UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

#2 Whalers vs #3 Mustangs

The Park Clan Strikes: Whalers Down Mustangs, Set Up Whalen Cup Final vs Gamblers

The late semi-final Wednesday night delivered exactly what the playoffs promise: drama, controversy, questionable defending, and one of the most wholesome father–son moments in UVHL history.

The Whalers, despite missing Dan VeNard, Ezra Mock, and James McCormick, defeated the Mustangs 4–2 to punch their ticket to the Whalen Cup Final where they’ll meet the top-seeded Gamblers.

But the story of the night wasn’t the standings or the matchup — it was the Park family.

The Park Clan Game

In a moment that will almost certainly be exaggerated for the next 20 years, father and son both hit the scoresheet in spectacular fashion.

48-year-old league founder Kelly “Slow as Molasses” Park scored a goal and added an assist while playing right wing — a position change from his usual defensive role, allegedly to “utilize his speed.”

Observers have long described the elder Park as “deceptively slow.”

Meanwhile his son, Lochlan “Loch-down” Park, scored his first career UVHL goal despite a season of posts, near misses, and offensive chances that somehow refused to cooperate.

The two even assisted each other’s goals, which is impressive considering the elder Park has been playing in the league for 25 years — five years longer than his 20-year-old son has been alive.

Somewhere deep in the rink, a beer-league tear was shed.

1st Period — Chaos, Confusion, and a Park Family Goal

The Whalers came out buzzing early, generating chances and testing Mustangs goaltender Colin “C-Money” Farr.

At 13:37, Russ Teller burned his defender wide and fed Dan “The Fenom” Fenton in the slot, who wired one straight into Farr’s belly.

Fun fact: Colin Farr’s save percentage on pucks shot directly into his belly remains an astounding 101%.

The Whalers broke through at 8:43 on a play that began with an icing controversy.

Farr came out to stop the puck expecting icing, but the referee waved it off under modified USA Hockey rules. Farr panicked and tossed the puck into the corner where Fenton grabbed it and spun a no-look pass into the slot.

Waiting there was Lochlan Park, who fired a hard shot through traffic. His father was parked alone in the slot, tipped the puck, collected the rebound, and backhanded it into the empty net.

Father. Son. Goal.

Somewhere the Disney Channel started writing a script.

The period ended with a couple of penalties — Farr tripping Blaine Gour and Brandon Chiasson tripping James Baker — but neither power play generated much.

End of 1st: Whalers 1, Mustangs 0
Shots: Whalers 15, Mustangs 7

2nd Period — Farr Under Siege

The second period opened with the Mustangs on a brief power play, but the Whalers killed it off easily and then proceeded to unleash a four-minute shooting gallery on Farr.

The Mustang netminder stood tall through a series of saves that likely caused mild emotional distress for the Whalers bench.

The Mustangs finally broke through at 5:22.

After Will Mudge won a faceoff, Chase Engdahl lofted a point shot through heavy traffic.

With Jason Yehle battling two Mustangs in front, Jered Condon never saw the puck.

It floated under the bar and suddenly the game was tied.

End of 2nd: Whalers 1, Mustangs 1
Shots: Whalers 10, Mustangs 8

3rd Period — Goals, Chaos, and a Park Family Finish

The third period began with the Mustangs on the power play, but produced exactly what statisticians refer to as nothing.

At 10:08 the Whalers reclaimed the lead.

A hard dump-in by Brandon Chiasson wrapped around the boards where Blaine Gour battled for the puck behind the net.

Falling — which observers note happens frequently for the 21-year-old — Gour managed a backhand feed to Logan Caffrey at the near post who chipped it over Farr’s pad.

2–1 Whalers.

The Mustangs responded at 6:18 when James Baker carried the puck up ice and fed Trevor White, who moved it back to Greg Dadekian for a one-timer that beat Condon.

2–2.

But the night belonged to the Parks.

At 4:32, Caffrey moved the puck wide to Kelly Park who carried behind the Mustang net and curled out front.

With a veteran’s patience — or perhaps because he skates at the speed of warm maple syrup — Park found his son trailing at the point.

Lochlan Park stepped into a twisted wrister that beat Farr glove side.

Game winner.

A father assisting his son’s first career goal in a playoff semi-final.

Not bad for a guy many scouts describe as “deceptively slow.”

The Mustangs had one last chance with 23 seconds left, but Mike Cimis flubbed a golden opportunity in the slot.

Then with four seconds remaining, Fenton blocked a point shot, and Cavan Benjamin launched a 150-foot empty netter to seal it.

Final: Whalers 4, Mustangs 2
Total Shots: Whalers 40, Mustangs 21

3 Stars

1. ??? Lochlan Park — First career goal and the game winner.
2. ?? Kelly Park — Goal, assist, and a proud dad moment.
3. ? Logan Caffrey — Go-ahead goal and constant offensive pressure.

The Stage Is Set

With the win, the Whalers advance to face the Gamblers in the Whalen Cup Final.

The league’s best offense versus the league’s best defense.

Casino vs Ocean.

Somebody is about to win a championship.