Early Game – #3 Italy vs #5 Scotland

Scotland was looking to break a 2-game skid versus 3rd place Italy but had their hands full from the beginning. Scotland has three Rocket Richard winners on their squad and all three were on the ice Friday night, but the Finnish fence, Tomi Nieminen, kept out all Scottish invaders.

Four Italy goals in the first period by Neil Kelly, John Annan, Leo Brideau and Dave Vincelli put a pin in this one. A scoreless second and third period produced a 4-0 win for the Romans and the league’s first shutout of the season.

Italy’s Player of the Game goes to the Barricade from British Columbia, Tomi Nieminen.

And Scotland’s Player of the Game goes to the absent Enzo Ianno, who sent long distance groovy vibes and spiritual support to his Glaswegian goombahs.

Late Game – #1 Slovenia vs #2 Ireland

After Slovenia took first place from Ireland last week, the leprechauns were looking to get it back in the late show without key players.

Dave Dodic got the only goal in a tight-checking first period. Ireland went ahead 2-1 on goals from Matt Goddard and Robin Flumerfelt, but Joel May answered quickly for the Slovenians tying the game at 2 after two.

Ireland’s Tim Randa lit the lamp halfway through the third but Slovenia sponsor Dave Dodic tied it up with 7 minutes to go.

Then with only 3 minutes left the boneheads from Belfast got their favorite penalty – TOO MANY MEN – and the Slovenians tried to end it with a late power play. But speedy Irish centre Tim Randa was hauled down nastily on a short-handed breakaway resulting in the league’s first penalty shot in years. A storybook ending for the leprechauns? Not this time. Slovenia’s POG, sub goalie Bobby Khaper disarmed Randa with a nifty poke check and this one ended in a 3-3 tie.

Ireland’s Player of the Game was smooth-skating Peter Freeman.

And Slovenia’s hero was substitute backstop Bobby Khaper.