UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Lumberjacks Have the Axe. Mustangs Bring Band-Aids.

ODDS:	Lumberjacks By 2
OVER/UNDER:	8 Goals Sc

Mustangs @ Lumberjacks

Early Game Warning: The Ice Might Be Early, Your Bench Might Be Empty

Public service announcement for the chronically late: games will start early if the ice is ready early. There’s a high school game beforehand with “overtime time” blocked off that almost never gets used… which means the rink is basically handing us free minutes and daring the UVHL to be responsible adults.

So don’t miss warmups. Or do. But if you show up 8 minutes into the first, you’re not “fashionably late” — you’re the reason your line mates are texting your spouse.

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The Premise: Mustangs vs Lumberjacks, a Series That’s Mostly Been a Crime

Tonight’s early game is Mustangs @ Lumberjacks, and the recent history is… not kind.

All-time series: Lumberjacks lead 7–1.

That’s not a rivalry. That’s a recurring invoice.

The Mustangs did steal one this year (a 6–3 win on December 3, 2025), which means this isn’t “impossible.” But it is the kind of matchup where the Mustangs can play well for 47 minutes and still end up staring into the void by the third.

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The Lumberjacks’ Situation: DeLuca, Chaos, and Selective Defense

If you’re building a scouting report for the Lumberjacks, it’s pretty simple:

• Find Nathan “DeRoofa” DeLuca (19 points) — then immediately panic.
• Watch Andrew “Silent Assassin” Kimbell (11 points) — he doesn’t say much, he just ruins your night quietly.
• Hope the Lumberjacks defend responsibly for more than three consecutive shifts (optional feature, may not be installed).

DeLuca is the kind of player who turns a normal UVHL rush into a “why are we doing this” moment. He doesn’t just generate chances — he generates regret.

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Goaltending: Two Men, One Dream, Several Goals Against

This game is also a battle of goaltending stat lines that read like hostage notes.

• Lumberjacks: Luke McCormick — 3.90 GAA (3-7-1)
• Mustangs: Colin Farr — 4.82 GAA (4-6-0)

Neither goalie’s numbers scream “brick wall,” but both of these guys have also had nights where they look unbeatable… usually right after someone on their team turns the puck over directly into the slot and forces them into emergency services mode.

Translation: this game will be decided by whichever goalie gets betrayed less.

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Emotional Pressure Meter™

Lumberjacks: 5.4 / 10 — They “should” win, which is a dangerous place to live emotionally.
Mustangs: 8.9 / 10 — They’ve tasted victory once this year and now they want it again like a raccoon that found an open trash can.

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3 Things That MUST Happen for a Mustangs Win

1) Farr Goes Full C. Money
Farr needs a “not tonight” performance. Not a “pretty good” performance. Not a “kept it close.” A “save of the week, text-your-buddies, steal-the-game” performance.

2) Someone Makes DeLuca’s Life Annoying
If DeLuca is gliding through the neutral zone with time and space, start writing the recap early. If he’s bumping into bodies, taking hits, and hearing footsteps, the Mustangs have a chance.

3) No First-Period Collapse
The Mustangs cannot spot the Lumberjacks two early goals and then try to “battle back.” That plan has historically ended with tired legs and sad faces.

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Worst Case Scenario (Mustangs Edition)

The Mustangs are late because the ice started early. The Lumberjacks score twice before the Mustangs have fully zipped their bags. DeLuca gets loose once. Kimbell buries a backdoor one-timer. By the second period, everyone’s chirping the ref and nobody’s talking about coverage.

Final score: “not close.” Group chat: “we played well.” Reality: no you didn’t.

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The Prophecy (If the Mustangs Want Chaos)

This is how the Mustangs steal it:

Farr makes three insane saves early. The Lumberjacks get frustrated. DeLuca hits a post. Someone on the Lumberjacks forces a cross-ice pass that becomes a 2-on-1 the other way.

Suddenly it’s 2–1 Mustangs late, and the Lumberjacks realize they’re in a mud fight they didn’t plan for.

And if it’s close in the third? That’s when the Lumberjacks start gripping sticks and the Mustangs start believing, which is always the most dangerous combination in the UVHL.

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Totally Real Pre-Game Quotes

DeLuca: “We just need to play our game.” (Translation: “I will skate through three people at least once.”)

Kimbell: “…” (Translation: “I will score anyway.”)

Farr: “I’m feeling it tonight.” (Goalies always say this. Sometimes it’s true. Sometimes it’s a cry for help.)

McCormick: “Just keep it simple.” (Defense immediately throws three pizzas in the first five minutes.)

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Final Thought

The Lumberjacks have owned this series, but the Mustangs already proved this season they can steal one. So tonight is simple:

• If the Mustangs show up on time and Farr plays big, we have drama.
• If the Mustangs are late and DeLuca gets space, we have a documentary.

Puck might drop early. Don’t miss warmups. Or do… and become the first storyline of the night.

Beavers in the Crease: Lumberjacks Maul Mustangs 5–0

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Playoff Pressure? The Lumberjacks Brought a Flamethrower.

This wasn’t just another Wednesday night skate.

With Tuck dangling over the elimination cliff, the Mustangs came in clinging to 3rd at 4-6-1, while the Lumberjacks were breathing down their necks at 3-7-0-1.

Translation: somebody was about to blink.

The Mustangs blinked.

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1st Period — Stress Hockey & One Clean Execution

The game opened with Nathan “DeRoofa” DeLuca getting loose inside 25 seconds.

Partial breakaway. Early statement opportunity.

Colin Farr said no.

Big save. Big moment. Big “not tonight” energy.

And then… five minutes of perimeter hockey that felt like two teams trying not to make the first mistake in a game where every mistake felt like it would echo through March.

The Mustangs’ best early look came when Chase Engdahl cut through traffic like a man late for a flight, but Luke McCormick held his ground.

Then the Lumberjacks did what contenders do.

They tilted the ice.

For 45 straight seconds, they snapped the puck around like they were on a power play. Marc “The Narc” Gattie found Jay “Big Z” Zanleoni, and Big Z curled low before slipping a backhand dish to Andrew “Silent Assassin” Kimbell alone in the slot.

Four Mustangs around him. Zero in position.

Kimbell went high glove.

1–0 Lumberjacks.

And despite the 12–5 shot count, most of those Lumberjack attempts were perimeter fluff. If anything, they were just helping Farr pad that save percentage.

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2nd Period — Turnovers, Beavers, and a Statement

The Mustangs had their moment early on the power play.

Engdahl cut hard to the forehand and ripped one from the hashmarks. McCormick made the save and genuinely had no idea where the puck went. Sometimes that’s called positioning. Sometimes it’s luck. Tonight it didn’t matter.

The save of the period came at 10:48.

Jack Smith outskated everyone in neutral ice and broke in 2-on-1 with Trevor White. Backhand feed. Hard cut. Open look.

McCormick sprawled.

Right pad.

No goal.

That was the turning point.

Because at 7:36, Dillan Pierce picked off a pass in neutral ice, beat two Mustangs along the boards, and chaos erupted in the crease.

The puck sat there like unattended pizza at a party.

The Lumberjacks jumped on it like rabid beavers attacking fresh pine.

Kimbell poked it. Carter Auch chipped it.

2–0.

Then, with 1:50 left, Neil MacKenzie stripped a Mustang in neutral ice and turned the rush into art.

MacKenzie fed Jordy McGee. McGee sauced it back through a defender. MacKenzie went backhand, high glove.

3–0.

Sick pass. Sick finish. And frankly? Terrible Mustang coverage.

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3rd Period — No Mercy Hockey

Down three, the Mustangs needed life.

They got a penalty.

On the power play, the Lumberjacks went to work.

DeLuca initiated. Gattie sold the fake. Zach Dayno slipped into space and beat Farr short side from a bad angle.

That one Farr wants back.

But the next one?

That was clinical.

Kimbell entered 1-on-3. Two Mustangs went for a line change mid-play (bold strategy).

Suddenly Jay Zanleoni was alone.

Kimbell to Z. Z to Auch. Auch back to Z.

One-timer.

Inside the post.

5–0.

That wasn’t a breakdown.

That was choreography.

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The Goaltending Truth

This scoreline was not on Farr.

He made big saves early. He battled.

But when your defense gives up layered attacks, neutral zone turnovers, and line-change chaos…

You’re surviving, not thriving.

McCormick, meanwhile, looked composed, square, and enormous. The Mustangs generated chances — but nothing that felt inevitable.

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3 Stars (No Debate Edition)

1. ??? Andrew Kimbell — Goal, chaos, and the engine of two highlight plays.
2. ?? Luke McCormick — Shutout. Calm. Massive saves when it mattered.
3. ? Jay Zanleoni — Two-way menace and one gorgeous one-timer.

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Playoff Implication Meter™

• Mustangs clinging to 3rd: ????
• Lumberjacks breathing fire: ????
• Tuck watching nervously: ????

The Lumberjacks didn’t just win this game.

They announced themselves.

5–0.

And suddenly that 3rd place cushion? Feels a lot thinner.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
LMJ	02:57	Goal	Kimbell, Andrew(5)	Assist(s): Zanleoni, Jay(3) Gattie, Marc(2)
2nd PERIOD
LMJ	13:12	Penalty	Miraldi, Andrew(3)	2 minutes for Tripping
LMJ	07:36	Goal	Auch, Carter(5)	Assist(s): Kimbell, Andrew(8) Pierce, Dillan (7)
LMJ	01:50	Goal	MacKenzie, Neil(5)	Assist(s): McGee, Jordan(9)
3rd PERIOD
MTG	12:53	Penalty	Smith, Jack(3)	2 minutes for Hooking
LMJ	12:02	Goal	(PP)Kimbell, Andrew(6)	Assist(s): DeLuca, Nathan(5) Gattie, Marc(3)
LMJ	09:32	Goal	Zanleoni, Jay(1)	Assist(s): Auch, Carter(2) Kimbell, Andrew(9)
LMJ	04:15	Penalty	Zanleoni, Jay(1)	2 minutes for Hooking

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