Early Game – Slovenia vs Ireland

Both teams come in to this game with two points and very much in the hunt for a spot in the gold medal game.

Rispoli and Nieminen looking very sharp in the first period, turning away all chances for most of the period. But Slovenia struck fast with two goals in the final 5 minutes (Aaron Freeland and Bob King) to make it 2-0 after one period.

The second period was also a goaltender’s duel with no goals for most of the period. Furious PCOHL playoff hockey with lots of chances but no net until Aaron (his friends call him Aye-aye Ron) netted his second to make it 3-0 for Slovenia. But the period wasn’t over. Ireland buckled down and struck twice in the final five minutes (Patty Sharp and Tim Lochner) to make it a one-goal game going into period 3.

YET AGAIN there were no goals for most of the period, but with five minutes left in the game it was the SLOVS who took advantage with goals from Greg Platt and Dave Vincelli.

Final Score: Slovenia 5, Ireland 2, but that did not reflect the evenly matched game this was. Stingy defence and tight goaltending with NO GOALS in the first 15 minutes of ANY PERIOD.

Slovenia now sitting pretty with 4 points in two games. With this loss Ireland is out of the gold medal game, and will have to at least tie their final game against Italy next week to guarantee their spot in the bronze medal game.

Slovenia’s Player of the Game is A-Aaron Freeland shown here either counting Slovenia’s wins or showing off his shower moves. Tim Lochner with the juicy Gino takes the honours for Ireland.

Late Game – Portugal vs Scotland

The Portuguese were in first place for most of the season and now find themselves in a deep playoff hole. Winless in their first two games, the Portuguese look to rebound against surging Scotland to maintain some dim hope of Gold Medal glory. Scotland on the other hand can almost seal its spot in the final with a win.

Tight checking for the first 10 minutes until Todd MacDougall pounced on a rebound to put the kilts up 1-0. Frank Nweisser did the same with 3 to go and the first period ends Slovenia 2, Portugal 0.

Things went from bad to worse for Portugal in period 2 with FOUR unanswered goals by the Scots (Leo Brideau, Rich Chalovich, Todd MacDougall and Tony Thomas). Robin Flumerfelt ended Henderson’s shutout bid with a minute to go, but it was a 6-1 hole for the Portuguese going into period 3.

Then holy canoli, the Lisbonites came alive. Five minutes in, Alex Baluta made it 6-2 followed seconds later by a Don Hambly snipe to make it 6-3.

With eight minutes to go Scott Wilson made it 6-4 and Portuguese fans started streaming back to their seats. A minute later Alan Robb made it 6-5 and suddenly the place was jumping.

Furious action followed — along with five penalties in the last five minutes, but the Scottish juggernaut held off the Portuguese, ending this one by a score of 8-6 in favour of Scotland.

Paul Harty — Scotland’s spiritual leader on this night — plays the bagpipes for Mother Scotland while Don Hambly captains the Portuguese ship to its apparent destination.

An interesting playoff picture has now developed. Ireland and Portugal are both out of the gold medal game. But while Scotland and Slovenia seem destined for the final, Italy is still not out of the gold medal picture. If Italy wins its final two games against Ireland and Scotland and either Slovenia or Scotland lose their last two, then Ireland will play for gold.