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Martin Has All The Right Moves

Congratulations Sky Fighters, 2009 BTSH Champions!

TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK – Sky Fighters co-captain Dan Hopper didn’t even see his shot go into the net. Moments later, he heard a whistle, cheering teammates, and a loud uproar from the crowd, and he knew he had put his team back in the lead of the BTSH Final. Hopper’s game-winning goal broke a 3-3 tie with 12 minutes remaining in regulation, giving the Sky Fighters a lead they would never relinquish. The Sky Fighters added two more goals for a 6-3 victory against What The Puck, clinching their second championship in franchise history and the first since their resurrection prior to the 2007 season.

 The Sky Fighters’ victory culminated a dramatic two year rise to the championship, which began with a one-win season in 2007. The following season in 2008 ended with a first round playoff exit, but also saw the Sky Fighters improve their win total by ten and finish with a winning record.

Hopper’s goal gave the Sky Fighters their third lead of the game, but in both prior instances, What The Puck fought back to tie. However, there would be no more comebacks for Larry “Mad Dog” Zimmer’s Orange Juggernaut, as Greg Cohan struck for his second goal of the game just two minutes later. Cohan, who was added to the Sky Fighters roster during the summer, scored his first goal with one minute remaining in the first half, giving the Sky Fighters a 3-2 lead. Martin “Ocho Cinco” Cejka, who led the Sky Fighters with 20 goals in the regular season, closed out the scoring with an empty netter in the final minutes. David Cernan and Robert Kucera also added first half goals for the Sky Fighters.

“I think Martin should just pick up the trophy himself,” noted co-captain Amy Lott, although at the time, Lott did not know that the trophy was a pitcher of beer adorned with the BTSH logo on the front.

Hopper attributed his team’s strong play to a carefree and loose attitude. “We never realized we were in the final, so there was no pressure on us,” Hopper said. The Sky Fighters were also well rested, as they had secured their spot in the championship game with a 4-2 semifinal victory against the Corlears Hookers the previous Sunday.

What The Puck advanced to its first championship game since 2006 with a 3-0 victory over 2008 champion Fresh Kills earlier in the day and had allowed just two goals in three playoff games. Grizzled veteran Tom MacDonald led the way for What The Puck with two goals in the final, including one that tied the game early in the second half. Mike “The X-Factor” Woodsworth scored the first goal of the game on a rare pass from Adriano “Muscles Marinara” Bratta.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#7 Sky Fighters 6, #2 What The Puck 3

                                1   2    Total
#7 Sky Fighters       3   3    6        Final
#2 What The Puck   2   1    3

First Half:
What The Puck – 2:36, Mike “The X-Factor” Woodsworth (1) (Adriano “Muscles Marinara” Bratta)
Sky Fighters – 4:40, David Cernan (2) (Martin “Ocho Cinco” Cejka)
Sky Fighters – 10:58, Robert Kucera (3)
What The Puck – 16:38, Tom MacDonald (3)
Sky Fighters – 23:53, Greg Cohan (1) (David Cernan)

Second Half:
What The Puck – 3:40, Tom MacDonald (4) (Corey “Chongo” Winters)
Sky Fighters – 13:06, Dan Hopper (2) (Greg Infanti, Robert Kucera)
Sky Fighters – 15:00, Greg Cohan (2)
Sky Fighters – 22:55, Martin “Ocho Cinco” Cejka (2) (empty net)

SEMIFINAL
#2 What The Puck 3, #11 Fresh Kills 0
What The Puck: Tom MacDonald (2), Larry “Mad Dog” Zimmer (2), Corey “Chongo” Winters (1)
Shutout: Roderick “Guy LeDouche” Cruz (1)