Boys,

Our final night of regular season games is now in our books and it was our St Pattys night special!!!

The early tilt between Canada and Poland with regular season champs on the line for the winner of this one.  Could this be a Gold Medal game in 5 weeks?  1-1 after the opening frame.  All red and white in the 2nd as they pound the Polocks 4-1 for a 5-2 lead after 2 periods.  2 early Polish goals make this a 1 goal game.  Canada scores twice mid way through the 3rd taking back a 7-4 lead.  Poland gets a late goal to finish this one with Canada on top 7-5.  Good game.  Poland went 1-3 on the PP and Canada was 0-0.  Poland got goals from Leo Brideau, Brian Burke, Pat McCormick, Bryon Wright and John Annan.  Canada got 2 goals both from Paul Alloway and Enzo Ianno and singles from Murray Russell, Tim Martins and Paul Harty.  Players of the Game went to Canada’s #3 Paul Alloway and to Polands #6 Leo Brideau.  Congrats to Canada who finished 1st and are our regular season Champs!  Poland will take the 2nd seed for the playoff run.

Late game between Sweden and the USA.  Big game for Sweden as a loss would put them in our record books as the lowest point team in history.  All USA in the opening frame as they score 3 unanswered goals.  More of the same in the 2nd as the Americans out score the Swedes 4-1 for a 7-1 lead after 2 periods.  Sweden had its most productive final frame in their season as they shut out the Americans 3-0 in the 3rd but USA wins this one 7-4.  USA went 0-1 on the PP and Sweden went 0-0.  Sweden got goals from Patrick Sharp, Robin Flumerfelt, Billy Lott and fill in player Dan Barrett.  USA got 2 goals from both Dwayne Tygesen and Paul ‘Pork Chop’ Barbosa and singles from Rob Leenaars, Joe Cosentino, and Rob McKean.  Players of the Game went to USA #2 Steve Waters and for the Swedes fill in Dan Barrett.  Dan looks uncomfortable donning the horns but Mrs. Barrett is excited!!!!!

Some records tied or broken this season.  Poland beat Sweden 11-9 earlier in the year and that tied a record of 20 goals in one game.  Least points, 4 and least wins 1, for a single team in a season goes to Sweden.  Most ties one team one season goes to USA this season with 6 breaking the record of 5.  USA also broke a record of least penalty minutes with 38, previous record was 40.  Americans do not like Brenda, what?????

Polands Pat McCormick and USA Rob McKean finished tied for the Art Ross trophy as leading scorers with 42 each.  Rob McKean also wins the Rocket Richard trophy for most goals scored with 23.  Canada’s Marcelo Diluzio got a minor penalty with 16 seconds left in his last game to finish tied with Sweden’s Robin Flumerfelt for the John Sparrow award of most penalty minutes with 12 each.  In the rookie race, Finlands Steve MacDougall and Canada’s Paul Alloway finished tied with most rookie goals with 17 each.  Canada’s Paul Alloway and Tim Martins both finished tied for rookie points with 27 each.  Canada’s leading scorer Enzo Ianno led the league with 4 game winning goals.  Sweden’s Paul ‘Pork Chop’ Tavares led the league with 2 short handed goals.  And USA Rob McKean led the league with 3 power play goals.  Canada’s Frank Rispoli wins the Vezina with the league best goals against average with a 3.95 GAAvg.  Job well done boys!

So our new season begins this Friday and all 5 teams are tied with 0 points.  Our opening round of games goes Friday, March 23 at Port Credit arena.  First game puck drop will be at 7:15 pm and Sweden will do battle with Poland.  At 8:30 pm Finland will face off against USA.  Top seed Canada gets the 1st week off.

Best of luck to all teams and remember keep your sticks on the ice and enjoy your playoff games.  Don’t forget to let your team reps know if you will be away for any of your playoff games.