Early Game – #2 Slovenia vs. #5 Scotland

#2 Slovenia looking to lock down a 2nd place finish and preserve a chance to finish #1. Scotland looking to get in the groove for the playoffs in this second last game for each squad.

Scottish stickman Patty Sharpe collected two in the first, but Slovenia got two from Dave Dodic, and singles from Joel May and Paul Riopelle. 4-2 for Slovenia after 1.

Joe Peacock scored for the Scots in the second, but the surging Slovenians collected two more from Riopelle for the hat-trick. 6-3 after 2.

The goalies each got shut-outs in the third period and that’s how this one ended. 6-3 for Slovenia who lock down 2nd place and set up a HUGE match against Italy next week. Winner of that one wins the regular season title.

Scotland’s player of the game was Brad Stoll while Johnny Fasulo takes the honours for Slovenia.

Late Game – #3 Ireland vs #4 Portugal

With Slovenia’s win in the early game, Ireland and Portugal are locked in to 3rd and 4th place finishes, respectively. As a result, this game was a preview of the first round of the playoffs when these two squads will meet again in two weeks time.

Ireland’s Tim Freeman popped the seal in the first but Portugal sniper Greg Platt evened it up shortly thereafter to end the first period 1-1.

Ireland started rolling in the second period with three unanswered goals — one from Tim Randa and a pair from Chris Deware. This one looked pretty over but Portugal came within 2 on a late goal — Platt from Russo. Remember that phrase. 4-2 after two.

Six minutes into the third the Portuguese made it 4-3 on a goal — Platt from Russo. And then with 5 minutes to play in the game the Portuguese tied it up on a goal — Platt from Russo. Final score 4-4.

This was a great PCOHL game with only one penalty a side and the door between changerooms opened afterward with players from each squad moving back and forth, socializing and sampling some of Mike Russo’s homemade beef jerky — he gets assists, he brings beef jerky, someone sign this guy!

Ireland Player of the Game goes to Fred Raidl while Greg Platt gets the honours for Portugal scoring all four goals!

Next week is the final week of our regular season (or as Leo Brideau calls it, our 20 game pre-season). Playoffs start on Friday, March 15 with Scotland playing next week’s loser of the Slovenia/Italy game while Ireland and Portugal meet again in the late game.