UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Whalers Look For Better Result Against Gamblers

ODDS:	Gamblers By 3 Goals
OVER/UNDER:	9 Goals

After dropping their first 3 games against the Gamblers this year, the Whalers are looking for a different end result. They kept it close with 5-3 losses in the first two meetings, followed up by an 8-2 stinker.

The Gamblers have only lost one game, sitting atop the UVHL with a 7-1-0 record. They sit second in the league with 48 goals scored, only 25 allowed and a 23 goal differential. The Whalers are second to last with 29 Goals Scored, 46 Goals Allowed and a -17 goal differential.

This is truly a David vs Goliath matchup, but the Whalers played a solid game last week, downing the Nordiques 5-3, that will give them some additional confidence going into this one. The Gamblers have had 3 weeks off with the holidays and a BYE last week. They will most likely be a bit rusty and rumor has it a bit short on their bench. But they should also be welcoming back Matty "The Milkman" Marrazzo to the lineup.

Sloppy play by the Gamblers will keep this one relatively close, 6-3.

Gamblers & Whalers Battle

The Gamblers had nearly a month off since their last game and looked a little bit rusty against the Whalers in a 6-5 gem of a game. As a hockey fan, this is the type of game you love to see, two offensively talented teams battling, throw in some great goaltending and a couple power plays and it made for an enjoyable night.

The Whalers came into tonight after beating up the Nordiqeus 5-3 last week and underdogs in this one by 3 goals. They started off slow, falling behind by a pair of goals before jumping out to 3-2 and 4-3 leads but couldn't close the deal and took the loss.

The Gamblers started the scoring on a high slapper by Topo "Thing 1" LaCroix that hit Kenny "Arthritis" Lallier in the shoulder and landed in the crease. Dan "Danimal" Ammel pounced on the rebound and put his team up with just 2:10 gone in the game.

With 10:17 to play in the first, Ryan "VanNoNo" Van Schoik stopped Dillon "Fierce" Pierce on a breakaway.

UVHL rookie James "Han" Solon put the Gamblers up 2-0 after a shot richoceted off a couple players in front of Lallier and landed on his stick to the left of Lallier. Solon was all alone for the empty netter, easiest goal of his UVHL career.

Things took a drastic turn in favor of the Whale to end the first. It all started with a goal that entered and left the net so fast it took the referees 5 seconds to actually blow the whistle in a haze of confusion. That shot came off the stick of Ryan Foss at 5:17. Woody "Buzz Lightyear" Redpath beat Van Schoik after taking a pass from Kevin Clausen in the low slot. Redpath handcuffed Van Schoik blocker side and the game was tied.

With 22 seconds left, Pierce got his 2nd breakaway of the period, nails the crossbar with a snapper and is now 0-2 on breakaways tonight.

END OF THE FIRST: 2-2. Lallier & Van Schoik each made 8 saves

James "Kerosene" Kerrigan put the Whalers up 3-2 early in the 2nd on a broken play by Redpath. The puck got away from Woody and landed on Kerrigan's stick to the left of Van Schoik and Kerrigan threw a backhander back across the grain and inside the far post for the goal.

The Gamblers tied it up on a power play with the Whaler's Jason "Rummy" Rouillard in the box for tripping. The goal came on a GREAT pass from Ryan "The Boogeyman" Bergeron to Solon in the slot. Solon tipped the puck 5-hole on Lallier, no chance.

Defenseman turned forward, Kirt "The Dirt" Johnson roofed a rebound top shelf to put the Whalers back on top with 5:59 to play and the period ended with the Whalers grasping onto a 4-3 lead.

END OF THE SECOND: Whalers 4, Gamblers 3. Lallier 21 Saves, Van Schoik 15 Saves

The 3rd period was heavily favored by the Gamblers...on the scorecard, but the Whalers pressed and carried play for a good portion of the frame. Marc "The Narc" Gattie tied the game just 25 seconds in and Topo "Thing 1" LaCroix set up his brother Ryan "Thing 2" LaCroix just 18 seconds later for the go-ahead goal. A horrible start to the period for the Whalers who immediately needed to go into offensive mode to try to get that goal back and did manage to tie the game with 5:41 to play on a Kerrigan to Redpath connection.

All things looked right in the world until the 3 minute mark when a Doug "Lightweight" Heavisides to Matty "The Milkman" Marrazzo to the Danimal back to The Marrazzo who shot the puck only to see The Danimal there to clean up the garbage for the eventual game winner connection that destroyed the feelings of elation that the Whalers had.

The Whale tried but could not convert in the final minutes. Van Schoik stood tall and shut the door.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
GMB	13:50	Goal	Ammel, Robert(11)	Assist(s): LaCroix, Topo(9)
GMB	08:18	Goal	Solon, James(2)	Assist(s): none
WHL	05:17	Goal	Foss, Ryan(2)	Assist(s): Clausen, Kevin(2)
WHL	01:32	Goal	Redpath, Woody(4)	Assist(s): Clausen, Kevin(3) rouillard, jason(6)
2nd PERIOD
WHL	12:15	Goal	Kerrigan, James(7)	Assist(s): Redpath, Woody(10)
WHL	11:55	Penalty	rouillard, jason(3)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	10:58	Goal	(PP)Solon, James(3)	Assist(s): Bergeron, Ryan(5)
GMB	09:31	Penalty	Marrazzo, Matt(2)	2 minutes for High Sticking
WHL	05:59	Goal	Johnson, Kirt(1)	Assist(s): Laperle, Gary(4)
3rd PERIOD
GMB	14:35	Goal	Gattie, Marc(5)	Assist(s): Bergeron, Ryan(6)
GMB	14:17	Goal	LaCroix, Ryan(11)	Assist(s): LaCroix, Topo(10) Bergeron, Ryan(7)
WHL	13:54	Penalty	Shaw, Scott(1)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	10:39	Penalty	Harrington, Mike(6)	2 minutes for Holding
WHL	05:41	Goal	Redpath, Woody(5)	Assist(s): Kerrigan, James(4) Shaw, Scott(5)
GMB	02:55	Goal	Ammel, Robert(12)	Assist(s): Marrazzo, Matt(8) Heavisides, Douglas(5)
GMB	02:00	Penalty	LaCroix, Ryan(7)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	00:04	Penalty	Marrazzo, Matt(3)	2 minutes for High Sticking

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