This Week in SCOHA – March 12th, 2026

Well folks, nothing beats the excitement of playoff hockey, I don’t care how old you are. United Division playoffs are nuts. Last place Blackhawks have a war chest of ammunition to power through the grind of the post season while the Leafs and Bruins, powerhouses throughout the regular season, look to get back on track this weekend.

 

United Division:

Flyers 5 Leafs 1: This was a calmer game than expected. Flyers continue to rule the roost when it comes to statement games, something the Haslam’s wear on their sleeves each and every week. Flu or no flu, you play against the fellas in orange, you know what type of game you are lacing up for. 5 different players lit the lamp for the Flyers as they trounced the Leafs 5-1. Jesse Dunham had the lone Leaf goal as they plan to sit down and review the tape to get prepared for week 2 of round-robin action this Friday. Leafs were missing a key cog in the wheel, Kyle Relf who is as reliable as they get. Kyle could play a few shifts with a black sock around his eyes and still fire the damn puck around, changes the ceiling for the Leafs when he is on his game. As for the Flyers, I think they have their guy in Anthony Quaglia in net. His pre-game meal of meatball wellingtons is a bit odd but to each their own.

Blackhawks 5 Bruins 2: And just like that the pucks are going in. Hawks folded up the Bruins like grandma folds the very corner of the napkin to dab her face. Ignores the rest of the napkin, just needs the corner. Ryan “swiss” Chard dropped a deuce for the winning side while the Bruins got a goal from what looks like the letter S on the game sheet, it isn’t a 5 because they don’t have a #5 but it doesn’t matter, they lost anyway. This Bruin team will be ok, they are just getting warmed up. Zach Peachey, got him in the playoff pool, also scored in a losing cause. Let’s be honest, the Bruins were missing Matt “window” Sills. This guy can play the damn game the right way, not a guy that would rather make a line change than hustle back to defend. His effort when in the lineup is second to none.

Masters Division:

Senators 5 Bruins 3: Steve Watt notched a pair of major league snipes and Brock Hotrum added a goal (with 1 second left in the 1st) and 2 apples as the Senators skated past the Bruins 5-3. Past SCOHA journeyman Steve Cuthbert spared in net for the Bruins and kept them in it for the most part. Shots were 14-11 for the Senators (thanks timekeeper) but both teams had plenty of chances in close. Good game by both Veterans of the Vented Verandas” , Cuthbert and Scott Mlekuz. Bill “aluminum” Foley did his usual things out there. A few toe drags, all out hustle each shift and oh ya, chipped in with 2 goals. Dwayne Kavanagh has about 12 goals in his last 3 games with his Wednesday and Sunday SCOHA stats combined. Must be the Jolt Cola he chugs before heading onto the ice surface.

Sharks 1 Leafs 0: I watched this one on my tablet, the score has nothing to do with the tempo this playoff game offered up. A late goal with 3 minutes left by Joad Durst lifted the Sharks to a 1-0 triumph over the Leafs. More ups and downs than a stolen Pamela Anderson vhs tape. Shots were 22-11 Sharks but Leafs goalkeeper Sandro Morrone stole the show in net. Let’s be honest, folks, Sharks goalie Bruno Santanato has has a real good season. Despite apparently tweaking a groin at the midway point of the game, he loomed large in the Shark crease to help secure the shutout. Well deserved. Not sure I am a fan of the bright yellow jerseys the Leafs wore but hopefully the sun shines brighter next game.

Grand Masters Division:

Kraken 1 Stars 0: Steve Kivell plays better when the pressure is on. He cooks ribs in the oven on broil for 4 minutes, now that’s pressure. He scored the eventual game winner with 6 minutes left in the opening period then the Kraken, led by Joe DeFaria between the pipes, cruised to a 1-0 victory. Kraken coach Terry Gudgeon after the game said, “We played a pretty dull defensive playoff game that the fans don’t really enjoy but we are here to win the damn cup. We promise there will be more goals next game, you can bank on that.” Stars coach and GM Chris Barratto commented on the lousy Zamboni effort in his end of the ice that saw the young driver leave a stripe in the middle of the ice. We are still awaiting decision on the protest.

Blackhawks 2 Sharks 2: The Sharks rallied around Ernie Dunston’s 2 goal performance and left the rink satisfied with a 2-2 tie against the powerhouse Hawks. Blackhawks had goals from Nathan Seepersaud and Lee Paule, who skated in his 489th career playoff game, tying Flyer great Reggie Leach in that department. 13 total goals in the 3 grand masters games, now that’s defensive playoff hockey, quick math at the top of my head, that’s an average of 4.3333333333 goals per game.

Bruins 5 Flyers 3: This Bruin team has made some great strides as the season went on. They have now won both round-robin games thus far and have a stranglehold on 1st place. Al Roshko, not the cop from Dukes of Hazzard, scored a pair while Terry “hitman” Hughes scored a highlight reel goal with 9 seconds left in the 1st period as the B’s beat the Flyers 5-3.  Flyers kept this one close with Ghislain Piche’s 2 goal performance but they ran out of gas late. Hope they can muster up a win and stay in the hunt for the 4 spots in the semi-finals. We will have to wait and see.

PREMIUM PLUS TOOL WORKHORSES OF THE WEEK:

UNITED: RYAN CHARD  

MASTERS: STEVE WATT  

GRAND MASTERS: AL ROSHKO  

 

That’s all from this end of the ice. Masters and Grand Masters are off until the 22nd but there are 2 massive United games Friday night. 8pm first puck drop, come on out and catch the action. Drink and Wing specials up at the canteen. See you there.

Chris Marttila

SCOHA Reporter-in-Chief