This Week in SCOHA – November 22nd, 2022

Our SCOHA family is sad to hear of the passing of past SCOHA player Bruce MacDonald early last week. Bruce played in our league for numerous years and will be missed by many. Not to be confused with the current Bruce MacDonald playing in Masters, Bruce’s years in the league brought up many conversations over the weekend about his style of play on the ice. He would hook or tug on opposition jerseys to gain an edge. His teammates laughed whereas the other team… well not so much lol. These types of personalities make SCOHA a unique league to play in and we offer sincere condolences to the MacDonald family and all of Bruce’s friends he met along the way. I sat down Friday night with a few SCOHA Masters veterans who shared some great stories about Bruce. I would have drafted him on my team if I was a GM and if I was in Masters.

UNITED DIVISION:

FRI.NOV.18TH:

SHARKS 4 CANADIENS 2: A Friday night clash between the Habs and Sharks was a great pick for the Cable 14 Game of the Week. That Fidanze rookie scored the game winner in the second period as the Sharks doubled up the Habs 4-2. Dave Mercer also chipped in with a pair of goals while Marco Berube and Andrew Baker replied for les Habitants. This Dave Mercer kid is a smooth skater, folks. Smoother than Grandma Kaye’s chocolate fudge cake. Scouts from the Shawinigan Nightstands were at this game watching Dave play and he might get the call up very soon. Stay tuned for updates.

SUN.NOV.20TH:

FLYERS 6 OILERS 2: Before I get to this one, both teams gathered at the centre ice dot after the final buzzer to stick tap long-time respected player Paul Cleary to wish him luck as his health is offing some more challenges. We all hope he doesn’t have to hang up his skates but what a classy act by the opposing Flyers captain Mike Haslam and his team to orchestrate this respect for Paul. He was beyond appreciative by the gesture and we are all thinking of Paul. You got this, Pauly!!! The Flyers got a pair of snipes from Brent Haslam and he celebrated like he’s done that 48 million times. Flyers swarming attack on the puck proved to be the key as the guys in orange got past the Oilers who haven’t won in 3 games now. Hopefully all the regulars will be back in the lineup soon. Doug Moulton also scored a pair for the winners who now have a two point lead in the standings over the Oilers and Sharks. Oilers defenceman Blaine Betzold scored a seeing eye goal from the left point which Flyers goalie Lino Cosco is still wondering how it got through all those legs.

SHARKS 3 BRUINS 1: This was a defensive battle to say the very least. Bruins had a sub between the pipes, Jonas Scott, who did his job but the bruins just couldn’t solve Darren “Conan” O’Brien at the other end of the ice. Shulist Joe got the game winner for the Sharks and he went back to his bar afterwards for some hot wings to celebrate.

CANADIENS 5 BLACKHAWKS 3: This was more like the Canadiens, a big 5-3 win at home against the Hawks. Mike Miscio scored on a penalty shot which was a sign of good things to come. 5 Habs lit the lamp as they continued to show the SCOHA world they are the ones to beat when the cup is up for grabs in April. Hawks got 2 snipes from Rob Bili that we can’t go without mentioning. This guy trains with the Bio Steel players all summer. He knows what it takes to be in game shape all year round!

MASTERS DIVISION:

FRI.NOV.18TH:

BLACKHAWKS 11 SHARKS 4: Tough one for the Sharks but for the love of Gary Leeman, those hawks were hungrier than a woodpecker with a headache. Larry “the cable guy” Litzgus had a can of Jolt Cola before the game and went there and scored 5 damn goals! Brian Foley (I have his rookie card) also got in on the action with a pair of sweet goals. “Diamond” Billy Kircos also chipped in with a goal and a couple apples for the winning side. Sharks lone bright spot was Mike “12 string acoustic” Guitard who scored a hat trick. Despite the lopsided loss, Mike took the game puck home and was crowned the Shark of the Game by the SCOHA Writers Association.

FLYERS 6 STARS 0: The Flyers folded up the Stars like a Taco Bell chipotle ranch chicken burrito 6-0 in front of a packed house of 7 (including the bar maids and the dude spinning the pizza wheels in the back). Dave Armstrong went top cheese 3 times but would have had two or three more but Stars netminder Scott Johnson stacked his pads just like Tony Esposito used to. Nick “I never” Miscione also threw his hat into the ring and scored twice for the winners while Ken Wiersma made more saucer passes than the coffee lady at the old Woodward Diner, collecting 2 big assists for the men in orange.

Stars captain Chris Barratto was unavailable for comment post game… well actually he was available but I can’t repeat his comments on the air…

SUN.NOV.20TH

REDWINGS 7 BLACKHAWKS 7: this game was crazier than a monkey on a unicycle for crying out loud. Hawks goalie Joe DeFaria spared no expense telling the referees what he thought about them then found himself first at the hot shower and the dry towels. When the dust settles, the final score was 7-7. Larry Litzgus lit the lamp 3 times and Ron “Arsenio” Hall also scored a beauty for the Hawks, Six different Several different Redwings scored goals which was pretty damn impressive if you ask me.

FLYERS 3 BRUINS 1: Alistair Kermack (and cheese) lugged the mail for the Flyers as they got past a resilient Bruins squad 3-1. Flyer’s tender of the twine Alex Greychuck turned aside 32 shots for the win as he frustrated the Bruins several times from in close. He compliments his cat Sneekers for helping get his quick reflexes in the crease. It’s amazing what a laser pointer can do for hockey training… 

Steve Horner, no relation to Red Horner (ex-Leaf great from the 1920’s era) scored the lone Bruins goal.

FLAMES 7 SHARKS 4: Someone gift this game sheet with a jar of fancy olives for crying out loud. What a game. Henri Marfisi and Ghislain Piche both dropped a deuce as the Flames continued their winning ways. 83 buckets of cold distilled water couldn’t stop this Flames team right now and lemme tell you, fellas, the Flames are my pick to win the cup but anything can happen. For the Sharks, John “Rocket man” Elter and Ernie Dunston both scored highlight reel goals in a losing cause. Flames goaltender Tymen Edelkoort remains cooler than the other side of the pillow in the Flames crease. Nothing fazes him and he is the early candidate for the Vezina trophy.

STARS 4 PENGUINS 3: lame hockey pun alert folks as the Stars were all aligned on this night. A huge 4-3 win over the pesky Penguins after a couple goose eggs were what the doctor ordered for this Star team. Captain Chris Barratto is back talking to us media again so everything is good again. Bruno DiGiovanni scored the eventual game winner with a buck thirty left in the game to seal the deal. I want a jar of his homemade pasta sauce to mix in with my pre-game chicken and penne. Stars Frank Bortolin set up two amazing goals and even took the game puck home for his garage, proudly displaying it right beside the jug of washer fluid.

Well that’s all for this weeks recap. Looking at the numbers, SCOHA attendance is up 36% so far and merchandise sales are picking up as the Christmas rush has begun. Anyone looking for that special SCOHA gift for your significant other, masters Guy Shaver has some game-worn socks and undershirts he will autograph for you if the price is right.

Have a great rest of the week, fellas, see you at the rink this weekend.

Chris Marttila

SCOHA Blogologist / stat guy