wild vs Sabres(9)

It has to be very disappointing if you are the Wild. This isn’t the first time they appear to be ready riding a good start only to keep falling apart as the games go on. You always want the advantage of playing with the lead rather than chasing the game. The Wild had everything going well for them scoring five times in the first portion of the match before disappearing into the sunset nowhere to be seen. Yes, credit should be given to the Sabres for believing in themselves that they can overcome almost any hurdle. That being said, the Wild looked like they didn’t compete hard enough while looking like they spent all their energy early on. Once they fell apart, the Sabres took over on six straight goals.  This wasn’t a case of relying on your high end guys to get the offense going. The Sabres spread the wealth as many contributed with P.Desforges being a little more productive in comparison to his teammates on four points. Two out of the nine goals came on penalty shots by Desforges and M.Chenier. If the Wild expect to be more competitive moving forward, P.Santullo may consider bringing some Wheaties or spinach before the game so that the players can keep up long enough.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Patrick Desforges of the Sabres. After scoring a nice penalty shot early on, P.Desforges had a decent outing setting up three different teammates to help lead his side past the Wild.

Panthers battle back-from three goal deficit, but lose unable to contain F.Decoster

(4)Panthers vs Canadiens(7)

Its shows great character anytime a team finds the will to battle back-from a 3-0 deficit. The Panthers did that right after the Canadiens stormed out of the gate in the first five minutes alone bagging three quick markers. F.Decoster had two of those goals, and the Canadiens were looking like they may have had an easy night. Not to be outdone however, the Panthers weren’t going to go down without a push back. And to their credit, they stormed back to level with the help of three different goal scorers. While its nice to overcome such a hurdle, a team needs to do more than that in order to reach the finish line first. The problem in this particular game was that the Panthers couldn’t identify and address the direct threat that ultimately made the different in the end result. As good as F.Decoster is as a player, you cannot afford to let someone with a heavy shot get his way too many times. Four of the seven goals came by the sharp shooter which made things incredibly difficult for M.Freda between the pipes.  The Canadiens took advantage of perhaps the turning point in the game when C.Khoury snapped the 3-3 tie on a penalty shot goal. That was his first of two of the night, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Frederic Decoster of the Canadiens. His wicked shot will often find its way through when he has enough time to release it. Since the Panthers couldn’t get to him in time, the sniper put four behind their net minder and was a big reason why his side defeated the Panthers on Sunday night.

Islanders pull away with the help of a pair of penalty shot attempts

(3)Blackhawks vs Islanders(7)

The Blackhawks couldn’t keep up long enough despite battling back on two quick tallies by Ari Daghlian and Aren Daghlian. Even though the Islanders responded shorty after to regain the lead, the Islanders didn’t do themselves any favours by taking a pair of penalties. With infractions comes the chance for a team to score on a penalty shot. The Islanders had two opportunities, and were able to convert thanks to N.Tsirmbas and F.Vitoratos seizing the moment. This time the Islanders were able to protect their lead with about ten minutes to play. T.Passarelli had already scored earlier while setting up a goal before closing out the night with his second. After starting off slow without a win in four games, the Islanders look like they have turned the corner capturing their third victory in the last four encounters. As for the Blackhawks, tonight was only their second loss in seven games.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tristan Passarelli of the Islanders. Looking like a natural out there, the young talent continues to impress bagging two big goals and an assist.

Thursday April 27 (Final)

Armadillos rout Brew Crew in game 1

(9)Armadillos vs Brew Crew(1) Game 1

If game one is any indication of where this series is headed, than the Brew Crew might as well just pack it in. S.Simitsakos had a hat trick, P.Lapointe cashed in twice, and F.Moshonas couldn’t have asked for a calmer night in net allowing only one goal on twenty shots. The Brew Crew never had a chance. They thought they started off well getting the games first goal, but that was just an illusion as the Armadillos smoked them out of the water the rest of the way. C.Muccino was stuck enduring a difficult time in net as he saw nothing in front of him working. Probably by the five minute mark into the second period did the Brew Crew start to carry the thought on how to adjust in game two. The Armadillos ran up the score making it 6-0 by then, and were no way going to falter such a massive lead. Without out much going for nearly half the game, the Brew Crew had to figure things out in a hurry if they planned on sticking around long enough.

Brew Crew flip the script to even series with Armadillos

(4)Brew Crew vs Armadillos(0) Game 2

On the heels of a disastrous opener, the Brew Crew knew that they had to change something in order to compete with the Armadillos. And what was impressive about it all, was that the Brew Crew bought into a game plan that proved to go a long way. There was no question that they wanted have a good response. What perhaps helped their cause was that the Armadillos started to get frustrated and paid too many trips to the penalty box. The Brew Crew not only scored twice with the man advantage, but had the luxury of playing enough minutes with a man up. Its pretty amazing how-from one game you give up nine goals while in the following encounter you shut the door completely allowing nothing to get by you. That’s attributed to a strong belief that your able to put a bad performance behind you and feel confident in your ability to bounce back. Also, add the fact that the Brew Crew are sound defensively when they need to be backed with the help of their last line of defense C.Muccino. Somehow, the net minder registered zero goals against him versus a team that generally has no issues scoring. All in all, the Brew Crew had the right mentality heading into this encounter knowing that they can control on what’s ahead rather than dwelling on the past. Now that this series is all tied up, the two sides had one more step ahead in what is expected to be a grinding end to the night.

Stunning final moments has the Brew Crew pull off an incredible finish as they claim the E Thursday division championship

(2)Brew Crew vs Armadillos(1) O.T Game 3

In one of the craziest endings you’ll ever see, the Brew Crew trailing 1-0 late in the game scored seconds later to even the score before notching the overtime winner only fifteen seconds into the sudden death frame. It took the combination of C.Moutafis and B.Sansotta to send the shock waves into their entire bench as the two complemented each other on both goals. B.Sansotta was able to even the score, and eventually win it in overtime thanks to C.Moutafis feeding him twice. Talk about a fairly tale ending if you are the Brew Crew. From-seeing your season nearly coming to a close, and to it suddenly turning into championship material is quite surreal. Its obviously shocking for the Armadillos who felt they had it all under control when J.Chiropoulos got them on board first with just over three minutes remaining. Even if killing off three minutes seems likely in most cases, all it takes is one big moment during that stretch to turn things around. The Brew Crew to their credit never kept their heads down and made sure to push the pace in search on an equaliser. Surely, they got their almost immediately to give themselves a chance knowing that the next goal would decide the two teams fate. Any time you enter a situation where the next shot on net can decide your season, you want to make sure to  throw as many balls toward the net when you get that chance. In tonight’s case, the Brew Crew got their first on a quick break which is all it takes when the stakes are this high. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Chris Palermo and the rest of the Brew Crew for taking this one home.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Bruno Sansotta of the Brew Crew. In the Brew Crew’s most important moments of the entire season ,B.Sansotta not only evened the score late to keeping his team alive, but managed to bury the winner early into the overtime period to help claim the E Thursday division title.

Wednesday April 26

Late rally not enough as Golden Knights fall to Ducks

(5)Ducks vs Golden Knights(4)

A late push wasn’t enough to erase a slow start for the Golden Knights on Wednesday night. M.Estrela and Eddy used two late goals, but the Ducks, backed by some outstanding goaltending by G.Kanaras, hung for a close 5-4 win. The Ducks did all of their damage in the first twenty five minutes. F.Bchara and P.Carone did much of the scoring sharing two goals each while E.Charbonneau got the other tally. Looking like they were in fine control of the situation, the ending wasn’t quite what they had hoped for despite getting the result. It looked as though the Golden Knights decided that it was there turn to take over on a relentless push. The charge was led by M.Estrela as the sneaky forward used back to back tallies as part of a three point effort. If not for some key sensational saves, the Golden Knights may have come back to steal this one. Instead, the Ducks hung back, and played out the clock to their advantage.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to George Kanaras of the Ducks. The net minder was firm, sharp an ready to make a difference. After facing a ton of quality chances, the Ducks captured the win thanks to his brilliant performance.

Stars ignite late on character win over Senators

(7)Stars vs Senators(5)

Sometimes you get games where a team is a little bit down and out or not getting the breaks, then all of a sudden, you get one and things start to turn around. That was the case for the Stars as a slow start flipped into a solid finish where they rattled off six of their seven goals in the last twenty minutes. Prior to that point, the Senators took command striking early on three goals by R.Kilgour, A.Rossi and M.Lafleur. It took  the twenty one minute mark before B.Sorice finally got to S.Sauk. Still, the Senators weren’t overly concerned as they stuck with it carrying their two goal lead. And even though S.Chayer narrowed the gap within one, S.Ouellette was able to respond to restore a two goal cushion. It seemed that things started to shift at about the thirty seven minute mark where the Stars lit up riffling the games next four of five goals that eventually put them in front courtesy of N.Boctor-Awad penalty shot goal. Once they went in front, the Stars were able to close things out getting a big insurance marker by M.Braun. This result came as a charter win for the Stars. It involved a come-from behind effort on the backs of seven different players finding the back of the net.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to N.Boctor-Awad of the Stars. Highly influential in the win, N.Boctor-Awad set up three teammates while converting on a late penalty shot that held up for the winner.

Ducks pull away after some early back and forth action with the Oilers

(9)Ducks vs Oilers(5)

Even though the Ducks hung in there early on by trading goals with the Oilers, it seemed as though time would have caught up to a team that played earlier having to go up against a quicker and fresher side. If the Oilers could have pulled in front on getting at least a two goal lead while playing a sound man on man game, they could have gotten there. Unfortunately for the Oilers, it took on strong sequence for the Ducks to benefit on some chances and pull away toward the latter stages of the match. The Ducks knew that they just had to play cautiously without the ball by that point since the Oilers were putting the pressure to try and comeback. Since defending doesn’t involve too much running, the Ducks were more than ok sticking to that game plan. Just for good measure, T.Scarpelli cashed in twice for some insurance ,and G.Kanaras was able to record his second win of the night after some solid goaltending.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Steve Vanpoucke of the Ducks. The mobile d-man backed the offense using three big shots that had eyes finding its way behind the net.

Monday April 24 (Quarter finals)

ETNA able to look ahead after knocking out the Degenerates

ETNA was able to claim their revenge handing the Degenerates two straight losses to advance into the semi final round. R.Ranieri was tested early as ETNA came out flying, tapping into the energy of their bench when J.Alfieri scored an early power play goal. It took only five minutes in for ETNA to jump in front 3-0 which proved to be more than enough to grab the series lead. As the game started to wind down, the Degenerates had only the thought of how to respond and force a third and deciding game.  A better start was a bare minimum required if they planned on extending the series. The Degenerates came out with more purpose, and took advantage of a power play opportunity thanks to O.Valiquette. Despite getting on board first, it was ETNA that carried a slight 3-2 lead after one. That didn’t stop the Degenerates-from pushing the pace in desperate search for an equaliser. Already with a tally , M.Pinheiro struck for a second time to draw even. Now that everything was as all tied up, the pressure started to mount more and more as time was ticking down. ETNA did have the luxury of dropping the contest, but wanted nothing more than to enable the Degenerates to fight another day. In the end, it came down to the three man shootout. With C.Stamadianos keeping the Degenerates alive on a goal that had to go in, J.Cardinal had to be denied for the shootout to continue. Instead, the forward was able to barely sneak the ball behind R.Ranieri to solidify the breakaway competition and enable ETNA to move on to the next round.

(6)ETNA vs Degenerates (2) Game 1

(5)ETNA vs Degenerates(4) S.O Game 2

A.Ekonomakis steals the show through first playoff round

There is an old adage in the game of hockey that all you need for success is a hot goalie. Though it typically takes a bit more than that to ultimately find success, a hot goaltender is an absolute necessity. The Snipers didn’t have that issue in the first game as they took it by scoring four times on A.Ekonomakis with the help of J.Hassan’s three assists and Hadi Khanafer’s pair of tallies. The issue only started to be apparent in the second meeting between the these two clubs. Granted, the game did remain tied 1-1 heading into the final stretch which still gave a great opportunity for the Snipers to close out the series. While things seemingly appeared to be headed for a shootout, M.D’Alessio avoided the breakaway competition by netting a huge game breaking tally with only thirty seconds remaining. That was his second of the contest, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. By this stage into the series, the Diabetoz Angels net minder was getting into the Snipers head. The Snipers felt they had it if not for the brilliant performance set out by Ekonomakis. Still, the night wasn’t done yet, and the Snipers had another shot at getting it right. The  key element was to try and get that first goal. In this type of series, the first tally would have paid huge dividends for either side. The Snipers would have played it to their advantage by controlling the game while the Diabetoz Angels would have relied on their key guy to make the big saves. After only a minute and change into the contest, T.Carperos of the Diabetoz Angels got their first, and the Snipers were now the ones in some trouble despite the amount of time left over. No matter how many tries and attempts they had, A.Ekonomakis wasn’t budging stopping everything in sight en route to a spectacular night.

(4)Snipers vs Diabetoz Angels(2) Game 1

(1)Snipers vs Diabetoz Angels(3) Game 2

(0)Snipers vs Diabetoz Angels(1) Game 3

M.Argiris rescues RCGT Knights after S.Sauk makes series deciding save

Despite what the rankings looked like with the RCGT Knights winning the division and the Country Club occupying the last eight place seed, this series featured some entertaining hockey that needed every inch of the court before it was said and done. Although the RCGT Knights positioned themselves for the sweep after taking the opening game 3-2, the Country Club had other plans, and that was to stick around a little longer. C.Gosselin was to thank for forcing a game number three as the forward was in a league of his own scoring three times while providing the winner in a shootout. There is no better ending for a team to find a way by winning a do or die match up. By this point, it was anyone’s game depending on who would make the crucial play. The RCGT Knights did carry the advantage when D.Guarnieri opened the scoring, but that was eventually answered by the very same C.Gosselin minutes later leaving about two and a half minutes in regulation time. Even it its not officially overtime, the two sides understood that the next tally would have decided their fate. The Country Club had perhaps the most remarkable chance to pull ahead late in the game only to be denied by S.Sauk. In the ensuing play after that incredible save, M.Argiris made sure to bury his chance, and put his side up 2-1 with just a few seconds left over to staple a thrilling series.

(3)RCGT Knights vs Country Club(2) Game 1

(4)RCGT Knights vs Country Club(6) S.O game 2

(2)RCGT Knights vs Country Club(1) Game 3

H.Angelov’s lone tally sends Brodie Boys through after thrilling back and forth action packed series

H.Angelov is a highly skilled player that can do many good things on the court. In a short twelve minute game to see who would advance, H.Angelov came through in a prime situation scoring the games lone tally to help advance the Brodie Boys to the next round. For how well G.Scrietta was playing in net for the Branditscan, it took a lot to figure out the net minder. Luckily enough for the Brodie Boys, A.Mancini was at his best as well making a bunch of important saves. It was a series that required sensational goaltending. The two sides are lethal with the ball and create waves of scoring chances because of their skill set. In the first game alone, T.Ferreira happened to have Scrietta’s number lighting him up four times while adding an empty net goal. The Brodie Boys looked to close out the series in two, but the Branditscan had other ideas. With D.Seguin scoring a pair of  brilliant goals along with owning the special teams department, the Branditscan responded well in game two to force a game three. By this point, it was really about getting the first goal. On a brilliant individual effort, H.Angelov came striding in using a quick release that just got by G.Scrietta. Now that the Brodie Boys took the lead, the Branditscan were forced to open up and search for the equaliser. The problem was that they took a four minute penalty which enabled the Brodie Boys to control the power play and run out the clock. This was a series that came to no surprise it went the distance.

(4)Branditscan vs Brodie Boys(6) Game 1

(4)Branditscan vs Brodie Boys(1) Game 2

(0)Branditscan vs Brodie Boys(1) Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Angelos Ekonomakis of the Diabetoz Angels. With the crowd buzzing on how brilliant the net minder was, the Diabetoz Angels are glad to move forward thanks to his incredible goaltending performance.

Four teams out and four remaining is what’s left over after an entertaining night of ball hockey. The semi final match ups are as follows:

(1)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(7) The pressure will come down to if S.Sauk can deliver between the pipes. The Diabetoz Angels own the goaltending department with A.Ekonomakis guarding the cage, but will it be enough to defeat an experienced and skilful team. The RCGT Knights will have some issues to deal with despite being the favourites. They know that the Diabetoz Angels are quicker, faster and carry a ton of energy. Getting on board first will be vital in this series as both sides will use it to their advantage. If the RCGT Knights get on board first, they’ll try and trap the Diabetoz Angels. If it’s the other way around, the Diabetoz Angels know that A.Ekonomakis can carry them a long way. Time will only tell in a series that isn’t a given.

(3)ETNA vs Brodie Boys(5) This series isn’t for the faint of heart. Expect intensity, grit and the will to battle. Both sides wont make it easier on one another. The one area that the Brodie Boys may have over ETNA is perhaps there overall team speed. Apart-from that, the two sides have a enough quality with a solid supporting cast.  A key factor will depend on trying to avoid trips to the penalty box. Remaining disciplined is a must in a series that can hurt you on the power play.

Sunday April 23

J-C Mansour’s late outburst propels Panthers past Kings

(12)Panthers vs Kings(7)

J-C Mansour was a heck of a player on Sunday night as he paced the Panthers to a late win striking three times in only five minutes. It was the kind of game that took somebody to make a difference. Up until that late surge, the Kings and the Panthers were neck in neck exchanging some slight leads. Although the game remained extremely close, the Panthers pace to the match along with the transition was almost instant which gave them more chances to create offense. Eventually, they buried their opportunities with the help of F.Debs second on a penalty shot along with J-C Mansour’s late barrage. The Panthers demonstrated that they have an overall pair of active units as they never took a shift off. By winning many loose ball battles, they were able to dictate the terms and get rewarded with a nice victory.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player Of the game goes to J-C Mansour of the Panthers. With the game dead even after forty minutes, J-C.Mansour lit up scoring three goals in only five minutes.

Flyers find their game after slow start

(6)Canadiens vs Flyers(11)

For the first fifteen minutes or so of this encounter, the Flyers appeared to be a little lost at times. They had already surrendered four goals looking like a floppy inattentive and disinterested hockey team. Then, suddenly the court tilted, and the Flyers started to play some smart hockey. T.Nardelli sparked the offense collecting his clubs first two of three goals before capping off a very productive night with five tallies. For a good thirty minutes, this game stayed very close with G.Lamothe netting his second for the Canadiens to even things up at five goals apiece. It took barley some time after for T.Nardelli to get to work again. The sniper had a major impact on the same shift posting back to back tallies with the help of M.Lang feeding him twice. Those two goals only fuelled more to come with Marie-Eve and D.Galloro widening the gap by four. All it took was a five minute burst for the Flyers to separate themselves and head off to earn a win. D.Galloro, M.Lang and T.Nardelli buzzed all game sharing five points each for the Flyers while C.Kfoury did the same but in a losing cause.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Nardelli of the Flyers. Every time the Flyers needed something to give, T.Nardelli was able to deliver the goods scoring plenty of goals that came at the right time.

Bruins blasted by Sabres

(9)Sabres vs Bruins(2)

The Bruins let down their goaltender, and let down themselves. They struggled to consistently challenge the Sabres and let the game deteriorate into a lopsided affair. M.Chenier and A.Zafiropoulos each had monster nights collecting five points each while M.Tzouvadakis stood his ground allowing only two goals. The Sabres ran up the score 6-0 at one point before N.Macri was able to stem the damage with his first of two tallies for the Bruins. Its never pleasant finding yourself in such a deep hole with nothing going right on both sides of the court. P.Kassaris had a rough night seeing a ton of traffic and orange balls toward him as the Sabres pounded the net minder on 34 shots. Sometimes when thugs get ugly early on, you look for some moments to restore some control and make a game of it even if it’s a little too late. Unfortunately for the Bruins, they just didn’t have it on this particular night as they’ll have no choice but to put it behind them and look forward to the next game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Tzouvadakis of the Sabres. The net minder looked in form and was barely figured out with the exception of it happening twice. It took over thirty minutes into this contest before someone finally got to him.

Wild left pulling their hair after deflating defeat to the Kraken

(9)Kraken vs Wild(8) O.T

In heartbreaking fashion, the Wild are glad that its just a regular season game and not the playoffs. You can give the Kraken all the credit in the world for staging a crazy comeback on three late goals, but the Wild really have only themselves to blame. No team should ever let such a lead slip away after playing a decent hockey game. Whether it’s the man converge, the assignment of blocking a shot, winning a battle or making that one extra save there is no excuse. The Kraken needed a few defibrillator’s to regain life as they looked like a cooked eggplant ready to be served. The comeback effort started when G.Papadakis used a quick shot-from her office to pull her side within two. Then, an unfortunate infraction by the Wild led to T.Settino taking advantage of a penalty shot as he used a nifty move to beat B.Mourad. Still, time was an enemy for the Kraken as the seconds kept winding down. Perhaps the most impressive play of the entire game occurred during that final moment of regulation time. That’s when T.Settino decided to rescue his side by winning a one on one battle on his own end of the court before running with the ball toward the Wild’s net only to feed a wide open M.DaSilva to even the score with seven seconds left on the clock. Not only did the Kraken score three times in the final coupel of minutes, they did one better when L.Bavellas decided matters in the sudden death frame. If you’re the Wild, a lesson will be learned when they find themselves up in the near future by never letting go of the gas pedal.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Settino of the Kraken. There is no question that T.Settino is the engine that operates the Kraken’s team. After scoring his clubs first four goals of the game, T.Settino made an incredible brilliant play to recuperate the ball-from his own end before setting up M.DaSilva’s late tying goal. That sequence happened shortly after T.Settino scored his fifth on a penalty shot to help mount a ridiculous comeback for the Kraken.

Islanders use late goals to edge out Red Wings in overtime

(9)Islanders vs Red Wings(8) O.T

In a near identical situation like in the previous match between the Kraken and the Wild, this contest had a similar storyline to it. The Red Wings appeared to be in good shape up 6-3 at one point with about ten minutes or so. They built a nice lead and defended fairly well while R.Testa was making the necessary saves to keep his side playing in front. All that’s really left was to not get to ahead of yourself and keep playing hard in order to close out the deal. Instead, they just made it hard on themselves unable to slow down a more desperate side. The Islanders to their credit, stuck with it, and got rewarded due to their resilient play along with the help of a few key guys getting them there. Perhaps a vital piece to the puzzle was A.Passarelli, who had an outstanding finish to the game posting three late goals in only a short span of three minutes and change. His third tally had all but fifteen seconds appearing on the score board. Still, the mission wasn’t yet accomplished if you were the Islanders. As much as the comeback effort was nice to be part of, there was still one more step missing in order to complete a gratifying night. That moment did eventually occur for the Islanders, and all thanks to V.Mancini closing it out thanks to a play stemming by B.Monette and A.Passarelli.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Albe Passarelli of the Islanders. Just when the Islanders looked down and out, A.Passarelli had a magical end in regulation time as the forward produced three quick goals to force overtime where his side was able to complete the comeback.

Friday April 21(Final)

Generals backed by J.Brunet’s OT winner in game one win vs United Masters

(3)Generals vs United Masters(2) O.T Game 1

Throughout the entire game, the United Masters showed that they were able to keep up with the Masters 35+ division giants. When your ready to play engaged in a final, expect for everyone to up their game and battle hard the entire time. The United Masters made things extremely difficult by paying attention to many details which is the bare minimum required in order to have a chance and defeat the Generals. If not for giving up an overtime power play goal, the United Masters could have easily taken this encounter and find themselves ahead in the series. Instead, a late costly penalty enabled a power house five man unit to get to work. And who other than your top gun to deliver. Every time J.Brunet shoots-from the point, you can put a good dollar that the chances are good for it go in. The Generals look for that play when its available knowing that his shot usually hits its target. Unfortunately for the United Masters, they couldn’t kill the penalty off in time, and were stuck enduring a difficult loss knowing that they came that close. Although you never want to lose when hitting this stage of the season, the United Masters took something valuable-from the loss which was the confidence of challenging a heavy favourite.

Generals perfect season comes to an end, United Masters turn the tides with shootout win

(5)United Masters vs Generals(4) S.O Game 2

All good things come to an end. Up until this point in time, the Generals didn’t know what it felt like to lose a hockey game . After all, they went perfect all season long making one game look easier than the other as they kept humiliating their opponents. But after a very close encounter in game one, they knew that the United Masters weren’t a push over and were going to make things very hard for them. They did however every get a strong start scoring twice in the first two minutes alone. O.Valiquette and D.Lafleur made the score 2-0 only two and a half minutes in. That kind of a trend may have suggested that the Generals would have smoked the United Masters out of the water. That couldn’t be further -from the case as they just stuck with it on the right mind set. A quick response by the captain G.Missakian cut the lead in half, and the United Masters slowly started to take over winning a huge second period on a pair of goals by the M.Batri. Being up 3-2 heading into the third period versus the Generals is a deal you definitely take. However, the Generals weren’t going to go down that easily as they rebounded early in the frame thanks to V.Lamarche. The two sides were now dead even at three goals a piece with just over ten minutes to play. Usually, these are pressure situations when playing for all the marbles, but not for the United Masters as they felt confident playing as the underdogs. It seemed more like the Generals were the ones playing on their toes wanting to avoid any breakdowns. With regulation time solving nothing, neither did a five minute sudden death. The United Masters season was now hanging on to having to win a breakaway contest. Since both sides have the quality players and more importantly the goaltenders, the hope remained high for the United Masters. C.Stavriadis had no choice to try and deny some high end talent . Apart-from O.Valiquette’s beautiful back hand top corner goal, the net minder was able to stop J.Brunet and J-R Turgeon to edge out P.Blais who, couldn’t stop C.Lato and N.Malkhassian. This result finally gave the Generals their first loss of the season which now came down to a short fifteen minute game to see who would prevail.

Generals repeat as champs on J-R Turgeon overtime goal

(0)United Masters vs Generals(1) O.T Game 3

Fifteen minutes and the potential for more was all the time left over for this series to be decided. With goals hard to come by, the two sides avoided as many mistakes as possible to not fall behind. It was really a question of timing your breaks. The United Masters didn’t change anything about their approach and made sure to eliminate as much time and space. They kept the gaps close, they stuck with their man and waited for break out chances to  arise in hopes of scoring first. But neither team was able to capture the moment, at least not in the fifteen minutes of regulation time. For a third straight game, this series went into extra time where things finally got settled. The strategy is quite simple when you get to this point. You know that any shot on net can potentially make the difference between being crowned champs or falling on the short end. It took only one minute into overtime for J-R Turgeon to use a hard low shot that beat C.Stavriadis short side. As soon as that ball crossed the line, the Generals spilled onto the court in celebration of what just had happened. It came as a joy of relief for a team that had the expectations of winning this division. Throughout the entire season, the Generals barely met resistance and never once had to face any adversity. Finally, they matched up against an opponent that came to play on Friday night. The United Masters believed in their capabilities of giving the Generals a real challenge. They played so well that only a small detail, break or ounce of luck made the difference. Tonight, the Generals made that one single extra play to give themselves the edge. It was a thriller series-from start to finish with lots of twists and turns and emotion. Even though the United Masters fell short, credit to them for pushing the limit versus a side that the odds makers had as heavy favourites. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Olivier Valiquette and the rest of the Generals for completing a dominant regular season, and more importantly a successful post season.

The SalumIVino player of the night goes to Jeremi Brunet of the Generals. The Generals have no shortage of talent, but no one can deny what their main general brings to the table. J.Brunet is a force that’s unmatched and was perhaps a main reason why they pulled it off in a very close encounter with the United Masters.

Thursday April 20 (Semi finals)

Discipline issues hurt Brew Crew

(3)Brew Crew vs Van Doos Hc(5) S.O Game 2

One too many visits to the penalty box didn’t help the Brew Crew in their shootout loss to the Van Doos Hc. Although killing off penalties is apart of the game that any team has to go through at times, the Brew Crew weren’t able to do a good enough job to keeping the Van Doos Hc in check. All three goals came on the three attempts with O.Valiquette saving the Van Doos Hc playoff hopes by riffling his second very late in the game. The Brew Crew saw their three slight leads get answered every time. M.Pace scored twice, M.Nardi was involved on all three goals for the Brew Crew and D.Verta helped set up two tallies. After playing through a scoreless overtime period, the Van Doos Hc were now obliged to try and win the shootout. A.Papazian along with N.Kokovidis came through in their attempts along with J.Liopoulos stopping both Brew Crew’s shooters. The Van Doos Hc were able to even things up and force a third and deciding game three.

G.Nehme strikes early, Brew Crew able to hold off defending champs

(1)Brew Crew vs Van Doos Hc(0) Game 3

Entering a shorter game three fifteen minute game, both sides understood the importance of getting that first goal. For the Brew Crew, they barely wasted anytime when G.Nehme struck just twenty seconds in. You never want to fall behind with so much on the line, but the Van Doos Hc had more than enough time to battle back since it was a very early goal. The problem was that the Brew Crew were able to kill off their lone penalty this time, and made sure to play to their identity by suffocating the Van Doos Hc’s attack. The Brew Crews defence was solid in holding off the looks-from the Van Doos Hc high producers. That’s all attributed to their man coverage along with C.Muccino being the last line of defense. The net minder was sharp-from the start, and denied all seven shots he faced to earn a huge shutout win. Throughout both games, the Van Doos Hc never had the luxury of playing in front despite tying the game on three occasions. They just couldn’t find a way to get that one break they needed in a series that was extremely close. Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way no matter how well you play. Credit to the Brew Crew for doing a lot of the little things right maybe with the exception of their penalty kill. In the end, they got it done, and will now move on to the big stage.

Armadillos heat up late in second period, pull away by the third

(2)Fatal Demons vs Armadillos(9) Game 2

The final result doesn’t suggest that this was a close knitted battle-from two teams that went to a shootout only a week ago. For nearly two full periods, it was close and the Fatal Demons were still in it despite being down 3-1. Then, a power play goal by S.Athanasopoulos late in the second period spelled the end for the Fatal Demons as they were nowhere to be seen in the final stanza. It was all and only Armadillos throughout the final stretch . It showed how one team fuelled off the situation of playing in front while the Fatal Demons felt that their season was coming to an end. Goals just kept coming in with efforts-from different players. The Armadillos scored three of their nine goals with the man advantage on their three attempts. After having an impactful game only a week ago, G.Bouchard reminded the Fatal Demons that he wasn’t done yet. The skilled defenseman started-from where he left off by providing the Armadillos their first two goals of the contest. Even if that happened early in the game, the Armadillos knew that it was their night as they managed to blow past the Fatal Demons leaving them in their rear view mirror.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Carmen Muccino of the Brew Crew. Look to your goaltender when reaching this stage of the season. In both wins vs the Van Doos Hc, C.Muccino delivered again like he has done in the past winning two straight games that included a nice shutout.

The E Thursday division will  now feature the Brew Crew taking on the top seed Armadillos. Expect this final to be a very grinding series. Neither side will be giving up much space out there. It will be up to the players to be creative with the ball to try and find the open lanes and gaps needed to generate offense. The Armadillos will get that-from their back line which will force the Brew Crew to pay close attention to those threats. Special teams may play a factor depending on if the two side remain disciplined or not. Difficult to predict, this could go the distance for how well structured both sides are.

Wednesday April 19( Final )

Stunned Altius had no answers in game one loss to Punishers

(5)Punishers vs Altius(2) Game 1

In a much anticipated start to this series , the Altius were no match for the tried and true Punishers. There wasn’t much room for the Altius to do much in the first two periods. By then, the Punishers had settled in scoring twice in the first period on goals by C.Kakivelis and P.Karvouriaris while M.Mavroudis increased the margin by three early in the second frame. Not until the final stanza did K.Kuczmarski finally solve C.Ekonomakis, who was sharper than a razor blade. There would be no rally or a fairy tale ending for the Altius as C.Gingras responded shorty after to regain the three goal gap, and pretty much conclude the end result. This should have been a closer battle between two very complete teams, but the Punishers showed once again why they are the recent two time defending champions. You almost have no margin of error, and you definitely don’t want to be chasing the game against a side that will haunt you on the counter attacks. Since it’s a best of three series, the Altius had another shot at it by making all the necessary adjustments.

Altius couldn’t complete comeback, Punishers three peat as champs of D Wednesday division

(6)Punishers vs Altius(5) S.O Game 2

As a playoff final goes, it had just about everything. High-energy, end to end action, big saves, a late tying goal, an overtime period, a shootout, and then a joyful celebration for one team and a heartbreak for the other. The Punishers have been here before and are kind of used to all the drama that comes to winning. Weather its by a slight margin, a blowout or in a shootout, great teams seem to always find ways to win. Its not like the Altius didn’t have the opportunity of extending this series. After all, they forced a fifty fifty situation when P.Arkalis scored very late in the game to force the extra time. Once two teams hit that point in the game, any shot on net will do depending on who gets there first. But it wasn’t the five minute sudden death frame that decided this outcome. With both sides unable to score, the dreaded shootout was left over for the Altius. Unfortunately, they couldn’t win that category when K.Kuczmarski had the opportunity of extending it. Instead, C.Ekonomakis denied him, and the Punishers were able to  soak it in for a third straight season. The entire game lived up to the expectations with the two sides showing their ability to work together as a unit. The Altius scored two power play goals by M.Arkalis and D.Provost-Jarry while the Punishers got one as well-from C.Gingras and a shorthanded marker by M.Levasseur. The Altius were actually able to overcome a pair of deficits  in this one that included that late tally by P.Arkalis. There was no question that this final lived up to the hype. In the end, when everything was said and done, the Punishers accomplished something remarkable by winning it for a third straight season. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Mathias Gagnon and the rest of the Punishers.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Carl Gingras of the Punishers. You can go up and down the Punishers list and name off guys that contributed in a big way. But the Punishers players will tell you how dynamic C.Gingras is on a game to game basis. Tonight was no exception as the skilled forward produced once again accumulating a total of five points in both games.

Tuesday April 18

Oilers on wrong side of high scoring affair

(9)Oilers vs Golden Knights(16)

Its safe to say that the Oilers would have liked a do-over after the first seven minutes of this game. Things weren’t going so well early with the Golden Knights amassing a big 5-0 lead with both sides barely pulling a sweat. Although the Oilers finally started to find their groove by getting on board, they just couldn’t catch up as the two teams kept trading goals. M.Rodriguez and M.Mascitto felt like an abandon ship with no one in sight to help rescue the net minders. There is only so much you can do when the coverage is poor and the defensive commitment is lacking. One area that did work wonders was the offense. The Golden Knights had fun putting up some nice number with T.Settino and S.Sicuso sharing seven points each. M.Salerno and T.Nardelli were next in line with five points apiece, and M.Estrela set up some nice plays on three helpers. As for the Oilers, K.Oliveira led the charge up front bagging a hat trick and a pair of helpers while C.Oliverio and J.Salvo combined for six points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Settino of the Golden Knights. While it was a night that everyone had an input in the scoring department, T.Settino came to no ones surprise that he would dictate the offense by providing three goals and four assists.

P.Carone knows how to hit his target rifling five goals for the Senators

(2)Hurricanes vs Senators(9)

What better start can you ask for if you’re the Hurricanes. In the first five minutes alone, Ari.Daghlian and A.Farina each scored on a penalty shot, and B.Verducci appeared to have things under control as the net minder usually does. It was almost like the Senators forgot to set their alarm. Once the ring tone went off, the sleeping giants woke up and went straight to work. As soon as G.Lamothe got his side on board, the Senators couldn’t be stopped scoring a total of nine unanswered goals. So dominant, it looked like they had more guys out there pouncing on every loose ball. Goals came at a rapid rate with P.Carone showing his capabilities of a natural goal scorer. The sniper was dead on target hitting the bulls eye five times that included a penalty shot goal. Out of the nine tallies scored for the Senators, only three players had the luxury of finding the back of the net. G.Lamothe and M.Lauzon each scored twice while R.Kilgour was feeling generous  setting up four tallies. The Hurricanes did had their fair share of shots on net but couldn’t seem to figure out S.Sauk anymore as the net minder went flawless after surrendering two penalty shot goals.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Paolo Carone of the Senators. The Hurricanes had no solutions on how to contain P.Carone, who was a wrecking crew converting five times.

Monday April 17

Classics punch ticket to final in double rout of Assadi Consulting inc

It might have been a meaningless night for the Assadi Consulting inc since they are locked in with no where else to move, but the  Classics on the other hand had something to play for. You always look to avoid an extra round if its in your control. By simply collecting a couple of points, the Classics got their automatic spot in the final  while the Dragons would take on the Assadi Consulting inc in the extra playoff series. The two wins were nearly identical with the Classics running up the score. The Assadi Consulting inc had the better start to the night, at least in the first five minutes finding themselves ahead 3-1. Then, they couldn’t sustain what the Classics brought the rest of the way. Even if the Assadi Consulting inc are a worthy opponent, they still aren’t a match for the Classics. It will take all their key elements in order to have a chance and steal some games. Showing up with barely two lines easily explains why they gave up eighteen goals in both encounters. There are too many threats coming-from every direction. M.Mavroudis being one of them notched a hat trick in the opening game while many others contributed collecting their fair share of points.

(9)Classics vs Assadi Consulting inc(5)

(9)Classics vs Assadi Consulting inc(4)

ETNA fair well for three of four periods with Dragons despite missing key players

In what could have been a good measuring stick for ETNA doesn’t really qualify in tonight’s case. Too many key pieces were absent which explains why the Dragons handed them a pair of losses. Granted, the second encounter did go the distance as it was decided in a shootout where the Dragons took that department on goals by Y.Derohanessian and J.Mandracchia. As a matter of fact, ETNA were the ones who let it slip away after carrying a 3-1 lead with just about four minutes remaining. A.Pitarelli set up J.Tutino before netting two of ETNA’s goals. You want as much as possible to avoid visiting the penalty box when going up against the Dragons. That one single penalty enabled B.Daniele to capitalise which now allowed the Dragons a single shot on net to even the score. Unable to kill off a little over a minute, G.DeMarinis tied the game late, and the Dragons went on to overcome their deficit and win in the shootout. The earlier contest remained fairly close for about a period. Once the final frame hit, it was all Dragons as they mounted the score by striking five times. P.Musto created the snow ball effect on back to back tallies which was eventually followed with J.Mandracchia adding  a pair as a well.

(3)ETNA vs Dragons(8)

(3)ETNA vs Dragons(5) S.O

RCGT Knights unable to close out deal vs Diabetoz Angels in second encounter

The RCGT Knights were left wondering what went wrong on Monday night after taking on the Diabetoz Angels. It wasn’t a question of who would prevail but rather on how you manage a situation. After coming off a difficult opening win, the RCGT Knights had their opponent on the ropes by winning a big first period 3-0. The Diabetoz Angels somehow found a way to battle back on an incredible finish to their night. Scoring four unanswered goals doesn’t come that easy, especially against a team that should have done better closing out their opponent. Regardless, the Diabetoz Angels deserve all the credit for mounting their come-from behind win. Already with a hat trick in the first encounter, J.Zervakos was the trigger for his side as the forward notched two straight tallies while setting up Philip for the equaliser. You saw that the wheels fell off, and the RCGT Knights didn’t know how to manage  the situation. They likely would have preferred to test their luck in the shootout since time was running out, and that the Diabetoz Angels had all the momentum going for them. Unfortunately, things only got worse for the RCGT Knights when T.Carperos used a late tally to put his side in front for good. Its not a pleasant way to lose a hockey game, but its better it happened now for a side that has expectations heading into the post season.

(7)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(5)

(3)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(4)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to James Zervakos of the Diabetoz Angels. In a huge comeback effort win versus the RCGT Knights, J.Zervakos propelled his side by striking twice, adding an assist right after collecting a hat trick in the first encounter.

Its now official, the regular season of divisions 1 & 2 came to an end. With three teams representing division 1, the Dragons will take on the Assadi Consulting inc while the Classics will wait for the winner of that series. If the Dragons show up full slate, it will be up to the Assadi Consutling inc to figure out the right game plan on how to shut down some lethal weapons up front. Its all about defending well while relying on your goaltender to deliver. Scoring goals wont be the issue, its preventing them that will decide this series.

As for division 2 , eight teams will square off in the first quarter round. The match ups are as follows:

(1)RCGT Knights vs Country Club(8) Too much depth and experience will favour the RCGT Knights in this series. That being said, the Country Club have some good young talented players that can score goals. M.Dupuis has the ability to steal you some games, and the Country Club have the smarts on how to defend. Its all about putting it together.

(2)Snipers vs Diabetoz Angels(7) Despite what the seeding looks like, this series is difficult to predict. In some ways these two teams resemble each other. They both like to move their feet, and rely on  a coupe of key forwards. With the kind of season that A.Ekonomakis has shown so far in net for the Diabetoz Angels, the pressure will be on M.St-Laurent to perform just as well in which he has proven in the past.

(3)ETNA vs Degenerates(6) Here we have a rematch of last seasons final. Memories run long for ETNA as they’ll look for redemption in trying to knock out the recent champs. This time, they’ll be fully loaded and very difficult to defeat. For the Degenerates, its only about keeping it simple. Let the game play out, and simply do the right things and you just never know.

(4)Branditscan vs Brodie Boys(5) Two very familiar teams will look to take advantage of each others weaknesses. However, there doesn’t seem to be too many as both sides are built nicely for what’s ahead. This series will come down to on how the Branditscan will need to try and slow down an opponent that doesn’t stop running. They will need to remain patient while timing their runs that will lead to some scoring chances.

Sunday April 16

Sabres massive comeback effort falls short in loss to Kings

(11)Kings vs Sabres(7)

Twenty minutes in, and the Kings gave the Sabres a clinic sparking six consecutive goals. Talk about a disastrous start to your night if you are the Sabres. That’s what happens when you don’t show up right away to play. The Kings outhustled, out competed and simply out matched the Sabres in every category. By that point, something needed to change in a hurry if the Sabres wanted to avoid an embarrassing loss. With M.Taha finally able to stop the bleeding, the Sabres found lightning in a bottle that saw a massive deficit turn into an eventual 6-6 game in the span of only twelve minutes. It was now the Kings that looked like the Sabres during that stretch unable to keep pace with a hungrier opponent. C.Zafiropoulos helped power the comeback netting three of the six goals that saw this contest all tied up with plenty of time left over. The Kings looked like they were in shambles with no solutions on how to slow down a sleeping giant. The mind set was to figure out a way to slow down the Sabres and get the next tally in hopes of turning things around. Luckily enough, M.Scarpetta got their first, and the Kings regained the lead. There was no question that goal sent a wake up call to their bench as they were able to finish strong on five tallies to recuperate after an ugly sequence. R.Marshall made some big plays to cap off a productive four goal game.

The All Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Ryan Marshall of the Kings. Many Kings chipped in with so many goals scored, but R.Marshall did have a huge impact converting four times.

M.DaSilva slick shot gives Kraken overtime winner versus Predators

(5)Kraken vs Predators(4) O.T

Back and forth the pendulum went. Just when the Karaken thought that things would have been secured, R.Ricaurte was right there reminding them that it isn’t over yet. The forward tied the game late, and both sides were stuck heading into overtime. Entering a situation where anything can happen, you always hope for the best opportunity to give your self a chance. For a while, neither side budged up until M.DaSilva used a perfect shot that surprised even himself. Throughout the entire game this contest traded leads. The Kraken got on board first thanks to D.Lipinski. Then, the Predators took over with two quick goals by D.Boulerice and H.Psaroudis. Unable to hold their lead, it was the Krakens turn to respond on a pair right before H.Psaroudis levelled the game 3-3 for the Predators. The two sides would exchange one more tally until M.DaSilva got the most important goal that finally settled this contest. The Kraken saw five different players chip while the Predators relied on Harry and R.Ricaurte for offense as the two players collected three points each.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Marc DaSilva of the Kraken. The unlikely hero scored a highlight reel goal to decide matters for the Krakens 5-4 overtime win.

Panthers tried to catch up but couldn’t make enough ground

(10)Blackhawks vs Panthers(8)

Maybe the defence and goaltending wasn’t at its best, but that didn’t bother the Blackhawks to much since they were the ones playing in front. As long as you have control of the situation, than you can decide how you want to play it out. The run and gun style favoured the Blackhawks as their wild horses were let loose scoring almost at will. Many contributed with F.Santone leading the charge up front bagging a hat trick along with three assists. M.Capalbo looked to fit right in as the young talent also buried a hat trick while his mentor E.Capalbo demonstrated how to score on penalty shots by converting twice. While the Blackhawks had the control of playing in front, the Panthers made an interesting late push scoring four times in the final ten minutes. J.Melo showed no quit in his game scoring three of the four late goals. R.Lendrum had a pair of early tallies and F.Debs chipped in with three points also for the Panthers. The Blackhawks were able to do well in the penalty shot department. Apart-from E.Capalbo’s two early goals, F.Santone was credited the winner on a late breakaway that just got by the Panthers net minder.

The Allo Mon Coco ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Frank Santone of the Blackhawks. It was just one of those nights for F.Santone. There is talk that his espresso before the game fired him up giving possibly no other explanation on how he collected an impressive six points that included a hat trick and the game winner.

Wild take over after slow start, end 5 game losing streak

(9)Wild vs Islanders(5)

The Wild were looking to put things in order after last weeks sad state of affairs. Although it didn’t appear to be addressed early on, the Wild slowly but surely took over as the game progressed. This was a contest that the Wild’s big guns needed to show up. Anytime you have a M.Destounis to your line up, expect the offense to roll. Tonight, the slick passer went tape to tape several times that saw five convert into goals. C.Roberts placed himself at the right spot and cashed in three times while S.Tomasetta chipped in with a pair. While some may think that P.Santullo greased the commissioner for his four points, many witnesses testify otherwise as they saw him first hand collect them on merit. There was nothing on the house for his performance. P.Santullo did it himself which is what’s required-from your leader. Finally, they were able to put out a good game that ended a five game losing streak. The Islanders got some of their production-from L.Houle, who scored twice and B.Monette that was able to collect three points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Marino Destounis of the Wild. When M.Destounis decides to turn it up, than look out no matter who you are. The forward is a magician with the ball, and will make any line mate look like a natural goal scorer.

Draft league legend B.Panarello rescues Flyers with OT winner

(9)Flyers vs Red Wings(8)

If this was just a little bit more than  a 48 minute contest, the Red Wings would have likely prevailed in the end. The Flyers aren’t as quick or in shape compared to the Red Wings, but have enough hockey smarts to do the right plays. Most of their energy was spent in the first twenty one minutes or so where they rattled off six goals. E.Allen, although one of the older players has the stamina and speed of a twenty year old. The veteran was crazy good causing most of the damage that included four goals making one look nicer than the other. The problem for the Flyers was that they had to keep challenging a side that would not stop running along with a nice skill set. Eventually, the take over become more and more evident as they kept dictating the pace which can only lead to a ton of chances. Those quality opportunities translated into five goals in only five minutes. Z.St-Martin was the catalyst behind it as the forward notched three in a row in only three minutes. Once M.Elfara evened the score for the Red Wings, the two sides went on a scoring drought despite the amount of chances generated. S.Morante of the Flyers along with R.Testa of the Red Wings played a major role in net for why this thing ended up in overtime. The sudden death frame is composed of four on four play which opens up the court even more . And considering how the action kept going back and forth, it became a question of who would get there first. That’s when B.Panarello seized the moment by being at the right place to tap in a rebound for the winner.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Errol Allen of the Flyers. Defying natures laws, E.Allen flies like a Boeing 747 making any defence very hard to contain his speed. The Flyers were glad to see him produce six points that saw four come-from his blade.

Friday April 14 (Semi finals)

Generals cruise to easy sweep of Sonic

(4)Sonic vs Generals(11) Game 2

The Generals will make it look easy most of the time. All they needed to do was put Sonic on the ropes, and this series was over and done with. The score was already 3-0 in favour of the Generals after one period. Sonic knew that in order to have a chance, they needed to be the ones playing in front even if it would have been by a very slight edge. Overcoming such a deficit makes it nearly impossible going up against a power house. Granted, Sonic only trailed by three heading into the final stanza. But like its been the case for most of the season, the Generals seem to bring their best for last like in tonight’s case rattling off six tallies. Goals just kept piling on, and the two sides couldn’t wait long enough for this series to end. Its very difficult trying to figure out who to slow down when a team has that many weapons. M.Larin exploded with five goals, J.Brunet riffled a hat trick, and of coarse O.Valiquette got a taste converting twice while setting up four tallies. You almost cant contain that kind of fire power unless you match them in that same category. The Generals are a class apart compared to other three teams of the division. To their credit however, Sonic did make them work hard for at least two full periods of both games. There was no question that they came to play and battle trying to make it as difficult as possible.

United Masters pull off stunning comeback to advance to final

(3)Dirty Scrubs vs United Masters(4) Game 2

It was a game that seemed out of reach. The United Masters trailing 3-1 in the third period, appeared to be on their way to a loss which would have forced a third and deciding game somehow were able to pull it off in the end. Things weren’t looking promising with the Dirty Scrubs trapping the lanes while R.Ranieri kept stoning his opponent with some nice looking saves. Your always looking for a spark somewhere to give if you’re the trailing side. The United Masters were frustrated scoring only once in two frames, but kept at it knowing that it only takes one sometimes. Eventually, that goal came thanks to N.Malhkassian batting a rebound that gave Ranieri no chance whatsoever. Now that the gap was reduced by one, the United Masters looked hungrier and way more engaged confident that they would get there. All it took was for one big shift to flip the script. With the very same N.Malkhassian jumping on his rebound for the equaliser, a wide open C.Lato moments later was able to finally put his side in front for the first time during the night. Momentum swings as such can be a scary thing. Unless the Dirty Scrubs found a clear way to score, there was almost no way that the United Masters were letting go of this one despite having to kill off a late penalty. Wins come in all varieties over the coarse of a regular season or the playoffs. While things were looking grim for the United Masters, credit to them for believing that it was possible no matter how bleak it looked.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Nareg Malkhassian of the United Masters. With goals hard to come by, N.Malkhassian was a big reason why the United Masters got three in a tightly tested contest with the Dirty Scrubs. He scored twice while setting up one that helped overcome a 3-1 deficit.

Thursday April 13(Semi finals)

Brew Crew make statement in game one win over Van Doos Hc

(2)Van Doos Hc vs Brew Crew(5) Game 1

In an exhilarating opening game of this series, the Brew Crew had the formula to take down the recent champs. The first period saw the two sides committed to limiting their mistakes as the goaltenders were well insulted in a scoreless drought. After finally getting warmed up, D.Verta got their first to break the barrier and put the Brew Crew in front just shy of the mid way point of the game. It didn’t take long after that for B.Sansotta to double the lead which put some serious pressure on the Van Doos Hc to try and bounce back. Not to be outdone however, P.Doulis responded almost immediately to keep this thing within a very close margin. Still, the Brew Crew kept the mid set of pressuring rather than sitting back ,and in doing so, M.Nardi restored a two goal cushion that would close out the second period. Even with A.Papazian scoring very early in the third period for the Van Doos Hc, the Brew weren’t going to let this opportunity fade away despite dropping enough leads during the regular season. This time, they made their lead count no matter how close it was. By simply sticking with it, an eventual power play opportunity saw B.Sansotta widen the gap by two, and the Brew Crew knew that they would be able to ride out the clock. There is enough mental toughness in their group that makes them extremely resilient when the games matter more. It showed clearly in this game which now puts the Van Doos Hc in a big test having to deal with the adversity of trying to win two in a row. That being said, you can’t ever count out a team that knows how to win as well. This series has the potential to take a turn unless the Brew Crew decide otherwise.

Fatal Demons unable to hold on to leads in shootout loss to Armadillos

(7)Armadillos vs Fatal Demons(6) S.O Game 1

The Fatal Demons couldn’t keep the ball out of their net long enough, and after blowing a pair of leads, the Armadillos had the final word when P.Musto scored the lone shootout tally. It should be expected when two good teams face off against one another that they’ll have their ups and downs since they are evenly matched. The difference in this case was that the Fatal Demons had more control of the entire situation. First off, they stormed out of the gate mounting a nice 4-2 lead after one period. Yes, they did have a let down for some time since the Armadillos wont refuse to be pushed around as it was expected -from the division leaders. Once the Fatal Demons regained their footing, A.Argiroudis used a big third period goal to snap a 5-5 tie with just over a few minutes left to play. Five minutes is still plenty of time when your one shot away-from tying the game. However, the Armadillos started to feel the walls close in as the seconds were ticking loudly throughout the entire bench. To think that all that was left over was to make one more defensive play, and the Fatal Demons would have cemented a wild and important game one win over the Armadillos. Instead, G.Bouchard was able to beat the clock in time on a huge equaliser leaving all but fifteen seconds on the clock. Now that this contest was all tied up, the two sides could only focus on what’s ahead with the little time they have left over. With a five minute overtime period going scoreless, the final test was left to see who would prevail, a dreaded shootout. This is a department where the individual has to come through at a time of need, especially the two goaltenders. And while F.Moshonas delivered stopping all three breakaways he faced, R.Ranieri was nearly perfect expect for one attempt. P.Musto was the only player to score which proved to be just enough to help provide the Armadillos a big win.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Guillaume Bouchard of the Armadillos. The swift, slick and highly talented defenseman was no doubt at his finest on Thursday night. After scoring his clubs first two goals, G.Bouchard was able to provide a huge third period assist, and an even bigger goal completing his hat trick to force overtime with only fifteen seconds remaining in regulation time.

Wednesday April 12

Wells balanced Ducks backed by G.Kanaras goaltending prevail over the Senators

(9)Ducks vs Senators(3)

In a closely scrutinized measuring stick game, in which the Senators came in with a nice 3-0 record, credit the Ducks for showing up with a strong performance. G.Kanaras weathered some early chances in net, and the Ducks slowly built their lead as the game went on. It was all about creating the gaps and lanes that enabled the forwards to bury their chances. Goals came by many players as the lines were perfectly balanced while supported by the defense. The Ducks capitalized twice on penalty shots while G.Kanaras denied the one attempt he faced. At one point late in the game, the Ducks carried an 8-1 lead before F.Decoster made his wicked shot count by bagging a pair. Most of the Senators players didn’t quite get that time and space they hoped for because of how committed the Ducks were to playing well without the ball. Overall, just a solid game for a side that will seemingly gel in a young season so far.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to George Kanaras of the Ducks. Throughout the entire match, the goaltender was focused as he kept making enough saves to keep his side playing in front.

M.Rodriguez falls short after exceptional goaltending for the Oilers

(5)Stars vs Oilers(4) O.T

M.Rodriguez stopped a ton of shots for the Oilers. He met the challenge in regulation time, but an unfortunate bounce got the better of him in the extra time. Looking back, the Oilers did a lot of good things. They started strong springing out to a 3-1 lead ,and broke a 3-3 tie thanks to S.Todd after surrendering a pair of goals. All that was left  was to kill off a minute. Unfortunately, they couldn’t run out the clock in time. M.Braun had already cashed in twice before adding his third to tie the game and force overtime. You never know what can happen when two teams kept it close all game long leaving all but a shot on net to decide matters. In tonight’s case, the Stars were the ones that were opportunistic thanks to N.Macri. As much as it was disappointing for the Oilers, they know well enough that it could have gone there way. The important thing is that they keep challenging their opponents like they have been doing lately. Surely a little bit of luck helps, but this won’t be an issue since its happening very early in the season. J.Salvo was a spark registering three out of the Oilers four goals while the rest of his side did a fine job as a supporting cast.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Braun of the Stars. Its safe to say that the forward had a major influence in the result. The sniper carried the load bagging another hat trick that included a late tally to force overtime.

Wednesday April 12(Semi finals)

J.Provost-Blais and Altius knock out Legacy, punch ticket to final

(3)Legacy vs Altius(4) Game 2

With seven seconds left in the game, Altius forward J.Provost-Blais not only secured the hat trick, but also sealed the series to send his team to the final. Legacy understood the threat Provost-Blais posed after last weeks result. And even if you are aware of it by paying extra attention, sometimes it doesn’t matter on how you try and play a certain player. The highly skilled forward was simply that good, and uncontainable throughout the entire two games. You almost have to rely on your high end players to produce and out gun the Altius if you are Legacy. If not for some unfortunate bounces or bad timing, they could have extended the series for how close it was. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t there night. While many factors are involved in how a game is decided, one area that Legacy didn’t fair well was the special teams department. D.Provost-Jarry used a big shorthanded goal to tie things up early in the third period, and J.Provost-Blais eventually followed up with a power play marker to put the Altius in front.  As unsettling as that sequence was, M.Tvaronas wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the season by evening the score. Ten minutes was all that was left over for the two sides to see who would prevail. It really became a question of who would get there first. Rather then heading into the sudden death frame, J.Provot-Blais was able to avoid it by rattling off his second hat trick in only two games. The end result may be devastating at the moment, but Legacy did what they needed to do by putting it all out there. Sometimes, its just not meant to be for one team in as series that’s very evenly matched.

Punishers out gun Azzuri in final stretch to hit familiar territory

(3)Azzuri vs Punishers(7) Game 2

Maybe for many, the end result was to be expected. For the Azzuri, they still felt they had something to prove and felt confident in their capabilities of causing an upset. And why not when you have the quality and experience to bring you a long way. For well over two periods, nothing was close to being decided. The Azzuri pressed hard, defended well on the large part but couldn’t keep it going long enough as the Punishers eventually took over. All it took was some nice clicking plays that saw C.Genest and T.Therrien score two remarkable goals. That sequence of beauty occurred in only a three minute gap of the third period that essentially put the final dagger in this series. The Punishers looked like the fresher side in the final frame while the Azzuri appeared to be a step behind. If you cant match that pace long enough against a very skilled team, expect to be on the losing end. C.Gingras made sure to close it out on two late goals that included a dirty one that he even felt bad doing. The Punishers have heavy artillery with perhaps no week links throughout their roster. It is why they were able to edge out a strong opponent by using it to their advantage. What’s remarkable is that M.Mavroudis has been dry and they still got it done. If the power forward doesn’t shape up for the final, the Punishers will get on his case. Time will tell as two very skilled teams will square off against each other in next weeks competition. The final between the Punishers and the Altius has the making of an incredible series. The two sides are loaded up front, defend well while having the goaltenders to deliver. It seems like it will come down to who can defend better as the defence will have their hands full trying to contain high end talent.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Joel Provost-Blais of the Altius. For however read this a week ago, this ISNT a carbon copy . J.Provost-Blais scored another hat trick that included a heartbreaker with only seven seconds to decide the outcome of this series.

 Monday April 10

Classics and Brodie Boys go the distance twice to settle for a pair of draws

It perhaps wasn’t too much of a surprise that the Classics and the Brodie Boys went the distance in both games on Monday night. The Brodie Boys may have been a little more undermanned, but the Classics were without one of their big guns P.Karvouriaris. Even though the Brodie Boys were a little short, they still had the stamina and pace that would be expected -from a younger side. The game plan wasn’t too hard, follow your man, pay special attention to C.Gingras ,and make the best of your chances. They nearly checked every box except for the penalty kill. The Classics scored both their goals with a man up by T.Langiano and T.Karvouriaris. With neither side getting it done in regulation, the shootout didn’t really solve anything either as both sides traded a goal each. The second match had a different storyline despite it ending in a draw as well. It looked like the Brodie Boys were going to run down the Classics due to their strong start and resilient pace. At one point, they led 6-2 and looked like they could do no wrong. When a skilled and quicker team has that kind of an advantage, you almost have no more excuses for let downs. That being said, the Brodie Boys couldn’t complete the assignment by enabling the Classics to battle back and eventually even the score. You knew that there was going t be a push back by the Classics. And since that was the case, it was up to the Brodie Boys to address it as the game went on. Unfortunately, they had a miserable final frame to their night as they enabled four unanswered goals to force another shootout. During that time, neither side got an edge, and settled for a second straight tie.

(3)Brodie Boys vs Classics(3) S.O

(7)Brodie Boys vs Classics(7) S.O

Snipers take control in second encounter after drawing even with Branditscan

If not for a wicked slap shot by A.Olewinsky in the dying seconds of the first encounter, the Branditscan would have likely gone empty handed in their games with the Snipers. Instead, the two sides took a point each in the shootout after both net minders denied all three attempts. The Snipers didn’t waste time in the next game owning the opening frame on three unanswered goals J.Hassan got the ball rolling converting twice followed with B.Cabral’s beautiful slap shot tally that came on the power play. Now that the Snipers built a nice 3-0 lead, it was up to the Branditscan to start taking some risks. The problem was that they took a four minute penalty which almost inevitably enabled the Sniper to score. Ali Khanafer eventually took advantage of the power play making the score 4-0. With less than half a period remaining, this contest looked to have been easily decided. Still, the Branditscan stuck with it, and actually narrowed the gap by two leaving all but a single minute left over. Unable to get that much needed goal, J.Hassan capped off the night on a wrap around empty net marker to complete his hat trick.

(5)Branditscan vs Snipers(5) S.O

(3)Branditscan vs Snipers(5)

Bad streak finally comes to an end for the United Arms

It may not have mattered in the grand scheme of things, but the United Arms have something to cheer about on Monday night. The winless side finally got the monkey off their back and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The recipe to ending a winless streak is to give yourself a chance by keeping the games close. The United Arms did just that in the first encounter trading a goal apiece while patiently waiting for a good opportunity to occur. With both M.Tzouvadakis and M.Dupuis guarding the cage, both sides had a difficult time getting the next tally. This contest needed a shootout for something to give. And what better opportunity for the United Arms to try and squeeze out a win. S.Jankouzian and K.Kavan used a pair of nifty moves to get the better of M.Dupuis while M.Tzouvadakis was nearly perfect allowing only F.Proulx to get the better of him. There was no question that the Country Club weren’t pleased with the end result. It showed almost immediately in the ensuing match where they stormed out of the gate on three goals in eight minutes. C.Gosselin buried a pair, and the Country club felt good about their chances after carrying a 3-1 lead heading into the final stanza. C.Payette widened the gap on the power play, but K.Kavan responded almost immediately to keep the United Arms within ranch. Despite enough time left over, the Country Club closed out the gaps and the lanes to hold on to the victory.

(3)United Arms vs Country Club(2) S.O

(2)United Arms vs Country Club(4)

Degenerates slowly overcome poor start versus Assadi Consulting inc

The expression its not how you start but how you finish that matters played out for the Degenerates versus the Assadi Consulting inc. Having to overcome a 4-0 deficit is discouraging, but the Degenerates felt they had something brewing heading into the second frame trailing by three. It wasn’t that they were overly dominated . The Assadi Consulting inc had a very short bench and did the smart thing by getting the better start. Knowing this, the Degenerates went about their business in search of that next goal. Once P.Paikopoulos narrowed the gap by two, the bench felt confident that a comeback was in the making. It took only a short span of forty seconds for M.Pinheiro and O.Valiquette to strike and even the score. Now that this thing was knotted at four goals a piece, the two sides played extra cautious wanting nothing less than to make a mistake. For the large part, it appeared to be the case expect for the very last play of the game where N.Kokovidis beat the buzzer by a split second. Surely, it felt like a devastating defeat, but the Degenerates accomplished something by battling back . The mind set-from that point on was to carry good habits in the second encounter. This time, they kept the game honest with neither side having a real advantage. M.Pinheiro did provide the lead late in the first period for the Degenerates which positioned themselves for a better finish versus a tired opponent. However, a couple of penalties didn’t help their cause. After killing off the first one, N.Kokovidis made sure to bury his chance in the Assadi Consulting inc’s second power play opportunity on his patented shot-from the point. Now that the game was all tied up, only an eventual shootout stood in the way. After sending three highly skilled players to try and score, the two sides had to settle for a draw after exchanging a goal each.

(4)Degenerates vs Assadi Consulting Inc(5)

(2)Degenerates vs Assadi Consulting inc(2) S.O

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Tommy Ferreira of the Brodie Boys. Collecting a bunch of points against the Classics isn’t the easiest thing to do unless you’re a highly skilled player with a burst of speed to your game. T.Ferreira showed off his capabilities once more and with flying colors as he was able to collect a total of seven points in two games along with a shootout goal.

Sunday April 9

Islanders use their speed to upend the Sabres

(4)Sabres vs Islanders(10)

Sometimes it takes one area of your game in order to get an edge over your opponent. For the Islanders, being first on the ball ultimately made the big difference in this contest. The Sabres struggled to regroup every time they would lose the ball which generated too many chances toward their own net. Many odd man rushes turned into obvious scoring chances, and with that, the Islanders peppered M.Tzouvadakis on a bundle of shots. F.Vitoratos had all the time and space in the world to cash in five times while T.Sauk took care of the other end of the court making all the necessary saves to keeping a gap. Its not like the Sabres didn’t have some decent control trying to generate their opportunities. The problem for them was that the Islanders committed to come back and pick up their man which wasn’t the case for the Sabres when they lost the ball. Just some fundamental principles along with the will to compete harder favoured the Islanders on this particular night.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Frank Vitoratos of the Islanders. The Sabres defense and goaltender just didn’t have an answer for the forward who pretty much had his way bagging five of his clubs ten goals.

M.Braun’s late surge powers Predators past Canadiens

(8)Predators vs Canadiens(6)

M.Braun produced a game winning performance against the Canadiens on Sunday evening, turning a tied game into a comfortable lead with little time left over. This contest had its fair share of twists and turns before it was over. The Canadiens took command being up 3-1 just before the thirty minute mark. Then, the Predators went on a wild spree striking four times in only three minutes before the Canadiens had finally a response by netting two to even the score. Neither side had a gauge on where this thing was headed. The mind set was to just look ahead, and search for that next goal. That’s when M.Braun decided to turn it up by taking matters into his own hands. The sniper broke the tie before adding two more tallies to finish with an incredible four goal performance. Talk about heating up at the right time during a game. Maybe if the Canadiens were more aware of his threat, they could have contained him and keep the game within reach. Instead, goal scorers know how to open up and create their own space which is why M.Braun had a field day in the latter part of the contest.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Braun of the Predators. In a game that had its fair share of momentum swings, M.Braun had the final word on an incredible finish by posting four straight goals.

M.Lang rescues Flyers after a late blunder

(6)Bruins vs Flyers(7) O.T

It looked like the Flyers were well on their way to closing out the game after a strong finish in regulation time. After all, they scored three straight times to turn a two goal deficit into a 6-5 lead. Such a huge momentum swing with barley any time left over normally suggests that you’ll close out the deal. That wasn’t case for the Flyers as a late blunder saw J.Wong tie the game with just three little seconds left over. It was just an unfortunate set of circumstances that shouldn’t have happened. Still, the game wasn’t officially over, and the Flyers had a shot at redemption. All it took was to win the coin toss battle of getting there first in the sudden death frame. Luckily enough for the Flyers, M.Lang came to rescue his side with his second to secure the win. The Bruins will need to look back at this one and figure out what went wrong. Throughout forty minutes, they played a sound game playing in front while keeping the Flyers offense in check. Then, it all fell apart in a very short span. You know that a team will get desperate and push the pace like the Flyers did. If the Bruins could have applied a different mind set after being up 5-3, maybe things could have turned out differently. That being said, credit to the Flyers for never giving up and pulling the rug-from their opponents feet.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Lang of the Flyers. While many of the Flyers players had an input on this win, M.Lang was the one to secure it posting his second on a big overtime goal.

Kraken were no match for Blackhawks

(4)Kraken vs Blackhawks(8)

The Kraken suffered a lopsided defeat to the Blackhawks on Sunday night. It was a game thoroughly dominated by one team which had the Kraken often on its heels. Although it was the Kraken who got on board early courtesy of N.Gikas, the rest went all in favour of the Blackhawks. They built a multi goal advantage and found themselves ahead at one point 7-2.Ari Daghlian put up some nice numbers rattling off three goals  while B.Freitas-Pereira was just as influential scoring twice along with an assist. The Karaken didn’t care that they were down by five goals when pulling out their net minder for the extra attacker. In doing so, they actually scored twice to try make the score look a little more respectable. The problem was that it didn’t do much in the end with the Blackhawks netting a pair of empty net markers by M.Barone and M.Papadakis.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Ari Daghlian of the Blackhawks. His three goals in the first thirty five minutes helped set the pace for the Blackhawks deserving win over the Kraken.

Wild collapse after decent start with the Red Wings

(4)Wild vs Red Wings(11)

Just when the Wild thought they had something going, the Red Wings left them in the dust. Scoring three straight times to even the score is a good indicator that you’ll be in fine shape throughout the game . Not in this case however as it wasn’t even close with the Red Wings piling up the score. The real turning point occurred as soon as Z.St-Martin snapped the 3-3 tie. From-there, it was all Red Wings with barely any resistance unless you count C.Roberts second goal for the Wild.  Other than that, the Red wings struck eight more times that saw their offense spread out. J.Musi led the charge in the goals department sparking a hat trick while Z.St-Martin and M.St-Martin potted a pair each. For a good portion things looked ugly for the Wild as they were unable to stop the bleeding . It got to the point that the final buzzer was their only saving grace.  Its not like the Wild don’t have the elements. Sometimes it takes a few adjustments to get things in order. With P.Santullo guiding the ship, the Wild know they’ll  be fine as the season continues to roll along.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Joe Musi of the Red Wings. No doubt J.Musi had his hand in this win. His three goals and two assists helped provide some good offense for a team that was looking in fine shape the entire time.

Friday April 7(Semi finals)

Sonic surrender 2 shorthanded goals in eventual lopsided loss to Generals

(10)Generals vs Sonic(1) Game 1

For nearly two full periods, Sonic couldn’t have asked for a better situation going up against a heavy favourite Generals side. Even though they trailed 2-1, your always content being only a shot on net away -from tying the game along with a pair power play chances to help even the score. Sonic had a golden chance to perhaps level the game and possibly remain tied heading into the third period. That situation would have kept the pulse of the team going harder knowing that they had one single frame to keep pace with the leagues giants. Instead, one short handed goal led to another, and Sonic knew their night was over despite a whole period remaining. The Generals will hurt you in any situation if your not fully prepared. M.Larin and D.Lafleur scored the two big goals with the man less which positioned their side for an easier path to victory. The third period was all Generals with O.Valiquette once again scoring a hat trick. The score may suggest a complete thumping, but Sonic did make things extremely hard for about two full periods which forced the Generals to work hard for their win.

Dirty Scrubs storm back to erase 3-0 deficit but fall short in loss to United Masters

(6)United Masters vs Dirty Scrubs(4) Game 1

The Dirty Scrubs showed some strong fight in erasing a three goal deficit on Friday night. Unfortunately they were unable to comeback a second time as three quick goals by the United Masters secured them an important game one to the series. While everyone was forced to pull their weight, A.Minassian and N.Malkhassian were the engines that fuelled the offense . The two players were definitely primed for the challenge making a bunch of nice plays that resulted in two goals apiece. It looked as though the United Masters had the control they wanted after building a 3-0 lead by the early stages of the second period. By then, they looked in command dictating the pace while limiting their mistakes. Sometimes, when a team is under the gun, they just try to focus on taking it one shift at a time. The Dirty Scrubs wanted to get on board to try and spark something. Eventually, that goal finally came when T.Langiano squeezed one by C.Stavriadis. Since momentum can be a funny thing at times, the Dirty Scrubs were now the ones in control of the game as they scored two more to even  things up early in the third period. Its never pleasant giving up three straight tallies to put your opponent back into the game. However, the United Masters were confident in their capabilities to regain the lead. Once N.Malkassian broke the tie, the United Masters avoided repeating the same mistakes, and made sure to ride out the third period by winning the frame. This came as an important game one victory in a series that involves two very evenly matched teams.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Anto Minassian of the United Masters. By applying three solid lines, A.Minassian was the one who caused the most fits for the Dirty Scrubs defence and net minder. The skilled forward had a very productive four point performance clicking nicely all night with his two line mates.

Wednesday April 5

Stars kept responding every time the Hurricanes would level

(7)Stars vs Hurricanes(3)

The Hurricanes kept battling back tying the game on three occasions, but always kept falling behind. Almost immediately the Starts had an answer to break the tie and force the Hurricanes to work that much harder. They had no choice at one point to pull their net minder for the extra attacker. In hopes of generating a good scoring chance, B.Sorice didn’t allow it by feeding the empty cage . M.Braun would follow up as well adding another empty net goal, and the Stars held on to a hard fought battle with the Hurricanes. B.Sorice had a major input like he usually does by collecting five points that included a hat trick. F.Girard participated with a pair of tallies, and S.Sauk got the win over his counter part B.Verducci as both goaltenders was stern for their side. Losing is never fun, but the Hurricanes could take positives out of this one. Despite being down three times, they managed to battle back and even the score. Maybe a bounce here or there could have turned things around. That being said, the Stars are deserving for the result as they were able to pick up after themselves almost instantly and regain control of the game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Frank Guerreri of the Stars. His patience with the ball helped generate a ton of offense for his side that resulted in three nice assists.

Golden Knights and Oilers engage in high octane offense

(9)Golden Knights vs Oilers( 8 )

While many players-from the two teams were enjoying a big night offensively, the two goaltenders were left out to dry thanks to missed assignments and poor back checking. Tonight’s game between the Oilers and the Golden Knights was a test to see if it was experience or youth that would prevail. With youth comes the speed and will to battle for the loose balls which gives your side more ball possession. On the flip side, the Golden Knights have the awareness on how to contain and slow down a quicker opponent while knowing what to do with the ball as well. All those qualities are nice to have and teams will use it to their advantage. After both teams kept trading leads throughout most of the night, the Oilers found themselves ahead 8-7 courtesy of K.Olliveira’s second of the game. Since both sides were engaged in a barn burner, it was almost inconceivable that neither team would score with eight minutes remaining. It was really a question of who and when. For sure the onus was on the Oilers to play it out smart since they were the ones playing ahead. The strategy becomes simple, avoid odd man rushes and time your counter attacks. Unfortunately for the Oilers, they let the Golden Knights come in on some decent scoring chances where they gave up two late goals by E.Dedominicis and T.Nardelli. All it took was a short span of ninety seconds for this thing to flip on its head. Even though the Oilers dropped this contest, the loss will only make them better as a team. They have a lot going for them due to their speed and skill but could maybe work on their play without the ball. Its an area that can easily be addressed if they apply themselves . M.DiBello had a very productive night for the Oilers scoring four straight goals while K.Oliveira and J.Salvo shared three points each.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Nardelli of the Golden Knights. His timely points included a hat trick for the winner and an assist.

Wednesday April 5(Semi finals)

J.Provost-Blais, D.Provost-Jarry and K.Kuczmarski carry Altius past Legacy

(6)Altius vs Legacy(4) Game 1

A sluggish start for the Altius just didn’t matter in the end. T.Bozinakis and P.Musto got the Legacy on board in the first period, and A.Ekonomakis was sound stopping the few shots he faced. The Altus didn’t appear to be overly concerned with the loaded talent they have up front. For them , it was just about getting the next goal knowing that more would follow. That moment occurred early in the second period due to a power play opportunity where D.Provost-Jarry made the most with his chance. Up until that point, Legacy was doing a good job at keeping the Atlius honest. Then, the big guns took over and the Altius momentum started to trickle down their line up. The game would be tied 3-3 after two frames, but you sensed that the tides were tilting in favour of the Altius. J.Provost-Blais was just getting warmed up after tying the game late in the second period. Once the final frame hit, Legacy had no answers on how to slow him down. The next three goals in only a four minute span came because of J.Provost-Blais’s ability to take over a match. The forward added two tallies to complete his hat trick along with an assist to set up D.Provost-Jarry’s second. In that equation, K.Kuczmarski was there behind the scenes setting up four goals.  Now that Legacy understand fully on why they lost, some adjustments will need to be made in next weeks game if they plan on extending the series.

P.Karvouriaris couldn’t be stopped striking 5 times, Punishers out last Azzuri in game 1

(9)Punishers vs Azzuri(5) Game 1

To think that a major reason why the Azzuri dropped this game was because of their own power play. Sure they were down 2-1, but rather than taking the opportunity to level, they found themselves down by three instead by giving up two shorthanded goals in only twenty seconds. Maybe they haven’t gotten the memo to be extremely aware when C.Gingras and P.Karvouriaris are on killing the penalty. As they have often proved in the past, the two headed monsters are just as lethal when playing shorthanded.  Speed, anticipation and being strong on the ball led to a pair of quick tallies by P.Karvouriars’s which were set up by C.Gingras. The first period had barley ended, and P.Karvouriaris already bagged a hat trick with the help of Gingras’s three assists. One would think that the Punishers would run away with this contest just on sheer reputation. At one point, they led 7-3 early in the third period with game seemingly in the bag. Not to be outdone however, the Azzuri stuck with it, and got rewarded when A.Ponzo and C.Chirola narrowed the gap to only two goals. With still over six minutes remaining, nothing was sealed as the Azzuri continued to apply pressure. The Punishers knew that nothing was yet settled and started to be more engaged trying to slow down the momentum. Eventually, they capped off the win thanks to their sharp shooter P.Karvouriaris, who put the final seal with his fifth of the game.

The SalumVino player of the night goes to Joel Provost-Blais of the Altius. Legacy isn’t an easy out, and it will require something significant to defeat them. In tonight’s case, J.Provot-Blais was remarkable especially in the third period when it mattered the most. With the game dead evened at three goals apiece, the highly skilled forward did it nearly on his own collecting three points in only four minutes.

Monday April 3

Brodie Boys use their speed to down Country Club in both encounters

The Brodie Boys know that a big part of their strength come-from their defensemen bringing up the ball to push a faster pace with the forwards into the offensive zone. By using that to their advantage , they have kept teams honest and done extremely well. Tonight, that paid off in both their wins versus the Country Club. S.Bordonaro and T.Ferreira did all of the scoring in the first contest bagging a pair each ,and A.Mancini allowed only a perfect top corner shot by C.Payette to beat him. It wasn’t like the Country Club didn’t play poorly to finish on the short end of things. In hopes of rebounding for a better outing, they just couldn’t keep pace with a quicker and crisper opponent. The Brodie Boys never let up, and seemed to only get stronger as the night went on. After mounting a 4-2 lead heading into the final stanza, the Brodie Boys created a much more convincing gap by  striking four times without a response. Many contributed with S.Bordonaro leading the charge up front on three goals and an assist while P.Stroubakis was the mastermind behind the scene setting up four goals.

(4)Brodie Boys vs Country Club(1)

(8)Brodie Boys vs Country Club(2)

Assadi Consulting inc feeling sour unable to close out first encounter with RCGT Knights

Sometimes you just have to find a way to close it out. The remedy to defend a 3-1 lead wasn’t there for the Assadi Consulting inc, who had to settle for a draw instead. Giving up two straight tallies is obviously not ideal but credit to the RCGT Knights for pushing the pace. Both sides had a chance to collect the win in the shootout but the goaltenders weren’t having it. T.Sauk was exceptional denying three attempts for the RCGT Knights while P.Assadi duplicated his counter part stopping three high end players as well. Considering the way things ended, you would have to assume the second game was going to be just as close. Unfortunately, it resembled nothing like the first one with the RCGT Knights dictating the terms. All it takes sometimes is for a player or two to up their game. In the case for the RCGT Knights, J.Morina and T.Sauk stole the show. The Assadi Consulting inc had no answers for the two players. J.Morina was simply to much and couldn’t be contained scoring four of his clubs five goals. As for T.Sauk, the young talent was stellar in net keeping a lethal offense to only one goal on 21 shots. Overall, it was just a good night for a team taking four of a possible six points against a higher division team.

(3)RCGT Knights vs Assadi Consulting Inc(3) S.O

(5)RCGT Knights vs Assadi Consulting inc(1)

Classics outlast Dragons on their depth

The intensity between these two teams is automatic. Even though the odds played in the Classics favour, the games tend to go till the very end, at least in the large part. The opener was exactly what one would expect knowing the capabilities of what the Classics and Dragons offer. Loaded with talent up front, both sides combined for a bunch of goals that was decided by P.Karvouriaris’s late tally. The sharp shooter scored twice collecting four points along with his most valued teammate C.Gingras. The second game started off very well for a team that just suffered a close defeat. With G.DeMarinis bagging his second early in the final frame, the Dragons appeared to be in fine shape. Then, it all fell apart. A big tying goal by M.Mavroudis spelled the beginning of the end for the Dragons. It seems no matter how well positioned you are going up against the Classics, it just doesn’t seem to matter much in the end. C.Gingras and P.Karvouriaris decided that it was time to get serious and take over combining for a ridiculous nine points. Sure, they merit all the praise for how they influence a game, but the Classics do have a solid supporting cast that can hurt you as well. Players like M.Mavrouidis, M.Destounis and A.Argiroudis can be just as lethal and are a big part of the equation. It goes without saying that the Dragons need their full line up in order to defeat the Classics. Despite the missing links, they faired well for three of the four periods.

(6)Classics vs Dragons(5)

(7)Classics vs Dragons(3)

Degenerates save their best for last in split with Snipers

The Degenerates understood that they were going to play on their heels facing off against the Snipers. As long as the danger is kept to the outside, and with R.Ranieri guarding his cage, things tend to turn out fine, at least sometimes. You never want to fall behind if your stuck chasing the ball. The Snipers only got on board as of the second period when their captain Ali Khanafer finally got to R.Ranieri. Two minutes after that, B.Cabral doubled the lead, and the Degenerates knew that they were in big trouble despite the amount of time left over. Not to be outdone, they did crack the barrier courtesy of a power play goal by O.Valiquette. Now that your only a shot on net-from tying the game, this contest was still in reach for the trailing side. The Degenerates desperately put on some pressure while removing their net minder for the extra attacker. Unfortunately nothing came of it as J.Hassan took advantage of feeding an empty cage. The nice part of these two mini game formats is that you have a chance at redeeming yourself after a tough loss. Although noting is guaranteed, the Degenerates were dialled in wanting nothing less than a split with the Snipers. There best moments occurred in the final frame where they won it handily on goals by D.Greco, O.Valiquette and D.Charbonneau. You would have to figure that the Degenerates would be the more sluggish side due to their aging legs. Instead, they found the energy to battle hard, and got rewarded by defeating a resilient team.

(3)Snipers vs Degenerates(1)

(3)Snipers vs Degenerates(5)

Short bench dooms United Arms in losses to Branditscan

When you shoot yourself in the foot ,its very hard to walk, and the United Arms made it very difficult on themselves in both games versus the Branditscan. Surrendering five goals in both starts to your game only suggests that you weren’t ready to play or because you didn’t have enough players to compete. Even if the Branditscan would have likely taken both encounters, the United Arms could have done better to contain them. In fairness however, they didn’t have the body count to go toe to toe, but could have played a better coverage game. D.Seguin got the ball rolling early posting two goals before completing his hat trick late in the game. After collecting four straight primary assists, T.Faucher scored one as well. With a chance to adjust and put up a better fight, the United Arms just couldn’t compete versus a superior opponent. The contest was already decided by the end of the first period that was powered by K.Hopkins three goals. By then, the Branditscan ended the United Arms misery early in the frame netting three quick goals due to the seven goal mercy rule. J.Abruz had scored twice ,B.Makris collected four assists, and G.Scietta barely needed a shower after facing a few shots.

(3)United Arms vs Branditscan(8)

(1)United Arms vs Branditscan(8)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Tyler Sauk of the RCGT Knights. For a young talent, the goaltender looks like an established veteran making one save look easier than the other. After denying three shootout attempt, T.Sauk limited a potent Assadi Consulting inc offense to only one single tally.

Sunday April 2

Furious rally fall short for the Bruins, F.Mastrocola carries Kings for a 4th straight win

(8)Kings vs Bruins(7)

A furious comeback was not enough as the Bruins dropped a close 8-7 decision to the unbeaten Kings on Sunday evening. The Kings held a 7-3 advantage by the mid way point,  but the Bruins responded with four straight goals to make for an exciting conclusion. K.Labelle started the rally with back to back tallies followed with A.Zakarian and J.Wong getting their names on the score sheet as well. You couldn’t have asked for a better response if you are with the Bruins. But on the down side of a spirited rally was an end to the game that slightly favoured the Kings instead. Despite having fifteen minutes of play remaining, only one goal was scored-from the two sides. F.Mastrocola was projected to be the likely hero for the season he’s been having so far. Already with a pair of goals and an assist, the forward came through at the games biggest moment to snap the tie and give the Kings a lead that they would not falter.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Francesco Mastrocola of the Kings. Look to your key player at a  time of need. The Kings were able to maintain their perfect record so far this season thanks to F.Mastrcola producing once again in a big way bagging three goals and an assist.

Sabres blitz Predators with 5 goals in first 15 minutes

(5)Predators vs Sabres(7)

The Sabres, despite giving up an early marker, lit the lamp with five goals in only fifteen minutes to kick start their night. C.Zafiropoulos set the trend striking twice followed with some balanced scoring involving three different players. Falling that far behind makes it difficult and discouraging for any opponent to try and battle back. That being said, the Predators began to assert themselves , tilting the court in their favour and generating multiple quality chances. M.Braun was the catalyst behind the Predators offense as the sniper didn’t go down without a fight sparking three goals in about eight minutes. It may have come a little too late, but the Predators fought back to avoiding an embarrassing loss. Maybe the Sabres let go of the gas pedal after building such a lead. That tends to happen when a team is comfortable in the drivers seat while the opposition is working harder to make a game of it. Regardless, the Sabres took the right approach by being the better of the two sides early in the game. A.Angelis, M.Chenier and the father son Zafiropoulos tandem were in full form again sharing three points apiece.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Tzouvadakis of the Sabres. While the Sabres were building their early lead, M.Tzouvadais made sure to keep denying the Predators for as long as possible in order to keep his side playing ahead comfortably.

Kraken outlasted by Panthers after back and forth action

(7)Kraken vs Panthers(8)

There was no question that is was a crazy game with both teams pushing the pace. It was everything a clash between two solid teams should be, with back and forth action, a couple of hat tricks, big saves and a roller-coaster ride of emotion. Unfortunately for the Kraken, they came up on the wrong side of an 8-7 decision against the Panthers. Neither team had a gauge on where this thing was headed. Both sides kept trading leads and whoever trailed would battle back and even the score. With D.Lipinski tying the game 7-7 by the thirty nine  minute mark, goals-from that point on would matter more since time was winding down. Somehow, this contest went on a scoring drought for nearly ten minutes. It seemed all of a sudden that they paid more attention to helping out their net minders since that next tally would likely decide matters. Even with little time left over, both teams took the approach that they were already in a sudden death frame. The extra time ended up being avoided when M.Paciencia scored with just over a minute remaining. An innocent play in front of the net saw the forward swipe at a loose ball that just snuck its way behind the Karaken net minder. It was just one of those nights that neither team could have held on to any sort of momentum. It really came down to whoever would make that one big play. In tonight’s case, the Panthers got their first solidifying their perfect regular season record so far.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Rob Lendrum of the Panthers. After collecting three goals, R.Lendrum was the one to feed M.Paciencia for the winner that decided a back and forth high scoring affair.

Canadiens overcome slow start for character win

(8)Canadiens vs Red Wings(5)

It goes without question that teams want a good start to their night. For the Canadiens, they came out with less energy and urgency falling behind 3-1 through the first fifteen minutes. The good part about it is that it was still fairly early in the game and the deficit wasn’t extraordinary. It becomes a question of how you respond. The Canadiens managed to take over by pressuring better, keeping the ball longer, and capitalising on the Red Wings breakdowns. As they slowly took over the game, the Canadiens looked more in sync using their rhythm to over take control of the situation. This wasn’t a case of relying on anyone in particular as many contributed in their own way. Offensively ,C.Kfoury and F.Decoster riffled a pair while in net D.Geishecker-Cote rebounded after a shaky start. The Red Wings saw most of their scoring done early and late having to endure a scoring drought that lasted for about twenty seven minutes. J.Testa, Z.St-Martin and M.St-Martin provided much of the offense for the Red Wings as the three players shared two points each.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Claude Kfoury of the Canadiens. While many participated in getting the job done, C.Khoury helped make it easier for his teammates by setting up plenty of plays that resulted in a five point night.

Blackhawks thrash Wild after sleepy start

(11)Blackhawks vs Wild(6)

For about twenty minutes, the Blackhawks kept pressing the snooze button on their phones. While that was happening, the Wild were the early birds in this one storming out to a 5-1 lead just shy of the twenty minute mark. What more can you ask for in such a short span of hockey. Your offense is rolling on high cylinders, the defense is ready and primed, and the  goaltending is up to the task. The problem was that it looked like a pack of hungry wolves woke up and decided to have a big lunch. The Wild looked like the prey and the Blackhawks were the hunters as they made their presence felt on what was a complete turn of events. Ten of the next eleven goals were scored by the Blackhawks. Once the flood gates opened, the Wild couldn’t stop the bleeding, and were stuck enduring a difficult time feeling almost defenceless. In order for such a turn over to occur, it usually means that one side simply cant keep up versus a hungrier opponent. The Blackhawks simply outworked the Wild which resulted in a flurry of tallies that kept accumulating. So many players had an input with E.Capalbo, G.DeStefano, E.Gabrielli and B.Freitas-Pereira sharing four points each.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Enzo Gabrielli of the Blackhawks. The forward had the most goals with three that included the winner in what was a complete turn of events.

Friday March 31

Generals use third period outburst to flatten Dirty Scrubs

(1)Dirty Scrubs vs Generals(8)

If there was one time during the regular season that the Generals may have dropped a game, tonight was it. Normally your playing with fire when having to rotate only one single player-from your bench. In normal circumstances, fatigue tends to catch up to you as the game goes on.  The Generals didn’t have that explosive outburst in the first two frames, but managed to build a 3-1 lead heading into the final period. You would have to assume by then that the Dirty Scrubs were going to give the Generals a run for their money. Still, it didn’t matter. Rather than playing on their heels, the Generals made the Dirty Scrubs look like the side that had the shorter bench. Five out of their eight goals came in the final stretch in the span of only seven minutes. But perhaps this wasn’t really an issue of a team that should be tired rather than a side that will burn you on counter attacks. The Dirty Scrubs knew they had to go for it. Unfortunately some broken plays turned into some deadly counter attacks where the Generals usually don’t miss. J.Brunet was a menace bagging four goals while M.Larin and R.Morne collected five points each.

United Masters use strong third period finish to down Sonic

(4)Sonic vs United Masters(6)

So many times the United Masters had chances to increase their lead. Instead, Sonic resisted, and kept battling back to keeping this contest extremely close. At one point they found themselves ahead for the first time during the match when T.Xanthoudakis scored early in the third period. Despite falling back however, the United Masters worked their way back into the game and eventually evened the score thanks to their captain G.Missakian. That tally came with about half a period remaining. Up until that point, the United Masters felt that they could have gone for the kill for how much pressure they were putting on. B.Madonis was keeping Sonic in the game, but could only take so much as the net minder kept making brilliant saves. Eventually, a grade A chance finally got to Madonis when D.Charbonneau riffled a rocket to beat him low. It was a goal that couldn’t have come at a better time for the United Masters, who had all but a minute to kill off and secure the win. 

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Jeremi Brunet of the Generals. Playing practically the whole game-from his back end, the pillar on defence stole the show collecting five points that included four goals.

The Masters 35+ division regular season came to an end on Friday night. All four teams will be battling it out in the semi final round. The match ups are as follows:

(1)Generals vs Sonic(4) Barring a miracle, the Generals are going through. There is just no chance that the Generals will drop two games after a dominant regular season.

(2)United Masters vs Dirty Scrubs(3) This will be a nice hard fought series between two teams that are pretty much evenly matched. Expect a chess match as both sides will make sure to defend well while waiting for their chances to occur. This has the potential to go the distance or at very least the games will be decided by a narrow margin. There in no clear cut favourite.

Thursday March 30 (Playoffs Round 1)

Horsemen just didn’t have it against Fatal Demons

(1)Horsemen vs Fatal Demons(6)

Facing a dialled in R.Ranieri in goal and an inspired Fatal Demons side, the Horsemen had nothing much to show for in their most important game of the season. It didn’t matter that they got on board first and early thanks to D.Gkeivelopoulos because that was all they would generate to beat R.Ranieri. The Fatal Demons executed their turning point later in the opening frame when P.Paikopoulos and T.Langiano each scored to gain the lead. Not even two power play chances were able to rescue the Horsemen’s offense on this night. By not converting with the man up, things became that much more difficult to generate chances at even strength. The same couldn’t be said for the Fatal Demons however as they slowly built there lead by being the more engaged team. By winning more one on one battles while keeping the ball longer will only go a long way. The Fatal Demons carried a 3-1 lead heading into the final period and never let up despite knowing that the Horsemen were going to come out hard. Actually, it was the Fatal Demons pushing the pace rather by converting three times in a very short span. It just went to show how prepared and more focused the Fatal Demons were as a group. Tonight’s win didn’t have to rely on one player or a particular line. With goals coming-from six different players, that just goes to show that everyone stepped up at the right time. This is a type of win that will prep them for a bigger challenge ahead. For now, they’ll celebrate the victory and focus on what’s ahead in a weeks time.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Rino Ranieri of the Fatal Demons. While the net minder was nicely insulted by a collective group, he still had to be sharp at key moments to keep the Horsemen to only one goal.

With this match up now decided, four teams remain in the semi final round. The match ups are as follow:

(1)Armadillos vs Fatal Demons(5) When looking at how both these teams are built, there isn’t much of a difference at how they compare. Both sides are deep with a ton of playoff experience. Maybe you can argue that the Fatal Demons have the slight advantage up front but the Armadillos will make the case that they have a nice defensive core. Regardless the strengths and or weaknesses, expect a nice hard fought grinding series that can go the distance.

(2)Van Doos Hc vs Brew Crew(3) The Van Doos Hc don’t look like last seasons dominating team but still have all the essential elements to go all the way. In their quest to reaching the final once more, the Brew Crew will stand in their way and be a difficult out. It wont be a pretty series as both sides will be grinding it out having to make plays in very tight spaces. Since the will to win wont be an issue, this will come down to who will be more opportunist with their chances.

Wednesday March 29

Senators in cruise control for easy win versus Oilers

(9)Senators vs Oilers(2)

The Senators raced out to an early lead , then kept the Oilers at bay the rest of the way. It wasn’t a case where the Oilers were completely out played. Actually, they had the ball for good stretches, but weren’t able to finish like the Senators did. It seemed like every time they tried to get one, the Senators would be more opportunistic with their chances. J.Fidrilis is no stranger to closing out the deal as the forward led the way scoring three times while setting up a pair. M.Lafleur and C.Arnoldo converted twice with M.Lafleur adding three helpers, and T.Sauk was able to keep the Oilers to only two goals after facing many chances. G.Bardetti and J.Salvo were the only two players to figure out the stern net minder. Throughout the entire match, the Senators kept playing the same way by never taking a shift off. Unfortunately for the Oilers, they just couldn’t slow them down enough and keep the game closer than it should have been.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tyler Sauk of the Senators. Maybe they still would have won if T.Sauk was average, but that doesn’t deny the fact that the net minder was superb making a bunch of nice saves to keeping his opponent to only two goals.

T.Nardelli early hat trick, five goal performance propels Golden Knights past Hurricanes

(6)Hurricanes vs Golden Knights(9)

The Hurricanes endured the worse possible start that you can imagine in a hockey game. Eight minutes had gone by, and the Golden Knights laid down the hammer rattling off five straight tallies. T.Nardelli was able to expose the Hurricanes right away on three consecutive goals posting a hat trick as early as the six minute mark of the contest. Once M.Barone buried his clubs fifth goal ,things started to settle down with neither side scoring for a decent stretch. There was no question that the Hurricanes needed that next tally if they planned on putting forth some sort of a challenge. And despite the huge deficit, sometimes it takes that one tally to stimulate your bench. Eventually that moment came when A.Gold was able to figure out M.Mascitto. Finally, the Hurricanes had something to build on as it showed almost right away with F.Mastrocola converting twice in only four minutes. What once looked like a one sided affair quickly turned into a tightly contested battle-from a team that was slowly creeping up on the Golden Knights. Unable to make some serious ground however, the Hurricanes endured a similar patch like in the opening stages surrendering four goals in only five minutes. T.Nardelli picked up-from where he left off adding two more to his piggy bank to provide enough of a comfortable lead. It was one of those games that one team came ready to play while the other took some time to get going .

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the games goes to Tony Nardelli of the Golden Knights. Scoring three goals in the first six minutes while adding two more by the time it was said and done is quite an accomplishment. The Golden Knights were thrilled to see their forward produce in such a way which was a huge reason why they got by the Hurricanes on Wednesday night.

Monday March 27

Knights offence firing on all cylinders as they sweep the United Arms

The Knights have been fielding different line-ups lately and still yielding the same results.  With so many offensive weapons at their disposal, they usually score by committee and tonight was no different as eight different goal scorers found the back of the net.  The United Arms were still searching for their first points of the season and managed to hold the fort for the majority of the first game, only losing by a goal.  Game 2 was a different story as the Knights stormed out to a six goal first period and never looked back, as the flood gates opened, with D.Guarnieri leading the charge with a five point performance, which included a hat trick. The United Arms did all they could to stop the relentless offence the Knights possess, but to no avail.

 (4) RCGT Knights vs United Arms (3)

 (9) RCGT Knights vs United Arms (2)

Hotly contested games between Brodie Boys & The Diabetoz Angels end in split

As the regular season winds down, and with every team fighting for playoff positioning, every game, every shift, every goal becomes that much more crucial as points become harder to come by.  In what proved to be a stingy low scoring affair, this match-up featured stellar goaltending, high intensity, and timely goal scoring. With plenty of back-and-forth action and with both teams fighting and scraping for every inch, it became that much more important to get on the board first.  Brodie boys captured game 1 on a late tally by L.Velenosi to break the deadlock, with P.Stroubakis adding an insurance marker.  Game 2 featured more drama as the teams were tied late and headed for a shootout until J.Zervakos provided the heroics by scoring with 4 seconds remaining sealing the victory.  There was no love lost between these 2 teams, as both teams gave everything they had. 

 (2) Brodie Boys vs Diabetoz Angels (0)

 (1) Brodie Boys vs Diabetoz Angels (2)

Dragons prove too much to handle as they sweep both encounters

As they have shown on numerous occasions, Country Club will always be ready for any challenge.  They knew they’d be in tough and would have to play a flawless system, to compete with the firepower the Dragons have.  Defending a team like the Dragons is extremely tough as you can’t really focus on 1 or 2 players, since they come at you in waves, with many weapons at their disposal.  Transition play is the Dragon’s specialty, and it was on full display. Game 1 was dictated by their ball possession and high level passing resulting in a 7-1 rout, with A.Mirolla, & J.Mandracchia combining for 9 points. In game 2, the goalies were left high and dry as defense was an afterthought. Credit the Country Club for showing their character and grit, by providing a better effort and narrowing the gap, even if it was in a losing cause.    

(7) Dragons vs Country Club (1)

 (9) Dragons vs Country Club (6)

Strong forecheck and short bench sinks Assadi

The Snipers are a tough team to play against, since they will chase down every ball, and apply constant forechecking pressure by grinding out balls in the corners.  Assadi knew they had to keep it simple and stick to playing a defensive minded game since their line-up was depleted.  Game 1 was a close affair, settled in a shootout, with A. Sayed getting the game winner and M.St-Laurent stopping all 3 shooters for the Snipers.  Game 2 was a different story and with their short bench, the Snipers took full advantage.  Assadi had a hard time being first on the ball and were forced to chase rather than dictate, with fatigue being a major factor.  It was only a regular season game and key elements were missing, but the Snipers showed they can compete and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

(2) Assadi Consulting Inc vs Snipers (3) S.O.

 (2) Assadi Consulting Inc vs Snipers (6)

 Match-up between division leaders favors the Classics

Bragging rights were on the line in this highly anticipated match-up between the 2 division leaders.  This contest did not disappoint, as ETNA held their own vs the reigning champs.  Missing a few key pieces, ETNA had to rely on playing a boring style of hockey if they wanted to contain the Classics.  Game 1 had ETNA grab an early lead only to relinquish it quickly after, with the Classics deploying their usual brand of up tempo, run and gun style lead by the usual suspects.  Captain M.Stoico had a only a few minutes to rally his troops and adjust his game plan.  Game 2 was a much closer contest, with both teams tied heading into the late stages, until M.Mavroudis rescued his club by scoring what proved to be the game winning goal.  Despite missing some valuable resources, ETNA managed to give the Classics a run for their money and will be a formidable opponent in the playoffs.

(2) ETNA vs Classics (5)

 (1) ETNA vs Classics (2)

 SalumiVino: Player of the week: M. St-Laurent, who put on a clinic and stood on his head with his superb goaltending, allowing The Snipers to pick up some valuable points vs a tough opponent

Sunday March 26

Canadiens show resiliency to battle back, but fall short to Blackhawks

(8)Blackhawks vs Canadiens(5)

The Canadiens didn’t get off to the start they want, falling behind early 3-0 by the fifteen minute mark of the period. Three different players had scored for the Blackhawks, and A.Zardarian kept a clean sheet in net until T.Nardelli finally put the Canadiens on board. The lead shrank to only one when L.Bucci converted only minutes later. All of a sudden, this contest appeared to be up for grabs, at least for a few minutes until E.Capalbo and J.Teresi struck only seconds apart to create enough of a reasonable gap. If not for the slow start, the Canadiens would at the very least been neck and neck for the duration of the game. Instead, the Blackhawks came out ready on three big goals that kept them in the drivers seat for the entire time. E.Colella and J.Teresi each scored twice in the win while F.Decoster did the same, but in a losing cause.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to A.Zardarian of the Blackhawks. At the right moments during the game, A.Zardarain was always able to make the timely saves which enabled his side to build off their lead.

D.Galloro comeback bid falls short despite scoring all 4 goals for Flyers

(7)Panthers vs Flyers(4)

D.Galloro didn’t seem to care much that his side went into a deep slide giving up three consecutive goals by the thirteen minute mark. Confident in his abilities to turn a hockey game like flicking a light switch, the crafty forward took matters into his own hands hitting the target three straight times in only a span of a minute and a half. Talk about a turn of events that came almost instantaneously. While its always a sign of things headed into the right direction, the question becomes how long can you sustain a strong momentum swing ? Unfortunately for the Flyers, it got cut short with the Panthers regaining their confidence by getting that next big tally. M.Kardum was able to snap the 3-3 tie, and J-C.Mansour along with P.Stroubakis provided some breathing room by widening the gap by three. It may have felt by that point everything was going to sail just fine for the Panthers. That being said, it took only a couple of minutes later for the very same D.Galloro to score his fourth. If it was any other player, the Panthers may not have been to concerned, but not in this case with D.Galloro looking like a force that couldn’t be contained. The Panthers did make it a point to recognize the obvious threat which limited the Flyers in their comeback attempt. The game was eventually put to rest when M.Kardum fed a yawing cage.

The Allo Mon Coco player Ste-Dorothee of the game goes to Frederick Debs of the Panthers. By collecting the games first two goals along with an assist , F.Debs was able to set the tone for the Panthers in a hard fought battle with the Flyers.

Kraken use last of momentum swings on M.Barone’s OT winner

(6)Kraken vs Red Wings(5) O.T

Both teams will take the good and the bad for how this thing tilted back and forth. The Kraken looked like they could do no wrong for about twenty six minutes where they took command on a 3-0 lead. Then, and in the span of six minutes, the Kraken looked like they forgot how to play hockey giving up five straight goals in such a short span. For sure you have to credit the Red Wings for overturning such a deficit into a lead in no time. Z.St-Martin helped ignite it on two goals and a pair of assists while many others contributed as well. Now that the momentum swung into the Red Wings favour, the onus fell on the Kraken to figure out a way to return the favour. Things were looking very bleak for the Kraken with time winding down while down by a pair. Trailing by two with less than a minute remaining, the odds only suggested that the Red Wings would hang on with the luxury of giving up one goal. Instead, it went-from bad to worse, and finally ugly when they gave up two in regulation time which was followed with the eventual dagger in overtime by M.Barone. It was one of those games that it was fun to be part of if you like back and forth action along with some late dramatics. The problem is that the Red Wings felt that they let this one get away unable to close out the game that somehow slipped out of their hands.

The Allo Mon Coco player Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mickey Barone of the Kraken. While there were many big goals during this contest, M.Barone arguably provided the biggest of them all by deciding the outcome in overtime.

V.Romero rescues Predators late avoiding epic meltdown

(6)Predators vs Islanders(5)

The Islanders fell in a valiant effort on Sunday night losing a heartbreaker to the Predators. Despite being down 5-2 with nine minutes left, the Islanders had a second wind rattling off three straight goals that saw R.Tannous even the score on a penalty shot. His tally came with just less than a minute remaining in regulation time. And while everything pointed to a sudden death frame, the Predators had other ideas in mind. Its never easy trying to slow down a team that’s put a ton of pressure on you with everything seemingly falling apart. However, that didn’t stop V.Romero-from seizing the moment, and netting the next tally for the Predators. At least the burden of dwelling on a total meltdown was avoided for the Predators. As for the Islanders, they could look back at this as a positive for being able to overcome such a deficit at a crucial stage during the game. If maybe not for some bad luck, things could have gone there way. But that’s what is expected between two evenly matched teams. Sometimes its just a question of how that very last play ends up. In tonight’s case, it went the Predators way.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to V.Romero of the Predators. Not only did he snap the late tie, the forward was a force all game long collecting a total of four points.

Friday March 24

Dirty Scrubs use quick start in rout of Sonic

(5)Sonic vs Dirty Scrubs(8)

You always want to have that better start when flooring a short bench. The Dirty Scrubs did just that owning the first period on three unanswered goals. Sonic did manage to climb out of a hole with two early goals in the second period only to be kicked back in it by the end of the frame. With only a period left and down by three, the task proved to be to demanding for Sonic as they were unable to make any sort of ground. Instead, it was the Dirty Scrubs capitalising on two straight tallies that would put a definite strangle hold on the match. M.Chenier was feeling it scoring three nice goals along with two assists while A.Zarzour was very productive as well collecting five points.

Generals benefit on some early blunders by United Masters

(9)Generals vs United Masters(4)

Of coarse blunders, mistakes and sloppy giveaways happen all the time in hockey. And sometimes they may happen too many times like in the case for the United Masters. The problem was that they occurred to often in the opening frame against a team that doesn’t need any charity. The Generals went up 6-1 after fifteen minutes due to a few gaffes generated by the United Masters. O.Valiquette had already buried a hat trick while M.Pinheiro and J-R Turgeon collected three points each. Definitely not the start you want when going up against a team that end games earlier than usual. The United Masters were able to settle down after a sloppy period and reflected on how to approach the remainder of the game. There mind set was to erase some bad luck, and simply play better by making it difficult for the Generals to get there way. Even though it wasn’t reasonable to come back and win the game, the United Masters wanted to keep battling rather than giving up. And to their credit, things went much better for the last two periods. At the very least, they tied the two frames which kept the game respectable. D.Galloro riffled a pair of nice goals, D.Charbonneau and G.Missakian shared two points each, and the United Masters had some good looks for two periods.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Mathieu Chenier of the Dirty Scrubs. Unable to be contained, the forward was a thorn all game long bagging a hat trick as part of a five point performance.

Thursday March 23

Armadillos pull away with late goal after back and forth action with Van Doos Hc

(5)Armadillos vs Van Doos Hc(4)

It could be discouraging falling behind by a pair of goals in the third period when facing off against the Armadillos. However, that didn’t stop the Van Doos Hc-from building themselves back up with a more assertive sequence where they were able to score twice and tie things up. The equaliser came courtesy of N.Kokovidis’s power play marker after the defenseman set up G.Tsolis on back to back tallies. Each side had their turns controlling the match with the Van Doos Hc owning the first period. Then, it was the Armadillos turn to take over the on three consecutive goals that eventually put them up 4-2. Normally, the lead would stand with about eleven minutes left to play for how well the Armadillos defend. That being said, the Van Doos Hc isn’t just your ordinary team, after all, they are the defending champs and should never be counted out. Tonight, they came that close-from pulling the rug under the Armadillos feet. With the game winding down, both sides knew that the next tally would have decided the outcome. It was just a question of who would get there first. Already riding a goal and an assist, S.Simitsakos ended up playing the hero by scoring late for the Armadillos.

D.Verta salvages Brew Crew night after blowing 3-0 lead

(4)Brew Crew vs Horsemen(3) O.T

The Brew Crew seem like they cant figure out how to close out games anymore. For a team once known for their shut down capabilities, look more like a confused bunch at times. For over half the game, they looked like they could do no wrong. The offense was clicking, the defense was sound, and C.Muccino was feeling it in net making every save possible. Up until that point, it looked like it was going to be an easy night for the Brew Crew. The Horsemen, although didn’t have much to show for wanted nothing less than to get the first goal to kick start their night. Sometimes it just takes that one tally to turn the tides. M.Kardum was finally able to get his side on board which triggered a tsunami effect for the Horsemen. B.Rubino was next in line to narrow the gap by one, and finally J.Crivello was able to level early in the third period.  Now that both sides were dead even, players tend to play a little more cautious in order to avoid making mistakes. Its the reason why neither side scored for over an entire period. Since regulation time didn’t settle anything, an open 4vs4 overtime period was potentially left over to see who would come out on top. After playing just a minute into the sudden death frame, D.Verta was the one to end it with his second of the night. There was no question that this contest was an emotional roller coaster ride with the game twisting and turning. In the end, both sides will take positives-from it. For the Horsemen, they’ll look back at the fact that they overcame a deep hole while for the Brew Crew, they kept battling hard despite letting a nice lead slip away. 

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Danny Verta of the Brew Crew. Its never ideal letting a three goal lead slip away, but at least D.Verta was there to stop the bleeding by bagging his second in the sudden death frame.

The E Thursday division regular season just came to an end. The top three seeded teams will be placed automatically into the semi final round. The first round match up will feature the Horsemen taking on the Fatal Demons for the fourth place seed.

Even though the Horsemen took both encounters versus the Fatal Demons it wont really mean much when having to play in a do or die match up. This series will require deep benches, especially for the Horsemen as they always rely on  a three line format. The Fatal Demons are just as balanced, but have a perhaps more lethal first line compared to their opponent. This will come down to how the Horsemen will use their defensive game in order to slow down the Fatal Demons key pieces. If they can manage that, than they’ll have a chance.

Wednesday March 22

 Pendulum swings in Senators favour

(10)Senators vs Golden Knights(7)

The game featuring the Senators and the Golden Knights was nothing but a see saw affair. S.Sauk barely wasted time to complain on the strength of the Golden Knights after jumping off to a 2-0 lead. The net minder did however miss judge the entire situation when it was said and done as his side was able to get the final word en route to a 10-7 decision. The Senators appeared at one point to be running away with it up 7-4. Then, in only two short minutes, the Golden Knights went on a rampage striking three times to level the score. There was no question that the two sides had their struggles at times. The approach was to simply go out there and make the best of your shifts hoping that you’re a plus rather than a minus. C.Arnoldo did respond for the Senators to regain the lead. As time was starting to be more of an issue, every goal would prove to have more of an impact. Again, it belonged to the Senators, and again C.Arnoldo was behind it setting up M.Lauzon while adding another to complete his hat trick. Sometimes teams just enjoy going for it by trading a ton of quality chances. In tonight’s case , it favoured the Senators as they were able to have a stronger finish. M.Lafleur had a productive four point night in the win while T.Nardelli did more than his share collecting four points in the loss.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mathieu Lafleur of the Senators. His early two goals helped set the stage in what was a wild back and forth affair with the Golden Knights.

M.Scarpetta and K.Labelle combine for 11 points in rout of Oilers

(9)Hurricanes vs Oilers(4)

M.Scarpetta and K.Labelle were each the reason why the Hurricanes distant themselves-from the Oilers in a game that remained close for a while. It was more so by the twenty nine minute mark that the gap started to widen thanks to M.Scarpetta. By then, he already cashed in three times and wasn’t done yet adding his fourth as part of a six point output. Sometimes teams are overwhelmed by an individual or two making a big difference. That seemingly was the case with M.Scarpetta and K.Labelle doing most of the damage. The two players combined for seven goals and four assists. The Oilers also had a couple of players contributing as well with Dibello leading the charge with three points. Collectively however, the supporting cast of the Hurricanes helped insulate the offense and defense which caused the end result.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Scarpetta of the Hurricanes. What more can you ask-from a player that scored fours times while setting up two goals.

Wednesday March 22

Altius use big first period to down Azzuri

(5)Altius vs Azzuri(2)

Playing in their last regular season game, the Altius came out swinging scoring two power play goals as part of a four goal outburst. It wasn’t the start that the Azzuri was expecting. When falling behind by such a margin, a teams character is tested on how they’ll respond with plenty of time left over. Rather than throwing in the towel, the Azzuri came to play winning the next frame on two unanswered goals by their captain R.Varr and M.DelGaudio. All of a sudden, the Altius started to feel some pressure not wanting to let a four goal lead just evaporate. They knew that the Azzuri wasn’t going to stop after a strong momentum swing. As much as they attempted to narrow the gap within one, the Altius was more cautious about their defensive game, and never let their opponent get a step closer. The only tally of the frame belonged to the Altius instead that came fairly late. K.Kuczmarski was the one to deliver the late blow to ensure the victory. The win came with scoring efforts-from five different players along with a strong outing in net courtesy of J.Vrettis.

Punishers close out another impressive regular season

(3)Legacy vs Punishers(7)

It may just be a regular season game, but the Punishers want to carry good habits heading into the more important season- the playoffs. While Legacy gave the Punishers their best shot throughout most of the game, the Punishers showed why they are the team to beat in this division. C.Kakivelis scored a big insurance marker with less than five minutes remaining, and C.Gingras along with M.Mavroudis fed empty cages to complete another successful regular season. Games like this  brings out the best of everyone as they want nothing more than to prove who can defeat a strong hockey team. For sure the players were motivated and knew to expect a close encounter. The Punishers came off winning another battle carrying already an impressive resume for how much success they have shown. Its gotten to the point that they are the measuring stick as the best club of this division. And while they are the front runners moving forward, it wont come without plenty of resistance no matter who they’ll face despite knowing their first round opponent.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to C.Genest of the Punishers. Four out of the first five goals stemmed-from C.Genest, who converted twice while setting up a pair of teammates.

With the D Wednesday regular season coming to a close, all four teams will be participating in a best of three semi final series. The match ups are as follows:

(1)Punishers vs Azzuri(4) There is no question that the Punishers are the clear cut favourites in this one. Now, that’s not to say that the Azzuri wont give them a run for their money. For sure many things need to align, but you never know when having a bunch of quality players buying into a system. The key element is to just try and keep the games close for as long as possible.

(2)Altius vs Legacy(3) If both teams come with their compete line up in which they should, this series will be one that’s worth watching. They resemble each other in many ways while knowing each others tendencies. Perhaps the key factor will be decided on who out duels the other between the pipes. Then again, both goaltenders are expected to perform anyway which gives no clear cut winner. Looks like it will come down to who makes that last brilliant play, and there will be many of them.

Monday March 20

M.Calabrice, J.Cardinal prove to be a handful for the United Arms

Maybe if the United Arms were aware of the threats that M.Calabrice and J.Cardinal posed, things could have potentially turned out different. Instead, the two couldn’t be stopped, and in consequence, the United Arms dropped both encounters against ETNA. M.Calabrice stormed out of the gate kick-starting the night on two goals as part of a seven point display. He was able to assert his game immediately while surrounded by a strong supporting cast. J.Cardinal got credited the winner in the first encounter, but showed more of his good moments in the second game sparking two goals and an assist. Perhaps it was an expected end result with the two teams on the opposite end of the standings. The two results came without some big pieces missing. With both wins, ETNA will look to extend their so far perfect night as they’ll take on the Degenerates only an hour later.

(6)ETNA vs United Arms(2)

(4)ETNA vs United Arms(1)

RCGT Knights bounce back after embarrassing loss to Brodie Boys

That’s what happens when you fall behind and are stuck chasing the game. The RCGT Knights felt the challenge of going up against a side that was feeling their swagger. Every time they tried to go for it, the Brodie Boys went the other way and made them pay. Out of their eight goals, only three players had the pleasure of finding the back of the net. A.Abbandonato was definitely at top of his game bagging half of his teams goals. The other four tallies were split between M.Moshopoulos and M.Koutavas. After facing a mere eleven shots, A.Mancini denied everyone except for D.Galloro. There was no question that the RCGT Knights had nothing right going for them and were adamant about fixing it in the ensuing match. Whatever message was sent in between games was heard loud and clear. This time, they wasted no time getting back on track by focusing more on defense rather than trying to score . By being patient, the chances will come as it was the case primarily in the second period. A 1-0 lead ballooned into a three goal cushion early in the frame, and the RCGT Knights never looked back en route to a bounce back victory. Three different players had scored before they added two empty net markers.  Considering how bad things went in the first game, S.Sauk had the ability to put it behind him and respond with a brilliant 27 save shutout.

(8)Brodie Boys vs RCGT Knights(1)

(0)Brodie Boys vs RCGT Knights(5)

Degenerates content with the overall results after playing front runners ETNA

Not many teams will have success going up against ETNA this season. There is to much depth and fire power in order to take them out. And even though the Degenerates faired well collecting a win along with a tie, ETNA have good reason for why they couldn’t get the two wins. First off, they played an hour earlier, and secondly, two of their top players were absent-from the line up. Still, even through any circumstances, that wont change how the Degenerates will approach any game. For them, its all about boxing you out while waiting for the right moments. They did just that on the large part, and were rewarded in the opening game by building a 3-0 lead. Of coarse it goes without saying that your net minder has to be that good, especially trying to stop a lethal offense. R.Ranieri was perhaps the real reason why the Degenerates took four out of a possible six points. You almost have to beat him on a connecting play or by bouncing on the loose balls first. Regardless, he definitely came to play, and the Degenerates benefited. The one area of their game that worked well was limiting ETNA to only three goals in four periods. For how the Degenerates are built, they have no choice but to keep the games tight and low scoring.

(2)ETNA vs Degenerates(3)

(3)ETNA vs Degenerates(3) S.O

Branditscan find scoring touch in bounce back win over Diabetoz Angels

As long as the game remained tied, the Diabetoz Angels had no issues whatsoever. Knowing that A.Ekonomakis was there to make the saves, it was just a question of time before they needed all but one tally to take the opening game. The 4-0 score may suggest a lopsided affair, but that couldn’t be further than the truth. There was less than three minutes when J.Fisch beat G.Scrietta for a very rare time. Its always nice getting that first one under your belt. However, in an ideal situation, you want nothing less than to collect two wins. The problem is that you have to try and defeat a team that’s going to be much hungrier than you are. The Branditscan showed that they meant business in the second encounter. For them, it was all about getting that first goal to spark confidence throughout the line up. And who better than your captain to send the message early on. N.Francis finally got to Ekonomakis within a minute and change, and the Branditscan knew that this game wasn’t going to end like the earlier one. In fact, they did it in a convincing fashion winning the opening frame handily before edging out their opponent in the last frame. It was a result that  involved everyone along with your usual suspects. D.Seguin and N.Francie each scored twice, T.Faucher collected four points while G.Scrietta was solid in net to earn the win.

(4)Diabetoz Angels vs Branditscan(0)

(3)Diabetoz Angels vs Branditscan(7)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Rino Ranieri of the Degenerates. In order to have a chance at beating solid hockey teams, your goaltender has to be sharp. R.Ranieri delivered an incredible performance allowing only three goals in four periods that enabled his side to collect a win and a tie.

Sunday March 19

Islanders outmatched by Kings in blowout loss

(12)Kings vs Islanders(1)

The Kings toyed with the Islanders-from the drop of the ball, and never seemed to let them have it. The poor defenceless net minder never stood a chance. Having to face a wave of shots, T.Kotsiris was left alone feeling like an open target. Throughout the entire time, the Kings kept their foot on the gas ,and made the Islanders defend a lot more than they wanted to .It was one of those games that wasn’t really fun for the two sides. The Kings barely met resistance while the Islanders were stuck enduring a thumping that only the final buzzer could have stopped the madness. At least F.Tannous was able to take away T.Sauk’s shutout with less than five minutes remaining. Apart-from that, it was all Kings. F.Mastrocola wont seem like he will be taking a night off as the forward struck four times. C.Pirone faired well with three goals, and C.Decotis collected six points that included five assists.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Claudio Decotis of the Kings. Some players prefer giving the ball first rather than shooting it. In a landslide win over the Islanders, C.Decotis had a field day setting up five goals while netting one himself.

A.Zafiropoulos scores late to complete comeback for Sabres

(4)Sabres vs Canadians(3)

A stunning late comeback propelled the Sabres to battle back, and take a heartbreaker-from a team that should have had it .The Canadians came ready to play, scoring three goals in the first twenty minutes. L.Bucci helped set the tone scoring twice, and D.Geishecker-Cote was doing his part in net keeping the Sabres to only one goal after twenty eight minutes. No matter how good of a start you have, teams need to continue playing at full capacity if they plan on winning. Maybe  the Canadians did their best to keep pace or maybe it was the Sabres that just had a slow start, and eventually showed their colors by being the stronger of the two sides. Whatever the reasons, the game shifted heavily into one direction with the Sabres taking over the match. Already with his clubs first goal, C.Zafiropoulos scored his second to pull his side within one. About seven minutes later, A.Angelis was able to tie the game with still plenty of time left over. The two teams would play a little more cautious wanting to make sure nobody is responsible for making a crucial mistake. And in the large part, they kept it that way until a late play saw A.Zafiropoulos squeeze one behind the net minder. His tally came just a minute shy of reaching the overtime period.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to A.Zafiropoulos of the Sabres. After setting up two teammates, the young talent took matters into his own hands by snapping a very late tie.

Bruins explosive comeback attempt falls short in overtime

(5)Bruins vs Red Wings(6) O.T

The Bruins were able to erase a four goal deficit, scoring the game tying goal with a minute left in regulation to force overtime, but had to settle for the loss when Q.Joseph struck for the Red Wings. The comeback effort was largely led on the back of A.Zakarian, who tallied three straight times to force the sudden death frame. It looked as though the Red Wings played for the first twenty minutes only. They cashed in five times ,but looked disinterested as the Bruins started to finally pick up their game. You never want to go through a sequence when your team is up by a reasonable margin only to slowly see it slip away. Yes, the Red Wings did prevail in the end, but could have easily dropped this one which would have stung for quite some time. Luckily enough, Q.Joseph saved the night by scoring the Red Wings biggest goal of the game. M.St.Martin and Frank had strong starts as the two players shared three points each.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Quincy Joseph of the Red Wings. If not for his overtime tally, the Red Wings risked losing a game that they had right in their hands.

Wild blow massive lead in collapse to Flyers

(7)Wild vs Flyers(8) O.T

Sunday night appeared to be a cause for celebration if you were playing for the Wild. The offense was rolling, the defense was making plays, and the Flyers looked to be down and out. Its not like they trailed by a pair or three or four goals The margin was a five goal gap with only fourteen minutes left to kill. You almost had to figure it was in the bag if you were the two teams. By the time it was said and done however, the end result must have proven everyone wrong for how this thing got out of hand. Sometimes its even hard to figure out if its one team that played so dominant or if the other team took a heavy dose of Nyquil and fell asleep. In the end, this was one that the two teams will remember for a while for how it ended. The Flyers took their spinach as of the 34 minute mark and never looked back piling up a bunch of goals. Many contributed with D.Galloro being a part of the equation striking twice. His second tally came late which set the stage for more dramatics to come. With the two sides trading a bunch of chances, E.Allen took in the moment by making the games biggest play.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to E.Allen of the Flyers. No doubt this win involved everyone, but E.Allen was the lightning rod that made a lot of significant plays happen. Not only does he control the back end by breaking up plays, the veteran generated most of the offense, and tonight it showed again as he was able to score three goals that included the biggest of them all in overtime.

Friday March 17

Just another night at the office for the Generals

(11)Generals vs Sonic(1)

It didn’t seem to matter how many players the Generals show up with. Whether its two changes or fifteen players, the end result will usually look the same. Tonight, they floored a short bench which only means that their highly skilled players play a lot more. O.Valiquette is just one example as the captain was in full force accumulating seven points that included a hat trick. N.Tsataronis, in his first game dressed seemed to fit right in as the veteran had the most tallies with four goals. There weren’t many bright moments for Sonic unless you count J.Bouralakos’s lone tally that beat P.Blais. Apart -from that, the Generals were simply controlling the pace hanging on to the ball for  long stretches. With the game ending earlier than usual, the two sides decided to use their extra time and play some pick up hockey for fun.

United Masters comeback falls short in loss to Dirty Scrubs

(3)United Masters vs Dirty Scrubs(4)

Momentum can be a funny thing. Just when the United Masters thought they had seized control, surging back on two consecutive goals, one bad sequence had them chasing for good. A couple of third period penalties didn’t help them either having to waste precious minutes on the defensive end of the court. They did eventually find themselves on the power play when the Dirty Scrubs took a late penalty with just over a minute remaining. You almost have no choice but to pull your net minder since time isn’t a luxury that you have. Unfortunately for the United Masters, a clearing attempt by P.Paikopoulous pretty much summed up the match despite A.Mercan responding with little time left over. When teams are evenly matched like in this particular case, a good start will always go a long way. The Dirty Scrubs owned that area scoring three times in the first half of the game on goals by N.Faria, A.Zarzour and M.Chenier.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Olivier Valiquette of the Generals. Even though he may not have been an influencer for the end result, the sniper caused the most havoc setting up four goals while earning a hat trick.

Thursday March 16

Brew Crew overcome haunting thoughts as they hang on to tight win over Van Doos Hc

(4)Van Doos Hc vs Brew Crew(5)

The Brew Crew keep getting that start they want, but never quite the finish they hope for. M.Nardi was responsible for setting the tone right away feeding D.Verta and R.Mancini while netting one himself to kick start the period up 3-1. Again, the Brew Crew put themselves in the drivers seat. However, the Van Doos Hc were not giving up on the game after only the first period, and came out with more purpose scoring twice to even the score. The thought of letting another good lead slip away must have crossed the Brew Crew’s mind. Signs of good hockey teams are based how they react when put in a challenging situation. Even with those negative reminding thoughts, that didn’t stop them -from thinking ahead with an abundance of time left over. The mind set was simple, focus on your next shift, and try and get that next goal. Eventually, they got their first on a late second period goal by A.Belanger. Carrying a slight 4-3 lead heading into the final stanza, the Brew Crew couldn’t protect it long enough. It took only thirty seconds into the frame for G.Tsolis tie things up. At no point did the Brew Crew ever trail in this contest as they wanted to make sure to avoid repeating a total meltdown. By simply sticking to it, they were able once more to regain the lead thanks to M.Pace. Even if five minutes and change felt like an eternity, the Brew Crew were able to ride out the clock hanging on to a nail biter.

Armadillos pull off gritty win vs Fatal Demons

(4)Fatal Demons vs Armadillos(6)

It was an entertaining tilt between two very structured teams. You always want to get on board first when facing off against a side that plays a similar style. The Armadillos and the Fatal Demons can be stingy, but tonight they decided to open it up and have fun trading plenty of chances. Most of the action occurred in the second period with the Armadillos leading, than trailing 3-2, and regaining the tempo by getting the next two tallies. Up 4-3 heading into the final stretch, the Armadillos decided to get more serious by playing a smarter game without the ball. By making that a priority, the Fatal Demons took their chances, but were unable to convert. F.Moshonas was glad to see P.Musto and J.Chiropoulos bury his second for some breathing room between the pipes. On a night that the Fatal Demons could have used their top gun to gat some goals, M.Mavroudis decided to be in a giving mood setting up three different teammates. A.Argiroudis and M.Destounis complemented the line as all three players combined for nine points.

Snipers fall flat in must win game

(2)Snipers vs Horsemen(4)

Whatever thread the Snipers playoff hopes were hanging on by, the Horsemen took a pair of scissors to it on Thursday night. The Snipers looked ready by getting an early power play goal by Ali.Khanafer, but it was the Horsemen who looked like they were playing with a sense of urgency the rest of the way. The formula of rolling three complete lines is a formula that works for the Horsemen. The players played fast shifts, and because of that, they remained in full gear despite very few lapses. At worse case, M.Vincguerra was there making key saves. The Snipers fell behind when V.Pandza broke a 1-1 tie on the power play. From there, things kept getting better, especially in the second period where they added two more tallies. Both goals came-from the very same J.Crivello. The slick forward was on top of his game proving to be more than a handful for the Snipers defense. Now that the Horsemen built a comfortable 4-1 lead, the Snipers went into desperation mode knowing that their season was on the line. To their credit, they came out strong possessing plenty of zone time. As much as they tried to create chances, the Horsemen kept getting in the way making it very difficult for them to score. H.Awada did finally get one for the Snipers, but that was as close as it got.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Joseph Crivello of the Horsemen. Three out of the Horsemen’s four goals stemmed-from the crafty forward. J.Crivello set up a tally before taking over in the second period bagging two big tallies.

Wednesday March 15

Stars kept pace but unable to make ground versus the Senators

(9)Senators vs Stars(6)

Its what you come to expect when two teams are creating a ton of offense. Goals will go in, and the net minders are stuck with the burden of trying to keeping them out. Even though the defence did there part by playing a sound game, there was way to much back and forth action for this to remain low scoring. Add the fact that the Senators have C.Arnoldo to their line up. If teams don’t know his tendencies, they’ll end up paying the price in the end. The sharp shooter knows exactly where to go with his instinct to finding the right spots to bury his chances. In a 9-6 high scoring win versus the Stars, the veteran tallied four times that included three straight goals at  pivotal moments during the game. The one major advantage that the Senators had going for them was that they were able to always play in front. Often, the Stars would try to crawl back by narrowing the gap only to see the Senators respond almost immediately. B.Sorice could only do so much as the skilled forward rattled off a hat trick as part of a five point night. While C.Arnoldo is deserving of what he brought to his team, F.Decoster was just as influential bagging a hat trick.

The Allo Mon Coco Sth-Dorothee player of the game goes to Claudio Arnoldo of the Senators. The forward was in full force netting four of his clubs nine goals to help lead his team to a nice opening win to the season.

Ducks falter lead and lose in overtime to Hurricanes

(6)Hurricanes vs Ducks(5) O.T

After a pretty decent start to their season, the Ducks saw a two goal lead evaporate in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Hurricanes. Even when leading by a pair, you just cant give the other team a chance to respond and battle back. And while its easier said than done, the Hurricanes got there due to A.Angelis’s two big shots-from far that gave G.Karnaras no chance. This contest went back and forth with the pendulum swinging a few times. The Ducks looked to be in good shape carrying a 4-2 lead. Then, three goals in only five minutes flipped the script giving the Hurricanes their first lead of the night. Rather than riding out the momentum, it was the Ducks turn to score on a nice passing play to level the game. After a few twists and turns, extra time was required to see who would prevail. The two sides went at it for a few minutes with the action going back and forth until something finally gave. That’s when M.Musi sprung a hard pass-from his own zone to find a wide open B.Freitas-Pereira. With that kind of room, the forward made sure to bury his chance despite G.Karnaras getting a piece of it. That was his second goal of the game and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

The Allo Mon Coco Sth-Dorothee player of the game goes to Brandon Freitas-Pereira of the Hurricanes. His second goal was clutch, ultimately deciding a very close encounter that could have easily gone either way.

Wednesday March 15

Altius grind down Legacy

(2)Legacy vs Altius(4)

Legacy know that they can give anyone a run for their money. In hopes of proving that on Wednesday night, it was the Altius that found a way to win instead. Games between these two teams will always remain close when flooring a complete roster. So when two sides appear to be evenly matched, it often comes down to the little details that lead to the big moments in a hockey game. For the Altius, a late first period bounce back tally-from P.Arklais followed with a huge power play marker by M.Arkalis was  all the offense required in order to get the end result. For sure it isn’t easy limiting a team like Legacy to only a goal if you don’t count the late tally when they pulled out their net minder. In order to keep them off the score sheet, it takes a committed effort with the right elements like in the Altius case. On top of that, it helps when J.Vrettis is on top of his game as the goaltender was definitely dialled in making all the necessary saves. K.Kuczmarski provided some good offense setting up three goals while J.Adamou and D.Provost-Jarry collected two points each.

Punishers third period explosion sinks Azzuri

(2)Azzuri vs Punishers(9)

The Punishers entered the final period of Wednesdays contest against the Azzuri with the game hanging in the balance. The Azzuri have struggled to keeping the games close long enough, and tonight they hoped to have changed that against the Punishers. Unfortunately, the Punishers sent an emphatic message by exploding for seven goals. Of coarse your usual suspects got in on the action with P.Karvouriaris, C.Gingras and M.Mavroudis combining for five goals. The trend of allowing rush chances has been an issue for the Azzuri, who couldn’t address it in the final stretch. Unless they convert on there chances by taking risks, the Punishers wont miss on their counter attacks which is why this contest spiralled out of control. You almost have no margin of error going up against the Punishers. The Azzuri did an overall fine job for two periods, but its just not enough to get the right result.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to John Vrettis of the Altius. Yes, the Altius can beat you with there loaded line up, but goaltending is always a major reason for success, especially when facing Legacy. The net minder kept them to only one goal until the final minute when the game was already  unofficially decided for the Altius.

Monday March 13

RCGT Knights add depth in thumping of United Arms

There is no question that the RCGT Knights got that much stronger with the additions of D.Galloro, F.Dominianni and J.D’Amico. The three players will blend in just fine as it showed in both games versus the United Arms. Throughout the first half of the opening contest, the RCGT Knights were met with some resistance as the two sides traded a pair of goals. It took an eventual stretch of only two minutes for the RCGT Knights to run up the score on three quick tallies. J.Morina notched his second right before J.Prevost put his side in the drivers seat by striking twice in only twelve seconds. The strong finish didn’t stop there however with the RCGT Knights doing a bulk of their damage early on in the ensuing match. Five different players scored in the first period alone with S.Sauk turning aside the few shots he faced to keeping a clean sheet. B.Gabriel would finally score getting to the net minder early in the period with both sides trading a pair of goals. Despite the amount of time left over, the game remained idle with both sides knowing that the end result would favour the RCGT Knights.

(4)United Arms vs RCGT Knights(9)

(2)United Arms vs RCGT Knights(8)

Branditscan hit a wall they didn’t expect

Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. The Branditscan are one of the hottest teams entering tonight’s match up with ETNA. This was a perfect measuring stick for the two sides to see where they stand in a very competitive division. Everything pointed and suggested that both games would have been decided fairly late. Instead, it just ended being one of those nights that everything went wrong for one team. ETNA to their defence, did their part showing no signs of taking a shift off. They won a fairly close opening game that saw their special teams work with a shorthanded marker by M.Rosato and a power play goal by J.Alfieri. You almost had to expect that the next game would see the two teams battle till the very end. Amazingly enough, things really got bad for N.Francis and his group. From-the drop of the ball, ETNA took over right away riding four first period goals. M.Alfieri fabricated much of the offense netting two tallies while setting up M.Calabrice. In hopes of rebounding after a forgetful frame, the Brnaditscan didn’t have much to show for despite finally getting to P.Delli Colli. M.Alfieri would go on to complete his hat trick, and J.Pimentel added two goals to complete a statement that ETNA mean business this season.

(5)ETNA vs Branditscan(3)

(8)ETNA vs Branditscan(1)

Assadi Consulting inc bounce back to level with Dragons

The Assadi Consulting inc hope to build off a rare win on Monday night. Statistically, the season hasn’t been kind to them having barely anything good to show for. There start against the Dragons was just a reminder that something needs to give if they plan on doing anything right. After dropping the opener 5-2, the question became how does a team in shambles respond. The odd thing about it is that they have way to much quality along with chemistry to be a bottom dweller. Those attributes were finally in full display entering the second game. The Assadi Consulting inc showed a lot more conviction almost immediately winning the opening frame 4-3. Still, nothing was set in stone as it took another solid frame in order to defeat a team like the Dragons. This time, they made sure to eliminate the threats while waiting for their chances to come. M.Tvaronas broke out with a an incredible game scoring his hat trick to put the Assadi Consulting inc in front 5-3. Playing ahead is always nice, but closing out a game is also an essential part of it. Rather than enabling the Dragons to battle back, the Assadi Consulting inc knew what was needed in order to protect their lead. M.Melo being a big reason was sharp in net allowing only a very late goal by J.Scalia. The Dragons did have time for an equaliser with the extra attacker. The problem was that they let T.Bozinakis clear the ball-from his own net without anyone protecting the Dragons cage.

(5)Dragons vs Assadi Consulting inc(2)

(4)Dragons vs Assadi Consulting inc(6)

Close for one game, Degenerates grab two wins after lopsided affair in second match

It could have gone either way. With both sides trading chances, this contest came down to some key plays that made the difference in a close game. The Degenerates used a strong second period when D.Charbonneau riffled his second followed with O.Valiquette providing a two goal lead. Not to be outdone, the Diabetoz Angels decided to hang around when J.Zervakos narrowed the gap by one with still three minutes left over. You knew by then that the Diabetoz Angels were going to put on some serious pressure, especially after pulling out their net minder. As much as they searched for that much needed equaliser, R.Ranieri remained composed in net not giving out to many juicy rebounds. The house was well protected, and the Degenerates played out the clock to their advantage en route to a nail biter. Normally games tend to remain close between two teams that just came off a hard fought battle. And for a decent amount of time, that appeared to be the case even though the Degenerates led 5-3 after one. It was by the second period where this contest spiralled into one direction. O.Valiquette scored two quick goals to earn a hat trick, and S.Marricco was able to close it out bagging a pair in only thirty seconds. Apart-from that last period, the Diabetoz Angels played very well despite missing two major pieces. These results wont concern them at all knowing that they will bounce back on a full roster.

(3)Diabetoz Angels vs Degenerates(4)

(3)Diabetoz angels vs Degenerates(10)

Snipers edge out Country Club in high pace action

There are different ways to win hockey games. In the case for the Snipers, special teams was the determining factor in the first game while winning in the breakaway competition gave them a slight edge in the ensuing match decided in a shootout. Three out of their four goals came with the man advantage. H.Atoui scored two quick goals with the man up followed with H.Salman doing the same to help provide a 3-1 lead early in the second period. The Snipers went on to add another tally by A.Saleh which proved to be more than enough  to solidify the victory. The Country Club knew to try and avoid taking penalties in hopes of splitting their mini series with the Snipers. They still took one in which they were unable to kill off, but that wasn’t the real issue. At one point, things appeared to be grim as they found themselves trailing 4-1. But to their credit, they stuck with it, and were able to mount a nice comeback. C.Payette notched his second, J.Carriere pulled the Country Club within one, and finally J-S Lowe was there to bury his second which ended up forcing the shootout. Even though the end result didn’t quite go in favour of the Country Club, they still can take positives- from this game. There never quit attitude gave them a fighting chance which is all you can ask for as a team.

(4)Snipers vs Country Club(2)

(8)Snipers vs Country Club(6) S.O

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Matt Tvaronas of the Assadi Consulting inc. Sometimes it just takes a spark-from someone when your team is struggling to win games. In the second match versus the Dragons, M.Tvaronas gave his side a huge boost scoring three big goals that led to a well earned victory.

Sunday March 12

F.Mastrocola sets the path for Kings on two quick tallies

(3)Predators vs Kings(6)

The Predators looked to be hanging in there with the Kings for a good solid twenty minutes. They trailed only  2-1  up until F.Mastrocola got that freedom and space to bury two consecutive goals in only forty second seconds to put the Kings up 4-1.This is one team that you don’t want to dig yourself too much into a deep hole. Spotting the Kings a three goal lead despite plenty of tie left over will take nearly a miracle if you plan on coming back. There is to much years of experience-from a side that knows how to close out hockey games. The Predators saw it first hand unable to get much done. V.Romero did find a way to create his own chances by bagging two of his clubs goals, but it wasn’t nearly enough. They just weren’t able to gather enough momentum no matter how they tried to battle back. For a very long stretch, the Kings went scoreless as they focused more on keeping the ball away-from their own net. Eventually, they closed it out on two late tallies by A.Carelli and A.Amicone.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Francesco Mastrocola of the Kings. Up only 2-1, the Kings put themselves in a comfortable position thanks to F.Mastrocola’s two quick tallies.

Panthers beat Wild in crazy high scoring game

(8)Panthers vs Wild(7)

You can say that both sides were very good at scoring goals, but not so much at defending. The poor goaltenders were stuck enduring a long night unable to know where this wacky back and forth contest was headed. Goals were going in at a rapid rate while leads kept getting traded in what was a see saw effect. The Wild were hoping that there seventh goal of the game to making it 7-6 with ten minutes left would be something to build on the rest of the way. Unfortunately, that was the point where they just hit a wall . Not only did they stop scoring, but ended conceding two straight markers to flip the script once more. It was J.Melo’s tie breaking marker with just over three minutes remaining that ultimately decided the outcome. It was one of those games that had to many turning points or none at all depending on how you look at it. It seemed that the team who would shoot the ball last would end up winning. Although he may have preferred a tighter game in front of him, M.Freda had a stronger second half allowing only two goals to help his side squeak out a tight one. Neither team had many big influencers except for a couple of players with the offense widely spread out. M.Kabassakalian was productive accumulating three goals game in the win while C.Arnoldo led the Wild with four points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to M.Kabassakalian of the Panthers. Even though many contributed, M.Kabassakalian still had a major hand in this one providing three out of his clubs eight goals.

Blackhawks allow seven straight goals in thumping loss to Sabres

(4)Blackhawks vs Sabres(8)

In the first twenty minutes, the Blackhawks and the Sabres looked like they were going to push the distance in order to figure out a winner. And while the Sabres continued to play to their liking, the same couldn’t be said for the opposition. The Blackhawks all of a sudden looked like a team playing sloppy defense while caught on their heels the rest of the way. They gave up seven straight goals before finally scoring twice at a stage of the game that didn’t matter anymore. In nearly every single goal, C.Zafiropoulos had his hand in on it. Teams have yet to figure him out as he once gain cashed in four times while setting up three teammates. For sure he will tell you that it takes a good supporting cast in order to be productive. The Sabres have a nice mobile defense that can distribute the ball to the forwards. And since C.Zafiropoulos knows exactly where to stand to receive a pass, the sniper is ready every time to finish off a play. Other notables includes his son A.Zafiropoulos, who scored twice, and M.Chenier as perhaps the play maker that helps create a ton of chances.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Costa Zafiropoulos of the Sabres. Scoring four goals and three assists will take your team far in a game. The Sabres won this contest for a few reasons, but there was no question that the veterans seven points had plenty to do with it.

Bruins overpower the Kraken

(5)Kraken vs Bruins(11)

It was a quick start, and an even better finish for the Bruins on Sunday night. Carrying such a team name carries a lot of weight and pressure to perform. Tonight, they played to their identity, and looked to have their way against a side that may have been a step behind. The Bruins won many of the loose ball battles which translated into a ton of chances. Many players took advantage with K.Labelle leading the way on six points followed with N.Macri, T.Scarpelli, A.Zakarian and M.Valmora combining for 17 points. Its not like the Kraken didn’t have their chances. The problem was that they were stuck playing-from behind trying to chase the game and couldn’t really catch up. Five different players scored in the loss. The stage was set early with T.Scarpelli posting two quick goals. Once the Bruins took off, the Kraken couldn’t catch them having to endure a difficult night.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Kevin Labelle of the Bruins. With many players chipping in, K.Labelle led the way up front producing six points that included a hat trick.

Friday March 10

Dirty Scrubs bad start dooms them early

(13)Generals vs Dirty Scrubs(0)

Before the ball even dropped, the Dirty Scrubs knew that they were in for a long night. The problem was that there night lasted only two periods. The Generals 13 goals in the first two frames put an immediate stop to the match because of the mercy rule. You almost have no chance rotating only two changes when going up against a power house. At best, you can try and keep it close for a decent amount of time, but that wasn’t the case in this particular game. The contest was already over by the seven minute mark with the Generals bagging four straight goals. O.Valiquette ended the frame with two tallies before adding his third early in the second period. Every player had his hand in this one with the amount of goals scored. J-R Turgeon was also able to bury three while V.Lamarche and M.Pinheiro each scored twice. For the Generals, winning is a habit. They ran through this entire contest piling up a bunch of tallies while not conceding one at all.

United Masters dictate the pace against Sonic

( 8 )United Masters vs Sonic(3)

They had some moments, but Sonic seemed to be a step behind at times against the United Masters. The pace was mostly dictated by one side and it showed with the United Masters winning every period. Some goals left B.Madonis with no chance to stop them. The net minder was well positioned, but couldn’t predict three shots going top corner while being screened. Those kinds of plays only fuels you to do better as the game goes on. They become contagious throughout your line up which only makes matters worse for the opposition. Sonic felt it, and needed to battle extremely hard in order to keep pace with the United Masters. Unfortunately, they just couldn’t make any ground having to try and battle through a committed side that was waiting and ready. The game would open up since Sonic didn’t have a choice to search for that next goal. While they attempted to go deep into the United Masters zone, some counter attacks would eventually create more of a gap. A.Minassian was the only player to score twice out of the eight goals which suggested that this win came on the backs of everyone pulling their weight.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Anto Minassian of the United Masters. Very engaged throughout the entire time, the lethal winger was productive opening and closing the scoring as part of a four point performance.

Thursday March 9

Snipers fail to take advantage of depleted Van Doos Hc

(5)Van Doos Hc vs Snipers(2)

So the Snipers learned a harsh lesson on Thursday night.  In an anticipated match up that could have served as a playoff game, the Snipers dropped the ball as their playoff aspirations are coming to a close. They were unable to take advantage of an undermanned Van Doos Hc team. Smart teams know how to manage their man power. The Van Doos Hc made playing without the ball a key tactic as part of their formula. As long as the game remained close, it just becomes a question of when to jump on your chances. O.Valiquette was able to snap a 1-1 second period tie because of a Snipers penalty. Now that they led heading into the final period, they knew that the Snipers had to go for it. The problem was that the Van Doos Hc will hurt you on the counter attack. O.Valiquette once again made the Snipers defense pay scoring early in the third period. Unable to get anything going, the Snipers fell in a deeper hole when G.DiZazzo widened the margin by three. It was just one of those nights that a desperate team couldn’t  catch any breaks. While their not officially eliminated-from participating in the playoffs ,the odds are stacked against them with only three games remaining.

Horsemen pull out gritty win on the back of M.Vinciguerra

(3)Horsemen vs Fatal Demons(2)

If you’re the Horsemen, you want nothing more than to try and play ahead. In hockey, your likely to control playing better without the ball than with it. They got that good start when T.Sourias picked a beautiful top corner. Although the Fatal Demons did respond with a power play goal by M.Chenier, that didn’t phase the Horsemen-from responding on two consecutive tallies. V.Pandza provided the lead after a nice feed-from T.Karasek, and M.Kardum used a blistering shot-from far for a two goal margin. However, that was as far as it got for the Horsemen, who were stuck playing on their heels the rest of the way. The Fatal Demons started to take over putting a lot of pressure while hanging on to the ball for long stretches.  The Horsemen made it a point to keep the Fatal Demons to the outside as much as possible. And while that idea seems obvious, its easier said than done. Many things need to go right starting with your goaltender. Luckily enough for the Horsemen , M.Vinciguerra was able to stay firm and deliver an outstanding performance between the pipes. Another essential moment was having to kill off two four minute penalties. And finally some luck where the Fatal Demons missed out on some golden opportunities with M.Destounis missing a wide open net.

Brew Crew cant seem to protect leads anymore

( 8 )Armadillos vs Brew Crew(6)

Not an ideal way to finish off your night if you are the Brew Crew. If the Brew Crew of the past built a 3-0 lead, the game was pretty much over and one with. Not this season however. Again they found themselves in a promising position getting back to back goals by D.Verta and the other marker-from C.Palermo for what looked like a commanding 3-0 lead. Then, the drama happened, and the Brew Crew started to lose grip of the situation. Yes, you can argue that the Armadillos have the team that can overcome such a hurdle. But even at that, it should never spiral out of control the way it did on Thursday night. Eight of the next eleven goals came-from only one team throughout two periods. Talk about a complete take over. G.Bouchrad struck twice in the second period, and P.Lapointe matched him netting the games last tally. Perhaps the orchestrator behind the madness is the play of S.Athanasopoulos. If teams have yet to realise what he brings to the Armadillos, then they’ll find themselves to be in deep trouble. Many plays stem- from him as he will either create chances for himself or make the players around him better. Tonight, the surgical centre man helped set up four teammates while taking away chances by being responsible defensively.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to M.Vinciguerra of the Horsemen. No doubt, the Horsemen walked away with three clean points thanks to their goaltender. After facing a wave of pressure, Vinciguerra was a moving wall denying a ton of shot attempts his way.

Wednesday March 8

Legacy use second period surge to top Azzuri

(2)Azzuri vs Legacy(5)

Right now, the Azzuri are struggling at both ends. They break down to often in their zone, and the forwards are not producing expect for C.Chirola, who notched both tallies in the loss. When your offense is limited, it only takes a couple of mistakes and your mind starts playing with you. The snow ball keeps on getting bigger, and that’s what happened in the second. It was fine after one frame with both sides dead evened at one goal a apiece. The problem was that the second period belonged only to Legacy. A.Athanasopoulos, J.Mandracchia and A.Stamiris  did the scoring to help provide a strong lead heading into the final period. To Azzuri’s credit however, that didn’t stop them-from putting up a good fight. C.Chirola scored early into the final stanza to pull his side within one. There was no question that all of a sudden there was a game that was far-from over. With so much time remaining, all it takes is one single shot on net to even the score. The Azzuri did all they could to try and get at least one more by P.Assadi. Sometimes your stuck trying to beat a net minder that’s dialled in which was the case for the Legacy. P.Assadi took over the show stopping everything in sight, and only had a sense of relief when A.Stamiris scored late feeding an empty cage.

Punishers settle for draw after giving up three leads to Altius

(7)Altius vs Punishers(7) S.O

Depending on how you want to look at this one, both sides had moments to feel good about. The Punishers were always able to play in front while the Altius showed plenty of character tying the game on three occasions. Maybe the onus was a little more on the Punishers to try and close out the contest since they led by two fairly late in the second period. And maybe you can also argue that they did a fine overall job containing most of the Altius. The problem was that they had no answers on how to slow down D.Provost-Jarry. Already with a first period goal, the feisty and gritty forward was just getting started. After closing out the second frame on a late tally to narrow the gap by one, D.Provost-Jarry made one more big play to even the score 5-5 with less than six minutes remaining. You almost had to figure somebody would have broken the barrier. Unable to score with enough time left over followed with an ensuing overtime, this contest went the extra mile where both sides settled for a draw.  The shootout had its share of excitement as well. J.Provost-Blais and K.Kuczmarski hit their targets for the Punishers as did P.Karvouriaris and J.Chiropoulos for the Altius.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Dominique Provost-Jarry of the Altius. In order for this contest to be able to go into a high scoring shootout, goals were required. The Altius got three big markers -from D.Provost-Jarry that included two timely ones that ended up tying the game.

Monday March 6

D.Seguin snipes top corner beauty to defeat Snipers on identical scores

The Branditscan nearly let a 4-1 lead slip away, but held on anyway with T.Faucher’s second period tally making the difference. You knew that the Snipers would come out ready in their second encounter after a strong finish. Seven minutes in, and A.Sayed along with A.Khanafer put their side in the drivers seat up 2-0. Not to be deterred however, the Branditscan took over collecting the games next three tallies on scoring efforts-from different players. There was way to much back and forth action until that point for the score to remain idle. After exchanging numerous chances, B.Cabral would eventually level with just over three minutes remaining. Then, barely a minute later, D.Seguin regained the lead for the Branditscan, who once again let the Snipers back in courtesy of A.Saleh. Since every second counted, neither side felt comfortable enough that this contest would reach a shootout. There were to many goals which suggested that anyone could have broken the barrier as the clock was ticking down. And with about 35 seconds left in regulation time, D.Seguin scored arguably the prettiest one of the night that beat C.Malkoun top corner clean. Its been a few games now that the Branitscan are starting to show their true colors. After a shaky start to their season, N.Fancis’s group are starting to climb the ranks looking more and more like serious contenders.

(4)Snipers vs Branditscan(5)

(4)Snipers vs Branditscan(5)

Some penalty trouble dooms Brodie Boys in losses to ETNA

Penalty trouble proved too much to overcome for the Brodie Boys on Monday night as they dropped both games to ETNA. It was less of a factor in the opening game, but they still gave up a power play goal to the hands of J.Alfieri, who evened the score in the second period. It took only two minutes after that for ETNA to take its first lead of the game. A.Alfieri provided it,  and P.Delli Colli stood firm in net stopping every shot he faced to earn a hard fought 3-1 decision. In hopes of rebounding for a better outcome, the Brodie Boys couldn’t have asked for a worse period so far this season. They kept compounding their problems by visiting the penalty box way to often. By the time the opening frame ended, ETNA had scored four with the man advantage building a 5-1 lead heading into the final stretch. J.DiTiello was the brains behind the operation collecting four points that included a hat trick. You always hope to come back strong when trailing by a large margin. Unfortunately for the Brodie Boys, they just didn’t have the right mind set going into both games. It was just one of those nights that nothing seemed to work. Sure, it doesn’t help when missing some key pieces, but the team is strong enough to have shown a better effort. On the other hand, ETNA did nearly everything right, and deserved the well earned points.

(1)Brodie Boys vs ETNA(3)

(2)Brodie Boys vs ETNA(7)

Country Club snake bitten by A.Ekonomakis in second match, settle for split with Diabetoz Angels

A.Ekonomakis challenged himself to simply be better following a close 4-2 loss to the country Club. In a game that could have easily gone either way favoured the Country Club on a late goal by N.Smith, who snapped a 2-2 tie. Apart-from his big moment, the Country Club got three tallies-from C.Gosselin, and a solid goaltending display by M.Dupuis. In the ensuing match, A.Ekonomakis looked like the player whose steady play helped propel the Diabetoz Angels to victory. Solid at the start, and stoic at the finish, Ekonomakis turned aside 20 shots to split the mini series with the Country Club. All they really needed was one goal by J.Zervakos to seal the deal. J.Fisch would rather make sure his side had some breathing room as the power forward scored an incredible goal only seconds later to widen the gap.  By that point, time was becoming too much of an issue for the Country Club who had no answers on how to penetrate a moving wall. J.Mcteigue would cap off the night on a late marker for his second point, and the Diabetoz Angels continue to impress as they slowly climb the ranks of the division.

(4)Country Club vs Diabetoz Angels(2)

(0)Country Club vs Diabetoz Angels(3)

Dragons impose their will on rival Classics

The Classics were good for extended stretches Monday, but good isn’t good enough against a Dragons team continues to showcase why they are a top contender. Ultimately, J.Mandracchia made most of the difference in the first game scoring three out of his clubs five goals. The Dragons immediately dictated the terms by grabbing the better start. Once they led, the Classics were forced to battle back only to fall short. The second encounter saw both sides playing an evenly matched game. Tied 3-3 heading into the second frame, something was to give. The Dragons were able to impose their will once again by being the more engaged team. D.Lombardi buried his second to snap the tie, and J.Mandracchia couldn’t have scored a better timely goal. The sequence forced the Classics once more to play-from behind. Its not like the Classics weren’t able to match the Dragons. C.Gingras was a thorn all night making plenty happen, but couldn’t perhaps get that extra support-from a valued missing line mate in P.Karvouriaris. When playing a solid stacked line up like the Dragons have at this level, all your elements are required in order to have better odds of winning. Even though they fell short in both games, this wont mean anything in the grand scheme of things. The odds are likely these two teams will meet for the big dance unless the Assadi Consulting inc have something to say about that. Time will only tell.

(5)Dragons vs Classics(3)

(7)Dragons vs Classics(4)

Degenerates strong finish carries over in second match with United Arms

If not for some late lapses, the United Arms would have walked away with three points giving them their first win of the season. Everything was going just fine as they found ways to score while making it hard for the Degenerates to get their licks in. R.Kenadjian arguably was a big reason why his club was able to play ahead. But as the opening game started to wind down into the latter stages, the Degenerates went into desperation mode where they upped the ante. First, P.Paikopoulos picked up a rebound to level, and D.Greco followed up only seconds later to put the Degenerates in front for the first time during the match. Now that everything started to gel for the veteran side, the ensuing match had a different story line with the script flipping. The Degenerates made sure to be more engaged -from the drop of the ball by taking it to the United Arms right away. Three different players had scored before C.Stamadianos capped off the frame with back to back tallies. With the way things transpired, many indicators suggested that this contest was written in the books. That was until the United Arms showed that they weren’t done yet. A.Melkounian was the catalyst behind the potential comeback as the forward strung two quick goals to cut the lead by three. A.Minassian would score three minutes later, and all of a sudden there was a hockey game with more than enough time left over. There was no doubt the momentum shifted for the United Arms. And while the Degenerates didn’t have their best outing, they still remained calm, cool and collective knowing that they were still in control of the game. The only difference was that they made sure to approach the remainder of the frame more serious. Everyone applied themselves harder which eliminated any more threats. Eventually, D.Greco added an insurance marker, and the Degenerates got the job done in the end.

(3)United Arms vs Degenerates(4)

(3)United Arms vs Degenerates(6)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Daniel Greco of the Degenerates. For someone that’s been missing-from action for a long period of time, it surely didn’t look that way on Monday night. Playing hockey is like riding a bicycle for many, and D.Greco hasn’t missed a beat collecting an impressive four goals and two assists.

Sunday March 5

Islanders looking to forget this one after receiving thumping-from Panthers

(11)Panthers vs Islanders(3)

The Islanders know they got taught a lesson, and want nothing more than to put this one in their rear view mirror. Sometimes these types of games happen when everything keeps going wrong for one side. The Panthers peppered away at T.Kotsiris overwhelming the goaltender with close to 40 shots. Goals kept coming in at a rapid rate for the Panthers, who kept getting the bounces along with a ton of chances. It was just one of those games where the bleeding didn’t stop. The Islanders couldn’t defend well enough while stuck chasing the game. At one point, the players may have  felt discouraged having to overcome an unreasonable deficit. This wasn’t a type of match that saw one or two super star players dictate the terms. Instead, many contributed offensively with M.Paciencia, M.Kabassakalian and J-C Mansour leading the way with four points each. Its not an ideal way to end your night, but the Islanders will learn-from it as they’ll try to get back on track.

The Allo Mon Coco St-Dorothee player of the night goes to Martino Freda of the Panthers. While many contributed due to the amount of goals scored, M.Freda took care of his own end allowing only three goals on 30 shots.

S.Fraga breaks late tie, Predators beat Red Wings

(4)Predators vs Red Wings(3)

Despite the Red Wings giving all they can handle in this one, It was the Predators that came out on top in the end. Throughout the entire time, this contest remained extremely close with the two sides trading leads. M.St-Martin scored first for the Red Wings, and in the span of only 25 seconds, the Predators played ahead on goals by A.Corbeil and M.Braun. Nearly fifteen minutes had gone by before the very same M.St-Martin scored to even the game for the Red Wings. Again, the Predators would pull ahead thanks to V.Romero only to see it get answered shortly after courtesy of Q.Joseph. But the tying goal would only set the stage for S.Fraga’s eventual winner that would put this contest away for good.  Its never a nice way to lose a game knowing that you only had a few more seconds to burn and force the extra time. That being said, a close loss is definitely better than a lopsided affair. The Red Wings dropped a game that they know could have gone either way. B.Verducci earned the win in net facing 35 shots over his counter part R.Testa as both goalies were sharp enabling their clubs to steal this contest.

The Allo Mon Coco St-Dorothee player of the night goes to Simon Fraga of the Predators. A key play leads to a clutch moment for the Predators d-man. S.Fraga scored a huge timely goal that ultimately decided the outcome  after a back and forth tightly knitted contest.

Flyers pummelled by Blackhawks in one sided affair

(13)Blackhawks vs Flyers(4)

It looked as though the Flyers were able to play neck in neck with the Blackhawks on Sunday night. After all, they went back and forth trading four goals each in the first twenty minutes, and everything pointed towards headed for a close hard fought battle till the end. Then suddenly, the Flyers were completely out of sync having to endure a forgetful second half of the game. Nothing went right for them in all areas of the court. Not only did they not score, but they gave up way to many goals that saw thing spiral out of control. The Blackhawks had many contribute with Giovanni DeStefano looking in fine form riffling a hat trick along with two assists. No doubt it ended up being a baffling affair. However, it is only an early regular season game, and the Flyers wont be overly concern with plenty of leadership throughout their line up. With some tweaks to help resolve the current issues, P.Petraccione, B.Panarello and C.Doulis just to name a few will eventually get their troops back on track.

The Allo Mon Coco St-Dorothee player of the game goes to Giovanni DeStefano of the Blackhawks. Known for  his defensive capabilities, G.DeStefano showed that he can help at both sides of the court. The veteran had a solid outing collecting five points that included a hat trick.

Canadiens finding their stride too late in high scoring duel with Kraken

(14)Kraken vs Canadiens(8)

It was one of those games that nobody was really interested in playing defense. And while the players had fun trading a tone of chances, the goaltenders were the ones that had to pay the price. The Kraken looked to blow the Canadiens out of the water for how strong they started. They stormed out of the gate running up the score 9-3 in their favour by the mid way point. Normally, that kind of a lead is sufficient on the larger part, but it didn’t quite turn out that way in the end. Although the Kraken did hang on to take the contest despite the Canadiens battling back rattling off five goals in only ten minutes. The problem was that they couldn’t contain one very key piece that ultimately did them in. T.Settino was fairly quiet for his standards in the first half of the game collecting only two points. However, once he saw the alarm bells ring, the forward decided to take initiative, and did he ever by going on a tear converting four straight times while adding a helper. If not for his incredible sequence toward the ladder stages of the game, the Canadiens would have potentially pulled the rug-from under the Krakens feet. Instead, they got there thanks to some key elements that produced in a big way.

The Allo Mon Coco St-Dorothee player of the game goes Georgie Papadakis of the Kraken. As a goal scorer, you just follow your instincts. G.Papdakis knows exactly where to go to cause havoc for the opposition. In a high scoring bout with the Canadiens, the sniper showed her finishing touch’s by striking four times while adding an assist.

Friday March 3

Big second period lifs Dirty Scrubs to win over Sonic

(5)Dirty Scrubs vs Sonic(2)

Perhaps, its no coincidence that when the intensity ramped up on Friday night, so too did the Dirty Scrubs play. The game was tied 1-1 before the Dirty Scrubs started to perk up and finish off a strong second frame on two late goals. A.Jalilvand looked to fit right in with his new line mates as the slick forward was a menace collecting his third point and second goal on the power play. With that late surge, the momentum continued throughout most of the third period with A.Zarzour scoring almost immediately followed with A.Jalivand’s eventual hat trick. All in all, the Dirty Scrubs compete level was up to par as they did a fine job limiting Sonic’s chances to get back into the game. Each side scored on their lone power play opportunity with A.Kalaydian credited the goal for Sonic. R.Ranieri was solid again facing close to 30 shots to earn the win in net.

Generals keep saving their best for last

(4)United Masters vs Generals(10)

The theme of it being close while it lasted is starting to be over used in this division when going up against the Generals. Every opponent till now has kept the games fairly close for at least half the game, but are no where to be seen by the time they enter the third period. The United Masters actually seemed like the better of the two sides in the opening frame due to their ball possession and solid defensive game. They came out of the frame 2-2, and things were appearing to be going just fine. Then, the mid way point hit, and the Generals once again put it into gear. F.Wilscam fired a pair of rockets collecting back to back goals right after O.Valiquette bagged a pair as well in the same period. That sequence put the Generals up 6-3 heading into the final stretch where they made sure to leave the Untied Masters in the dust by adding four more tallies. It goes without saying that you need everything to go right in order to stop a well oiled machine. The United Masters saw many of their play attempts keep getting cut off because of the Generals reading the play. Many passes kept getting intercepted, and in consequence, a counter attack would lead to a high end chances. J-R Turgeon and O.Valiquette each hat tricks while G.Djevahirdjian and D.Galloro did all of the scoring for the United Masters posting two goals a piece.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Austin Jalilvand of the Dirty Scrubs. In his first game this season, the forward was a huge asset collecting four points that included a hat trick.

Thursday March 2

J.Bolanakis beats the clock by 5 seconds to lift Fatal Demons past Van Doos Hc

(2)Van Doos Hc vs Fatal Demons(3)

Two solid teams battled it out with playoff-esque intensity. P.Santullo and M.Mavroudis echoed the biggest sentiment of not wanting to lose two games in a row. Although a difficult challenge going up against the Van Doos Hc, the Fatal Demons don’t care who their opponent is. Everyone on that roster is confident in their abilities and know that they are easily a top contender when push comes to shove. Tonight, they showed what they are capable of by playing a hard nosed game that involves a lot of the little details while winning the one on one battles. Twice they led, and twice the Van Doos responded to even the score. The Van Doos only got on board passed the mid way point of the third period. It was there that A.Meterissian finally got to R.Ranieri, who was lights out keeping a clean score sheet. O.Valiquette would get the Van Doos back on track with just under two minutes left in the game to even things up at two goals a piece. Then, what seemingly was headed for overtime was haltered when J.Bolanakis came up big beating the clock with only five second remaining. M.Mavroudis set up the late tally after collecting two earlier points, and the Fatal Demons put together three solid periods of hockey to edge out a strong opponent.

Armadillos score 5 first period goals, rout Horsemen

(7)Armadillos vs Horsemen(0)

Surely, it was a disappointing performance for the Horsemen, who hoped to continue-from last weeks good habits. They talked about doing the right things, playing a sound defensive game by keeping it simple. Instead, there actions were just the opposite. The Armadillos still managed to expose them and it showed in the first period as they hammered them with five unanswered goals. Most of the damage came-from C.Chirola and S.Athanasopoulos as the two players combined fro seven points. There was no question the moral was low on the Horsemen’s bench. But rather than throwing in the towel, the mind set was still to get back out there and battle hard. They may not have gained ground, but neither did the Armadillos as both sides went scoreless during the frame. The Armadillos would gain the better start in the final stanza when P.Lapointe buried his second followed with a quick tally by R.Cohen. Since the game was evidently going to favour the Armadillos, the only thing left over was to see if the Horsemen could have cracked the barrier. F.Moshonas had to be thinking shutout since he wasn’t overwhelmed with shots. He did at certain points have to remain focused in which he did. After facing the few shots he received, the veteran net minder was glad to turn aside everything he faced to record a clean sheet.

Brew Crew storm back, but P.Kawkab provides huge victory for Snipers

(4)Snipers vs Brew Crew(3) O.T

Finally, the Snipers have something good to write home about. Accumulating points at this stage into the season came as a must win for the Snipers playoff hopes to stay alive. With A.Saleh scoring twice, and J.Hassan netting the other tally, the Snipers looked in fine shape heading into the final frame up 3-1. The deficit forced the Brew Crew to take some gambles if they planned on climbing back into this contest. Sometimes, it takes luck or a few bounces going your way. And sometimes  it’s a question of a player having the hot hand. In the case for the Brew Crew, A.Belanger was the saving grace as the young talent carried most of the load bagging all three goals for his club. His two tallies came two minutes apart, and all of a sudden, the Brew Crew had a chance of stealing this game-from the Snipers. The Snipers must have felt that bad vibe after surrendering those two goals while enduring a difficult season so far. But with some key additions inserted into their line up, the mind set was a little different despite the slight let down. P.Kawkab was one of two new players that dressed for the first time, and made an immediate impression of how significant he will be to his club. The game was ultimately decided thanks to P.Kawkab storming through the neutral zone where he riffled a shot that would make the TSN highlights. As big as that tally was for the Snipers to end a winless streak, the loss of the extra point in regulation time has the potential to bite them in the end. It will really come down to if they can put together some more strong performances with only a few games left in order to have a chance at reaching the playoffs.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Paul Kawkab of the Snipers. At this stage into the season, the Snipers are starting to run out of time and something needed to give. And although they would have loved nothing more than to close it out in regulation, P.Kawkab salvaged two crucial points by netting a huge overtime goal.

Wednesday March 1

Stellar Goaltending duel ends in a draw

(3)Punishers vs Legacy(3) S.O

You couldn’t ask for much more in a hockey game as both sides showed offensive creativity and both goaltenders came up with big saves to keep their teams alive. The Punishers may have started well jumping off to a 2-0 lead with goals by M.Koutavas and A.Argiroudis, but weren’t able to maintain their pace by the time the second period ended. After evening the score 2-2, A.Athanasopoulos put Legacy in front for the first time during the contest bagging a shorthanded goal on the help of J.Mandracchia’s third point of the game. All of a sudden, the Punishers found themselves in some trouble, but weren’t overly concerned as they have been through this before. Good teams don’t panic and usually overcome mild challenges such as a slight one goal deficit. Eventually, they got their thanks to M-C Levasseur tying the game at three. Even with some time left over along with a looming overtime period, it was the goaltenders that took over-from there on. B.Makris of the Punishers and A.Ekonomakis were the real story by the time it was said and done. The two net minders were stellar in the final stretch that included an open four versus four overtime period along with a three man shootout where they were able to deny every shot they faced.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Jonathan Mandracchia of Legacy. All three goals stemmed from J.Mandracchia. The forward scored once while setting up two teammates that included a big assist on a short handed tally.

Monday February 27

Snipers and Diabetoz Angels powered by their top guns

As much as  hockey game is relied on an overall team effort, its always a bonus when you can depend on some of your main players to make a difference. In the Snipers 4-3 opening win versus the Diabebtoz Angels, its safe to say that J.Hassan was the catalyst behind the victory. The forward did most of the work participating in all four goals that included a hat trick. The Snipers needed a late push to grab the win after finding themselves trailing 3-2 with less than two minutes remaining. Ali Khanafer tied things up, and J.Hassan put his club over the top to close out a nail biter. Now, its safe to say that the Diabetoz Angels look to their net minder as a key component for success. A.Ekonomakis has that ability to be dominant when he is on top of his game. That’s what high end goaltenders do, they rebound despite having a decent outing. The Snipers may be used to scoring since that’s never an area of concern, but things didn’t quite turn out as expected in the second encounter. They came to realise that they needed to be lucky rather than trying to beat him clean. After attempting over 30 shots, the Snipers were unable to figure him out, and ultimately dropped a 1-0 decision. All it took was for J.Zervakos to score his clubs lone goal in order to capture the win.

(4)Snipers vs Diabetoz Angels vs Snipers(3)

(0)Snipers vs Diabetoz Angels(1) 

Assadi Consulting inc have no answers for the Classics

No matter how you want to analysis this, the Assadi Consulting inc cant match with the Classics right now. There is nothing that they can seem to do on how to avoid getting hammered every time they meet. The Classics scored a total of 15 goals in both games, and got contributions-from pretty much everyone despite having the two headed monsters in C.Gingras and P.Karvouriaris. M.Mavroudis and M.Destounis are often overlooked, but can be just as deadly at times as both players combined for five goals seven assists. Its difficult to play against players that do damage game in and game out. The Assadi Consulting inc know this, but have yet to figure out a way on how to slow them down. They did have a way better outing in the second encounter. M.Tvaronas made the score 3-2 giving the Assadi Consulting inc a slight 3-2 lead heading into the final frame. Finally, they put together a solid period. The problem was that it only lasted for one frame as the Classics took over running up the score on five unanswered goals. P.Karvouriaris as expected was there to put things in motion by striking twice while M.Destounis did the same to help put the game out of reach.

(1)Assadi Consulting inc vs Classics( 8 )

(3)Assadi Consulting inc vs Classics(7)

Wild action has Branditscan and RCGT Knights trade wins

Without a doubt, the RCGT Knights best player of the first contest was J.Prevost. The young talent produced in a big way rattling off three out of his clubs five goals to help defeat the Branditscan. The two sides were neck in neck for most of the match until J.Prevost posted his hat trick for a two goal cushion which was more than enough to guarantee the win. After coming off what was a regular type of hockey game, the second encounter appeared more like two teams playing pond hockey on a hot summer night. The first period saw plenty of defensive breakdowns along with soft goals. The Branditscan led a couple of times by at least two tallies but kept getting answered by the RCGT Knights, who refused to go away. Perhaps the turning point occurred late in the frame when K.Hopkins and D.Dillinger each scored to provide a 7-4 lead. K.Hopkins would go on to collect a hat trick in the final frame trading a goal with J.Prevost, who was an absolute force for the RCGT Knights. It wasn’t your standard type of night, but both sides got something out of it by exchanging wins.

(3)Branditscan vs RCGT Knights(5)

( 8 )Branditscan vs RCGT Knights(5)

Degenerates salvage their night on a pair of late surges

Its just unacceptable to keep finding yourself behind the eight ball when you make it a point to play a sound defensive style. The Degenerates will not run you down or play a loaded ball possession game. There plan is simple, defend well and wait for your chances to come. The problem was that they failed to keep the Country Club in check for two straight games that saw them taken advantage of in the first periods. Twice they were stuck having to play from-behind. Normally, it’s the younger teams that play better in the final stretch since they have the endurance and legs to do so. In both games however, the Degenerates challenged that philosophy by being the better team on two strong finishes that forced shootouts. In the first encounter, A.Alfonso scored with forty seconds left while in the second match, C.Stamadianos did the exact thing with about the same amount of time left over to forcing a second breakaway competition. The only difference in the two end results was that the Degenerates took the first encounter due to a pair of goals by A.Alfonso and M.Pinheiro. The second match ended in a stalemate with the two teams trading a pair of goals each. M.Dupuis just played his eight period of hockey since he played earlier in the higher division. That being said, it didn’t look like fatigue was much of an issue as the net minder battled throughout the grind. F.Proulx had a solid first encounter netting two goals while C.Gosselin made a big difference in the second contest collecting a hat trick for the Country Club.

(5)Country Club vs Degenerates(6) S.O

( 8 )Country Club vs Degenerates( 8 ) S.O

Brodie Boys exposing the Dragons defense

The Dragons will even tell you that their defensive coverage was torn apart by the Brodie Boys. Giving up that many goals shouldn’t be happening if you plan to play a certain way. It appeared as though the Dragons attempted to play a run and gun style against a team that can take advantage of you. The Brodie Boys have plenty of speed, talent and the body count to overwhelm you. It showed right away -from the drop of the ball as they ran up the score on three quick goals. Although the Dragons did battle back early in the second frame thanks to a pair of quick tallies by D.Lombardi, the Brodie Boys just took over -from there on adding five more en route to a convincing win. There was no question that the Dragons tweaked their game in the second match as they wanted nothing less than to go empty handed. Still, they trailed 3-2 after one, but managed to level when G.DeMarinis scored early in the frame. The Brodie Boys would later take advantage of a power play opportunity courtesy of M.Moshopoulos only to get answered again by A.Ponzo levelling the game with just over two minutes to go. With things all evened up fairly late in the contest, both sides understood that the next tally would likely decide the outcome. And rather than tempting their fate in the shootout, P.Stroubakis avoided the extra time by bagging a huge marker that would ultimately decide the game. The Brodie Boys just defeated a team twice in regulation time-from the top division banking six gravy points to the standings.

( 8 )Brodie Boys vs Dragons(4)

(5)Brodie Boys vs Dragons(4)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to A.Ekonomakis of the Diabetoz Angels. The net minder left the Snipers scratching their heads in the second game as they were unable to solve him once after attempting a bunch of shots.

Sunday February 26

Canadiens pull away by mid way point versus Wild

(4)Wild vs Canadiens(7)

F.Descoster scored two timely goals to lead the Canadiens to a 7-4, season opening victory over the Wild on Sunday night. Throughout half the game, the Wild bounced back twice but weren’t able to hang around long enough to keeping it close. Things started to shift when F.Decoster snapped a 3-3 tie followed with goals by F.Tessier and another by the very same Decoster. Four minutes was all it took for that sequence to occur. Considering some of the weapons that the Wild have in their line up, it came somewhat of a surprise that they went dry for at least twenty minutes. By the time they tallied their fourth goal by M.Destounis, the Canadiens had more than enough breathing room to cap off the win. L.Bucci closed it out with his second, F.Tessier scored twice as well, M.Pietrantonio set up three tallies while F.Descoster was the most productive finishing with five points

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to F.Decoster of the Canadiens. After setting his clubs first three goals, F.Decoster turned the tides by striking twice in only four minutes to help pave the way for the Canadiens.

C.Pirone 4 goal game lifts Kings past Flyers in high scoring affair

(10)Kings vs Flyers( 8 )

Its usually hard to gauge where a game is headed when the defense and goaltenders are left out to dry . The Kings and the Flyers showed right away that they like to score goals at any cost. Each team had traded four goals each just prior to the thirty minute mark which suggested for a slugfest till the very end. However, that couldn’t be further-from the case as the Kings either adjusted their game or the Flyers simply fell apart. In the span of only seven minutes, the Kings erupted with five straight goals. C.Pirone began the offensive onslaught notching three straight for his side after scoring earlier in the match. Michael Musi fed off it by adding a pair, and the Kings appeared to be smooth sailing with about ten minutes left in the game. Not to be totally out done, the Flyers showed some character despite being in a massive hole with not much time left over. They scored the games next four of five goals to keeping the final score very respectable. M.Porato had a good season debut for the Flyers bagging a hat trick while E.Allen wont have issues putting up points capping off a two goals and two assists performance.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Carmine Pirone of the Kings. Sometimes its not only how many goals you score but when you score them. C.Pirone had a monster night striking four times that included three in a row at a  key stage during the match.

Sabres cruise past Red Wings behind C.Zafiropoulos 5 goal display

(12)Sabres vs Red Wings(2)

The Sabres turned in a full 48 minute effort against a side that will be in search for answers. A big reason for this onslaught was quite simple. The Sabres have chemistry since some players have been together for a long time while the Red Wings will need time to figure each others tendencies. Maybe just a small modification here and there along exposure to one another will come a long way. For now, the Sabres looked seasoned already despite it being week one. C.Zafiropoulos continued-from where he left off with his ability to find the back of the net. The strong leader showed the way by riffling five goals and a pair of assists. M.Chenier and T.Longhi contributed as well with a pair of tallies, and M.Tzouvadakis turned aside 16 of 18 shots allowing only J.Testa and Z.St-Martin to get the better of him. Up until the twenty minute mark, the Red Wings held their ground able to keep pace with the Sabres. Unfortunately, things started to spiral out of control-from that point on, and the Sabres simply overwhelmed the Red Wings the rest of the way.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Costa Zafiropoulos of the Sabres. What more can you ask -from a veteran presence. Not is he only vocal off the court, C.Zafiroupoulos makes just as much noise on the court by converting five times in his season debut.

Bruins battle back, but fall short to Islanders

(6)Bruins vs Islanders( 8 )

Twenty solid minutes by the Bruins bookmarked a disastrous stretch after that in which they fell behind to the Islanders- a hole they would climb out of, only to be kicked back in. Spotting teams significant leads isn’t the way to go. That being said, at least the Bruins were able to push back only to fall short by a slight margin. A.Zakarian made the Bruins name proud by scoring a hat trick and an assist. The problem was that the Islanders had the extra horses on this night, and particularly the goaltending. E.Allen powered the offense by also sparking a hat trick while E.Nardelli cashed in twice that included the winner. Giving up six goals doesn’t usually reflect well on your net minder, but that didn’t apply in tonight’s case between these two teams. T.Kotsiris made at least four jaw dropping saves to help keep the lead going for the Islanders.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Theo Kotsiris of the Islanders. As it often happens goaltending will influence the outcome of a game. In tonight’s case, T. Kotsiris made the difference by stopping many quality shots to hang on to a close 8-6 win.

Friday February 24

Generals third period dominance keep leaving the opposition in the dust

(3)Sonic vs Generals(8)

Everyone knows that the Generals are a force that seemingly cannot be stopped. Sonic are just the latest team to feel the wrath and sheer dominance-from the Generals. A trait of a real contender is to not allow any hope of victory to your opponent. Up until this point into the season, the Generals have never really blown away their opponent after two periods. Yes, they led, and yes they dictated the terms, but nothing was settled up until the final stretch. The same was to be said in this game versus Sonic as they made sure that they didn’t hang around long enough. Six out of their eight goals came in the third period alone with M.Laurin converting three times for the hat trick while K.Dauphane was right behind him striking twice. Sonic did also have their best offensive moments in the third cashing in three times, but were still overpowered dropping the frame 6-3. Even though it may not have changed the end result, Sonic missed out on a chance to even the score by the mid way point of the game when awarded a power play chance. And rather than capitalising, they gave up a shorthanded tally instead to find themselves down 2-0. The Generals made sure to get the better start simply because they had a shorter bench. By building their slight lead, it forced Sonic to open by the third which created more room for the Generals to counter attack and finish on their chances.

Dirty Scrubs give up four unanswered goals in loss to United Masters

(2)Dirty Scrubs vs United Masters(4)

Its not about how you start, but how you finish. On Friday night, the Dirty Scrubs gave up four unanswered goals to the hands of the United Masters. Once N.Katsifolis scored to finally put the United Masters on board, the team started to look different. They had a little more energy and jump with momentum on their side. As the second period was winding down, G.Djevahirdjian flipped this contest on its face by proving two goals. Both his tallies went in due to his wicked release that just got the better of R.Ranieri. That strong finish to the second period put the United Masters in front heading into the final stretch. Still, this match was far-from over for how close it was. The United Masters had the luxury on playing tighter while the Dirty Scrubs had no choice to search for their next goal. Despite getting enough chances to level, B.Machetta wasn’t having it as the net minder stood firm denying everything his way. Eventually, P.Karigiannis would add some insurance late in the game to help solidify a nice bounce back win for the United Masters.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Gary Djevahirdjian of the United Masters. Down 2-0, the United Arms needed something to give. And while N.Katsifolis got the ball rolling to finally get his side on board, G.Djevahirdjian followed up on two wicked shots to turn the slight deficit into a lead that was never answered.

Thursday February 23

Brew Crew able to protect lead in win versus Fatal Demons

(3)Fatal Demons vs Brew Crew(5)

The Brew Crew couldn’t have asked for a better second period on Thursday night. After being down 1-0, M.Pace set the barrage in motion followed with goals by M.Nardi and A.Belanger. There was no question that the Brew Crew carried the thought of letting this game slip away as they have been unable to protect their leads this season. M.Mavroudis responded for the Fatal Demons with his second to keeping this game close. Both sides knew that the next one was going to indicate where this contest was headed. It took only a minute and change into the third period for A.Belanger to widen the gap once more for the Brew Crew. Carrying a two goal lead with nearly an entire period left over, the Brew Crew made sure to protect their lead by playing to their identity. The Fatal Demons couldn’t generate enough dangerous chances in order to pull themselves within striking distance. M.Pace would eventually add his second late in the game while M.Mavroudis provided all of the scoring for the Fatal Demons posting a hat trick.

Struggling Snipers continue slide in loss to Armadillos

(6)Armadillos vs Snipers(2)

Starting your second half of the season with a loss isn’t great as the Snipers have yet to find success so far. If by chance they were to beat a team like the Armadillos, than everything before that could have been forgotten. Instead, they still have no points to show for, and time is starting to run out. A major problem is that they haven’t had the chance to try and play with a lead. The Snipers aren’t going to overwhelm you in the offensive side, but are able to close out games like anyone else in the division. Tonight, they fell behind the eight ball giving up two first period goals and only got on board late in the second period courtesy of H.Awada and B.Cabral. Despite striking twice, they still trailed by a pair with a whole period ahead of them. It looked like they were getting right on track after a strong finish to the frame. The problem was that the Armadillos weren’t going to let a four goal cushion just slip away. Eventually, S.Simitsakis widened the gap, and P.Musto would close it out with only a few seconds remaining. Overall, the Armadillos did what an experienced structured team does. They started strong and made sure to dictate the terms the rest of the way.

Van Doos Hc powered by G.Tsolis hat trick in overtime

(5)Horsemen vs Van Doos Hc(6) O.T

G.Tsolis’s third goal of the game was the golden goal, lifting the Van Doos Hc to a wild overtime win over the Horsemen. It started off as a back and forth game, and neither team really had the advantage after three full periods. The Horsemen did have a 4-2 lead at one point on the help of two consecutive power play goals by M.Kardum and B.Rubino. There was just to much time left over for the Van Doos Hc to go down without a fight. Slowly but surely, they managed to take over a shift at time until eventually finding themselves up in the third period thanks to N.Kokovidis’s second snapping the 4-4 tie. The Van Doos Hc must have felt at that point that the game was shifting in their direction. After all, they scored three straight goals and appeared to be in complete control of the situation. That being said, the Horsemen never threw in the towel and showed plenty of character . Rather then looking like the team a step behind, the Horsemen were the ones putting on the pressure as they eventually scored on a late tally by T.Zermalias. That goal set the stage for more hockey to come as both sides tempted their luck in overtime. From-there, it looked like nothing was going to get settled with time starting to wind down. Then, an innocent play out of nowhere turned into a high end chance where G.Tsolis was there to bury the winner leaving all but ten seconds on the clock. Entering tonight’s game, the Van Doos Hc had the expectations-from coming out on top for obvious reasons. But with the Horsemen buying into a plan while believing in their capabilities, it just went to prove that anything can happen, even though they dropped a heart breaker.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to George Tsolis of the Van Doos Hc. What’s better than finishing your night with a hat trick in overtime. G.Tsolis without a doubt had a major influence in this game by bagging three goals that included the clincher in the sudden death frame.

Wednesday February 22

Legacy battle, but Altius pull away in the third period

It was a close game through two periods, but an offensive explosion by the Altius saw them pull away in the third period, and deal Legacy an 8-5 loss. P.Arkalis led the charge with back to back third period goals, D.Primeau buried a pair, K.Kuczmarski collected four points and M.Melo was stout in net facing just over 30 shots to earn the win. Legacy hoped to have built off their momentum when they struck twice late in the second period to pull themselves within one. Rather than continuing their pace, the Altius regained control thanks to some connecting plays between P.Arkalis, K.Kuczmarski and J.Provost-Blais. The three players have the ability to contribute when the games are on the line. That’s what you get when players know where they are every time they are on the court. The Altius had their top guns deliver at a crucial point during the game  while Legacy couldn’t execute despite having the weapons to do so as well. Sometimes , it just goes better for one side which was the case for the Altius on this particular night.

Punishers ride strong first period to victory over Azzuri

(7)Punishers vs Azzuri(3)

The Azzuri understood that there isn’t much margin of error if they plan on taking down the Punishers. Yes, they had a poor start giving up a very early goal, but you cannot afford to be taken advantage of your own power play. They knew that their night was going to potentially be a long one when they gave up a shorthanded marker by only the five minute mark.  Then, just to add some more salt to the wound, A.Argiroudis scored late in the first period with only ten seconds remaining. There was no doubt that it became a tall order for the Azzuri to try and battle back for some sort of miracle comeback. Sometimes, the mind set needs to be to just try and take it a shift at a time and not pay to much attention at the score. And to their credit, the Azzuri kept pace with their opposition even though they couldn’t make much ground. The two sides traded a pair of second period goals before C.Genest provided more insurance rattling off a pair by the third to complete his hat trick.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Peter Arkalis of the Altius. In a close 5-4 game heading into the final stanza, P.Arkalis took over posting two big goals to help solidify the win for the Altius.

Monday February 20

Country Club use three quick goals before erupting in second match to down the United Arms

The game was tied after one, and the United Arms seemed to be playing a good game keeping up with the Country Club. Unable to keep it going long enough, the United Arms saw their down fall unwind in only a three minute gap. The Country Club stormed out of the gate early in the second period getting goals-from J-S.Lowe, F.Proulx and M.Dalpe to take command of the situation. There was almost no way that the United Arms were able to climb out of this one sending only a few shots toward M.Dupuis. The mind set was to put it behind them quickly, and focus on their second match using some good habits they had in the first period. Unfortunately, it was all a familiar sight with the Country Club continuing-from where they left off. By the time the four and a half minute mark hit, this contest was far fetched for the United Arms to try and overcome a 4-0 deficit. F.Proulx would add his second before the frame ended, and the Country Club cruised for an easy 7-1 decision.

(4)Country Club vs United Arms(2)

(7)Country Club vs United Arms(1)

ETNA bounce back after tight knitted affair with the Assadi Consulting inc

J.Rochon snapped a second period tie, and the Assadi Consulting inc held on for over ten minutes to edge out ETNA in the opening game. Despite having numerous chances to battle back, ETNA was faced trying to figure out P.Assadi, who stood firm in net to squeeze out a nail biter. Much of the second contest was expected to be just as close. And with both sides going scoreless after one, the next goal would prove to be perhaps the turning point. This time however, it belonged to ETNA’s captain M.Stoico as he was able to get to P.Assadi for a rare time. It took only a couple of minutes after that for ETNA to stretch its lead thanks to P.Devault. When good teams jump in front like ETNA did, it makes it harder for the opposition to find that room they need. The Assadi Consulting inc were stuck trying to go through some layers of defensive lanes that limited their scoring chances. Adding to all that, it helps when your net minder delivers between the pipes. M.Rosato had an incredible finish to his night shutting out a very strong team for a 23 save shutout.

(2)ETNA vs Assadi Consulting inc(3)

(3)ETNA vs Assadi Consulting inc(0)

Branditscan over power Brodie Boys in both games

If the Brodie Boys had a night in which nothing went right, then the Branditscan had a night in which nothing went wrong. In only three minutes, the opening contest shifted when N.Francis scored early in the second frame followed with two quick tallies by T.Faucher. Out of nowhere, the Branditscan found themselves playing in front for the first time during the game. You would have to figure momentum would carry you the rest of the way after an implosive start. However, that wasn’t the case with the Brodie Boys battling back where they eventually evened things up on a pair of goals by T.Ferreira and S.Bordonaro. With the tides seemingly favouring the Brodie Boys, this contest showed just how unpredictable hockey can be at times with the Branditscan getting the final word. Seventeen seconds was all that was left on the clock when D.Seguin snapped the late tie giving his club the slight edge. The Branditscan enjoyed their short celebration, but knew they had more work ahead of them having to go up against a side that wasn’t pleased on how things ended. To their credit, they showed urgency right away by winning a big opening frame on goals by J.Molloy and T.Faucher. D.Seguin would then widen the gap with a power play marker, and the Brodie Boys knew that their night may go empty handed despite plenty of time left over. They did eventually get on board, but couldn’t manage to make enough ground. Finally, the Branditscan took both games putting together a pair a strong second periods where the out scored the Brodie Boys 8-4.

(4)Brodie Boys vs Branditscan(6)

(2)Brodie Boys vs Branditscan(5)

Classics and Dragons split after putting on a show

This is one rivalry that’s worth the price of admission. If you want high end plays, goals and intensity, the Classics and the Dragons will provide everything your looking for in a hockey game or games. Both sides combined for 23 goals in regulation time with the Classics taking the opener by a slight 6-5 decision while the Dragons were able to return the favour in the shootout on a pair of nifty goals by J.Mandracchia and A.Mirolla. The Classics did grab the first game by winning the second frame 4-3. C.Gingras scored twice, but it was M.Destounis’s tally that just stood up for the winner. As it was to be expected, the two teams kept going at it demonstrating another display of incredible hockey in the ensuing match. Neither side ever led after the two periods which left only a three man shootout to potentially decide matters. You almost had no choice to put good money that J.Mandracchia and A.Mirolla would have found a way to bury their chance. The two players had each scored twice before finishing it off in style on a pair of brilliant finishes. The Classics benefited only once during the breakaways, and who other than C.Gingras to get the better of J.DeStefano. The highly skilled forward scored a goal that only few players have the hands to fake out a net minder. There was no question it was an emotional two games with a ton of quality. One can only wonder how the playoffs will look like if they were to meet. Time will only tell.

(6)Classics vs Dragons(5)

(6)Classics vs Dragons(7) S.O

RCGT Knights score two late goals to salvage a pair of points vs Diabetoz Angels

The RCGT Knights duck looked cooked, down 4-2 with just under two minutes remaining in the first encounter. But the RCGT Knights were able to show some character and even the score courtesy of J.Prevost and D.Guarnieri responding late. Those late tallies enabled them to take the match in a shootout where J.Prevost and J.Morina got the better of A.Ekonomakis. Losing in such a fashion is a good test of character when playing in back to back games. For the Diabetoz Angels, they were able to prove to themselves that a short memory was the best way to approach it knowing they had another battle with the RCGT Knights. This time, they made their leads count after jumping in front 2-0 with goals by C.Gamperis and J.Fisch. Although D.Guarnieri did cut the lead in half late in the first period for the RCGT Knights, there would be no magical ending as the Diabetoz Angels took over-from there on the back of J.Fisch. The power forward restored a two goal cushion before setting up M.Snachez’s for a late insurance marker. A.Ekonomakis faced his fair share of shots as the net minder delivered making a ton of key saves. If not for a late hic up, the Diabetoz Angels would have handed a very good RCGT Knights two regulation losses.

(6)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(5) S.O

(1)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(4)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Massimo Rosato of ETNA. At any moment in time during the second game vs the Assadi Consulting inc, ETNA could have easily found themselves playing-from behind. The only reason it didn’t happen was because M.Rosato was that good stopping everything in sight which enabled his side to finally take a lead and never look back.

Thursday February 16

Captain J.Kontitsis leads the way for Armadillos riffling OT winner

(4)Van Doos Hc vs Armadillos(5) O.T

As expected , it was a back and forth contest partially dominated by special teams. For how well both sides move the ball, your almost asking for trouble if you visit the penalty box. The Armadillos scored twice during the man advantage with goals by G.Bouchard and the captain J.Kontitsis while the Van Doos Hc got a big power play marker by O.Valiquette to even things up at four goals apiece. The game ended with a pulsating conclusion courtesy of J.Kontitsis scoring fairly late in the overtime frame. It was definitely a great game to watch-from the stands if you like speed, intensity, great saves and a bunch of goals. The teams approached this one like a playoff game as they used each other as measuring sticks knowing that they are legit front runners. Neither team ever led after the full three periods played which only suggested how evenly matched both teams are. Rather than deciding matters in a shootout, J.Kontitsis found a way to end it earlier on a quick release that gave J.Liopoulos not enough time to react.

Fatal Demons pull away in third to defeat struggling Snipers

(6)Fatal Demons vs Snipers(2)

A third period surge of goals for the Fatal Demons made the difference as a tight 2-1 game ballooned to a 6-2 difference and ultimately was the final score on Thursday night. Both goaltenders were engaged trading many saves to keeping the game very low scoring. There was only so much C.Malkoun could endure for the Snipers. Eventually, the Fatal Demons cracked the code in the final stanza riding four tallies to pull themselves away. M.Destounis scored back to back goals for some breathing room right after the Fatal Demons rode three straight power play goals to jump start their offense. It was evident that the Snipers didn’t play well enough in the third period. Perhaps too many blunders enabled the Fatal Demons to take advantage on a stronger finish that saw their depth outlast the Snipers. P.Delli Colli lived up to the task stopping 27 of 29 shots. Still without a win, the Snipers are looking for a spark so that they can try to get back on track. Unfortunately, they haven’t been able to put together three strong periods in order to get some results. It may not be an ideal start dropping a game to each team in the division, but the Snipers do have the chance to turn things around as they’ll repeat the schedule heading into the final stretch.

Brew Crew breeze past Horsemen

(2)Horsemen vs Brew Crew(4)

Plain and simple, the Brew Crew beat the Horsemen in all areas of the game. On most loose balls, the Brew Crew were able to get their first and take possession which always translates into good scoring chances. B.Sansotta struck first, A.Belanger along with R.Mancini followed up with second period power play goals, and M.Maggiore scored early in the third period to put a serious strangle hold in the contest. The only thing missing-from that point was for C.Muccino to record a shutout. Unfortunately for the net minder, B.Rubino was able to snatch it away-from him with less then two minutes remaining. The Horsemen finally scored two late goals by pulling out their net minder for the extra attacker. Prior to that point, they didn’t have much offense to show for. C.Muccino faced many shots-from far which made his night fairly easy. There just wasn’t much going-from the get go for the Horsemen, who looked flat and out of sync for a good portion of the game.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to John Kontitsis of the Armadillos. Look for your captain to bail you out . Already with a goal, J.Kontitsis capped off a hard fought win by notching a huge overtime tally.

Wednesday February 15

D.Provost-Jarry swings pendulum in Altius favour notching two very late goals

(4)Punishers vs Altius(5)

It was the Altius getting the better overall start in this one scoring two power play goals by N.Kokovidis and A.Catino while M.Arkalis scored on even strength to provide his side a 3-1 lead. After that, though, the Punishers had the Altius on the ropes for a good portion of the third period taking a 4-3 lead thanks to some balanced scoring. With time running out, Altius needed some sort of miracle, and they got just that-from one particular player. D.Provost-Jarry showed his qualities why he can be a game changer. The gritty skilled forward pulled the carpet right under the Punishers feet on two late goals to swing the pendulum once more. His second tally came in the dying embers of the game leaving all but six tiny seconds left on the clock. From-the time the ball dropped, the tempo remained high between to solid teams with a lot of quality that saw this contest twist and turn a few times. Both sides are so evenly matched that it came to no surprise one single play would have made the difference. In tonight’s case, D.Provost-Jarry was there making a pair of big plays that gave the Altius the slight edge over a difficult opponent.

Legacy overcome slow start, down Azzuri in overtime

(5)Legacy vs Azzuri(4) O.T

Legacy turned around a weak start to defeat the Azzuri in an exhilarating come-from behind victory. Powered by D.Capogreco’s back to back goals followed by M.Delgaudio’s late first period tally, the Azzuri jumped off to the start they needed. When trailing, teams play with more urgency, and it tends to kick in unless your overpowered by a superior opponent. Even though they had a bad start, there is almost no way that the Azzuri would be able to hold off a team that has the skill and chemistry to battle back. It would have perhaps taken an extra goal or two to apply a serious strong hold. That being said, they nearly got there if it wasn’t for a late tally by J.Fisch to even the score at four goals apiece. Overtime opens the game up much more since its played four on four. And with both sides having the skill set to score at any point, its pretty much a coin toss situation on who would prevail. Unfortunately for the Azzuri, they fell once more on the short end when A.Stamiris bagged his second to provide Legacy the victory.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to D.Provost-Jarry of the Altius. Just when it looked like the Punishers were on their way to winning the game, D.Provost-Jarry had other plans, netting two very late goals to turn a slight deficit into a thrilling comeback win.

Monday February 13

Snipers and ETNA split after going the distance in both games

The Snipers were able to show off their skill set in the shootout as all three players found the back of the net. Up 4-1 heading into the final frame, the Snipers should have never been put in this situation, but they managed to recover anyway by taking the win in the breakaways. J.Hassan led the charge scoring twice while adding a helper along with one of the three shootout goals. You almost knew that there would have been a response-from a team that finished strong only to fall short. ETNA imposed their will early on with goals by B.Travisano and A.Pittarelli. They came out hard and got paid off right away. However, they couldn’t keep it going long enough without a serious push back by the Snipers. The second encounter was almost a carbon copy of the first one with ETNA getting the edge in the end. Unable to hold onto their lead, ETNA gave up a very late power play goal that forced a second straight shootout. This time, M.Alfieri patiently waited out C.Malkoun to feed an empty cage, and J.Cardinal used a perfect shot to secure the win. Even though both sides had dug themselves in a hole, they managed each time to battle back out of desperation. Those are traits you want to see throughout your line up no matter what the circumstances are during a game. Tonight, the Snipers and ETNA showed that they are top contenders due to their skill set and perhaps just as importantly their will to win.

(7)Snipers vs ETNA(5) S.O

(4)Snipers vs ETNA(5) S.O

Brodie Boys cruise past United Arms without resistance 

The Brodie Boys continued their dominant play at both ends of the court cruising past the United Arms on identical scores. It would be all Brodie Boys-from the time the ball dropped to the games final whistle. After jumping out to a 5-0 first period lead, the game was put to rest when A.Pietracuppa buried his hat trick for the seven goal mercy rule. You always hope to adjust after undergoing a lopsided defeat. The United Arms had the chance to start fresh and be much better, but they just couldn’t contain a superior opponent long enough. M.Moshopoulos and M.Koutouzis had each scored twice, and A.Mancini was feeling pretty good in net stopping the few shots he faced. There was no question that the United Arms felt discouraged by that point with nothing going their way. Rather than attempting to battle back, the United Arms just couldn’t keep pace dropping another similar result. M.Koutouzis overpowered his opponent riffling fours goals. T.Ferreira accumulated four points while A.Mancini went flawless collecting two shutouts in four periods of perfect hockey.

(0)United Arms vs Brodie Boys(7)

(0)United Arms vs Brodie Boys(7)

Guarnieri brothers each score twice, RCGT Knights edge out Country Club

It took some big plays at the right time for the RCGT Knights to separate themselves-from the Country Club. With both results so close, the two games could have gone either way. But when the games seem to be on the line, gamers often make that difference between wining and losing. In the first encounter, the Country Club looked to be in a good position up 4-3. Then, only a minute later, M.Guarnieri took over striking twice to put the RCGT Knights back in front. Following a tentative start between the two teams in the ensuing match, most of the action occurred in the second period thanks to M.Dupuis of the Country Club and S.Sauk of the RCGT Knights holding the fort in net. The two goaltenders gave their clubs every chance possible to steal the game. And while M.Dupuis was bailing his club out, there is only so much a net minder can do to preserve a clean sheet. The RCGT Knights scored what looked like two identical goals. Both plays stemmed-from the defensive side of the court where J.Morina fed a wide open but sneaky D.Guarnieri. The forward placed himself just at the right spot to receive the pass while using a pair of nifty fakes to beat out Dupuis. His second tally came with only two minutes left on the clock. The Country Club didn’t get any points out of a possible six, but could have easily picked some up if not for some late miss haps.

(4)Country Club vs RCGT Knights(5)

(1)Country Club vs RCGT Knights(2)

Assadi Consulting inc show more in second match after bad start to Dragons

Down 4-0 after the first period, everyone expected the Assadi Consulting inc to respond in an urgent manner. There is to much pride than to just throw away a game. To their credit, they responded on the back of J.Rochon, who tallied three times to make it a respectable final score. Usually a strong finish translates into a good start when playing in back to back games. The second encounter had a much different story line with the Assadi Consulting inc racing off to a better start. J.Courteau got the periods lone goal which may have suggested for a low scoring affair. That wasn’t the case however with both sides trading a ton of chances that resulted in a bunch of goals. It looked like the Assadi Consulting inc were on their way to a clean regulation win with the time winding down in its final minute. Then, with a clear sight-from centre court, P.Musto decided to wind up and deliver his patented slap shot that just got the better of P.Assadi. With that late tally, the game went on to be decided in the shootout where the Dragons owned the department thanks to a lone goal by A.Mirolla.

(4)Assadi Consulting inc vs Dragons(6)

(4)Assadi Consulting inc vs Dragons(5) S.O

Degenerates tighten the screws making the second encounter a close call

Unless everyone is on board to playing a sound and structured defensive game while relying on your net minder, you almost have no chance of defeating the Classics if your-from the second division. The Degenerates didn’t approach the first contest the right way, and in the end, they paid the price having to endure a difficult two periods. Luckily enough they had another shot at getting it right, even though they didn’t capture any points to the standings. This time, everyone bought into playing a more aware defensive game while patiently waiting for the opportunities to arise. At one point, the Degenerates found themselves ahead 2-1 entering the final frame courtesy of S.Marricco’s two tallies. Still, the task was a tall order when having to go up against a solid team that have the two headed monsters leading the charge up front. You almost need your goaltender to steal the show and play lights out. That being said, R.Ranieri was proving to everyone that the improbable was looking more and more like realty. If it wasn’t for a top tier player coming-from behind the net on a wrap  around sling shot goal, the Degenerates would have had a chance to force at least a shootout. Instead, P.Karvouriaris did what natural goal scores do, and that’s to find a way to put the ball behind the net. His tally came with a minute and a half left in the game. M.Mavroudis would score shortly after, and the Classics needed every inch of the second game in order to defeat a resilient opponent.

(3)Degenerates vs Classics(8)

(3)Degenerates vs Classics(4)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Albert Mancini of the Brodie Boys. He may not have had is busiest night, but A.Mancini went through nearly four periods of hockey to keep a clean score sheet earning two shutouts.

Friday February 10

Sonic buried by an avalanche of goals in loss to Dirty Scrubs

(3)Sonic vs Dirty Scrubs(10)

From-start to finish, Sonic were looking for answers on what went wrong on Friday night. Losing is one thing, but not in this fashion. The club wasn’t good in any aspect of the game and they hung goaltender B.Madonis to dry. The Dirty Scrubs on the other hand had a lot to feel good about. They had plenty of fire power throughout  the line up with T.Langiano leading the charge on a hat trick along with M.Chenier and R.Marshall notching a pair. Falling behind the way Sonic did made them unable to recover and bounce back into the game. It took the ten minute mark of the second period for M.Pace to finally get his side on board. Even though M.Cristiano cut the deficit in half with his first of two, R.Marshall replied shortly after to put the Dirty Scrubs ahead 5-2 heading into the final stanza. The Dirty Scrubs were playing fine hockey till that point, but managed to bring it up a notch as they rolled through the final frame with ease en route to a convincing win. For Sonic, they’ll need to have a short memory for this loss and focus on what’s ahead.

Third period short handed goals sinks Dirty Scrubs

(4)United Masters vs Dirty Scrubs(3)

When reflecting and looking back at the entire night, the Dirty Scrubs have to feel pretty good about their overall play. They just came off a lopsided win over Sonic, and found themselves playing ahead in their sixth straight period of hockey having to deal with no breaks between the two games. Adding to all that, they had a golden opportunity to put the United Masters away when awarded a four minute power play opportunity only to see it bite them in the end. You can argue fatigue to a certain point if your are the Dirty Scrubs, but not when you are playing with a man up. The Dirty Scrubs somehow gave up two short handed goals which turned a slight lead into a slight deficit. First, D.Charbonneau used a wicked slap shot to even things up, then A.Minassian was there to pick up a rebound and feed an empty cage for the lead. Despite still plenty of time left over, the Dirty Scrubs knew they were in a world of trouble having to battle as hard as they could into their sixth straight period. It showed that the United Masters made it a point to remove any threats by getting to the loose balls first while making sure they defended well without the ball. Slowly but surely, they killed off the clock to capture their first win of the season.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Rino Ranieri of the Dirty Scrubs. In back to back games with no breaks, the net minder delivered earning a win in the first encounter while giving his side a serious opportunity to take two in a row if it wasn’t by some slight miss haps.

Thursday February 8

Van Doos Hc score 6 unanswered goals in third period, rout Brew Crew

(4)Brew Crew vs Van Doos Hc(7)

The Brew Crew allowed six unanswered goals by the third period after seemingly being in control of this game. With D.Verta scoring a pair of goals while setting up a second power play marker for the Brew Crew, the three goal cushion looked sufficient for how well things were going. Once the third period hit however, the Van Doos Hc looked more like themselves. By simply outworking, outcompeting, and wanting it more, the tides shifted in a hurry. Both teams started to see it coming despite the deficit. The Van Doos Hc were getting to the loose balls quicker, the Brew Crew struggled defensively, and a huge statement was made that it takes an entire three periods in order to defeat a really good hockey team. The comeback effort was led by many with A.Papazian getting his clubs first two goals. Its uncharacteristic for the Brew Crew to be in such a position by letting it slip away the way they did. The commitment to play three full periods just wasn’t there, and in the end, it burnt the Brew Crew. That being said, plenty of credit for the Van Doos Hc in there ability to overcome such adversity by mounting an incredible third period comeback.

Fatal Demons snap skid with an emphatic response vs Armadillos

(4)Armadillos vs Fatal Demons(7)

Whatever frustration the Fatal Demons had so far this season, they took it out on the Armadillos on Thursday night. There was no question that the Fatal Demons looked like the team of old and played to their identity. They floored a complete roster, and did a fine job on all assets of their game. M.Mavroudis got the rest he needed as the power forward didn’t miss a beat rattling off three goals for a hat trick. J.Bolanakis was thorn as well, and for good reason going up against a very familiar opponent. The gritty centre man logged in four points while winning some key face off battles. Rather than dwelling on a poor start to the regular season, the Fatal Demons regained their respect on this one game alone by defeating a very good Armadillos side. Game in and game out, points will be very difficult to earn in this competitive division. With the games always a difficult challenge, it really comes down to preparation while flooring a deep bench. Tonight, the Fatal Demons had all their angles covered playing a strong full three periods of hockey.

Horsemen race out to early start making it two wins in a row

(6)Horsemen vs Snipers(3)

The Horsemen were in the drivers seat for most of the night, and came away with a well earned win over the Snipers. It was important for the Horsemen to start this one on time. Playing-from behind against the Snipers is asking for trouble. Instead, they came out hard, and benefited four times by the time the first period ended. M.Kardum had an early impact posting two goals, D.James added his second as well on the power play while T.Karasek  was behind setting up three tallies. When playing with a lead it enables you to dictate the terms. In the case for the Horsemen, playing a sound game without the ball paid dividends. The Snipers struggled to create enough room out there having to deal with an opposing player in front of them. They managed to score two of their three goals because they pulled their net minder for the extra attacker. By then, the game was still fairly out of reach as the time started to wind down. All told, it was a solid effort by the entire line up, especially with M.Vinciguerra making the key saves to keeping the game favourable for the Horsemen.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Manny Mavroudis of the Fatal Demons. If it wasn’t for C.Stavriadis coming up big in net for the Armadillos, M.Mavroudis would have had a field day. That being said, the forward was still very productive bagging a hat trick to put his team back on track.

Wednesday February 8

K.Kuczmarski racks up seven points as the Altius crush the Azzuri

(9)Altius vs Azzuri(3)

K.Kuczmarski erupted for a huge performance Wednesday against the Azzuri, logging fours goals and three assists in what was a convincing win for the Altius. He posted a silly stat scoring three goals in only two minutes. The Altius were already in command entering the second frame up 4-0 before Kuczmarski took over with an incredible stretch. It was a full display of dominance in the first period for the Altius. That kind of a lead only made matters worse for the Azzuri, who kept falling behind deeper unable to recover. It was clear that the Azzuri did not play well enough in their own zone. Giving up that many goals to start a game is simply unacceptable. They didn’t do a good enough job of sticking with their man and clearing some opportunities. Sure, the talent level is high on the Altius bench, but that doesn’t mean you cant pay a little more attention to detail. The Azzuri will need to go through the motions of trying to play well together as a group. They are slowly adding depth which will help. The only difference right now is that the chemistry will take time to develop when mixing and matching players that have not played together long enough. It may seem discouraging right now, but the Azzuri need to keep fighting through it and compete as hard as they could on a weekly basis.

Punishers storm back to crush Legacy

(4)Legacy vs Punishers(9)

The Punishers didn’t arrive on time for Wednesdays tilt against Legacy. In the end, it still didn’t matter. The Punishers are in a place where they can overcome any bout of in-game adversity. They encountered a few self inflicted moments through the first half of the game, and found themselves trailing 3-1 at one point. Then, the Punishers established their better habits as of the nine minute mark of the second frame. As soon as M.Levasseur scored to narrow the gap by one, the Punishers knew they were on their way to a better finish. They scored the games eight of nine goals-from that point on. D.Koutavas used two key tallies just prior to the second period ending providing the Punishers its first lead of the contest. Even though Legacy had another frame to get their act together , things only got worse-from there on. That’s when P.Karvouriaris decided to take over bagging back to back tallies along with an assist to put the game to rest. The Punishers are playing so well that they can afford to have some rocky moments here in there. Tonight proved  again that unless you play a full out 45 minute game, your likely to fall behind on the scoreboard if playing  the Punishers.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Kevin Kuczmarski of the Altius. Talk about making an immediate impact. Dressed in his first game this season for the Altius, K.Kuczmarski reminded everyone what he is capable of, collecting seven points that included four goals.

Sunday February 5 (Final)

Bad start dooms division leaders, Team Purple crowned champions of Sunday Night Draft League

(2)Team White vs Team Purple(8)

Team White’s defense was overmatched by Team Purples offense, Team Whites offense weren’t able to get going like in their previous games, leaving the division champs to cope with the heartbreak of coming up just one game short of their championship dreams. The game got off to a bad start for Team White having to deal with a very short bench. Playing with only one change is playing with fire when reaching this stage. Team White knew they had a couple of key pieces on their way, but by the time they arrived, Team Purple took advantage with three straight goals. There inability to weather the storm came to hurt Team White in the end. Its very difficult to try and play-from behind when the stakes are this high. Even though F.Tannous scored a big goal to reduce the gap by two, the game still got away-from the division leaders. Actually, it got worse with Team Purple showing a lot more determination in their play. Players tend to play with more confidence while taking nothing for granted in a game of this magnitude . As Team White attempted to narrow the gap, Team Purple would counter attack, and eventually get rewarded to distance themselves further away. Usually the offense in concentrated on a couple of players for Team Purple, but not in this particular match as many chipped in. M.Lang scored his first of two on penalty shot goal to make it 3-0,M.Porato also tallied twice, and B.Verducci was perhaps the key element for the end result. The goaltender was stellar all game long allowing only two goals, especially early on when Team Purple was able to build their lead and take control of the contest. You can look at a few turning points as to why games end the way they do. In tonight’s case, with Team White not ready to play, they ultimately caused their own misery and paid the price for it. You cannot afford to take a night off when going up against a very balanced team. Since Team Purple had their act together-from the get go, it only made sense that they were the ones to prevail in the end. Congratulations got out to Team Purple for capturing the Sunday Night Draft League title.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Ben Verducci of Team Purple. The goaltender had a solid playoff run, and was largely at his best when the game mattered the most allowing only two goals versus a team that’s been dominant all season.

Friday February 4

Generals keep hitting double digits despite depleted line up

(12)Generals vs Dirty Scrubs(2)

It may be only three games into the season, but it looks like the standard for the rest of the league is to avoid the Generals-from hitting double digits. At this point, its not even about trying to win the game, but rather to slow down a power house that scores at will. The Dirty Scrubs figured they should have done better going up against a team with only two changes. These days however, it doesn’t seem to matter much unless everything goes your way, and even at that, it would take an extraordinary set of events. The Generals seem to be following a familiar pattern. The games remain fairly close in the first half. Then, they simply overwhelm you once they find their rhythm. Eight of their goals came as of the ten minute mark of the second period. C.Dauphane and O.Valiquette collected hat tricks, S.Legare, J.Brunet and M.Pinheiro each scored twice, and R.Morne along with F.Wilscam made sure to stabilise the defense while creating the offense as well. The only player that wasn’t overly busy, but effective nevertheless was D.Massa, who allowed only N.Pacheco and K.Araujo getting better of him. In the end, just another day at the office for a well oiled machine.

United Masters left with nothing but lessons after third period collapse against Sonic

(4)United Masters vs Sonic(5)

You have a team on the ropes, and you have to put them down. The United Masters failed on what should have been a win or at the very least an overtime result. Instead, they endured a terrible collapse giving up three straight goals in the final six minutes. The insult to injury saw this contest headed for overtime with the ball on the complete opposite side of the court with the seconds ticking down. By that point, everyone had stopped playing except for J.Madonis, who decided to shoot the ball anyway which somehow found its way through a crowd of players that just snuck by the United Masters net minder. That tally came with less than a second remaining. Talk about a turn of events in a game that the United Masters felt they should have. In the grand scheme, this loss will provide a touch point for third period leads if you are the United Masters. In the short term, it was simply a case of a Sonic team that found itself reeling off a win in a dramatic fashion. Although he didn’t score, M.Pace was behind most of the action as the gritty centre man helped set up his clubs first three goals.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Marco Pace of Sonic. His ability to constantly make things happen helped provide just enough offense for Sonic to squeak out a crazy finish. The forward was stellar collecting three primary assists.

Thursday February 2

Third period explosion lifts Van Doos Hc past Snipers

(2)Snipers vs Van Doos Hc(6)

A two minute stretch early in the third period was what it took to separate the Van Doos Hc-from the Snipers. That little sequence saw a 3-1 lead morph into a 6-1 lead almost instantaneously. The outburst involved J.Liakakos, V.Singh and J.Tzanetakos taking turns finding the back of the net. It seems at times that anybody can make big plays for a team that doesn’t have many faults. That makes it hard for an opponent to find ways to slow you down. The Snipers hung in there for a very long time until that surge which left them to far behind for a miracle comeback. It’s a tough spot to play-from when a team builds that kind of momentum. Since its only a regular season game, there wont be much to dwell on if you are the Snipers. Sure, they would have loved nothing more than to defeat this very familiar particular opponent.

Horsemen turn the page after ugly start to regular season

(3)Fatal Demons vs Horsemen(6)

The Horsemen may not have much to show for so far this season. They played only twice, but the results are below average at best. However, that changed for the better on Thursday night when they took on the Fatal Demons. Surely, it helps when you finally floor a complete roster by three rolling lines. The Horsemen used their artillery to their advantage, and made sure to apply some good pressure as soon as the ball dropped. The game plan was simple. Be first on the ball, and make sure to cover your man. Those two fundamental principles come a long way during an entire game. The Fatal Demons fell behind early, and were stuck trying to gain control of the situation. No matter how hard they tried to battle back, the Horsemen kept getting in the way, trapping the lanes while making sure the coverage was applied. And adding to that, M.Vinciguerra was sharp in net keeping the game honest. There was no doubt that this was a nice feel good win for a side searching for some confidence. All six goals came-from different players with J.Crivello credited the winner. By rolling three lines, the Horsemen got balanced contributions.

Brew Crew disappear after strong start, Armadillos show dominance in final stretch again

(4)Brew Crew vs Armadillos(5)

On Thursday night, the Brew Crew ran into a solid Armadillos hockey team. Despite a strong start, the Brew Crew dried up, and ultimately dropped the contest giving up three unanswered goals in the third period. In order to defeat the Armadillos, a full three period effort is required. Eventually, the Armadillos had no choice but to put it into gear. First, P.Legaots ignited a spark by bagging an early third period power play marker. Six minutes later, D.Andrade evened the score, and while this things appeared to be headed for overtime, J.Chiropoulos spoiled the moment for the Brew Crew by beating the clock by 15 seconds. There was no question the Brew Crew came out flat in the third period. They normally protect a two goal lead after two periods, but not this time as the Armadillos stormed back once more to earn a thrilling finish. This win is similar to their earlier contest versus the Snipers. Playing-from behind isn’t ideal, but its worked so far for the Armadillos. J.Kontitsis will take the win regardless. However, the captain would rather prefer playing ahead instead of having to come-from behind. For now, they’ll just take the points and adjust in the next games to come.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to M.Vinciguerra of the Horsemen. After a very slow start to the season, the Horsemen put on a strong display on Thursday night to get in the win column. While many factors need to go your way, its safe to say that M.Vinciguerra had a major influence making enough key saves to earn the win.

Wednesday February 1

Legacy top Altius on the strength of 4 third period goals

(4)Legacy vs Altius(2)

Legacy scored four third period goals to battle back-from a slight 1-0 deficit, and beat the Altius 4-2 on Wednesday night. It was an uniquely back and forth affair between the two sides. The Altius carried the narrow edge for two straight periods thanks to a lone power play goal by J.Provost-Blais. Up until that point, J.Vrettis was unstoppable denying everything he faced. That being said, there is only so much your net minder can do to bail you out. The Altius did remain in control of the situation on a 2-1 lead for a good portion of the frame. Then, as the game was starting to wind down, Legacy flipped the script on its head bagging three straight goals to hand the Altius a devastating defeat. First, G.Pisanelli was there to even the score followed with a quick go ahead marker by J.Mandracchia and an insurance tally by Payam Assadi. It was just an unfortunate ending to a game that saw the Altius do nearly everything right. Credit to Legacy for keeping pushing the pace as they eventually got rewarded on an incredible late surge.

Punishers kept battling back to cap off a shootout win over Azzuri

(3)Azzuri vs Punishers(4) S.O

Having to overcome three one goal deficits, the Punishers had the final say when it was all said and done. The Azzuri had a much better outing after last weeks lopsided defeat. This time, they showed up-from the get go, and made sure to grab that first needed tally going up against the Punishers. Throughout the entire game, neither side really took it to one another. The only difference was that the Azzuri grabbed three leads, and the Punishers responded each and every time. C.Chirola put the Azzuri up 3-2 fairly late in the third period on a goal that they hoped would stick. Unless you kill off the clock to its final seconds, its never over when facing the Punishers. It took only a minute and change for T.Karvouriaris to return the favour and force the extra time. Since the sudden death frame didn’t solve anything, a shootout was left to see who would perhaps prevail. In tonight’s case, A.Argiroudis was the only player of the six total attempts to figure out the goaltenders giving the Punishers the narrow victory. T.Therrien, M.Gagnon and C.Genest provided much of the offense for the Punishers as all three players collected two points each. R.Varr knew he needed some reinforcements trying to compete in this division. By adding some nice key pieces such as A.Mirolla who made an immediate impact with three assists along with B.Daniele just to name  a couple of established players, the Azzuri  can now be part of the conversation as a team that can compete with the others.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to A.Argiroudis of the Punishers. It was a night of hockey that didn’t have many heroes or real game breakers. However, in a situation that found the Punishers and the Azzuri dead even, A.Argiroudis was able to decide the outcome as the only player to score in the shootout.

Monday January 30

 Gingras, Karvouriaris put on a show against Assadi Consulting Inc

 C.Gingras and P.Karvouriaris combined for 23 points on Monday night, basically controlling both games for a pair of easy wins. What makes them scary is that they cant even be contained if you pay close attention to them. You almost have to be a mind reader in order to anticipate a play coming through in order to try and intercept it or just cut it off. If they come down on a 2 on 1 , the damage is done. If they play with a man right in front of them, they’ll create the avenues that will find each other almost every time that usually generates a high end scoring chance. The Assadi Consulting knew this going in, and didn’t have the answers, at least not on this night. No doubt the two players are great hockey minds. They are incredibly strong on the ball, and they are moving at full speed. There is almost nothing you can do when they are coming toward you expect to collapse down low, and hope they miss the net or have the net minder make a big save. Its just to say that it will take a near perfect defensive game in order to slow them down. Tonight, the Assadi Consulting inc were out of sync for a second straight week. Payam Assadi will need to take the bull by the horns if he expects his club to compete with the big boys.

 (8)Classics vs Assadi Consulting inc(1)

 (6)Classics vs Assadi Consulting inc(2)

 Branditscan hitting their stride on a pair of nice wins over the United Arms

 It looks like the Branditscan are starting to find their mojo. The club finally picked up a pair of wins after a slow start to their season. Many of them stepped into their roles and it showed-from the get go in the opener when D.Seguin and J.Molloy scored barely six minutes into the game. After grabbing a 2-1 lead heading into the final frame, the Branditscan took nothing for granted making sure to play a full out game in which they did adding four more tallies. D.Seguin added his second, and N.Francis quarterbacked the back end making a ton of plays that helped create the offense. The captain set up three goals along with D.Seguin, who had a very productive five point game. When coming off a strong win you want to keep  good habits going, especially knowing that your opponent will put a lot more into it. Although the United Arms looked more engaged, they still found themselves playing-from behind early in the second period. D.Seguin had scored a beautiful shorthanded goal to take the lead, and buried his second shortly after S.Balouzian got the United Arms on board. Up only 2-1, the Branditscan didn’t give the United Arms much race track as they kept playing a sound defensive game. They did get a golden opportunity on the power play as the game was winding down. With a chance to put it away, N.Francis made sure to seal the deal on a one timer that was fed-from D.Seguin, who accumulated three more points to solidify a second straight win for the Branditscan.

(6)Branditscan vs United Arms(3)

 (3)Branditscan vs United Arms(1)

 RCGT Knights respond with character win after being humiliated in opener to Snipers

 The RCGT Knights were keen on delivering a response. After suffering a humiliating defeat to the Snipers in the first encounter, the second game saw a completely different RCGT Knights hockey team. They showed their character right away, and gave it their best the whole way through by holding the rope. J.Morina was the mastermind behind a furious start as the quarterback helped set up three quick goals that saw M.Guarnieri benefit twice. It looked very clear that the RCGT Knights weren’t plan on giving an inch. Apart-from F.Nasser scoring fairly late, the rest was a near perfect display for a side that just came off a lopsided affair. The Snipers proved that they are a force to be reckoned with when playing at the top of their game. The evidence was in full display as they handed the RCGT Knights a 5-0 thumping that saw Ahmed Saleh notch a pair while M.St-Laurent was there to deny a lethal offense to record a shutout. Unable to carry their good habits, the Snipers felt the rude awakening when the second game was said and done. Sometimes that will happen to a club when coming off a easy win. Teams tend to get complacent, and end up paying the price.

 (5)Snipers vs RCGT Knights(0)

 (1)Snipers vs RCGT Knights(7)

 Degenerates somehow force shootout after a thumping loss to Brodie Boys

 It wasn’t even close. For the entire portion of the first game, it looked like a very good hockey team going up against a side that put on ball hockey gear for the first time. The Brodie Boys used speed to their advantage, and the Degenerates were stuck looking like spectators as the goals kept going in. Its not the easiest thing to adjust after a seven goal mercy with barely any time to wonder what went wrong. That being said, there is way to much experience to sit back on and dwell at what just took place. The Degenerates got some help with the addition of M.Pinheiro which stabilised two lines. Still, the task was a tall one, but some responsible defense along with timing your offensive bursts can come a long way. The Degenerates managed to hang in there in the second game which turned into a barn burner. With neither side getting it done in regulation, the Brodie Boys got the slight edge in the shootout thanks to a pair of beauties by L.Velenosi and A.Pietracupa. On a few occasions, the Brodie Boys missed out on closing the deal in regulation time. They always led, but couldn’t quite put it away. M.Pinheiro was a huge asset for the Degenerates as the forward collected his clubs last four points that included a big set up play for C.Stamadianos to even the score late.

(1)Degenerates vs Brodie Boys(8)

 (6)Degenerates vs Brodie Boys(7) S.O

 The SalumiVino player of the night goes to David Seguin of the Branditscan. There was no question that the Branditscan got back to their winning ways thanks to their skilled forward. Seguin had a monster night collecting a total of eight points.

Sunday January 29(Semi finals)

 Fast start fuels Team Purple rout of Team Pink

 (8)Team Purple vs Team Pink(5)

 Playing with emotion and energy can come a long way. Team Purple was able to taper that emotion making sure they were dialled in right away getting the games first three goals by the nineteen minute mark. When you play that way, teams are usually at their best. Now, that’s not to suggest Team Pink didn’t have some of that will as well. The problem was  that it started to show after a disastrous start which ended up making the entire difference between winning and losing. Even though they managed to pull themselves within one, it still wasn’t enough to carry their momentum. That’s when Team Purple’s sleeping giant woke up and got to work. It didn’t seem to matter that Team Pink had the memo on C.Zafiropoulos’s ability to score at will. With the game still very close and with plenty of time left over, the sharp shooter took it to another level, posting three consecutive tallies to put a clear direction of where this game was headed. The natural sniper had another four goal night and has yet to be figured out. R.Santosuosso chipped in as well with a pair while Q.Joseph had a really strong performance collecting four points as a defenseman.

 The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Costa Zafiropoulos of Team Purple. What more can you say when your leader delivers in a really important game. C.Zafiropoulos had four goals in which three came at a very crucial time ultimately making the difference in this series.

 Team White pull away after Team Red battled back to even the score

 (8)Team White vs Team Red(4)

 It looked like at one point Team Red may have had the formula on how to take done the regular season champions. Despite being down 3-1, M.Barone led the charge rattling off two straight goals to even the score for Team Red. That sequence occurred just passed the thirty minute mark, and the tides appeared to be shifting in the right direction for Team Red. This was a test to see how a good teams react under pressure knowing that the game could go either way. Not only did Team White pass the exam, but they did it with flying colours. The onslaught began as soon as R.Tannous notched his second on a penalty shot. From –there, Team White showed why they are on stop of the standings as they took over riding five of the games next six goals. What made the surge impressive was that it didn’t rely on any one player in particular. Apart -from R.Tannous scoring twice, Team White got contributions-from many different players. Again, G.Villeuenuve was vital for the win as the goaltender continues to impress having allowed only three goals on thirty five shots.

 The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Rodrigue Tannous of Team White. As Team Red looked to be peaking in a come back effort, R.Tannous was there to halt the momentum for Team White by scoring a huge penalty shot for his second of the contest.

 The Sunday Night Draft League is now down to its final two teams. If the regular season standings is any indication of who should be here, than this final makes sense that the top two seeded teams will face off against one another. Good teams will rely on their strengths to going all the way. And since there is no shortage of weaknesses-from the two sides, expect this to be a good final decided toward the end. G.Villeneuve and B.Berducci have the goaltending covered, offensively both teams scored about the same amount of goals during the season. The only indicative stat that favours Team White is there impressive 35 goals against vs Team Purple’s 57 . However, that wont really mean much when you have a C.Zafiropoulos scoring goals at will. Time will tell as this should be a dandy final between two deserving teams.

Friday January 27

 O.Valiquette strikes twice on the power play to send off  Generals to a landslide win

 (9)Generals vs Sonic(1)

 It was looking like this contest was going to be a close affair for how well Sonic played in the first period. Both sides traded a goal each, and things appeared to be rolling along just fine. That was up until an unfortunate penalty enabled the Generals to smell blood and feed off it. And who other than a power play specialist to get the job done. O.Valiquette parked himself in his office, and made sure to bury his two chances to help create a snow ball effect that couldn’t be stopped. The Generals went on to hit nine goals by the time it was said and done that saw O.Valiquette hit his eventual hat trick by the third period. P.Blais still had a fairly busy game stopping every shot his way expect for T.Ruvo’s first period marker.

Generals putting up double digits despite playing back to back games

 (14)Generals vs United Masters(4)

It would be safe to assume that playing in a back to back game with no breaks whatsoever would eventually catch up to you. Somehow, the Generals defied the odds, and actually looked like the fresher and  quicker team going up against the United Masters. Like in the earlier contest, the first period saw both teams trade a goal which suggested for a pretty close game considering that the Generals would need to conserve their energy. That couldn’t be further than the case with the Generals looking like the ones who were the rested side while the United Masters appeared to be a step behind on almost every play. At one point, the Generals were just burying their chances no matter how they generated them. They easily hit fourteen goals making one play seem easier than the other regardless how the United Masters tried to contain them. Natural goal scorers don’t tend to miss much when given the opportunity. Every single Generals player participated in the score sheet which is expected when you put fourteen behind the net.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Olivier Valiquette of the Generals. While many can share this acolyte, the sharp shooter did have an impact in the opener bagging two straight power play goals to set the momentum.

Thursday January 26

 Depleted line up catches up by the third for Fatal Demons

 (5)Van Doos Hc vs Fatal Demons(1)

 The Fatal Demons knew going in that a full 45 minute effort wasn’t going to be enough going up against the Van Doos Hc. The reason was simple. Rotating only two players versus a powerhouse  is wishful thinking if you plan on beating them. The best that you can do is to keep it close while relying on your net miner to steal the show. And even at that, how long can it last. The Fatal Demons, to their credit made the Van Doos Hc work for it as they needed the third period in order to sail past a resilient opponent. It was perhaps J.Tzanetakos’s marker to make it 3-1 that eased the tension for the Van Doos Hc, who knew by then the game was in their control. N.Zaharopoulos struck almost immediately after, and O.Valiquette added some insurance minutes later collecting his third point of the contest. The only slight miss hap that the Van Doos Hc endured was when P.Santullo scored on the power play to spoil the net minders shutout.

Armadillos over power Horsemen

 (7)Armadillos vs Horsemen(2)

For the Armadillos, it was all about taking control of the game-from the get go. Knowing that the Horsemen were undermanned, this made it easier for a side that needed to keep creating chances before eventually getting rewarded. For over half the game, the Horsemen did make it as hard as possible for the Armadillos to pull away, but that changed toward the end of the second frame where the flood gates finally opened.  The onslaught began with P.Lapointe’s second followed with D.Andrade and J.Chiropoulos chipping in as well providing a sufficient 5-1 lead. The Horsemen knew that they couldn’t win the game by then, but kept battling to try and keep the score respectable. M.Kardum benefited twice by going to net as the only player to solve F.Moshonas. The net minder wasn’t overly busy, but delivered making a few key saves.

Brew Crew surge early in second period and never looked back

 (9)Brew Crew vs RCGT Knights(2)

 Hanging in there for as long as they could, the RCGT Knights sunk by the early stages of the second period. That’s when the Brew Crew let loose, notching three consecutive goals in only three minutes. The 5-1 lead then morphed into a seven goal gap when M.Pace buried his second to cap off an easy night. Just like the previous two games of the night, this contest also ended in a landslide. Its difficult when you are chasing most of the game like in the case of the RCGT Knights. Playing without the ball means your likely to give up a few while limiting yourself on scoring chances. Z.Labelle and J.DeStefano got the RCGT Knights lone tallies. The Brew Crew has most of their offense spread out with C.Makris, M.Pace and B.Sansotta sharing two goals a piece. Known more so for his defensive and responsible capabilities, D.Catalano can easily produce as well as the forward had a solid night collecting five points.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Patrick Lapointe of the Armadillos. The forward scored two big consecutive goals to help create the gap needed for the Armadillos to pull away.

Wednesday January 25

 M.Mavroudis hat trick powers Punishers over Altius

 (3)Altius vs Punishers(7)

 Defending champion Punishers continued-from where they left of as M.Mavroudis showed his enduring scoring quality by leading his side to a 7-3 victory. Up until the early stages of the third period, the Altius kept pace with the Punishers before their defending proved costly allowing four tallies in that single frame alone. There consolation was perhaps that J.P Blais scored all three times in the loss. You always want to try and get that better start when going up against the Punishers. The Altius didn’t have that luxury, but kept it close for a very long duration until it finally caught up to them. M.Caron’s early third period goal stood up for the winner, and B.Makris was solid throughout most of the match denying everyone except for J.P Blais.

Late second period sinks Azzuri in blowout loss to Legacy

 (1)Azzuri vs Legacy(8)

Three minutes may not sound like a long time, but as the Azzuri found out the hard way on Wednesday night, it can make a world of difference in hockey. Legacy did have command of the situation carrying a 2-0 lead before exploding with three goals by the end of the second period to put this contest out of reach. P.Musto and J.Mandracchia had each scored twice before Payam Assadi got involved in the action as well netting his clubs fifth goal of the game. Its not the easiest thing going up against a team that been playing together for about two decades. Although the Azzuri have the experience as well, there is a difference if you don’t know each others tendencies. By adding some more key pieces as the season evolves with strong leadership by R.Varr, the Azzuri will only get better with time. Tonight’s end result didn’t come as a shock with Legacy flooring a nice looking line up with many game breakers. J.Mandracchia went on to complete his hat trick, Payam Assadi added his second while P.Musto finished with four points. The Azzuri got their lone tally by P.Karigiannis as the only player to solve A.Ekonomakis.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Manny Mavroudis of the Punishers. His first two of three goals helped set the tone for the defending champs as the power forward couldn’t have asked for a better start accumulating five points.

 Diabetoz Angels regroup to split with ETNA

 After looking a little unprepared in their first game going up against ETNA, the Diabetoz Angels rebounded jumping off to a strong start by netting four unanswered goals in the ensuing match. They came out with more urgency and ultimately got rewarded hanging on to a 4-2 decision. Things did get a little messy with the amount of trips visited to the penalty box. At least it was an area of the game that the Diabetoz Angels took advantage of riding two power play goals by XXXX and J.Fisch. Sometimes you just need a wake up call when things don’t go your way along with stellar goaltending. Having A.Ekonomakis can only bring you a long way. The net minder was the reason why his side was able to build a sufficient lead and protect it the rest of the way. ETNA did floor a nice line up, but could have used some keys piecing missing. As it often happens in a two game format between two competitive teams, neither side walk away empty handed.

(1)Diabetoz Angels vs ETNA(4)

 (4)Diabetoz Angels vs ETNA(2)

 Classics unable to match Snipers pace

 Given the fact that the Classics didn’t floor their usual lethal weapons, these results were expected to happen. Although they managed to pull off the opener in a shootout, the second game was a complete beat down handed by the Snipers. It barely took time for the goals to come with S.Ahmad posting two in a short span that helped provide a comfortable 5-0 lead. By then, the Classics knew they weren’t staffed to mount any sort of comeback. They did however finish stronger on two straight goals by M.Destounis and P.Karvouriaris, but it didn’t matter in the end. The Snipers should feel good about tonight’s overall results. Since they’ll only play a top division team once during the regular season, accumulating four out of a possible six points is only gravy if you plan on finishing high in the standings.

(3)Snipers vs Classics(4) S.O

 (5)Snipers vs Classics(2)

 A.Mirolla and D.Lombardi prove to be a handful for the Assadi Consulting inc

 A.Mirolla and D.Lombardi are goal scorers, plain and simple. Give them the ball, and most of the time they’ll take care of the rest. The Assadi Consulting inc didn’t quite have a good night which is an understatement for what they are capable of. Rather than focusing on playing a better defensive game, they focused more on trying to play a run and gun style. Sure it can work since they have the horses, but tonight they seemed to be a step behind-from what they are used to. Losing 6-2 is unacceptable for their standards. With that loss, they had another chance to bounce back and be better. And while they did put out a much better fight, it still wasn’t enough in the end. This time, A.Mirolla caused most of the damage bagging a hat trick while in the first encounter D.Lombardi was the forward causing fits for the defense also posting three goals. Both these teams are built well for a long run. The only difference was that tonight the Dragons looked much better and deserved the extra points.

 (6)Dragons vs Assadi Consulting inc(2)

 (6)Dragons vs Assadi Consulting inc(4)

 Country Club gets the better of Branditscan, M.Dupuis shines in net

 Not even a perfect start was enough for the Branditscan to maintain control of the game versus the Country Club. D.Seguin and J.Molloy got the ball rolling almost immediately providing a 2-0 lead. Then, by the time the first period ended, the Country Club flipped the script and found themselves ahead entering the final frame. They never really let go of the gas pedal by then as they added three more goals en route to a 6-3 decision. C.Payette notched his second as the only multi goal scorer for the Country Club, and M.Dupuis kept his opponents honest on a brilliant goaltending display. The bad start didn’t sit well for N.Francis and the Branditscan. And with a second game yet to be played, things were expected to turn around for a team that just come off a loss. To their credit they kept it much closer with the two sides playing to a 2-2 tie by the mid way point of the final frame. You almost felt that the next tally was going to likely decide where this contest was headed. Already with a pair of goals, C.Gosselin set up a play where N.Smith was able to snap the tie and put the Country Club in front. As much as the Branditscan attempted to even the score, M.Dupuis remained stubborn in net going flawless the rest of the way. Eventually, C.Gosselin was able to feed a yawning cage, and the Country Club capped off a perfect night earning six clean points to the standings.

 (6)Country Club vs Branditscan(3)

 (4)Country Club vs Branditscan(2)

 Degenerates manage to salvage a good ending after a serious thumping in first game to RCGT Knights

 A brittle but not a completely broken line up had the Degenerates go up against a difficult opponent on Monday night. The RCGT Knights went into the vault flooring a well established group of players that didn’t seem to miss a beat-from the last time they played together. It showed right away that they never lost their form handing the Degenerates a real beat down that ended 6-0. Even if the score suggested for a lopsided affair, S.Sauk had to be good at times to earn his shutout. Entering the contest, the Degenerates had no choice but to simply hang back and wait for their chances. Unlike the first encounter, they made it much more difficult for the RCGT Knights to generate high end chances despite them having a ton of ball possession. That game plan enabled the Degenerates to time their runs which led to enough decent opportunities where the two sides traded three goals each. Since neither side got it done in regulation time, T.Bergomi and C.Stamadianos showed off their patience in the shootout by waiting out S.Sauk to feed the empty net. D.Guarnieri got the RCGT Knights lone tally on a brilliant finish as well after collecting a total of six points in the two games. Overall, the Degenerates will take the end result considering the circumstances.

 (6)RCGT Knights vs Degenerates(0)

 (4)RCGT Knights vs Degenerates(5) S.O

 The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Mathieu Dupuis of the Country Club. The net minder was solid making timely saves that enabled his side to capture a pair of wins.

Sunday January 23(Quarter finals)

 Team Purple race out to incredible start, Zafiropoulos tandem cause fits for Team Blue’s defense

 (8)Team Purple vs Team Blue(5)

 It was a start to the game that Team Purple demonstrated how much more they wanted this compared to Team Blue. Despite getting the memo on trying to contain the Zafiropoulos tandem, Team Blue looked disinterested on trying to contain the two snipers. C.Zafiropoulos had already collected a hat trick by the nineteen minute mark, and went on to add his fourth later on while A.Zafiropoulos notched two consecutive goals in a very short span. It was an impressive start to the game no matter how you look at it. Building a 6-0 lead in a must win situation says a lot about a team that was primed and ready to play. However, it should never have gotten to a such a wide margin if you are Team Blue. Whatever the reasons, this was simply a poor start that lasted way to long despite plenty of time left over. Overcoming a 6-0 deficit crushes any hopes of crawling back into the game. Even though they did try to battle back by posting five goals, the damage had already been done.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Costa Zafiropoulos of Team Purple. Look to leadership for good results. C.Zafiropoulos led in many ways by inspiring a strong message before the game started, and backed it up by bagging four big goals.

Team Brown stubble early, Team Pink use strong start to advance

 (5)Team Pink vs Team Brown(3)

While its often how you finish that counts, the same couldn’t be said in this context. Team Brown saw their playoff run come to an end because of their poor start to the game. They gave up four goals in the first twelve minutes alone, and couldn’t quite catch up by the time it was said and done, despite playing much better afterwards. Team Pink built a cushion that they were able to fall back on when Team Brown rallied to try and catch up. Goals came by committee with efforts-from five different players. It was Peter Stroubakis’s tally by the twelve minute mark that held up in the end. After facing 25 shots, G.Kanaras was also influential in the win making a bunch of keys saves. Team Pink couldn’t have asked for a better outing on Sunday night. The way they managed it-from the beginning proved that they are a worthy playoff team that deserves to advance.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to G.Kanaras of Team Pink. Look for your goaltender to deliver in the big moments. There was no question G.Kanaras was a big reason why Team Pink are advancing. The net minder was focused, steady and ready to play allowing only three goals.

Team Red take back and forth thriller vs Team Black

 (6)Team Black vs Team Red(7)

 It was one of those games that both sides had no idea where it was headed. Goals kept pouring in, leads kept changing and penalties kept occurring. It almost came down to who would shoot last would prevail. With the contest deadlocked 7-7, J.Testa benefited-from a golden opportunity when awarded a penalty shot. The forward made sure to bury his chance, scoring his second of the game to put Team Red back in front. Still, five minutes was left over in a game that time didn’t really mean much. The problem was that Team Black started to feel the pressure as their season was winding down. And despite putting it all on the line by trying to even the score, S.Catalano stood tall denying every attempt his way. Not even C.Stamadianos could have figured him out by that point after accumulating four tallies prior. At the end of the day, it was one of those games that needed every single moment in order to decide a winner. For Team Red , they were just glad it was them on top after a very crazy finish.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Luca Porfido of Team Red. His three timely goals came a long way in what was a tightly knitted high scoring affair.

Front runners Team White yet to take a night off

 (9)Team White vs Team Green(3)

If there was any doubt as to who the team to beat in the division, Team White put that to bed on Sunday night. Fuelled by impressive performances by N.Macri, R.Tanous, S.Fraga in which all three scored two goals each, G.Villeneuve is perhaps the bigger story. The net minder is simply that good, and unless you beat him on a precise shot he will likely deny you. Team Green saw it first hand as they only solved him three times with M.Destounis collecting two of the three goals. If the goaltending was average, this contest was going to be much closer, but likely favouring Team White due to their overall balance. At no point was this game ever close with Team White making the score 4-1 after only twelve minutes. Not only did Team White win a hockey game, but they made it look easy. Confidence is definitely brimming for a team that will expect nothing less than to go all the way.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the games goes to N.Macri of Team White. The win came due to many reasons, but N.Macri did do his part right away scoring twice while setting up a teammate for an immediate 4-1 lead.

This concludes the quarter final round which leaves only four teams in the Sunday night Draft league. The semi final match ups are as follows:

(1)Team White vs Team Red(6) Team Red have to approach this challenge by keeping the game very low scoring. You almost cant get away by trying to beat G.Villeneuve many times. As much as it may take a boring game plan, its likely the only way that they’ll have a chance at causing an upset.

(2)Team Purple vs Team Pink(4) The threats seem to be coming-from the same places over and over if you are Team Purple. If Team Pink are able to contain some fire power than look out if your are Team Purple. This will be a classic match up between a side that relies on everyone to produce if your are Team Pink while Team Purple will keep looking for the Zafiropoulos tandem to continue scoring.

Thursday January 19

 Fatal Demons third period comeback falls short in loss to Brew Crew

 (3)Fatal Demons vs Brew Crew(4)

 M.Pace scored his second to restore the lead in the third period, C.Muccino made just over 30 saves, and the Brew Crew got the better of the Fatal Demons to kick off their season. The Fatal Demons fought back after a disastrous second period where they were completely out done by a better opponent. The Brew Crew did most of their damage during that session, rattling off three unanswered markers. Rather than throwing in the towel, the Fatal Demons wont go down without a fight. Good resiliency paid off as J.Bolonakis and M.Destounis notched consecutive goals to even the score. In hopes of carrying the momentum, M.Pace ruined the moment by responding shortly after and giving the Brew Crew a lead that was never answered. It came to no surprise that this game ended by a one goal margin. The two teams resemble each other in many ways which always suggests for a hard fought battle.

Defending champs win handily over Horsemen

 (6)Van Doos Hc vs Horsemen(2)

There was no rust or championship hangover for the Van Doos Hc who had a fairly easy time handing the Horsemen a defeat on Thursday night. Many things need to go right if you plan on defeating the Van Doos Hc. The Horsemen struggled in a few areas starting with their coverage, one on one battles, and some decision making plays with the ball. Unless you address those areas of your game, these types of results are to be expected. At least its only the first game of the regular season which is the right time to identify what needs to improve. The Horsemen have the players along with the experience but will need to gel and develop some chemistry as the season prolongs. On the flip side of the court, what can be said for a team that seems ready for a repeat season. Nearly everything went right as they cruised for a well earned win. Its always nice having a bunch of different players take turns scoring. It just goes to show that the threats come-from everywhere as six different players found the back of the net. A.Papazian’s late first period tally  was able to stick for the winner while J.Liopoulos continues to show why he is a top notch goalie by allowing only two goals on 23 shots.

Armadillos score two late goals to pick up stunning win over Snipers

 (2)Snipers vs Armadillos(3)

Its only the first week of the regular season, and this game ended in a shock. Talk about a painful collapse for the Snipers who clearly felt they deserved better. For nearly the entire match, they limited the Armadillos to only one goal. This wasn’t that type of game that saw nearly every shot go in. You needed a very big play in order to penetrate the defence, and more importantly the goaltending. The Snipers did everything right by playing in front while denying the Armadillos much room out there in order to bounce back. You have to figure that the end result was going to favour your side when needing all but 30 little seconds to kill off, especially after defending well for nearly the entire match. Now its one thing to occasionally give up a vey late goal like in this case when P.Lapointe tied the game with only 22 seconds left on the clock, and its another when giving up another tally barely seconds later to end the game in regulation time. No doubt it was a late moment of madness. The incredible turnaround saw J.Chiropoulos put the final nail in this contest with barley anytime left on the clock. Sometimes, you are stuck enduring a harsh finish like in tonight’s case. However, it couldn’t have happened at a better time for the Snipers with so many games ahead of them. If this was a playoff round, perhaps  some therapy may have been required. Luckily enough for the Snipers, its nothing more than just a regular season game.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Marco Pace of the Brew Crew. He’s just one of those players that will get you that big goal or two. The Brew Crew snuck out a close 4-3 win thanks to their hard grinding and skilled forward bagging two in a row.

Monday January 16

 Ali Fahra late winner sets tone for Snipers second encounter

 Its not the kind of start you would hope for after dropping a very close game that was decided in the last 30 seconds. The Brodie Boys got off to about the worst start possible, and could not recover as they fell 8-2. The meltdown took all but six minutes into the ensuing match with the Snipers powering five goals. It wasn’t like it was one player doing all the damage that couldn’t be contained. Falling behind by such a margin isn’t an easy task to overcome. Maybe the bad end to the first game got to the Brodie Boys, who know are way better than what they showed. Perhaps it was just a case of shaking off some rust since its only the first week of the regular season. While the Brodie Boys looked out of tune, the same couldn’t be said for the Snipers. The addition of A.Fahra will come a long way for an already existing good team. The new addition was the catalyst behind the first win scoring twice that included the late winner along with an assist. As for the second match, the Snipers had many contribute offensively with Hadi Khanafer and A.Sayed sharing two goals each.

 (4)Snipers vs Brodie Boys(3)

 (8)Snipers vs Brodie Boys(2)

 ETNA looking ready for new season as they down Country Club

Sometimes you just need a reminder that some teams are really good when they come out to play. The Country Club witnessed it first hand going up against an ETNA team that was on top of their game despite it being only the first week of the regular season. Re adapting to his natural role, M.Stoico will be a huge asset for his side, and it showed immediately as the d-man was a force collecting three points for a 4-1 victory. The Country Club didn’t show much in the opener, but had a chance to tweak their game in the second match. They did show more offensive upside, but ran into the same issues of giving up to many goals. That’s maybe because M.Alfieri was responsible for most of the ETNA’s offense. If its even possible to state, M.Alfieri looked better than ever in the second encounter. If this was a contract year, the skilled player would crush the ETNA budget leaving them bankrupt. All seven goals came-from the hands of M.Alfieri, who struck once while feeding off six nice passes for some easy completions. A.Alfieri and J.Alfieri each scored twice thanks to their valued line mate.

 (4)ETNA vs Country Club(1)

 (7)ETNA vs Country Club(4)

 Diabetoz Angels powered by a pair of strong starts

Two very strong starts made the difference as the Diabetoz Angels collected some nice early points to the standings. Four different players took turns finding the back of the net in the first period alone, and A.Ekonomakis was finally figured out between the pipes when S.Jankouzian and G.Missakian got the better of him. In hopes of adjusting to a better start in the ensuing match, the United Arms couldn’t put it together falling behind again. The gap was much closer trailing only by two, but the task was just as tall trying to battle-from behind. To their credit however, the United Arms battled back to even the score on two occasions only to fall behind once more when J.McTeigue snapped the late tie. J.Fisch would eventually put the game to rest by feeding an empty cage. What more can you ask for than putting up a pair of good wins together. The Diabetoz Angels got the start they wanted, and will look to build off it in what will be a competitive division. On the flip side of the court, the United Arms know that they need to stack up their line up as a short bench just wont hack it in this division. G.Missakian will take care of that area as the captain will make sure to be ready as the season goes on

(4)Diabetoz Angels vs United Arms(2)

 (5)Diabetoz Angels vs United Arms(3)

 S.Marricco providing the timely goals for Degenerates in second game vs Branditscan

 Both sides seemed to measure up pretty fairly as it took a shootout to try and decide matters. And since the first game was that close, not even a breakaway competition could have settled the score. The Degenerates and the Branditscan needed the second encounter in order to see who would prevail in the end. And as expected, it remained just as close except for maybe the final frame where the Degenerates found a way to pull away. Containing S.Marricco requires a certain method when trying to slow down a train that can hold on to the ball. The power forward did not disappoint, and was there to rattle off two big consecutive goals to put the Degenerates in the drivers seat. His second tally made the score 4-2 with about seven minutes remaining. No doubt there was more than enough time for the Branditscan to try and come back. The problem was that the Degenerates made it a point to close out the gaps and shut the lanes best they could. When you buy into a strong defensive game plan while relying on R.Ranieri to make you the big saves, its often difficult to battle back. The Degenerates did a fine job in that department and managed to hang on to a hard earned win.

(3)Degenerates vs Branditscan(3) S.O

(6)Degenerates vs Branditscan(2)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Massimo Alfieri of ETNA. Calm, collective and poised, M.Alfieri makes everyone around him a better player, and tonight was proof of it as he set up six goals while potting one himself.

Sunday January 15(Playoffs round 1)

S.Tomasetta cracks late tie in high scoring duel, Team Green advance to quarter final round

(9)Team Orange vs Team Green(11)

Up 4-1 by the seven minute mark of the game, Team Orange looked to be heading in the right direction only to see this contest spiral into a barn burner by the time it was said and done. Both sides realised quickly that any shot on net could turn into a goal. At no point did things ever settle down. The pendulum kept swinging back and forth, and Team Green looked to have the advantage up 9-6 with about fifteen minutes left in the game. With the way things kept shifting, it came to no surprise that Team Orange climbed back into it tying the encounter 9-9- by the forty minute mark. It was one of those games that any lead just wasn’t safe. That being said, you go with the odds by trying to get that next goal and playing in front rather than trying to bounce back. And since time wasn’t much of a luxury, the next tally would perhaps prove to pay heavy dividends. It was just a question of who, and not if their would be more goals to come. As soon as B.Monette scored for Team Orange to level , three minutes had gone by before S.Tomasetta used a wicked slap shot to beat P.Kassaris. By no means did that tally give any sigh of relief to Team Green despite  finding themselves ahead with little time left over. After attempting enough pressure and shots out of desperation, Team Orange couldn’t figure out M.Rodriguez anymore, who came up big a few times to preserve the slight lead. Eventually, this series was put to rest when C.Pirone bagged a hat trick late in the game to solidify a nail biter.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Sal Tomasetta of Team Green. Sometimes overlooked for his sound defensive game, the d-man was very influential in helping decide this series by scoring perhaps the biggest goal of the game to help send Team Green off to the next round.

Team Blue constant momentum leads to easy win over Team Yellow

(1)Team Yellow vs Team Blue(8)

Team Blue got started right away with an early marker-from E.Nardelli, and cruised the rest of the way on a flurry of goals to stamp an easy victory. There was no doubt Team Blue was ready and better prepared in a must win game between the two sides. C.Doulis did even the score for Team Yellow, but that was about all the limited scoring done for a team that just didn’t bring it on this particular night. Sometimes teams just aren’t sharp enough to go end to end against an opponent that didn’t take a shift off. Team Blue found themselves up comfortably 4-1 when P.Desforges scored by the fifteen minute mark. Regardless the amount of time left over, it didn’t matter in tonight’s contest between these two teams. M.Freda was well insulated and did a remarkable job limiting his opponent to only one goal. The offense was well spread out, but E.Nardelli did have a little more input by rattling off a hat trick. F.Decoster struck twice,J-C Mansour collected three primary assists, and N.Faria notched the winner as part of a three point performance.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Nelson Faria of Team Blue. The forward like many of his line mates showed up to play in a very important game. N.Faria was able to snap an early tie that held for the winner while making plenty happen out there to help create a snow ball effect en route to an easy win.

Team Green and Team Blue are now off to the quarter final round where eight teams now remain in the playoff season of the Sunday Night Draft league. The games will be played this up coming Sunday. The match ups are as follows:

(1)Team White vs Team Green(10) Coming off a nice 11-9 decision, Team Green will have a difficult challenge ahead of them. As its been their identity all season, goal scoring wont be the issue, but preventing them is still an area of concern. And since Team White know how to defend well with the leagues best goals against average , this contest may be one that will force Team Green to play a much tighter game.

(2)Team Purple vs Team Blue(9) While the standings may suggest a mismatch, Team Purple need to take this round seriously if they plan to advance. Team Blue have a bunch of players that can score, and create havoc up front. If M.Freda remains sharp in net like he did in his previous game, anything can happen unless the Zafiropoulos  father and son tandem decide otherwise.

(3)Team Black vs Team Red(6) It can be argued that Team Black may have a little more punch up front compared to Team Red. However, with goaltending and defense often the reason why teams go far, Team Red have the elements covered in that area. S.Catalano is as good as it gets for making the big saves, and P.Stroubakis is as lethal as it gets when it comes to providing offense. Team Black will have their hands full, but could pull through if they apply a smart game plan.

(4)Team Pink vs Team Brown(5) Well balanced, well structured along with ton of experience, Team Pink look like a seasoned team to be reckoned with. They will have a difficult test ahead of them as they take on Team Brown. There strength relies on a couple game breaking players. D.Galloro, T.Settino are the two main guns that Team Pink will need to focus on. If both players get there way, watch for Team Brown to advance, if not, Team Pink will likely go through due to their overall balance.

Sunday January 8

Team Green top guns boost them to strong end to regular season

(12)Team Green vs Team Yellow(4)

Often, its how you finish that matters than how you started .Team Green wont care so much about their below average regular season record as they’ll take tonight’s encounter versus Team Yellow as a sign of good things to come. As long as they can address their game without the ball, Team Green will be a team to watch for if not taken serious. Perhaps arguably the most lethal forward belongs to their line up with M.Destounis the catalyst for making plenty happen up front. The slick and clever forward has the ability to make everyone around him look like much better players. Out of his club twelve goals, M.Destounis was involved in eleven of them striking three times while setting up eight tallies. M.Saia and C.Arnoldo, as expected were the ones who took care of much of the scoring with four goals apiece. This type of win couldn’t have come at a better time for a side that doesn’t have an impressive regular season record with only two wins to show for.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Marino Destounis of Team Green. What more can be said for a player that was responsible for creating eleven out of a possible twelve goals.

Draft Leagues front runners yet to slow down

(6)Team White vs Team Blue(2)

Finishing top seed is always a good indicator of how well you performed as a team throughout the regular season. Team White dropped only two of ten games, and don’t plan to slow down anytime soon as their real season will begin shortly. Even though they had secured their top spot a week ago, that didn’t slow them down going up against Team Blue. However, things only got rolling as of the thirty six minute mark of the game. Up until that point, Team Blue found themselves ahead on a slight 2-1 lead. Once F.Tarounos evened the score, Team White found their stride bagging five straight goals in only nine minutes. What once looked like a tight knitted affair turned into a thumping. C.Khoury and S.Fraga shared a pair of goals, L.Lapenna collected three helpers, and G.Villenueve was sharp again in net allowing only two tallies.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the night goes to Guillaume Villeneuve of Team White. If there is one area of a hockey game that is vital for success,  its your goaltending. Team White have that element in an existing good team with G.Villenueve guarding the cage. The net minder was once again influential making the necessary saves to help provide another victory.

Team Red race out to big early lead in win over Team Brown

(10)Team Red vs Team Brown(5)

It really didn’t take long for Team Red to get going in what was a high scoring affair versus Team Brown. The strong start definitely dictated where this contest was headed despite the amount of chances traded-from the two sides. When playing with such a comfortable lead, you often call the shots. Whether you attribute it to being better prepared or merely wanting it more, Team Red raced off to a strong start and didn’t give Team Brown much hope of winning. Considering the amount of goals scored, no one needed to play the hero in this one. Team Red relied on balance although J.Testa, M.Elfara and L.Porfido were productive sharing four points each. Maybe it didn’t come as much of a surprise for Team Brown to give up so many goals. After completing their regular season, they have allowed a whopping 83 markers which makes them the second worse defensive team right after the basement dwelling Team Green. S.Sicuso has to address this area, and it will start with him making sure to tighten the screws on the defensive end of the court.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Santino Catalano of Team Red. While Team Brown may give up many, one things certain is that they can easily find the back of the net. However, they only got the ball rolling a little to late because S.Catalano stood in the way making plenty of key saves early on.

Team Purple able to storm back after ugly start

(9)Team Purple vs Team Orange(5)

Team Purple surrendered five goals in the first fourteen minutes alone, but somehow managed to put it in the rear view mirror as the game eventually shifted. Maybe you can forgive a bad start every so often if you have proved to be a solid team throughout the entire season. Team Purple needed only a momentum swing to build off. That moment perhaps happened when T.Longhi pulled his side within two. That goal was the first of seven consecutive scored by Team Purple. Team Orange may have gotten away-from their game by enabling Team Purple to take over. Unless you keep pressing hard, good teams will find ways to overcome a hurdle. This has to come as concern for Team Orange as they simply looked out gunned and overwhelmed for a very long duration. Playing fifteen minutes just wont cut it if you plan to succeed. The win secured second place of the division for Team Purple who continue to impress. C.Zafiropoulis may not have scored but was there to set up four tallies. A.Zafiropoulos on the other hand had another strong night sharing a hat trick with T.Longhi.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to T.Longhi of Team Purple. When his team was caught in a jam, T.Longhi was a big reason why Team Purple overcome a huge deficit by posting a hat trick.

Team Pink hammer Team Black to cap off regular season

(9)Team Pink vs Team Black(5)

It remained close while it lasted, but in the end, it was all Team Pink as they were the better of the two sides. Team Black got two early goals, and there last three came toward the end of the game when Team Pink had already put this match to rest. What unfolded was a dominant effort-from Team Pink as they met no resistance expect for maybe in the early stages. You almost had to figure T.Scarpelli was going to get some goals with his side striking nine times. The forward bagged his hat trick by the thirty minute mark. M.Kabassakalian was productive as well feeding four teammates while J.Teresi collected three points. At one point, Team Pink led 9-2, and perhaps let go of the gas pedal enabling Team Black to score three late goals. Considering that both these teams have similar records, this game should cause some concern for Team Black heading into the playoffs.  There is no question that they will need to be much better as they’ll have some time off to figure things out.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Tony Scarpelli of Team Pink. He has proven enough times that he can find the back of the net. By finding himself always at the right spot, T.Scarpelli had another big night rattling off a hat trick in what came as a convincing win for Team Pink.

The Draft league regular season came to a wrap on Sunday night. With all ten teams participating in the playoffs, the first round will only have the bottom four seeds play it out. The match ups are as follows:

(7)Team Orange vs Team Green(10) It will come down to offense vs defense. Team Green can score at will but give up many goals while Team Orange have the defense to slow down the pace, but lack offense. If Team Orange cant play a full out sound defensive game, look for Team Green to pass this round.

(8)Team Yellow vs Team Blue(9) They met only once, and Team Yellow got the better of Team Blue. That being said, it really doesn’t change the fact that anything can happen in this do or die game. Both sides have had more downs than ups which should suggest for an even playing field.

Tuesday January 3

Pendulum swing ends up going for Team Pink’s thrilling overtime win over Team Red

(5)Team Red vs Team Pink(6) O.T

On three straight occasions, Team Red was able to respond to tie the game before finally pulling ahead when M.Elara took advantage of a penalty shot followed with an insurance marker by M.Barone. Now that the score was 5-3 in favour for Team Red, the only thing left to do was to close out the deal. You almost had to figure it was headed that way for how resilient they were by bouncing back while pulling ahead. Unfortunately, that didn’t end being the case with Team Pink turning the tables on two quick goals -from J.Melo and a buzzer beater by Peter Stroubakis. Since momentum was swinging back and forth, overtime was going to be decided on who would get that one break. Neither side were able to get it done right away with the goaltenders keeping it that way. S.Catalano of Team Red and G.Platanitis of Team Pink were clearly the reasons why this contest dragged on due to their stellar jaw dropping saves. But eventually something was to give, and that’s when Peter Stroubakis picked up a rebound using his blistering shot to get the better of Catalano.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Peter Stroubakis of Team Pink. Hard work often pays off. The forward made his time count every time he got on, and was able to get rewarded by getting the final shot on net to decide the outcome.

Team Purple get final say on a stronger finish

(4)Team Black vs Team Purple(5) O.T

There was no doubt this was a real competitive and even game between Team Black and Team Purple that was only decided in the sudden death frame. That being said, Team Black may have thought they had all the momentum going for them. Down 3-1 , they took over the match on three straight tallies that included a penalty shot by A.Farina followed by M.Chenier and M.Danesi’s go ahead marker. There was just to much time left over for having the mind set of closing out the game. You almost knew you needed that next tally if you were Team Black in order to put a serious strangle hold in the match. Rather than going up by two, Team Purple responded instead courtesy of their veteran and leader C.Zafiropoulos. His tally came with only six minutes left in the game which eventually set the stage for an overtime period where he was able to play the role of a set up man by feeding M.Porato for the winner. Sometimes you don’t need to play a full out game in order to get the results. For a long stretch, Team Black were the ones in control and looked like were the ones headed for a favourable outcome. All you need is a play here and there in a one goal game that can go either way. Team Purple made a strong push when it counted, and were able to pull the rug-from under Team Black’s feet on a late surge. The father and son Zafiropoulos combo continue to impress as both players combined for seven points. B.Verducci contributed as well in the win making the necessary saves in a very close encounter. The win now puts team Purple only a point behind Team Black as they chase them down for that second spot.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Costa Zafiropoulos of Team Purple. He certainly is able to find ways to make plenty happen. In what was a back and forth close encounter, C.Zafiropoulos was the engine behind his teams offense collecting four points.

Team Brown come-from behind to stun Team Blue in overtime

(5)Team Blue vs Team Brown(6) O.T

Team Brown overcame a 4-0 deficit to land a dramatic 6-5 overtime victory Tuesday night over Team Blue. Things looked grim for a good chunk of the game for Team Brown, who kept falling in a deeper hole. As bad as it was, they needed only that one tally perhaps to change their luck. S.Sicuso was finally able to provide it  which clearly put his side on track for something remarkable to happen. It was evident that Team Brown found their extra gear as they relentlessly hammered their opponent in a short ten minute stretch. Although E.Nardelli ended the spell by putting Team Blue back in front 5-4, that didn’t stop S.Sicuso again-from responding on a big play to even the score. Both sides didn’t let go of the gas pedal for the remaining twelve minutes which for a third straight time during the night an overtime was looming to see who would come out on top. Unlike the two previous encounters, D.Galloro spared everyone’s time by ending it right away on a brilliant one timer giving M.Freda no time what so ever. That was the snipers second goal and third point of the game. S.Sicuso had a productive game as well collecting four points while N.Faria was Team Blue’s most dynamic player scoring twice along with an assist.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Danny Galloro of Team Brown. Gamers often find ways for the big moments. Its no surprise that D.Galloro was a good pick to ending it on a beautiful shot that came out of nowhere.

Team White maintain their status as the top dogs of the division

(2)Team Yellow vs Team White(7)

Its been just that kind of a season so far for a team that’s running on all cylinders. Only two losses to show for, Team White came to play again on Tuesday night defeating Team Yellow rather easily. The score was already 4-0 before S.Boulerice finally got Team Yellow on board. For sure it would have taken a miraculous comeback, but it wouldn’t be the first time a team overcomes such a deficit. The problem was that Team White wasn’t on planning to give much life after that with the two sides trading a goal before Team White drove away into the sunset. J.Lapenna and N.Boctor Awad shared two goals each, R.Tanous collected four points and G.Villenueve was sharp in net stopping all but two goals. Team Yellow’s limited offense came-from C.Doulis, who participated in both tallies, and S.Boulerice that notched the other goal.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to number R.Tanous. His three primary assists along with a goal provided a good portion of Team Whites offense in the convincing win.

High octane offense powers Team Orange past Team Green

(11)Team Orange vs Team Green(9)

While it may have been exciting for the players, the same couldn’t be said of the goaltenders. Both sides had only one assignment, and that was to try and score goals. This contest was hard to gauge for where it was headed due to the back and forth action that never really slowed down. At one point, Team Yellow found themselves up 11-9 with only six minutes left in the game. The memo was only sent by then for them to tighten up and close out the game. M.Tzouvadakis knew he needed to have a strong sequence in net since Team Green was going to put some pressure. To his credit, the net minder delivered after facing a wave of shots coming-from everywhere. Its something that P.Santullo will certainly address in the dressing room after the game .Team Green may not like where they are in the standings, but know that they are a way better team than what there record shows. They have the weapons up front that can score at will no matter the opponent. For them, it really comes down to playing a stronger defensive game. If they figure that part out, things can turn around. However, they haven’t shown it yet this season which may come as a concern if they don’t fix it. As for Team Orange, they also have the same issues. Scoring goals wont be a problem which leaves them that task of tightening up the screws.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to R.Marshall of Team Orange. The forward was buzzing throughout the entire game causing plenty of fits for his oppositions defence. By the time it was said and done, RYAN capped off a nice hat trick with goals coming at key moments.

Thursday December 22(Final)

Snipers storm out of gate catching Van Doos Hc off guard

(2)Van Doos vs HC vs Snipers(6) Game 1

It took up until this point into the entire season for somebody to ruin what was a perfect record so far. The Van Doos HC unbeaten streak came to an end to the hands of the Snipers, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. It was all Snipers-from the drop of the ball storming out of the gate on four quick goals by only the seven minute mark. They were able to build a 4-1 lead in which they never surrendered with help of two goals by H.Faour. Every single player turned in a fine performance knowing the importance of getting that first game under their belt. It showed that the Van Doos didn’t quite come out with the same urgency. And the last thing you want is to fall behind to a team like the Snipers. A.Papazian appeared to give some hope to the Van Doos Hc by bagging his second shorthanded, but that was immediately responded by H.Atoui. Despite the amount of time left over, there was almost no way that the Snipers were letting this one slip away. Finally, they capped off a convincing and well deserved game one victory to position themselves in a closer path to glory.

Snipers fall short after furious comeback in third period, series will go the distance

(6)Snipers vs Van Doos Hc(7) Game 2

A furious third period comeback was not enough as the Snipers woke up a little to late in order to reach their goal. This contest was a perfect example of how a desperate team reacts after a disappointing loss. The Van Doos Hc knew what was at stake, and made sure to rebound on a desperate effort returning the favour to the Snipers by getting the way better start. It looked like it was headed for a blow out win with the score 6-1 after two frames. However, that didn’t stop the Snipers for making it an exciting conclusion to a game that appeared complete when the final stanza began. The five goal rally saw five different players take turns finding the back of the net. If not for an untimely penalty, the Snipers may have potentially been crowned champions. Instead, N.Chiminian made sure to capitalise on the power on a goal that ultimately stood up for the winner. After playing two games, both teams have dictated the terms on where things were headed. Since nothing has been settled yet, only a fifteen minute game, and possibly more extra time will determine who comes out on top.

J.Liakakos heroic OT winner lifts Van Doos Hc past Snipers in thrilling final

(1)Snipers vs Van Doos Hc(2) O.T Game 3

J.Liakakos wasn’t going to let his chance slip away after receiving a pass-from N.Chiminian on a two on one play. Prior to that sequence, the Snipers were very close to converting on an odd man rush only to see a turn over spiral the other way where Liakakos made sure to seize the moment. His perfect wrist shot went right behind the Snipers goaltender, and the Van Doos Hc celebrated a big moment after an entertaining back and forth series. You almost need to score first when entering a game three mini match. Hadi Khanafer gave that luxury early on for the Snipers which now forced a much needed equaliser by the Van Doos Hc. Maybe it was wishful thinking trying to shut out your opponent during an entire period as the Snipers could have used one more to put a serious strangle hold in the game. Unable to provide some insurance, the Snipers gave one up instead when A.Papazian struck by the mid way point of the frame. Both sides knew by then that the next tally was the equivalent of a sudden death winner. Since nobody wanted to be the culprit of a bad mistake, this contest wasn’t going to be decided until an unfortunate set of circumstances. Hockey is played fast involving a lot of reactionary decisions which can sometimes turn into mishaps. On an innocent play that went bad for the Snipers, turned into a golden opportunity for the Van Doos Hc where J.Liakakos made sure to end it on a brilliant finish. Even though prior to this series the HC Van Doos entered as favourite due to their unbeaten perfect record , it was expected that the Snipers would have made a serious push after showing plenty in the regular season, and more importantly during their playoff run. The only difference came down to one single play in a game that has an unlimited amount of variables. Tonight, it was simply the Van Doos Hc’s night as they proved once more that they were always the real team to beat. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Louis Bavellas and the Van Doos Hc for winning the E Thursday division.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to James Liakakos. While this championship run involved every single player to getting this far, the Van Doos Hc were glad to see J.Liakakos put an end to it on a beautiful play.

Wednesday December 19 (Finals)

P.Karvouriaris scores 2 power play goals, Punishers take series lead

(4)Punishers vs Armadillos(2) Game 1

It’s the playoffs, and P.Karvouriaris is at his best, scoring two power play goals en route to a big 4-2 win for the Punishers. Those two tallies came after the mid way point of the game with the Punishers holding on to a very close lead. The Armadillos struck first very early on a goal-from J.Chiropoulos in a lead that barely lasted when M.Koutavas responded only minutes later. While its easier said than done, the Armadillos knew they had to stay out of the penalty box. They went down 2-1 early in the second period which isn’t a big deal with so much time and hockey left over. The problem was that they took an unfortunate penalty later on in the frame giving the Punishers a golden opportunity to widen their lead. That’s when P.Karvouriaris made sure to bury his chance providing a two goal cushion. Still, time was not yet a factor, but the Armadillos knew they had their work ahead of them in order to bounce back. C.Ekonomakis had conceded only one tally by then, and wasn’t  planning to giving up much more despite it being the holiday season. K.Kuczmarski did eventually get to Ekonomakis by the third period to narrow the gap for the Armadillos. With the next goal so crucial for where this series was headed, the Armadillos again found themselves in the box where the inevitable happened. For a second time, P.Karvouriaris smelled blood ,and notched his second power play goal to help secure game one of this series.

Punishers blasts Armadillos, repeat as winners of D Wednesday division

(0)Armadillos vs Punihsers(9) Game 2

Down 1-0 in a series between two rivals, the Armadillos were expected to test the Punishers with their seasons backs to the wall, but it never transpired that way. You can argue it was close enough in the first half of the contest with the score favouring the Punishers 3-0. However, once they collected that fourth tally later in the frame, the Armadillos lost interest. The lack of motivation was apparent by the third period where the Armadillos hung around watching the game turn into a landslide-from a side that kept pressing making sure to close out the series with ease. While many did participate offensively with so many goals, credit has to go once again to C.Gingras and P.Karvouriaris for creating the snow ball effect. The 3-0 lead was thanks to the two headed monster as both players complemented each other on all three tallies. Once you create that kind of a momentum, the rest tends to fall into play. There was no doubt that the rest of the Punishers fed off it as the game went on, especially knowing that it led to a successful championship run. On behalf of hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to John Fidrilis and the rest of the Punishers for repeating as champs.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Peter Karvouriaris of the Punishers. Timing is everything, and P.Karvouriaris once again came through at the right moments in both games to help solidify two  nice wins for his club.

Monday December 19 (Finals, division 1)

C.Kakivelis hero in Classics repeat championship run

In a series that was expected to be unpredictable lived up to full expectations as the Classics once again found a way to reach the finish line first. Scoring the overtime winner in a game three is a big deal, but that was just a fraction of the story. This series had the making of a Hollywood story line with so many twits and turns that kept the players guessing the entire time where it was headed. The Classics had the better start to their night winning a nail biting game one that was closer than it should have been. Leading 4-0 clearly wasn’t a comfortable margin as the Dragons roared back to pull within one only to fall short. The strong finish did help the Dragons despite dropping the contest as the were able to bounce back in a crazy game two. At one point, they led 6-3 by the mid way mark of the final frame. You would have to figure it was enough of a sufficient lead to end the game in regulation time. Even with that kind of a margin, the Dragons were unable to stop the high powered Classics offense, especially P.Karvouriaris, who was just that good bagging five goals. With that late surge, only a shootout stood in between the Classics clinching their title or for an extended series. It only seemed fitting that the drama was going to continue longer. Then Dragons scored on all three shootout attempts while the Classics saw their top gun P.Karvouriaris miss for a rare time. It was now off to a nerve wrecking game three mini game. After trading a goal each, M.Dettorre completed a beautiful passing play to put the Dragons up 2-1 with only 45 seconds left in the game. In normal circumstances, it would tend to hold up, but not when playing a team that can score at will. Only five seconds had gone by for P.Karvouriaris to respond and force an eventual sudden death frame. The overtime period is a five minute duration before heading into a shootout. If you are a betting man watching the entire series, you knew not to put a black penny on it reaching a shootout . The two teams have way to much offensive talent for it to go scoreless. Eventually, the moment came when C.Kakivelis ripped a shot to beat P.Delli Colli. This came as the second time that the Classics needed a game three overtime tally to pull through. It just goes to show how tight the division is and that almost anything can happen. That being said, the Classics showed once more that they are the real deal as they claimed a second straight title. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Pat Santullo and the Classics for winning an incredible final.

(4)Classics vs Dragons(3) Game 1

(10)Dragons vs Classics(9) S.O Game 2

(3)Classics vs Dragons(2) O.T Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Costa Kakivelis of the Classics. Throughout the entire series, C.Kakivelis was a dominant force accumulating a ton of points, and undoubtedly the biggest goal of the season to cap off an impressive run.

Monday December 19 (finals, division 2)

Battle of two deserving sides goes the distance, Degenerates prevail by a hair over ETNA

It came down to a game three series after ETNA responded with a big game two win. The Degenerates were glad to be ahead after squeezing out a very close 2-1 win to kick start the night. A.Desrosiers and P.Paikopoulos had each scored, and C.Stavriadis was calm and collective making the necessary saves. For a very good portion of the game, the Degenerates barely made mistakes expect for maybe one time as they got caught on a line change. That one play saw M.Calabrice all alone on a breakaway where he made no mistake to bury his chance. Still, the Degenerates were up, and made sure to tighten the bolts by keeping a desperate ETNA team to the outside. To their credit, they killed off the clock en route to a nail biting win. Its always nice to be ahead, but that’s only half the work done if you pan on reaching the finish line. Even though the Degenerates expressed between games that the first five minutes were vital, it still didn’t stop ETNA-from responding with two quick goals. All of a sudden, this series took a turn as ETNA were now the ones dictating the match. However, that didn’t stop the Degenerates-from battling back as they put everything on the line in hopes of avoiding a game three. P.Stroubakis used an early second period power play goal to tie the game at 3-3, and put the Degenerates in a strong position by riding their momentum. From-that point on, the two sides played it cautious not giving up room out there that can ultimately decide the outcome of this series. It really came down to seizing the moment  when it presented itself. As the game started to wind down into the final two minutes, M.Alfieri dug the ball out-from under C.Stavriadis, who thought he had it by feeding the open net. That goal proved to be just enough for ETNA to hold up and force a third an deciding game. Now that this series was knotted up at one game a piece , twelve minutes or possibly more stood in the way to see who would come out on top. Scoring first usually comes a long way in such a format. This time, O.Valiquette was able to provide it for the Degenerates on a brilliant one timer that gave M.Stoico no chance of reaching it. The good news fro ETNA was that it came early which gave them plenty of time to respond. They did manage the equaliser five minutes later courtesy of D.Petraccia. With the way the night had been going, it was only fitting that more drama would take place. Rather than dwelling on giving up their slight edge, A.Desrosiers wasted barely a minute to regain the lead for the Degenerates on a hard wrist shot that went top corner. Its one thing to give up a lead once, and another to let it slip away for a second time. The Degenerates knew what was at stake with just over four minutes left in the season. By playing it a shift at a time, every single player put their maximum effort in making sure to prevent anymore goals. ETNA was now forced to pull out their net minder for the extra attacker. Although they had ball possession to generate some shots toward the net, the Degenerates defence kept getting in front of the ball while at worse case C.Stavriadis would be there to make the saves. Eventually, S.Marricco got access to the ball, and kept winning some very strong battles along the boards before finding himself feeding an empty cage. All that was left over-from there on was to bleed out the few seconds remaining for the Degenerates. Prior to this series, both teams felt confident about their chances, but knew that it could have gone either way. Tonight, the Degenerates were able to make that one extra big play that led them to another very close win. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Sebastian Sicuso for putting together a mix of good players that found a way to getting it done.

(2)Degenerates vs ETNA(1) Game 1

(4)ETNA vs Degenerates(3) Game 2

(3)Degenerates vs ETNA(1) Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Perry Stroubakis of the Degenerates. No question that P.Stroubakis provided the legs, energy and a bunch of points to help carry some aging legs to a championship run. 

Sunday December 18

Team White hold up after letting their guard down

(4)Team Purple vs Team White(6)

After a flying start in what looked like a total mismatch, Team White found themselves way ahead grabbing a 6-1 lead just shy of the thirty minute mark. Mathieu Chenier led the charge bagging a hat trick, M.Estrela cashed in on a penalty shot, and G.Villeuneuve didn’t have to pull much of a sweat allowing only one goal. Rather than the game spiralling out of control, the battle tested Team Purple had counterpunched before it was said and done. The next three goals came by C.Zafiropoulos striking twice and R.Santosuoso getting the other. At least a response was there, but it came a little to late. All four goals in the loss came with the help of A.Zafiropoulos as the young talent keeps improving adding three helpers and a goal. It showed that Team White were the ones that came ready to play. Anytime you build such a lead, it usually holds which was the case despite Team Purple showing a lot more bite in the final twenty minutes.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Mathieu. It took only 24 minutes into the contest for Mathieu Chenier to cause plenty damage with a hat trick.

Team Green unable able to protect three consecutive leads in loss to Team Red

(3)Team Green vs Team Red(6)

M.Saia had his hand in providing three leads for Team Green, who ended up on the short side of the stick before the game ended. Every time Team Green would pull ahead , Team Red respond each and every time until finally pulling away in the last ten minutes. That’s when E.Pouliot went into beast mode rattling off three straight markers to cap off an impressive finish. It was perhaps one of those cases that Team Green needed to be more aggressive and build on their slight lead. They had three chances to try and widen the margin, but couldn’t create enough of a gap. Since they haven’t shown much of a strong defensive game so far this season, they almost need to rely on playing an aggressive offensive style in hopes of playing ahead. They almost had it tonight if it wasn’t for E.Pouliot turning the tides in the final stretch.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Eric Pouliot of Team Red. Talk about a strong finish. With the game knotted at 3-3, E.Pouliot went on a tear converting three times in such a short span to help give his side a double up win over Team Green.

Team Orange slump continues, Team Black storm out of gate

(3)Team Orange vs Team Black(8)

Its what you’ll get when you allow at least an average of eight goals per game, a losing record. Team Orange have now given up 25 goals in their last three starts, and despite having some fire power to compensate, it wont be enough to collect wins. When things go this bad, there is always plenty to blame. The easiest position to pick on is the goaltending, but it goes deeper than that . You just cant win playing poorly in your own end. And there shouldn’t be any reason why you give up six straight goals in the first twenty four minutes before finally getting on board. Unless Team Orange figure out how to address their foes, games like this will continue to happen. On the flip side where the grass is much greener, Team Black did plenty right-from the drop of the ball. They made sure to jump out in front while pressing hard for a good portion of the game to putting it out of reach. Although he did not score, Ari Daghlian helped set up four tallies. A.Farina had a nice night collecting a hat trick, M.Papadakis was right there accumulating three points while A.Zardarian had a solid game in net allowing only three goals.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Mary Papadakis of Team Black. Always well positioned, the winger has a nose for the net striking twice while setting up a teammate.

T.Scarpelli powers Team Pink on four goals in back and forth action with Team Blue

(9)Team Pink vs Team Blue(5)

Team Pinks gritty forward scored three consecutive goals in only eight minutes to help power his team to a wild 9-5 victory. T.Scarpelli had scored early on before riding three straight markers at a crucial time during the match. The game remained always within reach for Team Blue, who kept battling keeping it very close. Sometimes there is just no stopping somebody with a hot hand. All it takes is one player that’s feeling it to make a huge difference. With the game fairly close, T.Scarpelli put it to another level in a short period of time. While he is deserving for the havoc he caused, D.Melo merits the credit as well by setting up the forward on all four occasions. Other notables include J.Choudhry and M.Kabassakalina as the two players collected a pair of goals each. As for Team Blue, N.Faria did his part scoring twice.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Tony Scarpelli of Team Pink. If you are Team Pink, you couldn’t have asked more-from your grinding forward. T.Scarpelli is a player that drives the net getting into the tough areas where he often cleans the mess by putting the ball behind the net.

Team Brown mount remarkable comeback overtime win

(11)Team Yellow vs Team Brown(12) O.T

Trailing 9-4 at one point, Team Brown displayed unbelievable resilience and grit, concluding the game on a massive run where S.Sicuso was there to cap it off in overtime. While it goes without saying that you need all your elements to overcome such a deep hole, it did help when your top guns provided the offense required . T.Settino and D,.Galloro were not going to go un noticed in these types of affairs. The two were dynamic which was why the combined for a ridiculous fifteen points complementing each other nearly every time. For a good portion during the early part of the match, Team Yellow showed good intensity to ride there way better start. By the thirty minute mark of this contest, they found themselves up 9-4 by getting balanced production throughout their line up. A.Zakarian, M.Scarpetta, E.Colella and J.Musi all collected two goals each, and things appeared to be going just fine. Then, and for whatever reason, Team Yellow dropped their guard and allowed Team Brown to bounce right back into it. If the focus could have been on trying to slow down your usual suspects in D.Galloro and T.Settino, than maybe they would have prevailed. Instead, the two forwards did pretty much what the wanted, and is a large reason why they overcome such a huge deficit en route to a thrilling overtime finish.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Tony Settino of Team Brown. Since this game saw both sides provide an abundant of goals, its only fitting that T.Settino deserves the acolytes as the forward was unstoppable scoring four times as part of  an eight point performance.

Friday December 16(Final)

Generals relentless in game 1 thumping vs United Masters

(8)Generals vs United Maters(0) Game 1

It was all about trying to keeping it close for the united Masters. For about a period things weren’t critical, but that changed when J.Brunet riffled the Generals fourth goal on the power play just shy of the mid way mark. The Generals continued to press-from that point on adding three more by the third period to cap off an easy win. M.Pinheiro found the back of the net three times, V.Lamarche was a force collecting five points, and M.Gagnon earned a shutout. When playing twice on the same night while suffering an ugly loss, you hope to grab something positive heading into game two. For the United Masters, they had nothing to show for , not even a goal to gain some confidence knowing that they can get to M.Gagnon. There only approach was to quickly put it behind them and worry on what’s ahead.

D.Lafleur sets the path for claiming championship on a hat trick

(4)United Masters vs Generals(9) Game2

You knew that the Generals were going to make strong statement by making sure to take this series in two games. Unless the United Masters had some magic formula riding only two change ups versus a powerhouse, there wasn’t much of a chance. They did however put a little more into their game by at least getting their offense going. A.Minassian owned that department getting goals in every frame to earn a hat trick. Maybe they addressed that area of their game, but weren’t able to fine tune a strong defensive effort. The Generals again were able to dissect the Untied Masters defence while able to get to a solid net minder in S.Pistone enough times. Its wasn’t a case of trying to neutralize a particular player or two for the United Masters. When a team has more than enough weapons, you have to make sure to play well as a collective unit without the ball. The United Masters actually excel in that department which is why they reached the final. The problem was that they had to try and contain a deadlier force which were simply overwhelming. In the end, the expected team prevailed which came to nobody’s surprise. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to David Lafleur and the Generals for winning the Masters 35+ division.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to David Lafleur of the Generals. The captain can proudly say his earned a hat trick by posting goals in each frame in game that secured the Masters 35+ championship.

Thursday December 15(Semi finals)

Van Doos Hc storm ahead of Brew Crew with game 1 victory

(4)Van Doos Hc vs Brew Crew(2) Game 1

The E Thursday semi finals didn’t start off on a good note for the Brew Crew as they were upended by the division leaders. The Brew Crew came out humming and got the first tally by B.Sansotta. Hoping to build off a good start, the Brew Crew found themselves trailing by the time the frame ended. J.Liakakos and N.Kokovidis each scored, and the Van Doos Hc turned the tides entering the second period. Ever since jumping up 2-1, the Van Doos Hc never squandered their lead . J.DeSua was there to reduce the margin by one for the Brew Crew, but that was close as it got. What become concerning for the Brew Crew was their inability to generate enough decent scoring chances. The Van Doos Hc controlled a good portion of the play while making sure to take away space-from their opponent. It always helps having a solid goaltender as you last line of defense. J.Liopoulos, although not overly busy, stood firm in net making sure to keep his side playing in front. With game one now under their belt, the Van Doos Hc remain perfect still without a loss all season as they’ll try and sweep the Brew Crew in the ensuing match.

Snipers pull ahead in series on furious comeback win over Fatal Demons

(3)Fatal Demons vs Snipers(4) Game 1

As good as the Fatal Demons were coming out of the gate riding three goals in only eight minutes, sadly, it just wasn’t good enough. It certainly wasn’t the way you wanted to start a semi final series if you are the Snipers. Luckily enough, it all happened fairly early which gave them the time they needed to improve. Erasing a 3-0 deficit takes a lot-from an entire hockey team, especially when its playoffs. The Snipers did something remarkable and it all began as of the second period where they completely took over the match. Once H.Salman scored on the power play to get the Snipers on board, the rest fell into play even though most of the comeback occurred in the final frame. H.Atoui and Hadi, Khanafer scored just a minute apart to level the game at three goals apiece. You almost sensed that the next tally would belong to the Snipers for how committed they were compared to a lest urgent Fatal Demons side. This contest looked to be headed for a shootout with the clock winding down. Perhaps a deal that the Fatal Demons would have taken since they couldn’t put it together on the court while knowing C.Kakivelis was there to deliver in the breakaways. Instead, F.Nasser was able to beat the clock with only 20 seconds remaining to give the Snipers its first lead of the game. Losing a game in such a manner can break a teams spirit. However, the Fatal Demons have way to much experience in their dna to take a negative approach heading into game two. If they are able to re focus and remain positive, the Snipers will need to put out another full out effort in order to defeat them.

Van Doos refuse to lose

(2)Brew Crew vs Van Doos Hc(3) S.O Game 2

This encounter between the Brew Crew and the Van Doos Hc ended in a spectacular fashion, with the Van Doos Hc mounting a stunning comeback to defeat the Brew Crew in a shootout. D.Verta and J.DeSua provided a 2-0 Brew Crew lead before a furious Van Doos charge left the score tied 2-2, forcing a dreaded shootout. Both tallies came late on efforts by G.Tsolis and N.Zaharopoulos. N.Kokovidis was the only of the combined six players to score using a patient backhand move to get the better of C.Muccino. To think that the Brew Crew were only four minutes away-from handing the Van Doos their first loss of the season, but more importantly to tie the series 1-1.Unfortuntely, they juts couldn’t hold off long enough. C.Muccino gave every ounce of energy to help his side go as far as possible. The net minder wasn’t at a 100%, but competed hard enough to cause an upset. Sometimes its just not your night. With the win, the Van Doos Hc will now aim to win one more series while hoping to ride a perfect record. At worse case, they would take the deal for winning it in three games. Time will only tell.

M.St-Laurent timely saves enables Snipers to reach big dance

(4)Snipers vs Fatal Demons(3) S.O Game 2

The Snipers just punched their ticket to the E Thursday final, and have M.St-Laurent to thank for it. The goaltender faced about 30 shots but was more known for a few key sensational saves he made in the third period to keep the game tied. After denying M.Mavroudis on a couple of occasions, St-Laurent may have made the series changing save on M.Chenier’s one timer-from in close with just under a second remaining. His brilliant performance didn’t stop there either as a shootout loomed in what came as a must win-from the defending champs. With B.Cabral out waiting C.Kakivelis on a wicked backhand, the Fatal Demons were forced to get at least one by the Snipers net minder. And despite sending three sharp shooters to out duel the goaltender, M.St-Laurent wasn’t having it denying all three players. The game could have gone either way, but there was no denying that the Snipers got there on some very big saves. The Snipers went about playing the type of game that they are used to. They do not complicate it by simply applying a strong collective work etiquette. When you combine a resilient style along with basic hockey, you will often get rewarded. In tonight’s series versus a very good Fatal Demons hockey team, the Snipers played to their identity, and were able to advance because of it.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Nick Kokovidis of the Van Doos Hc. From-breaking up plays to creating scoring chances, the offensive defenseman did it all on Thursday night collecting three big points along with the series shootout winner.

With two teams left to claim all the glory, the Van Doos Hc will look to continue its perfect path to success as they’ll take on a very resilient Snipers team. Both teams have relied on their depth as part of the equation why they got this far. M.St-Laurent along with J.Liopoulos have been instrumental for their side so far as the two net minders did not disappoint. Forwards will likely find it difficult to generate much going up against two structured defenses. It will come down to a battle of will and determination. The team who collectively gives it all will have the chances on their side. Since both teams got this far due to their never quit attitude, this series will be a close one and should easily go the distance without any favourite despite the Van Doos Hc perfect record so far.

Wednesday December 14(Semi finals)

M.Dettorre nets hat trick as Armadillos even series with Altius

(1)Altius vs Armadillos(6) Game 2

It was the Altius coming into the game a little stronger on an early goal by M.Arkalis while the Armadillos felt that sinking feeling of repeating a similar fate like last weeks defeat. However, a late first period spark changed their mindset when G.Bouchard and L.Panetta each scored to put their side up 2-1. The Armadillos weren’t on planning to squander this one as they proved to be the way better of the two sides-from that point on. M.Dettorre was an absolute thorn posting his clubs next three goals on the help of K.Kuczmarski’s pair of assists. When good teams have their backs to the wall, they’ll often bounce back on a desperate effort. There was no doubt the Armadillos showed more bite and purpose if they planned on extending the series. C.Stavriadis needed to be good in which he was stopping all but one of 26 shots. Now that thy evened up the series, only fifteen minutes and possibly more would determine who advance and punch a ticket to the final.

Altius storm back to push series to the limit, Armadillos get final say in big shootout win

(4)Armadillos vs Altius(2) S.O Game 2

Coming off a lopsided defeat with barely any time to clean out your system isn’t the ideal situation. Adding to that, giving up the games first two goals by the four minute mark in a fifteen minute format would usually suggest that it’s a recipe for disaster. The Armadillos wasted no time carrying their momentum when J.Bolanakis and G.Bouchard struck early. On normal circumstances, even though it’s only a slight 2-0 lead, many would have thought that this series was completely over by then. The game went scoreless-from that point on for nearly six minutes as the Altius’s season started to look like a distant memory. They looked almost out of gas, and the Armadillos had them on the ropes. It had looked like those two early goals would be enough to propel the Armadillos into the final. As the game was headed into its final stages of the frame, the Altius needed something to give. Eventually, they got some life thanks to a power play goal by P.Arkalis. And since sometimes you need that one little spark to shift the tides, the Altius fed off it and got rewarded once more with less than a minute remaining to knot up the score at two goals apiece. Out of nowhere, this series was up for grabs with so little time to decide its outcome. Both sides went through a scoreless five minute sudden death frame before reaching the shootout for a second time in this series.  This time however, the Armadillos were able to return the favour scoring twice on goals by K.Kuczmarski and B.Gabbour while C.Stavriadis went perfect denying both attempts by the Altius.

Punishers down Assadi Consulting inc to close out series

(1)Assadi Consulting inc vs Punishers(4) Game 2

The Assadi Consulting inc knew that they needed nothing less than a near perfect game if they decided to stick around long enough in the playoffs. Defeating the Punishers is quite a feat, and unless you did everything right, you’ll likely fall short in the end. Perhaps an area that didn’t help was taking a couple of penalties which enabled the Punishers to strike twice with the man advantage. C.Gingras and C.Stamadianos made sure to bury their chances with the man up. While trying to prevent goals is an important understatement, scoring them is something that is also required. The problem with that doesn’t help when trying to figure out C.Ekonomakis. As he’s’ shown throughout the entire season, the net minder wont give up many. You almost need to beat him on a perfect play which is difficult to do for how sound defensively the Punishers are. In the end, the Punishers showed that their regular season record isn’t a fluke as they now move a step closer to achieving their goal.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Costa Stavriadis of the Armadillos. Look for your goaltending to help bail you out. In a pair of must win games, Stavriadis delivered in a big way allowing only own goal in game two while stopping two shootout attempts to help decide the series.

Two opponents very familiar with one another will now meet for a third straight time in the final. The Punishers are the current reigning champs, and the Armadillos will look to dethrone them in what will be a thrilling final. This match up has the making of a hard nosed series that should go the distance. The Punishers have been the more consistent team throughout the season with barely any mishaps. They will be incredibly difficult to beat, and will require the Armadillos to play at the very top of their game. However, if there is one team that can take down the Punishers, the Armadillos is that team. Both sides have all areas of their game covered. They match well in net, the quality of their defensemen wont be the issue while the forwards have the ability to score . It will go without saying that the Armadillos must watch carefully the dangers that C.Gingras and P.Karvouriaris pose every time they get on. They will need to limit the dynamic duo in order to keep the Punishers offense in check. If they manage that part of their game, the next challenge will be to get to C.Ekonomakis. The net minder is so hot right now that he may just be the reason why the Punishers take it in the end,. That being said, C.Stavriadis will have the weight on his shoulders to deliver an equally brilliant performance between the pipes in which he has the capability to do so. Look for a long thrilling series between two strong hockey teams.

Monday December 12( Semi finals, division 2)

Degenerates knock out Country Club with series ending shootout win

After taking a much needed game one, the Degenerates knew the second encounter would come with a lot more resistance. The Country Club went scoreless in their loss, but immediately found the back of the net in game two courtesy of J-S Lowe to gain some confidence. Goals weren’t going to come easy as both sides upped their level of play with so much on the line. Luckily enough for the Degenerates, S.Marricco  and A.Lamont were in top form controlling much of the play that resulted in Marricco tying the game on two occasions. With just over three minutes remaining, neither side could find a goal ,and the Degenerates won the battle of nerves in the shootout. C.Stavriadis saved three Country Club breakaways, and P.Stroubakis stroked home the decisive winner.

(2)Degenerates vs Country Club(0) Game 1

(2)Country Club vs Degenerates(3) S.O Game 2

(Semi finals, division 1)

A.Kakivelis unleashes a nasty seeing-eye shot to end an epic series

They needed a game three sudden death overtime, but the Classics were able to defeat the Assadi Consulting inc in a thriller. Its tough to be put in a spot when you play a ton of good hockey that can go either way decided on one play. When teams are evenly matched, its usually the last play that counts. In this case, a simple shot on net-from mid court decided the outcome thanks to A.Kakivelis sending the ball to the net in hopes of it going through. Despite what the regular season standings look like, there really wasn’t much separating these two teams when flooring a complete line up. The Assadi Consulting inc looked at times like the better of the two sides making plenty of nice plays that kept the Classics on its heels. Even though they dropped the opener it didn’t stop them form crawling back into this series. They used a strong first period to take a commanding 4-2 lead, and tightened the bolts knowing that the Classics were going to push back. Finally, the series needed another period to see who would come out on top. As expected, regulation time solved nothing with the score all tied up at one goal apiece. Once you reach this stage of a back and forth battle knowing that the next play will decide your fate, any shot toward the net can ultimately make the difference. It took only a few seconds into the sudden death frame for A.Kakivelis to throw the ball on net and catch the Assadi Consulting defense and goaltender off guard. It may not have been the prettiest goal considering the circumstances, but it counts nevertheless.

(6)Classics vs Assadi Consulting inc(3) Game 1

(5)Assadi Consulting inc vs Classics(3) Game 2

(2)Classics vs Assadi Consulting inc(1) O.T Game 3

(Semi finals, division 2)

M.Alfieri heroic shootout goal lifts ETNA past Snipers in thrilling series

It was a series that every ball hockey fan can appreciate. From-highlight reel goals to strong goaltending, it definitely lived up to the pre series hype. Both teams went toe to toe with neither backing down. After finding themselves trailing 1-0 in the series, the Snipers took a big game two thanks to a very late power play goal by Ali Sayed. Now that everything was all tied up, it was a given that both teams would give everything they’ve got. It was ETNA’s early power play goal by M.Calabrice that got the ball rolling. When playing in these types of games, players sometimes tend to give a little to much when battling for the ball. On two occasions, ETNA took a pair of unnecessary penalties. They did manage to kill one off, but couldn’t do it for a second straight time. Finding himself very comfortable in his office, F.Nasser used his patented wrist shot to get the better of M.Stoico to tie the game up 1-1. That tally left four minutes on the clock, and considering the way the series was going ,the two sides understood the importance of the next goal. Since regulation time solved nothing, an ensuing five minute sudden death period stood in the way to see who would come out on top. Still, neither side seized the moment with both M.St-Laurent and M.Stoico stealing the show. The two net minders were at their absolute best giving their side every chance possible to take the series. However, things couldn’t get decided in time which left a dreaded shootout. Out of the combined six players sent to try and be the hero, M.Alfieri was the only successful shooter. The skilled player came down very patiently while using a nifty move to get the better of ST.Laurent .While his tally proved to be huge, M.Stoico was just as significant for the result as the net minder stood firm denying all three shot attempts.

(2)ETNA vs Snipers(1) Game 1

(3)Snipers vs ETNA(2) Game 2

(2)ETNA vs Snipers(1) S.O Game 3

(Semi finals, division 1)

C.Ekonomakis puts on goaltending clinic for Brodie Boys, Dragons go the distance to punch ticket in final

No matter how good the Brodie Boys are, and they definitely are a strong, smart hockey team, it was almost irrelevant who was in front of C.Ekonomakis. The net minder turned aside 27 shots, many with highlight reel flair  to record a shutout and an important win to kick start the series. No matter what, the Brodie Boys will get their goals which was the case in game one’s 3-0 win. Entering the second encounter, everything appeared to be repeating itself with the Brodie Boys scoring twice on goals by M.Koutavas and A.Pietracuppa while C.Ekonomakis remained brilliant keeping the Dragons off the score sheet. It was now three straight periods of hockey that the Dragons have yet to figure out the goaltender. In many cases, teams will feel discouraged being snake bitten for that long , especially in a playoff series. That being said, the Dragons isn’t your ordinary team as they have the pedigree to overcome adversity due to their talent and years of experience. All they needed was for one to go in, and the rest would follow.  Eventually they finally got to C.Ekonomakis, and only because the scoring chances were nearly impossible to stop. Two out of the four goals came-from P.Musto’s precise bullets. The Dragons struck four times during that final period to overcome their deficit and force a third and deciding mini game. Since both teams were playing at the top of their game, the chances were good that this series was also going the distance. The two sides couldn’t get it done in regulation time along with the five minute overtime period where P.Delli Colli and C.Ekonomakis kept their clubs in it making spectacular saves. Unfortunately, another good series with two deserving teams needed to be resolved in a breakaway competition. This time, the Dragons got the edge thanks to A.Mirolla and J.Mandracchia getting the better of Ekonomakis while P.Delli Colli denied two very skilled players to capture a nail biting series.

(3)Brodie Boys vs Dragons(0) Game 1

(4)Dragons vs Brodie Boys(3) Game 2

(2)Brodie Boys vs Dragons(4) S.O Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the game for division 1 goes to Chris Ekonomakis of the Brodie Boys. What more can you ask-from your net minder, who kept the Dragons off the score sheet for three entire periods.

The SalumiVino player of the game for division 2 goes to Massimo Alfieri of ETNA. When a series goes this far, you look for your gamers to show up. M.Alfieri brought it on Monday night collecting a pair of important assists in a very low scoring affair while netting ETNA’s most important goal in the shootout to send his club through to the final.

The Classics and the Dragons are left to battle it out in the first division. It goes without saying that the Dragons will need to floor a complete line up. With all their elements in play, the Dragons will give the Classics a serious run. Nothing comes easy at this stage of the season as both sides are built to go all the way. There is just too much talent on both sides to predict any winner. Maybe the simple formula of limiting mistakes while avoiding penalties is what it will take.

As for the second division, the Degenerates will have to go up against a deep ETNA side. Expect a sort of chess match as the two teams wont be giving up much room. Players will need to work hard and be creative sometimes with the ball in order to generate some scoring chances. Goaltending is strong with M.Stoico and C.Stavriadis guarding the cage. This series should go far which is expected-from two teams that have shown plenty till this point.

Sunday December 11

P.Stroubakis and M.Barone power Team Red with hat tricks

(4)Team Yellow vs Team Red(9)

Team Red’s potent offense loomed large on Sunday night as they took on Team Yellow. Powered by a pair of hat tricks-from P.Stroubakis and M.Barone, Team Red proved to be a handful for the oppositions defence and goaltender. It helps having a strong supporting cast which enabled the two players to collect a hat trick. The play making abilities were in full display, especially in the first half of the game where Team Red ran up the score for a 6-1 lead at one point. Team Yellow did eventually calm the high tides by responding with three goals of their own. M.Scarpetta and A.Zarkarian led the charge for their side bagging two goals each. With this win, Team Red are starting in inch closer as a middle of the pack team.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Perry Stroubakis of Team Red. When you have that kind of speed, skill and vision, points are to be expected. P.Stroubakis collected five points including a hat trick to help lead his club to a convincing win.

Team Pink take this one by committee over Team Green

(10)Team Pink vs Team Green(5)

As a whole, Team Pink played great hockey. Many forwards were firing on all cylinders, the defence looked solid, and G.Platanitis stood his ground during an important stretch during the game. For well over twenty minutes into this contest, Team Green were neck in neck trailing only by one goal. It was only by the 27th mark of the game that this contest tilted in one direction. Team Pink found that extra gear and took off-from there striking four consecutive times to create a nice gap. The scoring came by many different players which sometimes makes it hard for a defending side to contain since there isn’t an apparent threat. Team Green couldn’t follow their assignments on how to slow things down. By the time things calmed down, the game was well out of reach for any sort of miracle comeback. J.Choudhry, A.Daghlian and M.Kardum all had a pair in the win while D.Fortier did the same, but in a losing cause.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to George Platanitis of Team Pink. At an important time during the contest, G.Platanitis was there to deliver a strong goaltending performance keeping Team Green off the score sheet for twenty straight minutes.

Team Brown allow four in a row after a decent start with Team Black

(3)Team Brown vs Team Black(8)

For a large part, it looked like this contest was going to go down to the wire or at the very least for it to remain close till the end. Both sides had traded a pair of goals each, the game remained levelled at two goals apiece, and nobody really knew where this was headed. That was until a very small sequence where Team Black came out of nowhere riffling three goals in just over two minutes. Talk about a turn of events. What once looked like an evenly matched game turned into a meltdown for Team Brown. Goals came fast and-from three different players that provided a 5-2 lead in favour of Team Black. From-starting off aggressive and precise, Team Brown went to playing sloppy and on their heels throughout the mid part of the contest. They just couldn’t find their game and keep it together for long enough. Apart-from P.Stroubakis cashing in twice, Team Black spread out their offense getting goals-from seven different players.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to A.Zardarian. The goaltender helped his team out by not allowing a single goal for twenty two straight minutes. With the game tied 2-2, Zardarian shut the door enabling his side to build off it en route to a well earned victory.

N.Macri strikes 4 times, G.Villenueve was sharp in net, and Team White ride a dominant start

(3)Team Orange vs Team White(8)

Simply put, Team White was to much to handle for Team Orange. For nearly forty straight minutes, Team Orange struggled to get on board, and only got there thanks to B.Monette. A good chunk of their scoring came by N.Macri, who rattled off four markers. Its one things to fail in one department by allowing a bunch of goals, but its another to not be able to generate anything either. Team Orange have the leadership and quality players to make something happen. However, they just couldn’t put anything together in this particular game. Sometimes, you just run into a hot net minder where nothing much can really be done. This couldn’t be the expectations for Team Orange, who have some figuring out to do. E.Colella will have a week to deal with fumes coming out of his ears.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to G.Villeneuve of Team White. He didn’t need to be perfect, but G.Villeneuve was close to it making a bunch of nice saves while allowing only his first goal fairly late in the game.

Team Blue battle back against Team Purple but fall short in the end

(4)Team Blue vs Team Purple(7)

Team Purple spent twenty minutes building a 4-1 lead, and the next fifteen minutes nearly giving it away. Some spotty decision making enabled Team Blue to battle back on two very fast goals by J-C Mansour and P.Desforges. All of a sudden, there was a game making that next goal very crucial. In hopes of carrying their momentum, Team Blue fell back a few steps allowing two very quick tallies by A.Zafiropoulos and A.Angelis. What once appeared like a closely knitted affair spiralled into one direction with Team Purple regaining control. Still, time wasn’t yet an issue, but the order was tall. A.DeSua would eventually respond for Team Blue to pull his side within a pair, but that was all they would get behind B.Verducci with eight minutes remaining. C.Zafiropoulos and A.Zafiropoulos ignited the offense netting two goals each while combining for a total of eight points.

The Allo Mon Coco player of the game goes to Costa Zafiropoulos of Team Purple. In the seven goals scored by Team Purple, the veteran had his hand on five of those tallies, and was a major reason why his side prevailed.