Early Game – Slovenia vs Ireland

A HUGE game for both teams in the early show with Slovenia guaranteed a share of first place with a win, while Ireland is desperate to prove that their late season rally is no fluke.

An even tempo in the first period with three goals for Slovenia (sub Flumerfelt, Vincelli, and sub Davis for the Slovenians and Tygesen and Riopelle for the leprechauns).

Both team’s goalies looking strong early on but things busted open in the second period. Joel May tied things up for the green team but Slovenia responded with three goals in one minute (Vincelli x2 and Jim Maguire) to make it 6-3 late in the third.

But they don’t call them the FIGHTING IRISH for nothing. Paul Riopelle, with one goal under his belt already, took the Shamrocks on his shoulders and scored a natural hat-trick in the last seven minutes of the second period. TIE GAME!!

Both teams played close-checking hockey for most of the final period until Dave Woodside took matters into his own hands and scored the winning goal with a strong one-timer that Conn Smythe Winner Art Senkowski had no chance on. Slovenia added an insurance goal and that’s how it ended: Slovenia 8, Ireland 6.

Slovenia now shares the top spot in the rankings with Portugal, who they play next week in a battle for first place. Ireland looked sharp in this one, and Paul Riopelle’s four-goal game make it clear that the injuries that slowed him down this season are clearly on the mend.

Slovenia’s Player of the Game was Aaron Freeland, silencing the Italian crowd, while Paul Riopelle takes the honours for Ireland.

Late Game – Scotland vs Italy

This season has been marked by strong goaltending with significantly fewer goals than this time last year. But this game was a shooting gallery.

Scotland dominated the first period with three goals (John Annan, Brad Stoll and Steve Boyle) while turning away all Italian chances.

Boyle shows off his scoring prowess again with the first goal of the second period, but Italy’s Steve Davis responds within seconds to make it 4-1. Tim Randa adds to Scotland’s lead but Rick Cecchetto responds to make it 5-2. It was like a pair of French lords slapping eachother’s faces with white gloves until Todd MacDougall got the period’s final word, this one starting to slip away at 6-2 for the kilts going into the final frame.

John Annan and Brad Stoll made it 8-2 early on, dejected Italian fans throwing canoli on the ice and streaming from the building, but the diehards didn’t go unrewarded. Jay Cummings, Steve Davis, and Ciro Napolitano all lit the lamp for the Romans before this one ended, winning the last half of the final period by a score of 3-2 (MacDougall and Randa scoring for the kilts).

But they count all the periods and on that score it was Scotland 10, Italy 6. A good old shootout as teams start to hone their offensive chops for the playoffs around the corner.

Scotland’s Player of the Game was Steve Boyle, whose two giant ginos won’t go unnoticed by Mrs. Boyle if she wants to fend off Steve’s latest fans on this Valentine’s Day.

Italy’s Player of the Game goes to league veteran and wine legend Jay Cummings who uncorked some of his old scoring sweetness against the Scottish clan.

Next week will feature Ireland vs Italy while Slovenia tries to continue it’s march to the top against first place Portugal.