Archive for the ‘Weekly Previews’ Category
Week 21 Preview
Thursday, September 24th, 2009Stork Has Finally Passed The Torch
GAME OF THE WEEK
Fresh Kills (9-8-0-1) vs. Rehabs (11-5-0-3)
Location: Tompkins West, 2:00 PM
All-Time Series: Rehabs lead 5-4
Game Notes: Both of these Rubens Division foes enter this tilt playing some of their best hockey of the season. Fresh Kills has now won its last four games and finally has a record above .500. The recent surge started with an upset victory over LBS, Inc., when Fresh Kills held the league’s fourth ranked offense to just three goals. In the three games since, the defense has stiffened up even more, as the team allowed just two goals (including two shutouts). The Rehabs have won five of their last six games. It is no coincidence that their recent run of good fortune began when they added free agent Adam Skuse to the team. He has scored all nine of his goals during this six-game stretch, making him the team leader in goals. The Rehabs opened their season with a 4-1 win over Fresh Kills, a feat they will look to duplicate as the season winds down.
Keys To The Game:
1. Dave Sokolyansky leads Fresh Kills with 12 goals. His brother, Mike, is also on the team and has assisted on all of Dave’s goals. However, he has repeatedly declined to be recognized, due to his modest nature and acute shyness.
2. During one of Alex “Villano VI” Zabala’s two goals last week, Rehab defender Stacy Kehoe ran to congratulate her teammate but tripped over a crack in the Tompkins pavement. This instantly elevated the celebration to the status of “saddest ever in BTSH.”
3. Rehab forward Rob Blandi has scored six goals in the team’s last six games. Interestingly, the only time he did not score during this stretch was in their one loss.
Eli’s Pick: Rehabs. A win will be a nice belated birthday present for captain Meredith “Danberg” Ficarelli.
Derek’s Pick: Rehabs. Another big game for Skuse will lead the team to victory.
Watchability: 4.5 Lessers
Week 20 Preview
Thursday, September 17th, 2009It’s Good To Be The Alpha Male
GAME OF THE WEEK
Dark Rainbows (12-4-0-1) vs. LBS, Inc. (11-4-0-1)
Location: Tompkins West, 4:30 PM
All-Time Series: LBS, Inc. leads 6-5-1
Game Notes: This makeup of a “rain fears” game features the top two teams in the Schloeder Division, the Dark Rainbows and LBS, Inc. After a tough three game stretch, the Dark Rainbows have rebounded with consecutive wins against the Gouging Anklebiters and Tuques. Captain Sean Reynolds has led the team by example, as he has recorded three goals during these two wins. LBS, Inc. enters the game headed in the opposite direction, as the Corporation has lost its last two games following an eight-game winning streak. To add insult to inury, both of these losses came at the hands of teams with losing records at the time of the game. With only three weeks left in the regular season, the outcome of this game could determine the Schloeder Division champion.
Keys To The Game:
1. Despite sitting in fifth place, the Dark Rainbows only have a goal differential of +3. They have shown heart by winning a lot of close games, but when they lose, it’s usually not pretty. Goaltender John Meyer will need to keep the game close for his team to win.
2. LBS, Inc. forward Karsten Pichon leads the league with 24 goals. He enters this game riding a six-game scoring streak.
3. With the Rainbows and LBS, Inc. each playing a tough game earlier in the afternoon, stamina and depth will be crucial in this matchup.
Eli’s Pick: Dark Rainbows. They seem to be back on track.
Derek’s Pick: No pick. Derek will be reffing this game.
Watchability: 4.5 Meyers
Week 19 Preview
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009Jason Eitel Is Gunning For The Demons…Again
GAME OF THE WEEK
Denim Demons (11-0-2-3) vs. Corlears Hookers (11-3-1-1)
Location: Tompkins West, 12:00 PM
All-Time Series: Corlears Hookers lead 2-1
Game Notes: The Rubens Division crown will be at stake when these two rivals meet again on Sunday. In their first meeting, the Hookers prevailed in a shootout, but only after the Demons tied the game late in regulation. Since then, the Fightin’ Rubens have continued to come through in the clutch with late, game-saving goals, and as a result, have still not lost a game in regulation. However, despite this tendency for late game heroics, they lost their last game to another division rival, the Happy Little Elves, in overtime. The Corlears Hookers have had an extra week to prepare for this crucial matchup, as their most recent game was postponed due to tournament commitments. However, in the previous weekend, they played twice, defeating Mexican Standoff and losing to the Sky Fighters. They now sit in third place in the BTSH standings, three points behind the Denim Demons and four points behind What The Puck. With only five regular season games remaining for each of these teams, this contest will go a long way in determining the top playoff seeds in BTSH, as well as the inaugural Rubens Division champion.
Keys To The Game:
1. Despite the importance of this late season battle, the Denim Demons will be without the services of starting goalie, Aaron “Coach” Pagdon. Both of their backups, Noah Farkas and Zack Tinkelman, are extremely capable, but Pagdon’s imposing presence will be missed.
2. Although she can never legally use it in a sanctioned BTSH game, Noelle Safar of the Corlears Hookers is notorious for having one of the hardest slapshots in the league.
3. Corlears Hookers forward Jason Eitel is currently second in BTSH with 21 goals, while Demons forward Jeff Kamen is seventh with 14. As the scoring race continues to heat up, it will be a treat to see what each superstar can do for his team.
Eli’s Pick: Corlears Hookers. Eitel is also gunning for that scoring title.
Derek’s Pick: Corlears Hookers. They will benefit from having Dustin “Fake Dutch’s Brother” Olson as their goalie for most of their remaining games.
Watchability: 5 Dutch’s Brothers
Week 18 Preview
Thursday, August 20th, 2009This Little Patch Has Turned Around The Rehabs’ Season
GAME OF THE WEEK
Tuques (6-10) vs. Rehabs (8-4-0-3)
Location: Tompkins East, 5:30 PM
All-Time Series: Rehabs lead 6-5
Game Notes: After struggling at various points in the season, both of these teams now seem to be headed in the right direction. Since starting the season 1-8, the Tuques have five of their last seven games and are currently on a three-game winning streak. During this three-game stretch, their offensive attack has exploded, averaging more than seven goals per game. Newcomers Denis Miciletto and Shafiq Perry have led this charge, accounting for seven and six August goals, respectively. After snapping a six-game losing streak two weeks ago with an emphatic 7-2 pasting of Cobra Kai, the Rehabs continued their success last week with a solid 4-3 defeat of the Mighty Squirrels. Although the team features one of the most balanced offenses in the league, forward Dave Fraser stepped up and scored two goals against the Squirrels, including the game-winner. More Rehabs will need to follow Fraser’s lead if they want to knock off the surging Tuques.
Keys To The Game:
1. In addition to the Tuques’ new blood on offense, rookie defenders Adam Robertson and Jason Mandell have been the key cogs to a much improved defense this season.
2. The Rehabs have only allowed 31 goals on the season, ranking them third in BTSH. Anthony Romeo’s goaltending abilities not withstanding, this is a true testament to the skills of their women, as the Rehabs are the only team to use an all-female defense.
3. After tearing a ligament in her right knee, Rehabs defender Chantel Arroyo must wear a cumbersome brace for all games. There’s nothing funny about ligament tears.
Eli’s Pick: Rehabs. The $wagger is back.
Derek’s Pick: Tuques. Captain Dave Ladanyi’s “new superstar iniative” has paid off.
Watchability: 4 Grande-Capones
Week 17 Preview
Thursday, August 13th, 2009Rod Does Not Think Highly Of The Dark Rainbows
GAME OF THE WEEK
What The Puck (12-3) vs. Dark Rainbows (10-3-0-1)
Location: Tompkins West, 3:00 PM
All-Time Series: Dark Rainbows lead 5-4
Game Notes: Despite these teams’ relative proximity in the standings, What The Puck and the Dark Rainbows are heading in opposite directions. After a brief swoon, What The Puck has returned to form in the last two weeks. Following the team’s 7-1 loss to Filthy Gorgeous in week 14, captain Larry “Mad Dog” Zimmer read his team the riot act, demanding more accountability and less complacency from his Orange Juggernaut. The team obviously responded, as it scored 12 goals in wins over two division rivals. Conversely, the Dark Rainbows have allowed 12 goals in their last two games and have struggled to produce any type of real offense. This reversal of fortune has dropped them from sole possession of first place to a tie for fifth. As the Rainbows look to break out of their funk, a win over What The Puck would keep them in the running for first place and go a long way in returning their early season swagger.
Keys To The Game:
1. What The Puck grizzled veteran Tom MacDonald returned to the lineup last week after summering in Nova Scotia. His impact was felt immediately, as he scored his 10th goal of the season in his team’s 2-1 win.
2. John Nielsen leads the Dark Rainbows with 14 goals. He has not scored in his team’s last two games, but What The Puck will still need to guard him closely.
3. In an effort to emulate What The Puck’s winning formula, Rainbows captain Sean Reynolds plans on wheeling goaltender John Meyer to the court in a goalie bag. Reynolds also plans to smile sheepishly while doing so.
Eli’s Pick: What The Puck. Mad Dog’s strong arm tactics seem to be working.
Derek’s Pick: What The Puck. Their high-scoring offense does not bode well for the suddenly sieve-like Rainbows D.
Watchability: 4.5 Doucets
