UVHL Game: 2025 12 10 Mustangs VS Gamblers

Chaos, Muffins & The 8:35pm Stampede

ODDS:	Gamblers by 2
OVER/UNDER:	9 goals

8:35 PM – WABA, White River Junction

Tonight’s nightcap features the Gamblers (3–1–0) riding high after handing the Whalers their first loss of the season, rolling into WABA to face the Mustangs (2–2–1), a team that alternates between “unstoppable force” and “car alarm that won’t turn off.” At 8:35 PM—an hour when most beer-league souls are thinking about Advil, not skating— these two squads renew one of the league’s most lopsided rivalries.

The Gamblers absolutely dominate the all-time series 7–1, including an 11–2 demolition earlier this season. The lone Mustangs win came nearly two years ago, and sources report it is still under historical review.

“We respect the Mustangs,” Gamblers captain Sean Collins said. “But also, every time we play them, our goalie barely breaks a sweat and Topo needs an oxygen tank from scoring too much.”

Recent Meetings (A.K.A. “Gamblers’ Scrapbook of Happy Memories”)

2025-10-29 – Gamblers 11, Mustangs 2 (called “The Stampede at WABA”)
2025-01-22 – Gamblers 7, Mustangs 2
2024-12-18 – Gamblers 1, Mustangs 0 (goalie battle nobody asked for)
2024-11-20 – Mustangs 3, Gamblers 0 (the miracle game)
2024-02-14 – Gamblers 7, Mustangs 2
2024-01-10 – Gamblers 5, Mustangs 3
2023-12-13 – Gamblers 9, Mustangs 0
2023-11-01 – Gamblers 5, Mustangs 2

Team Breakdown

Gamblers – “The House Always Wins (Except When It Doesn’t, But Mostly It Does)”

Max Woods has risen to 7 points (4G, 3A) and now leads the league in breakaways-per-60. Quote of the day: “If they don’t cover me, that’s their problem.”
Ryan LaCroix and Topo LaCroix continue to cause LaProblems for every defense. Topo is sitting at 4 points in 4 games (1G, 3A) and allegedly carries a spare stick specifically for tomahawk-related penalties.
Sean Collins has 4 assists in 3 games and is currently the league leader in “accidentally creating breakaways.”
In net, Tucker Garrity-Hanchett is 3–1–0 with a 2.00 GAA and .927 SV%, top-three in the league. After last game’s shootout heroics, TGH is now officially petitioning the league to rename the shootout to “Tucker Time.”

When asked how he’s preparing for the Mustangs, TGH replied:
“I’m mostly preparing for the shots they won’t take.”

Mustangs – “Chaos Ponies Trying to Gallop”

Offense comes from everywhere and also nowhere. Jody O’Neill (6 pts), Mike Cimis (5 pts), Chase Engdahl (5 pts) and James “The Muffin Man” Baker (4 pts) make up the scoring committee. O’Neill leads the entire UVHL in “hard-working plays that still end in turnovers.”
Will “The Thrill” Mudge has 4 points in 4 games and at least one shot per game that makes the bench say, “Ohhhhhh… no wait… oh okay.”
In net, Colin Farr is 2–2–1 with a 4.20 GAA but is coming off his best game of the season. “If I face fewer than 25 shots, I get nervous,” Farr said. “I like to stay engaged… and alive.”

Key Matchups

Breakaway Specialists vs. Defense That Likes to Wander
Woods, Topo, and Ryan LaCroix thrive in open ice. The Mustangs’ defense loves… giving them open ice. Advantage: Gamblers.
Chaos vs. Structure
Mustangs thrive when the game devolves into a street fight. Gamblers thrive when the Mustangs attempt structure. Advantage: Chaos.
Goaltending: TGH vs. Farr
TGH has the edge statistically. Farr has the edge emotionally (mostly fear-based adrenaline).

Numbers, Odds & Questionable Analytics

Standings: Gamblers 2nd (3–1–0) • Mustangs 3rd (2–2–1)
Goal Differential: Gamblers +11 • Mustangs –6
Leading Scorers: Gamblers – Woods (7 pts), Will Meyer (8 pts), Ryan LaCroix (5 pts).
Mustangs – O’Neill (6 pts), Cimis (5 pts), Engdahl (5 pts).

UVHL Unofficial Betting Lines (Totally Not Sanctioned):
Gamblers ML: -210 Mustangs ML: +165 Puck Line: Gamblers -1.5 (+140) Over/Under: 7.5 goals (The over is very spicy given the previous 11–2 meeting.)

Player Props:
Woods Anytime Goal: -160 O’Neill 1.5+ Points: +130 Farr Over 28.5 Saves: LOCK OF THE NIGHT™

Predictions

The Mustangs will come out swinging, the Gamblers will come out skating, and the scoreboard operator should stretch beforehand.

Bold Prediction: Sean Collins accidentally creates 3 more breakaways.
Spicier Prediction: Topo LaCroix does NOT tomahawk anyone tonight.
Realistic Prediction: That second one is probably wrong.

Final Predicted Score: Gamblers 6 – Mustangs 4 Over/Under: OVER. Always over in this matchup.

“We’re due,” said James Baker. When asked what exactly they were due for, he responded, “A miracle. Or maybe just a bounce. Or a day where Topo takes it easy on us.”

The House Always Wins (And Sometimes It’s Mean About It)

White River Junction, VT — December 10th, 8:35pm

What started as a hockey game quickly turned into a public lesson on puck management, defensive awareness, and why you should never spot the Gamblers early confidence. By the end of the night, the Mustangs were emotionally exhausted, physically tired, and very familiar with their own net.

1st Period — Immediate Regret

The night didn’t start well for the Mustangs. After a faceoff win in the Gambler zone, the puck was pushed back to Mike Cimis, who bobbled it just long enough for Max Woods to grab it — only to have Cimis strip him while falling down, knocking the puck right back to Woods with speed.

Woods charged up ice on a 2-on-1 with Ryan “Thing 2” LaCroix. Woods sold shot, feathered a pass backdoor, and LaCroix one-timed it home from his wheelhouse. 1–0 Gamblers just 58 seconds in.

Just over a minute later, another Mustang turnover led to Will “The Thrill” Meyer attacking with speed. Meyer went behind the net and fed Matty “The Mailman” Marrazzo late in the slot for a punch-in along the ice.

2–0 Gamblers. It was still early. Things could still be fine.

They were not fine.

Forty-four seconds later, a slick neutral-zone dangle by Chase Engdahl allowed him to gain the zone and drop the puck to James Baker. Baker quickly fed Will “Oh Fudge” Mudge at the far point, who uncorked a heavy snapper that Tucker Garrity-Hanchett couldn’t handle.

Baker walked into the rebound and buried it. 2–1 Gamblers, briefly giving the Mustangs hope.

That hope lasted until Meyer made a strong defensive play in his own zone, sprung Billy Rivellini, who found Marrazzo with speed. Marrazzo tore down the boards, turned a defender, cut through the crease on his backhand and beat Colin Farr clean, five-hole.

3–1 Gamblers.

End of 1st: Gamblers 3, Mustangs 1
Shots: Gamblers 11, Mustangs 8

2nd Period — The Avalanche

The Gamblers wasted no time turning control into cruelty. At 9:42, Ryan LaCroix tipped a Sean Collins point shot to make it 4–1.

At 7:37, Ray Nolan fed Marrazzo backdoor on a 3-on-1. 5–1 Gamblers.

Farr then made a string of big saves to keep things respectable — which lasted until Meyer grabbed a rebound, used the net for protection, and found Topo “Thing 1” LaCroix in the slot. Topo spun and fired a backhand past Farr.

6–1 Gamblers.

The very next shift, Collins walked down the far boards and beat Farr clean with a twisted wrister high glove side from the faceoff dot.

At this point, Farr was receiving no help, no bounces, and no emotional support.

TGH had to go full gymnastics mode — a 6’3”, 250-pound cat — to stop a Dan Fenton tip at the other end.

End of 2nd: Gamblers 7, Mustangs 1
Shots: Mustangs 15, Gamblers 33

3rd Period — Mercy Is Not a Rule

At 2:20, Rivellini picked a clearing attempt out of the air, curled to the slot, and ripped a snapper through traffic that changed direction on its way in.

8–1 Gamblers.

Thirty seconds later, the Mustangs collectively checked out. A lazy turnover at the offensive blue line saw Collins feed LaCroix in the neutral zone. LaCroix fired a shot from the blue line, skated past his defender, and watched Farr leave a soft rebound in the slot.

LaCroix walked into it and buried it.

9–1 Gamblers. No defensive love. None.

Three Stars

1. Ryan LaCroix (Gamblers) — multiple goals, zero mercy
2. Matt Marrazzo (Gamblers) — all over the ice
3. Will Meyer (Gamblers) — driving play, driving nightmares

Final score aside, this one was a masterclass from the Gamblers — speed, pressure, and an endless supply of finish. The Mustangs… will be watching the film.

Mustangs
#	Player	W/L	GA	Saves	Save%
1	Farr, Colin	L	8	36	0.818
#	Player	G	A	Pts	PIMs
36	Bailey, Van	0	0	0
8	Baker, James	1	0	1
27	Cimis, Michael	0	0	0
41	Engdahl, Chase	0	1	1
1	Farr, Colin	0	0	0
17	Fenton, Dan	0	0	0
5	Mudge, Chris	0	1	1
39	ONeill, Jody	0	0	0
38	Scribner, Ethan	0	0	0
40	White, Trevor	0	0	0
0	Woods, Cam	0	0	0

Gamblers
#	Player	W/L	GA	Saves	Save%
32	Garrity-Hanchett, Tucker	W	1	22	0.957
#	Player	G	A	Pts	PIMs
4	Aher, Zach	0	0	0	2
15	Bergeron, Ryan	0	0	0
23	Collins, Sean	1	2	3
16	Damren , Aaron	0	1	1
77	Deary, Luke	0	1	1
32	Garrity-Hanchett, Tucker	0	1	1
10	LaCroix, Ryan	3	1	4
26	LaCroix, Topo	1	0	1
11	Marrazzo, Matt	3	1	4
21	Meyer, Will	0	3	3
3	Nolan, raymond	0	1	1
18	Rivellini, Billy	1	2	3
25	Woods, Max	0	1	1

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
GMB	14:02	Goal	LaCroix, Ryan(5)	Assist(s): Woods, Max(5)
GMB	12:46	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(3)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(5)
MTG	12:02	Goal	Baker, James(5)	Assist(s): Mudge, Chris(1) Engdahl, Chase(3)
GMB	02:15	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(4)	Assist(s): Rivellini, Billy(5) Meyer, Will(6)
GMB	00:49	Penalty	Aher, Zach(2)	2 minutes for Tripping
2nd PERIOD
GMB	09:42	Goal	LaCroix, Ryan(6)	Assist(s): Collins, Sean(5) Deary, Luke(2)
GMB	07:37	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(5)	Assist(s): Nolan, raymond(3) Rivellini, Billy(6)
GMB	05:34	Goal	LaCroix, Topo(3)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(7) LaCroix, Ryan(2)
GMB	04:15	Goal	Collins, Sean(1)	Assist(s): Damren , Aaron (2) Garrity-Hanchett, Tucker(1)
3rd PERIOD
GMB	02:20	Goal	Rivellini, Billy(3)	Assist(s): none
GMB	01:50	Goal	LaCroix, Ryan(7)	Assist(s): Collins, Sean(6) Marrazzo, Matt(4)

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