UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

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Nords advance to Whalen Cup Finals over Bruins 7-2

This was another tough game and the score does not reflect how difficult it was for the Nordiques to overcome their nemesis, the tough and tenacious Bruins, to advance to their second Whalen Cup Final in three years. The Bruins, last years Finalists, succumbed to Tuck in overtime only one goal short from their first Whalen Cup in 04-05. This author thinks that it is only a matter of time until the Bruins raise the Cup overhead and drink copious amounts of sweet amber liquid out of its golden basin, but unfortunately it won't be this year. After their worst to first run of 04-05, the Bruins were brilliant at times and for a while were the hottest team in the UVHL in 05-06, but struggled at the beginning and end of the season. Captain and stalwart goaltender Greg Hadley was out of town on "business" (what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...) for several weeks near the end of the season and it seemed to hurt the Bruins' attendance and leadership without Hads in net and behind the scenes. Their roster is as solid and deep as any in the league, and they proved that they can beat anyone by defeating the first place Storm Kings once and by splitting the regular season series with the Nords 2-2. However, on Semi-Final night they were without All-Star and top defenseman Andy Holland, the speedy and shifty Steve Geiger, and perennial All-Star and former UVHL scoring leader Ryan Sinclair. These absences certainly did not help the Bruins' chances against the Nords, who only finished 3 points ahead of the Bruins to claim second place in the regular season, and this with the Bruins having 3 overtime losses that could have easily been wins and a tied regular season. The Nords were without the hardworking Poli Nightingale and Dan Jones for the Semi-Final, both players being key components of their forechecking attack, but the Bruins were hurting with player absences moreso than the Nords. Regardless, this game was a one-goal game until the waning seconds of the second period, a testament to both rosters! The scoring started on a Nords PP with the Bruins' Mike Harrington in the box for tripping at 11:30 of the first. Kelly Park was allowed to walk deep into the slot and fired a slapper past Hadley, that the netminder got a piece of, from passes from Ian Coates and Dan Coffey at 11:19. The Nords killed off a holding minor to Dan Coffey at 11:04. Seth Warren answered at 5:41 from Mark Weglarz and Tony DeFelice, the Bruins' leading scorer this season, to make it 1-1 on a patented Bruins goalmouth scramble off a rebound. The Bruins killed off a high sticking minor to Erik Pearse at 5:11. The Nords went up 2-1 off a Greg Marsh backhander goal at 2:22 assisted by his unusual linemates Will Meyer and Ian Coates after Marshy pulled a Pavel Bure and double shifted while their regular winger, Deanna McDevitt, was on the bench. Shawn McDermott sat for 2 minutes at the end of the period for interfering with DeFelice. Early in the second an unfortunate incident occurred with Nords winger Jason Gaudette getting accidentally high sticked in the mouth for the second time in three games by his own teammate. Jason lost parts of his two front chicklets and suffered a cut lower lip and went to the locker room. He showed incredible team spirit by staying and sitting on the bench in support of his teammates while holding a towel to his mouth for the better part of a period and a half. The Bruins tied the game at 2-2 after Aaron Isabelle pounced on another goalmouth scramble from Rob Pelletier at 13:46. Offsetting double minors went to the Bruins Tony DeFelice for hooking and unsportsmanlike, and to the Nords Ian Coates for slashing and unsportsmanlike at 11:04, and both players went to the box and felt shame. The Nords went up 3-2 on a lucky bounce off a turnover on a high clearing shot that bounced off the tip of a Bruin defender's glove and landed in behind him on the blueline and Dave Willis took off with the puck on a 2-on-0 with Tao Smith in tow. The lucky bounce that produced a give and go goal beat Hadley at 9:49 to give the Nords the lead, and it seemed to change the momentum as well. Harrington got another minor for bodychecking at 6:24, but the Bruins killed off yet another penalty. Late in the second a back breaker goal was scored by Tao Smith from Dan Coffey to give the Nords a 2 goal lead with only 24 seconds to go. The third period started and it was 4-2 for the Nords. Everyone was aware of the Bruins penchant for late game comebacks and gritty, hardnosed play with plenty of heart, but the Nords got lucky again on a hardworking goal from the speedy and dangerous Will Meyer at 14:17 of the third off a pass from linemate Ian Coates and Shawn McDermott where Meyer wore Mike Harrington across his shoulders and still scored. Harrington was credited with his third penalty, but it was negated by the goal and Harrington was able to continue on the blueline for the Bruins. Time was ticking and the Bruins were still pushing. JT was focused and had his "A-game" tonight and all the Bruins were able to get was two scramble rebound goals as JT stopped all initial shots. A mid-period onslaught saw the Nords extend their lead with 2 goals in 17 sconds. Greg Marsh scored perhaps his prettiest UVHL goal of his career after going down the right side and getting aournd one Bruin defender and then toe dragging past a second and firing a quick shot through the 5-hole of Hadley at 6:38 from Dave Willis. Then it was Will Meyer at 6:21 from Ian Coates, with his 4th assist of the game, to finish the scoring at 7-2 in favor of the Nords. Jason Gaudette showed even more guts and heart by returning for his last two shifts of the contest, broken chicklets, busted lip and all. Roughing minors were then assessed to Gaudette and Scott Fraser after a goalmouth tussle at 0:36 of the third. Don Cherry would be proud, Jason!

 

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