UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	Gamblers by 4
OVER/UNDER:	12

In the first game of the 2015-2016 UVHL season we have the Gamblers taking on the Whalers. The Gamblers won all 5 games last season against the Whale. The Gamblers return with a roster pretty much the same with some new additions who should only make them stronger. The Whalers always has a strong core but its who they can get to commit for the full season. The Whale will keep it close through two periods in this early match up but the Gamblers will come out on top in third 8-4.

In the first game of the 2015/16 season the Gamblers hosted the Whalers. The Gamblers came into tonight winning all 5 meetings last year against the Whalers and they looked to keep that streak alive. The Gamblers roster only lost Josie Fisher and they picked up two new younger players (Alex Dodds and Ben Peters) to help with their depth. The Whalers returned nine guys and added five new guys giving them a new look. The game started off fast paced as both teams were eager to get the season started and it didn"t take long for the Gamblers to get on the board. Last year"s league leader in points Topo LaCroix got the games first goal just 52 seconds in, as he banged home the puck into an empty net off a Cody Pelletier shot that went wide of the net, the shot took a Gamblers bounce that kicked right out in front of the net for Topo to tap in. The Whalers weren"t happy they gave up a goal that quickly but they picked up there play for the remainder of the period and their hard work finally paid off with 1:26 left in the period as John Henderson picked the puck up at center ice put on his dancing shoes and danced right around the Gamblers defense and then put a nice hard low shot by Ryan Van Schoick to tie the game at one. The first period would end with the game tied at one and both teams were still working out the cob webs from not playing competitive hockey all summer.

In the second period both teams came out just as hungry battling end to end and it wasn"t until 6:58 into the second that the Gamblers Matty Marrazzo got a break away on Lallier and he was able to put the G-men up 2-1. Thirty one seconds later Dan Ammel was able to intercept a Jason Rouillard passing attempt, Ammel was in all alone against Lallier where Ammel beat Kenny low stick side for a 3-1 lead for the Gamblers. Shortly after the Gamblers went up 3-1 they found themselves shorthanded, the Whalers were able to capitalize on the power play as James Kerrigan scored at 5:54 to make the score 3-2. The Gamblers were able to answer back just 46 seconds later when Jason Gramling beat Lallier on a wraparound to put the Gamblers up 4-2. The Gamblers kept the pressure on the Whalers as Topo hit Max Woods on a clean break out pass, Woods sped out of the zone one on one with the D, he made a move and then let a laser go from the top of the circle that beat Lallier short side high and even knocked the water bottle off. The Gamblers got one last power play with 38 seconds left in the period and the Gamblers defenseman Cody Pelletier was able to bang home his first goal of the season as the puck was bouncing around in front of the net and he raced in to knock it in with just four seconds left in the period. The Gamblers were heading into the third with a 6-2 lead as they looked to keep the pressure on the Whalers.

In the final period of play it was relatively quite compared to the second as we played back and forth hockey for 11 minutes until the Whalers James Kerrigan got his second goal of the night at 4:09. The Gamblers would answer right back again just 35 seconds later when Matty Marrazzo would get his second of the night to seal the win for the win for the Gamblers. The Gamblers won the game 7-3 and they are looking like a very solid team this year. The Whalers have the core guys back and with the new additions they added they will be a stronger team this year as well.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
GMB	14:08	Goal	LaCroix, Topo(1)	Assist(s): Pelletier, Cody(1)
WHL	01:26	Goal	Henderson Jr, John(1)	Assist(s): none
2nd PERIOD
GMB	06:58	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(1)	Assist(s): Gramling, Jason(1)
GMB	06:28	Goal	Ammel, Robert(1)	Assist(s): none
GMB	06:06	Penalty	LaCroix, Topo(1)	2 minutes for Tripping
WHL	05:54	Goal	(PP)Kerrigan, James(1)	Assist(s): rouillard, jason(1)
GMB	05:08	Goal	Gramling, Jason(1)	Assist(s): Peters, Ben (1)
GMB	03:13	Goal	Woods, Max(1)	Assist(s): LaCroix, Topo(1)
WHL	00:38	Penalty	Shaw, Scott(1)	2 minutes for Hooking
GMB	00:04	Goal	(PP)Pelletier, Cody(1)	Assist(s): Aher, Zach(1)
3rd PERIOD
WHL	04:09	Goal	Kerrigan, James(2)	Assist(s): Avery, Michael(1)
GMB	03:34	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(2)	Assist(s): Gramling, Jason(2) Peters, Ben (2)

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