Early Game – Slovenia vs Italy

The early game featured 3rd place Slovenia trying to claw their way up in the standings against an Italian team with lots of firepower looking to end a two game skid.

Slovenia came out swinging in the first with goals from Dave Vincelli, Jim Maguire, Bob King and Bruce Freeman while Italy managed one goal from their top player Steve Davis. 4-1 for Slovenia after one period.

And that was pretty much it. A goaltender’s duel from that point on with Frank Rispoli shutting out the Italians in the second and third periods while last year’s Conn Smythe winner Arty Senkowski allowed only one goal in the same time period. Great defensive hockey and strong goaltending after the first period flurry ended this one Slovenia 5, Italy 1.

Slovenia Player of the Game goes to Jim Maguire who carried his team like a veteran while Steve Davis gets the honours for Italy by serving up their only offensive point on his unassisted goal to spoil Rispoli’s shutout.

Late Game – Scotland vs Portugal

Scotland looking to hold on to 1st place against a Portuguese squad only one point behind them but playing without their star Alan Robb.

Both goalies looking very strong in the first period, turning away all chances from both sides. 0-0 after one.

Portugal broke the ice midway through the second when Dave Skingley redirected a beautiful shot pass from Robin Chantaj to make it 1-0 for the Lisbonites. But Scotland evened the score a few minutes later with Matt Goddard’s shot bouncing high off a Portugal stick and dropping Texas League style behind Cioffi.

The second period ended with a flurry of action in front of Scotland’s goal with rookie sensation Don Hambly finally bulging the twine through a crowd to put Portugal up 2-1, and then moments later Portugal’s Robin Flumerfelt stuffed in a Joe Peacock rebound to close off the second period Portugal 3, Scotland 1.

Portugal was feeling an upset in the making, but Scotland is not in first place for nothing and the crowd at PCMA could sense the Glaswegians going into high gear in the third period. Scotland is the top scoring team by a wide margin and their trio of snipers — Tim Randa, Brad Stoll, and Leo Brideau — can score in bunches. However, on this night the only thing better than Vezina Winner Stu Henderson’s performance was the unconscious effort of Portuguese backstop Tony Cioffi, who kept Scotland’s sniper trio to zero points and made Portugal’s modest 3 goals enough to move them into sole possession of first place at the end of Round 2.

Both goalies outstanding in this one, both recording shutouts in the first and third periods. No doubt about Players of the Game in this one.