This Week in SCOHA - March 27th, 2023

For starters, has anyone ever played in a dodgeball league? Do you drive all the way there, game starts, you get hit in the arm then you drive back home? I don’t get it. Anyways, I missed last night’s action a cough that is making me feel like I swallowed a wool sweater but I am hearing that all 4 games were more exciting than a springtime bulb show down at Gage Park. Master’s Stars captain Chris Barratto didn’t throw his clipboard across the ice and rallied his team to an impressive 4-3 win over the Flyers. This team is hotter than a jar of Chinese chili oil. We will dive into that game momentarily but let’s start with United Division action.  

UNITED DIVISION: 

FLYERS 5 BLACKHAWKS 1: Flyers Mike Rostecki scored twice, including the game winner with about 6 minutes left in the 1st period to lift his Flyers to a big 5-1 win over the Hawks. Veteran power winder Dino Guidice also lit the lamp for the winners who are off to their 39th championship in the last 40 years thanks to the leadership and tenacity of their captain Mike Haslam who refuses to lose. Hawks were down a few large bodies that could’ve gummed up the works but Flyers goalie Lino “240-pack of paper towel” Cosco had the answer on this night. His save percentage has to be close to close to Masters Joe LoCiccero’s back in the 1971 playoffs when he also shut the door on almost every shot that came his way. Great season for the hawks who had more spares than  a bowling alley but managed to give it their best each night. Hawks gm Paul McGraw declined comment but will address the media when his team has locker cleanout day on Tuesday. One bright note for the Hawks is that Marc Poulin will be able to compete in Top Chef Canada now that his season is completed. Watch for this hawk team next year, guys. McGraw’s pre-draft work starts tomorrow morning and he will be back with a damn good team, you heard it here first. 

SHARKS 6 BRUINS 5: This game had more ups and downs than the Modern Indian Buffet toilet seat for crying out loud. (Best butter chicken I’ve ever had until you get home, but I think it’s closed down now). Sharks Justin “Eastgate” Mol scored a hatty including the eventual game winner with a buck 36 left as the Sharks escaped with a crazy 6-5 win over the high flying Bruins. This game could’ve gone either way as both teams left it all on the ice. Fans from all parts stuck around for this one even though they were missing the CHCH Sunday Night Movie back at home. Sharks also got 2 goals from #9 who didn’t get his name on the game sheet. Bruins Chris Conroy and Brock Hotrum were all over the ice but Sharks goalkeeper Darren “Conan” O’Brien had other thoughts, stopping 39 shots for the win. This game was predicted to boil over after their last meeting but things were kept respectful as a birth to the finals was more important. As for the Hawks, the Bruins started off the season a bit slow but really turned it on the second half of the schedule.  

MASTERS DIVISION: 

STARS 4 FLYERS 3: Stars Jason Anderson scored with about 4 minutes left and Scott Johnson stopped 32 pucks as the Stars snuck by the Flyers 4-3 in what was the most exciting game of the night. Four different players scored for the Stars while Nick Miscione has a pair and Darren Joliffe (aka Joe Leaf) replied for the Flyers. I am assuming the Stars game plan was to have 4 guys shadow Dave Armstrong all night and make sure fans shone a laser pointer into his eyes whenever he had the puck. This kind of game has always been in Dave’s wheelhouse. We will wait for locker cleanout day to ask Dave how this one got away. 

FLAMES 5 BLACKHAWKS 4: Lots of high scoring games on this night even though strong defense wins championships but anyways, the Flames held off the Hawks 5-4 thanks to Henri Marfisi’s game winner and Tymen Edelkoort’s 41 saves. Hawks Vince Mercury scored twice and looked up to the sky as he missed what would’ve been the tying goal but it just missed with only a few minutes remaining. Mercury’s team played out of this world, folks. They should be proud of the season they had, lots of respect in that locker room. They have a young core of players that will use this as motivation next season. The Flames had an easy road to the playoffs but played all tight games in the playoffs to get to the final. Flames Darren Corneau said about 5 players are dealing with the usual playoff bumps and bruises but the championship game is coming up, there’s no excuses. Corneau looked more excited than the time he unwrapped a punchbowl set as he tries to win the cup this upcoming weekend. 

Well that takes care of another year of roller coaster semi-finals. The stage is set for SCOHA Super Sunday. United hit the ice at 5:45 and Masters at 7pm. Bring the kids, watch some great games, we will see you there!  

Have a great week, fellas! 

Chris Marttila 

SCOHA Blogologist