Suds Bubble... but Fizzle against Spartans.

Schlitz(1) vs Spartans

Thursday 10/4

10:30 UMass

2-0 Loss.

Another fabulous night of D-Leauge Hockey at the Pleasure Dome that is... U-Ass Boston. This particular night was enhanced by not only the condition of the ice, which resembled the Southeast X-pressway (think potholes), but by the extra good feeling we all recieved paying $6.00 just to park near the rink. I'm sure there is free parking somewhere over at the J.F.K. Museum but really... who has the energy to carry your hockey stuff a mile and a half? We should have taken it as a sign.

The Suds did show some signs of life as the title defense got underway against our old friends the Spartans (dk green). They had thier regulars, and gave a typical hard working, opportunistic performance. The Guys in Gold got some opportunities early and the game stayed 0-0 into the second period.

Nice solid chances were seen from the second line of Scott Pounds, Matvey Nikhamik and Roman Kurin. Mike Hammitt abley rotated through this line and the first line (who also had some solid chances) of Larry Bell, Matt Elliott and Ken Goldenberg. Some good bids but not enough outlets to open defensement at the point, and never really any consistent presence in the slot.

Things (ie: The Spartans) caught up with us, and our heavy legs, and after the Gold chased them around our own end for what seemed like an entire shift they broke the ice with a goal 5 minutes into the Second. OEJ had been playing very well, turning aside several solid chances but this one was about the 6th rebound and putback so it was kind of inevitable.

The rest of the Second stayed an uphill climb and unfortunately the Suds didn't do much to help thier own cause. About 3 minutes after the goal George Moorachian took a penalty (not much he could do really) but he wouldn't be the last Gold visitor to the box. Mike Campbell (riled that he didn't win his namesake award I'm sure) was next with about 30 sec left in the period. Both situations were killed off well by the Suds and they stared to get a few more chances at the other end.

Alas... halfway through the period Jeff Fosdick was next with a fairly awful too many men call that gave the Spartans yet another Power Play. Managing to kill that one (thanks!) less than three minutes later we send another man to the box, this time Mike Hammitt for a nice open ice take down. As you may know, follower of the blog the penalty killing was not going to hold up forever and the Spartans struck again this time just before the penalty was to expire.

Again they had several chances in a row, and it didn't help that Jeff left his man wide open about 7 feet from Mike and didn't intercept the pass that went right to him and right in the net. That was about it for the Schlitz. George took one more penalty before the night was through and the Spartans kept coming. OEJ did a good job just keeping the score at 2 as the minutes ticked away.

So... no game star love for the Suds on this one, but there were some things worth mentioning.

OEJ: Rock solid game in a losing effort. This game could have looked very different.

Matvey: Made a phenonminal backcheck to save a 2 on 0 scoring chance with about 8 minutes left in the third. By this point nobody had any legs, but Matvey made it back an broke up the play admirabley. Nice effort.

Mike Campbell: Similar story... but Mike's moment came with about 4 min remaining in the first. He came from behind to totally shut down one of thier faster forwards... cleanly I might add. He and his D partner Stephan Wennik played great all night.

Overheard in the locker room:

"You know that guy 6 was ok, but nothing really special... was it just me or did he REALLY STINK?"

"Yeah... he was ripe. I should know, he skated by me about 15 times in the third."


The 'Coon of Shame dropped by to say that during the third period he had some serious thoughts making himself a nice cozy home inside the bags of Jeff Fosdick and Mike Hammitt. He was seen lurking around our "plush" locker-room (and I use that term ... loosely) during the fateful third period when both guys took very ill-timed trips to the sin bin. Jeff for calling for his replacement then staying on the ice to face the play and earning a too many men, and Hammitt for knocking over a Spartan in open ice on our blue line. Be warned gentlemen... The Coon did not officially nest this night... but he thought about it... for a while.

Well, two games at this lovely establishment next week. Monday and Wednesday. Management is none too pleased. Get your availablilty or IN/OUTs into Kilroy so we can set roster.

The season is off an running.... a stumbling 0-1-1 after week 1. Let's try to do better next week.