THE

UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Whalers
Gamblers
1st
1
0
2rd
1
2
3rd
1
0
FINAL
3
2
Shots
46
42
November 8th, 2023 - 7:55PM
WABA - White River Junction, VT
Pre-Game
Recap
Box Score
Discussion
Game ID: 1451

Whalers WIN, Whalers WIN, WHALERS WIN!!!!!



Coming into this week I have no smartass comments ahead of game time. I had a kick ass week on a cruise and am still basking in the afterglow of three appetizers, three entrees and two desserts at dinner time, naps, hot tub and sexy time every day. My Mojo needs to be replenished and I’m sure the game write ups will evolve appropriately as the night goes on. Will any of you show up after the game at Applebee’s? That may exact some of my wrath if it’s another poor showing, so once again time will tell.

The Whalers scored first in this one on kind of a broken play with an unassisted effort by Nate Robinson at 13:51. The “old guard” of Meyer and Marrazzo were still showing strong chemistry for the Gamblers with good puck control and finding each other with the puck. There were several missed nets and blocked shots by both teams. Jason “Salt‘n Pepper” Yehle went to the box for hooking at 9:27 knocking down a G’s player in front. Tucker made a nice save on a Marrazzo rush during the PP after Marrazzo beat three Whalers on his way to the front of the net. A partial breakaway by the W’s Bentley“Boom, baby!” Boonyaharn (Yes, that’s actually a real last name) was broken up by a nice stick lift from behind by the G’s Sean “Tom” Collins. Soon afterwards Old Man Yehle was out of the box and made a good poke check at the blue line to stop a dangerous Gamblers 3-on-1 rush. He’s still got it, boys! He’s got as much Salt ‘n Pepper as Mark Giordano, the oldest NHLer, but he still plays great D and that’s something McDefense can respect. The Whalers were ahead on shots 13-11 with 1:21 left in the first in this very even contest. The G’s Zach "The Tinder Swindler" Aher played some good defense twice late in the period to thwart scoring chances by the W’s. The G’s cleared the puck in the dying 2.2 seconds with a brief goalie pull by the W’s on a smart play with the face off in the G’s end. In fact, pulling the goalie is always a good choice no matter what time of day or night it is. Palmela Anderson never says no.

The Gamblers started the second period fast generating several shots on goal and one finally went in at 13:56 with Meyer ending Tucker’s 16+ minute shutout run from his old guard linemate Marrazzo. The Whalers had a nice 2-on-1 with James McCormick leading the rush against Aher that resulted in a shot and a save by Evan "Wine &" Cline to keep it tied at 1 apiece. Meyer showed that he’s still got some speed on his go-ahead goal for the G’s at 12:36 from D-man Big Ryan Bergeron. The Whalers caught up on shots after that with it 22-19 in favor of the Gamblers. Max Woods was in the box for a high stick infraction against the Whalers. The G’s had good perimeter puck movement on the PP and got off 2 shots but could not solve Clien. By 8:44 the Whale was ahead on shots 25-22 and had some sustained pressure in the Gamblers end. Meyer made a great defensive play in his own end to stop a Whalers chance in the slot. The UVHL’s all-time leading scorer has a complete 200’ game so watch out!

McCormick had another offensive chance but was defended well by Collins. The Whalers tied it up 2-2 at 5:03 as Dan Fenton made good from Nate "The Great" Robinson & Jonas "Brothers" Spaulding.  

A break towards the net by Marrazzo was interfered with by Theo “The Butterfly” Pupilla (or is it “The Moth”?) putting the Whalers in the box again with 1:05 left in the 2 nd but it was killed off again with strong defensive play and blocked shots. 

Into the 3rd Cline made two good saves at 12:40 only to be solved about a minute later with McCormick’s second of the game on a nice shot at 11:49 from Ean "Biggie" Small and Kelly Park. The Whalers were up 3-2 in a tight game and the shots were 36-36 with 10:25 left. The W’s Colston Allen made a great play taking a long pass and putting it through the G’s defense for a good shot and a ice save by Cline. Soon after it was Cline again with another great save on a Whalers 2-on-2.  With 4:50 left the Whalers were up 43-39 on shots. Meyer put it just over the crossbar above Tucker trying to tie it up. Ean Small had full control entering the Gamblers’ zone on a 3-on-2 and made a bad back pass right to the Gamblers. One job… The W’s Teddy Pupilla hit the post HARD and then shortly thereafter Yehle made a nice shot on net from the point through several Gamblers defenders but Cline was sharp. This was a really good game, even both ways, fast and hardworking, physical but clean.

Kelly “Mr. Shootout” Park showed his great hockey IQ intercepting a pass through the slot in the last minute to stop an open Gamblers opportunity to the side of the net. The Gamblers pulled the goalie but couldn’t get much through the strong defensive team game the Whalers brought tonight. Shots were 46-42 in favor of the Whalers. Luke "The Nuke" Webster went to the box with 4 seconds left for roughing a Whalers’ player deep in the offensive zone. The face off came all the way back into the Gamblers’ zone and it was game over. Whalers hang on for the 3-2 upset win!

Final thoughts… This was truly an entertaining match. Both teams played well, attacked, got shots, defended, got good and timely saves, and in the end, it was a well fought 1-goal game

MVP? The duo of Meyer and Marrazzo were obvious out there the entire game in a losing effort and should be acknowledged. For me it was James McCormick who stood out for the Whalers with the game winning goal in this tight match up.  He had several chances on top of the goals and was a difference maker out there. An honorable mention must go to the very mature and seasoned Jason Yehle for strong defensive play for the Whalers making sure they didn’t lose. LVP? NOBODY! A HUUUUGE number of players from both teams went to Applebee’s post-game and there were several still there when I arrived after the last game was over. Fuuuuuck yeaaaah, boys! The spirit is alive and well in the UVHL, eh. That’s what we are supposed to do: show up for the game, and show up at the bar after the game. You should have seen the three tables full of molested leftovers when I arrived. It looked like a hoard of wild pigs just got finished with it.

LEAGUE PICK 'EM
 0%
Whalers
0% 
Gamblers
PICKS
THREE STARS

Nate Robinson

GOALS: 1
POINTS: 2

Will Meyer

GOALS: 2
POINTS: 2

Evan Cline

GA: 3
SAVES: 43
SAVE%: 0.935

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