Boys,

 

Our Playoffs first round robin games is in the books, our St Patty’s day special last Friday.  Some of the boys really got into it.

 

A Polock who thinks he is Irish.  Things that make you go mmmmm.  And Jimmy, where did he find that coconut.  Why didn’t Leo wear his green hockey pants???

OK so our first round games were exact repeats of the previous weeks last regular season games.  First off 5th seed Canada vs 2nd seed Poland.   Poland had a 3-1-1 record vs Canada in the reg season and put a whoop ass on them in their last game just 7 days earlier, 8-2.  Las Vegas had this game as a blow out as the Polocks were hot going into the playoffs.  Well well well, the sand baggers (that would be the Canucks) out scored the Poles 5-1 in the opening frame.  The Kolbasa loving Poles did not know what hit them.  Things settled down in the 2nd frame as both squads scored once with Canada leading 6-2 with a period to go.  Canada did not let up and scored 3 unanswered goals in the final frame for a stunning 9-2 win.  WTF????   Canada who finished the season with 10 points, just 1 more than last years 5th seed Habs who shocked the world and made it to the Gold game.  Canada is well on its way to repeat what the Habs did last year.  My oh my.  Barbosa and McCormick scored for the Poles.  Canada got 2 goals from Mike Kidd and Gary Julius (what? DAD scored twice on Scotty?????)  singles from Brideau, Harty, Dupal, Barkin and Wright.  Both teams went 0-0 on the PP.  Players of the Game went to Poland’s Paul Barbosa.

 

And for the Canuckle Heads the ageless, 2nd oldest member, Gary DAD Julius Team Canada’s sponsor.

 

The late game was a beauty between Sweden and USA.  The 3rd seed vs the 4th seed.  Sweden won the season series 3-2 but got shellacked by the Americans the week before 7-2.  Sweden with just 9 skaters for their opening match missing their top forward and other key players.  Things did not look good for the Swedes for this one.  USA Mihalic doned the Croatian green outfit to try and throw off the nordic boys.  Finland goalie Rispoli filling in again for the Swedes absent backstop was mentally prepared for another 80 shot barrage as he faced the previous week.  Sweden scored the lone goal in the 1st period and Rispoli must have eaten some green pasta fazoo because he was amazing stoping every American shooter.  The 2nd frame was tighter than Joe Peacocks cheeks as both teams scored once with Sweden on top 2-1 after 2.  But the Swedes were tiring fast and hoping Rispoli could continue his magic.  USA tied up the game 3 minutes into the 3rd and then took the lead at the 8 minute mark.  Swedes were folding.  But no quit in these Swedes after a big save by Rispoli Sweden tied it up at 3’s with 5 minutes to go.  With the clock ticking and both Senkowski and Rispoli turning away all shooters Sweden found the back of the net on a re direct with 30 seconds on the clock.  A late empty netter for Sweden sealed the improbable win 5-3 for Sweden.  Great hockey game that was penalty free too.  Very nice.

USA got goals from Karabinis, Leenaars and Maguire.  Sweden got 4 goals from Rukavina and a single from Freeman, who by the way is our oldest member in the league.  He scored a beauty back hand upstairs, not bad for a 70 year old.  Players of the Game went to USA Robert Leenaars.

 

And for Sweden it was an easy choice, Frank Rispoli who almost single handedly won this game.

So 2 upsets for sure and from here on in all games will be at earlier times and a few day changes too BUT all games will be at Port Credit arena.  This week there will be NO GAMES Friday, March 24, 2017.  Next Playoff games will go Sunday, March 26, 2017 at Port Credit arena.  The early game has a 7:45 pm start time and will feature our top seed Finland vs the ‘Shock the World, Sandbaggers’ Canada.  The late game has a puck drop at 9:00 pm and its a big one, Poland vs USA looking for their first win.  Sweden gets the week off.  Let your team reps know if you will be absent.

See you all on the ice Boys!!!