Monday January 22

Rivalry ignites in season opener for Classis and Chiefs

The stage was set for an electrifying matchup as the Chiefs faced off against the recent champs Classics. The build up to the clash got intense with both sides eagerly wanting to prove themselves as the superior of the two teams. The Chiefs had an incredible chance to start off strong after awarded an early two man advantage. Instead, they went empty handed, and despite creating some grade A scoring opportunities, A.Ekonomakis stoned the Chiefs nearly every time. The missed chances eventually came to haunt them with C.Gingras causing havoc like he always does scoring twice while setting up D.Koutavas. An early 4-1 second period lead eventually morphed into a 6-1 final on a pair of empty net goals. The Chiefs knew they had another shot at it in the ensuing match. After some quick adjustments, the bounces started to go their way, especially in the final frame where they ran up the score. K.Gamache snapped the tie on the power play, and M.Fortier used a wicked slap shot to double the lead. The score line forced the Classics to take more risks.  With time starting to click away, they had no choice but to pull Ekonomakis for the extra attacker. Unfortunately, the desperate attempt didn’t pan out as the Chiefs took advantage scoring three straight empty net goals. Even though its only the first week of the regular season for both clubs, the next meeting between the Classics and the Chiefs will  eagerly be anticipated.

(6)Classics vs Chiefs(1)

(2)Classics vs Chiefs(7)

DHK collect back to back wins against Snipers on solid play without the ball

In the first showdown between the DHK and the Snipers, DHK showcased their defensive prowess and offensive flair. The game started with an early lead for the DHK that saw N.Reid get to the Snipers goaltender. Still, the Snipers were clearly in this contest up until the early stages of the final frame where J.Uppal and A.Olewinsky widened the gap by three. As the game progressed, DHK’s defence remained tight, and M.Gagnon was stopping everything. It looked as though the net minder was headed for a perfect sheet, but that unfortunately changed late when F.Nasser spoiled the shutout. Much of the second encounter mirrored the first one, with DHK maintaining their defensive strong hold while continuing to deliver up front. The Snipers will look back at a key point where they dropped the ball in trying to even the mini series. Instead of taking advantage of a power to level, the Snipers gave up a shorthanded goal to put DHK up 2-0. D.Seguin notched the huge tally putting his side once more in the drivers seat. Despite the Snipers trying to bounce back, they were stuck facing a resilient net minder in M.Gagnon, and a defense that allowed minimal space and opportunities. M.Gagnon once again delivered a stellar performance , this time earning the shutout with some impressive saves.

(5)DHK vs Snipers(1)

(3)DHK vs Snipers(0)

Assadi Consulting Inc late heroics secure consecutive wins over Les Yables

After racing off to a commanding start, the Assadi Consulting inc looked to be in fine form to defeat Les Yables. Up 4-2 entering the final frame coupled with the fact that Les Yables were missing key elements only suggested for a sure victory. As time kept winding down, Les Yables intensified their offensive pressure and benefited on two quick occasions to even the score. What once appeared like a path to sure victory turned into a coin flip scenario. The game seemingly appeared to be headed for a shootout until a late penalty enabled the Assadi Consulting inc to capitalise on their chance. M.Tvaronas notched his second with only 30 seconds remaining, and the Assadi Consulting inc squeaked out the win. The second encounter promised to be just as close with Les Yables seeking some redemption after a heart breaking loss. Similar to the previous match, they were stuck chasing the game, but managed to overcome a 2-0 deficit by the mid way point of the final period. Both sides played tentative-from that point on until a break was generated. That’s when S.Kalaydjian seized the moment by snapping the 2-2 tie. N.Chiminian than doubled the lead, and the Assadi Consulting inc banked six clean points to the standings. While the Assadi Consulting inc celebrated two hard fought wins, Les Yables wont be overly concerned knowing that some key elements would have likely made the difference in the overall results.

(5)Assadi Consulting inc vs Les Yables(4)

(4)Assadi Consulting inc vs Les Yables(3)

Experience shows in Degenerates double rout of the Beer Belly Boys

In a tilt between seasoned veterans and a team of newcomers, the Degenerates showcased their wealth of experience against the Beer Belly Boys. The game unfolded with the Degenerates dictating the pace, utilizing their seasoned strategies to control the ball and create scoring opportunities. The Beer Belly Boys, still finding their footing in the league, struggled to match the precision and coordination of their opponent. After taking the opener in a one sided affair, the second match pretty much resembled the first one with the Degenerates continuing to push the pace. Its not like the Beer Belly boys couldn’t match the speed element of the game since they are a younger and quicker team. A big part of the problem was the lack of awareness when playing without the ball. The Degenerates were able to find some easy available lanes due to the positioning of the opposition. If the Beer Belly Boys could collectively place themselves in the right spots, teams will have to work harder and be more creative in order to generate chances. In the end, its just about gaining some valuable experience in order to improve areas of your game. For now, the Beer Belly Boys will look forward to facing new challenges in the weeks to come as they’ll undoubtedly get better as the season moves on.

(7)Degenerates vs Beer Bell Boys (1)

(7)Degenerates vs Beer Belly Boys(0)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Mike Gagnon of the DHK. His stellar goaltending throughout both games did not go unnoticed. Apart-from allowing a late tally in the first match, M.Gagnon was flawless stopping nearly everything in sight.