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Championship Games
Championship Game Recaps
- B League
- B3 - Ambush - GN-Bruins trample Klash 11-4 behind nine unanswered goals
- As unexpected as it was sudden, the GN-Bruins unleashed an eight goal third period barragee to stupefy a dazed Klash squad en route to the B League championship. Often in such a dramatic turn of events, a distinct trigger moment set the offensive fury in play. Trailing 3-2 late in the second, Chris Ferazzoli seized upon a sloppy Klash transition and raced the clock to top-shelf the critical tying goal with just two seconds remaining in the second period. This decisive tally set off a cascade of Bruins goals that broke open a close, defensive game and overwhelmed the stunned Klash. Ferrazoli and Tom Fanning each had three goals to lead the Bruins' offensive tsunami.
- C League
- C3 - Twice Nice - Woodstock conquer Phantoms-LCF again with 7-3 championship win
- Harkening back to the mid-70's, when every meeting between heavyweights proved a toe-to-toe classic, Woodstock and the Phantoms staged the latest C League title bout with Woodstock again prevailing 7-3 in a closer-than-the-score final. Befitting the 70's big boys, these two rivals skated and challenged relentlessly, producing an end-to-end battle with each taking turns pinning the other on the ropes. The turning point, as is the case when two equal opponents square up, came when the Phantoms showed the first true weakness. Trailing 3-2, Woodstock seized upon a spate of Phantoms penalties late second/early third and scored four powerplay goals in seven minutes to rally and break open the game. As is their trademark, nine different Woodstock players hit the scoresheet. The offense was led by Dan Fehrenbach and George Lee, who each scored twice and assisted once. Kurt Tomczyk added one and helped on three others with each assist a part of a dazzling tic-tac-toe tally.
- D1 League
- D3 - Takin' a Walk on the Wildside - Wild survive LI-Bruins 4-3 in a frenetic showdown
- Belying a significant shot disadvantage, the Wild fended off the potent Bruins offense to capture the D1 League championship 4-3. Justin Eisner scored the game winning goal middle third after deftly receiving a Claude Birong bomb pass to split the Bruins defense and slam a five-hole gamewinner. Early on, the Bruins seemed primed to blow the Wild out of the rink. They forged a 2-0 first period lead as they pressured and pinned the Wild seemingly at will. Explictably, however, the Bruins briefly feel asleep and paid dearly for it. Scoring thrice in a minute, the Wild almost instantaneously grabbed a 3-2 lead and would never trail again. The Bruins quickly regained their composure and continued their offensive assault but could not muster anything more the tying goal. Wild goalie Chris Reidy was resolute in turning away 22 shots in the final two stanzas and 31 for the game. Eisner scored twice during the decisive first period Wild flurry to finish with a hat trick.
- D2 League
- DD3 - Sting like a Bee - Scorpions scalp Banshees 7-5
- Scoring two late third period goals, the Scorpions broke a 5-5 tie to sprint past a gallant Banshees squad and capture the D2 championship. This see-saw affair initially appeared to be a Scorpions runaway. For much of the game's first half, the Scorpions dominated play, often trapping the Banshees in their own end for extended periods. And when Charlie Mott potted his third biscuit, middle second, the Scorpions had forged an imposing 5-2 lead. The Banshees seemed dejected and dispirited. A well-timed timeout, however, gathered the reeling Banshees. Over the next 15 minutes, they remarkably reversed play and worked a 5-5 tie when Jesse Roberts top-shelfed a backhand to complete his own hat trick. Suddenly, we were tied and the match, the championship was there for the taking. And taken it was. Capitalizing on a fortuitous powerplay, David Donohue slammed home a weakside goalmouth rebound to re-establish a Scoropion lead with six minutes remaining. Three minutes later, Donohue then craftily fed Dale Lewis on a 2-on-1, and Lewis deked home the insurance tally. Lewis, a force for much of the game, had previously set up four earlier Scorpion goals.
- E League
- E3 - Magic Carpet Ride - Rats exterminate Misfits 6-1
- Capping an improbable playoff run, the Rats played their finest in handily winning the E League championship with a 6-1 mashing of the Misfits. Two weeks ago, the Rats were scrambling just to claim a wildcard. The prospect of a three game championship run seemed remote. But with a true underdog spirit, they fashioned a magical playoff ride, getting stronger as they progressed. While their semifinal dismissal of the Cyclones was impressive, the Rats put it all on display last night: opportunistic offensive, stingy defense, and shutdown goaltending. They methodically worked a 4-0 second period lead with outstanding work in slot traffic. Overall, four Rats goals resulted from lunchpail goalmouth effort. Goalie Lou Orquera shined behind a steely Rats defense that never allowed the Misfits to seriously threaten. Leading the Rats scoring was Rob Bentrewicz (3 goals and 1 assist) and Dave Beatty (2 goals).
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