OK we have finally wrapped up our 20 game pre season schedule last Friday on St. Pattys day. Early game between Portugal and Scotland. Portuguese scored the lone goal in the 1st. Portugal out duels the Scots 4-2 in the 2nd for a 5-2 lead after 2. Both teams scored once in the 3rd for a final Portuguese victory of 6-3. Scotland got 2 goals from Patty Sharp and a single from Mr. Playoff Timmy Randa. Portugal got 2 goals from both Mike Russo and Paul ‘Marner’ Harty and singles from Robin Flumerfelt and Jay Cummings. Scotland went 1-3 not he PP and Portugal was 1-2. Players of the Game went to Scotlands Pat McCormick, sooo good looking….not!!!

And for the Portuguese their head Uckie in charge back after a long lay off Mr. Jeffery Kostick.

Late game was a big one for seeding rights as the winner would have the 2nd seed. Italy and Slovenia who have been one of our hottest teams in the late half of the season. 2-1 for Italy after 1 frame. Slovenia ties it up with a lone goal in the 2nd. The goalies then completely took over in the final frame as they shut out all shooters and this one finished a draw 2-2. Slovenia got goals from Chris Deware and Robin Chantaj. Italy got goals from Johnny Fasulo and Agostino Falcone, nice Irish names haha. Both squads went 0-2 on the PP. Players of the Game went to Slovenias goalie Artie Senkowski and for the Italians their leader Marcello Di Luzio.

So we are all wrapped up and now all 5 teams start from zero as our playoffs begin on Friday. Scotland will take the 1st seed. Italy will take the 2nd seed. Portugal and Slovenia finished tied in points and in head to head record but Portugal has one more win and will take the 3rd seed. Slovenia will be our 4th seed and Ireland will take the 5th seed. There is a couple off things to know, one usually the 1st seed never wins the Championship but for sure we know that Rukavina NEVER wins the Gold so Slovenia Italy and Ireland are Las Vegas favourites for now.

Congrats to Scotland winning the regular season 1st place prize. Patty Sharp winning his 2nd leading scorer award. Chris Deware winning the Rocket Richard with 37 goals. That just broke a record held by Rukavina for 23 years of 36 goals. How old was Chris back in 2000????? Greg Platt with the most helpers of 27. Deware wins the rookie scoring race with 44 point campaign also a rookie record. Patty Sharp and Robin Chantaj winning the John Sparrow award for most penalty minutes of 14, note Sparrow holds the record with 44 minutes. Tomi Nieminen wins his first best goalie award with the lowest goals agains average of 4.55.

A couple of changes now for the rest of the playoffs. NO replacement players allowed, must have 7 skaters and a goalie or you will default the game 1-0. If your goalie is away you must first contact the goalie that is OFF that week then go to our goalie call up list and finally use a goalie to play a double header. Tie breaker rules start with head to head record if 2 teams are tied in points. Then best GF/GF + GA %. Then least total penalty minutes then coin toss. If more than 2 teams are tied in points then straight to GF/GF + GA % then least penalty minutes. No overtime on any playoff round robin games, a tie is a tie. Only Championship Games we will have a 5 minute overtime 3 on 3 with no line changes at stoppage of play, then a shoot out. Each team can use a 1 time out per playoff game of 30 seconds if they choose so. I think thats it for now, best of luck boys and see you all on the ice!