Early Game – Italy vs Ireland

Italy and Ireland have struggled to convert their strong rosters into gamesheet success this year and they each came out looking for a win to turn things around.

The matchup featured two former Vezina trophy winners, Art Senkowski and Tomi Nieminen, both looking to give their struggling offence a chance (both teams averaging around 3 goals a game, tying them for last place in goal production).

Both keepers looked strong in the first until the midway point when Irish Sub — Richard “THE COMMISSSSH” Chalovich bulged the twine for the Leprechauns to make it 1-0 for Ireland.

But it took only 8 seconds for Italian sniper Steve Davis to even the score at 1 goal apiece, and that’s how the first period ended.

Italy’s Chris Johnson put his squad ahead, but that’s all the Romans could muster in period two. Ireland responded with a pair of their own from Paul Riopelle and Peter McKay to put the last place Irish ahead 3-2 going into the final period.

And that’s how it stayed for the first half of the final frame, looking like the Irish might hold on to win. But holy-fri-holy, the wheels came RIGHT off in the last 10 minutes with FIVE unanswered Italian goals. Two from Steve Davis (for the hat-trick). Two from Chris Johnson (for the hat-trick). And a single from the dashing Italian forward Ricardo Cecchetto.

Final Score: Italy 7 – Ireland 3.

Italy Player of the Game goes to Chris Johnson who managed a HAT-TRICK against the skilled Irish keeper Nieminen. Ireland’s POG goes to their manager and sponsor, Brian Spence, for bringing the beer. Aye, that’s a lad.

Late Game – Portugal vs Slovenia

The late game was nothing less than a battle for first place. With Portugal in the lead, but only a point ahead of Slovenia, both teams had something to prove.

No surprise that strong goaltending was the theme as things got underway. Veteran Frank “The Goalie” Rispoli shut down Portugal’s offence in period one, making way for his team to take the lead on a Jim Maguire goal to end the period 1-0 for Slovenia.

Halfway through the game it was still 1-0 and starting to look like things might end that way. But Robin Flumerfelt scored on George Letsos’s nifty cross-ice pass and that seemed to pop the seal on the Slovenian net. Joe Peacock drifted a high one past Rispoli less than a minute later to give Portugal the lead. Then Al Robb, Mike Russo and D-man Tony Carlisle all added to Slovenia’s misery to end the period with a score of 5-1 for Portugal.

That seemed to take the wind out of Slovenia’s sails who went scoreless in period 3, while Tony Carlisle added his second of the night.

Final Score: Portugal 6, Slovenia 1.

Portugal’s Player of the Game goes to Tony Carlisle, usually a stay-at-home defenceman, but dreaming tonight of his offensive glory.

Slovenia’s POG goes to Aaron (that’s pronounced “Ay-Ay-Ron”) Freeman for a strong showing on the Slovenian blue line.