Last game of the regular season, or as Leo Brideau calls it, the pre-season, but the last chance for five teams to fine-tune before playoffs start next week.

Early Game – Scotland vs Portugal

This game was another chance for Portugal to gear up for the playoffs, while Scotland could seal 2nd place with a win.

Leo Brideau starts the scoring for Portugal eight minutes in and D-Man Bryon Wright makes it 2-0 with six minutes to go. Scotland looking a bit nervous, at least for 16 seconds, which is how long it took for Tony Thomas to make it 2-1. Eric Fletcher continues the late period flurry when he lights the lamp a minute later to make it 3-1 for the Lisbonites. One more from Dave Vincelli made it a 3-2 Portugal lead after one period.

Both teams tightened up their play aided by two solid goal-keeping performances. Jeff Boulton’s marker halfway through ends up being the only dent in the scoresheet in period number two, tying the game 3-3 going into the third period.

Eight furious minutes of no-goal hockey were finally broken by Eric Fletcher with his second straight goal of the night. Portugal leads the game 4-3 midway through the third period!!

But Scotland ain’t in second place for nothing and they score three unanswered goals (Vincelli, Jim Maguire, and Peter McKay) to win this one 6-4.

A great tune-up game for both teams as they will meet each other again next week in Round 1 of the Playoffs!!!

Portugal’s Eric Fletcher wears the bird hat for his fine performance while returnee Mike Kidd blows the pipes for the kilts.

Late Game – Slovenia vs Italy

With Scotland winning the early game, the late game had no possible effect on the standings, but it would be a warm-up for next week’s first round game where these same two teams will play again.

Italy brings almost a full squad to this game and so Alan Robb moves up to forward and brings the heat with him. Robb scores twice in 45 seconds giving the Italians a 2-0 lead after the first period.

A bit of a shooting gallery in the second with a total of EIGHT goals. John Levac opens the scoring but Slovenia’s sniper, Stephen Davis responds. 3-1 Italy.

Greg Platt scores less than a minute later but Ciro Napolitano gives an answer for Slovenia less than a minute after that. 4-2 Italy.

Italy then goes on a run with three goals in one minute off the sticks of Dave Wodar, Greg Platt and John Levac. Bobby King answers with two minutes left but Slovenia ends the period in a 7-3 hole.

But the lads from Ljubljana weren’t done, yelling from their bench, “There is no “i” in Slovenia.” Fortunately they play hockey better than they spell. They beat Italy in the third period with three goals from Dave Dodic, Robert King, and Steve Boyle against a pair from Italians Joel May and Matt Goddard. But it was too little, too late and the Italians take this one 9-6.

Slovenia’s Player of the Game goes to Bobby King who electrified the crowd at PCMA with two goals and a helper. Tony Carlisle does some fine cooking in Italy’s kitchen with a pair of apples on top of his usual strong D.