Early Game – Slovenia vs Italy

The early game pitted Slovenia against Italy with a first place standing up for grabs in this one.

The first period featured some tight defensive play and stellar goaltending with only a pair of goals from Italy’s Dave Wodar and Slovenia’s Rick Cecchetto. Tied at 1 goal apiece after the first period.

The second period busted the game wide open. Bryce Lewis scored six minutes in to put Slovenia up 2-1, but a minute later Dave Wodar and Greg Platt lit the lamp 10 seconds apart to put Italy up 3-2. Less than a minute later Ciro Napolitano tied the score at 3 — Firewagon Hockey with FOUR goals in TWO minutes.

Things settled down until the last five minutes of the period when the Italian Stallions got the crop out and beat the Slovenian netminder three times (Dwayne Tygesen, Greg Platt and John Levac). Italy 6, Slovenia 3 going into the final frame.

Tight hockey until midway through the period when Murray Russell put one home. The teams traded goals after that by Robert King and Dave Wodar (for the hat-trick). Final score Italy 8, Slovenia 4.

Italy takes sole possession of first place but goes up against a hot Scottish team next week. Slovenia slips into 3rd place and will face Ireland next.

Italy Player of the Game goes to the hat-trick scoring Dave Wodar while recent acquisition Robert King takes the Honours for Slovenia.

Late Game – Scotland vs Portugal

The late match pitted Scotland vs Portugal and was a BARN BURNER.

Typical tight hockey to start the game with both goalies BLANKING their opponents for the first 13 minutes!! But then, ay caramba! They played a whole hockey game in the last 7 minutes of the first period.

SIX goals by Scotland (two for Dave Woodside, three for Dave Vincelli, and a single from Jim Maguire). TWO goals from Portugal (Patty Sharp and Mike Russo). All in the final SEVEN MINUTES OF THE PERIOD.

Really, just call it right there and go refresh yourselves boys. That is quite the burst of hockey. But they played on.

Things settled down in the second period with Chris Johnson scoring its first goal 12 minutes in. Really? EIGHT goals in SEVEN minutes followed by ZERO goals in the next TWELVE minutes? Only in the PCOHL.

Chris Deware then bulged the twine twice for Scotland in 26 seconds. Were the rink lights going on and off during the game? 8-3 for Scotland after two.

Portugal picked up two more in the third off the sticks of Patty Sharp and Mike Russo, but Scotland would win every period, adding three more goals from Jim Maguire, Dave Vincelli and Dave Woodside. Final score, Scotland 11, Portugal 5. By all accounts a strong effort by both goalies who saw more rubber than…..well you know what I mean.

Scotland’s POG goes to Dave Woodside with the hat-trick while Mike Russo collects the honours for Portugal.

At the end of ROUND TWO it’s still a tight race. Only two points separate the first four teams. Portugal still looking to find their rhythm, but the acquisition of speedy sniper Russo should change their outlook moving forward.

Have a great week and keep yer sticks on the ice.