Early Game – #3 Ireland vs #4 Portugal

Portugal missing a bunch of guys in this one, but absolutely battled against a full Ireland squad to the final buzzer, peppering Ireland’s goalie and giving 100% even though the bounces never seemed to go their way. What an absolute bunch of beauties this Portugal squad is. Look for them to get up in everyone’s grill in round 5 and into the playoffs.

This game was what this league is all about. Heart and camaraderie, with players from both teams sharing beverages and hot dogs in the Portugal dressing room after, courtesy of absolute legend and chief Portugal beauty, Art Senkowski. Congrats to Art as well for retiring this week after a long career as the popular Auto Shop teacher at Port Credit High. He’ll be missed there big time.

Congrats also to Ireland tender Stu Henderson who notched a SHUTOUT, only the second one in the league this year.

Players of the game are the two goalies: Arty for standing tall against a barrage from Ireland’s long bench AND providing hot dogs for both teams and Stuart Henderson who turned away every chance from the relentless Portugal team and posted only the second shutout of the PCOHL season.

Late Game – #1 Slovenia vs #5 Scotland

A depleted fifth place Scottish squad faced the surging first place Slovenians in the late show. Las Vegas oddsmakers had the bagpipers at +500 on the moneyline but the team from Glasgow had other ideas.

Joe Peacock and Patty Sharp stunned the Slovenians early going up 2-0, but a late goal by Paul Riopelle ended the first period 2-1 for Scotland.

Scotland’s Brad Stohl and Slovenia’s Dwayne Tygeson traded goals 18 seconds apart to make it 3-2 for the kilts in the second period. Then Riopelle and Peacock got their second goals of the night in the waning minutes to end the second period 4-3 for the Scots.

The Slovenians came out swinging in the third with 3 straight goals by Dave Skingley, Scott Wilson, and sniper Riopelle for the hat-trick to go up 6-4. That’s how it stayed until 5 minutes to go when rookie sensation Steve Boyle brought the Scots within a goal. The Slovenians fought mightily to defend their lead but reliable Scottish stickman Patty Sharp tied it up in the final minutes and that’s how this beauty ended. A 6-6 tie.

Joe Peacock was Scotland’s Player of the Game with a 4-point night while Dave Skingley takes the honours for Slovenia with a goal and 2 helpers.