h/t to Steve Walker, Sr. for the photos

Blue 6, Black 1
Blue finished the 2011-2012 season on an 11 game winning streak, pulling away late from Black to win the DVMHL Championship. Despite the final score, the game was a tight and physical contest as Blue nursed leads of 2-1 and 3-1 while Black maintained pressure. Pete Barley scored two power play goals on nearly identical slap shots from the point, the second blast serving as the game winner.

Matt Medeiros cut the early lead to 2-1 at 4:21 of the first period on a masterful face-off win and shot combination while Black killed off one of their six penalties.

Pat Georgoff’s tally at 8:24 of the third period sealed the win for Blue, followed by two more goals – the last courtesy of a one-armed effort by Barry “The Chief” Perez.

Congratulations to Black and captain Denis Connell, who played with a severely bruised foot, on a superb season. Thanks to all captains and teams for an outstanding year.

Special thanks to League President Danny Hudyka for all of his hard work and dedication – the DVMHL would not exist without his efforts.

Photos of the Championship Day will be posted soon, as well as photos from the regular season finale and Semi-Finals.

2011-2012 DVMHL Championship

Sunday, March 25, 2012

3:30 pm – Rink Three

Black vs. Blue

h/t to Pat Georgoff for the video

h/t to Steve Walker, Sr. for the photos

Mike Mooney scored the last three goals of the game netting a playoff Hat Trick and Matt Medeiros added a goal and two assists.

Congratulations to the White team on a fine season, despite unfortunate roster problems and erratic attendance.

Blue 5, Green 4 (OT)
In a game eerily similar to last year’s Semi-Finals, the first seeded Blue team had their gloved hands full with a hardworking and opportunistic Green side. Green held the lead after both the first and second periods, getting goals by Sam Kramen, “Doctor” Jekel and Dan Peace. The IceWorks Pub and Grille clientele made no mistake about their rooting allegiances, as they throatily supported the underdog Green team.

Down 3-2 in the third, “Thunder” Dan Wilen scored the next two goals, rallying Blue back to a 4-3 lead with 2:42 left. As Green cycled the puck with an empty net, “Doctor” Jekel’s shot from the point found its way through traffic into the net, tying the score and sending the denizens of the Pub and Grille into a Labatt-flavored frenzy.

John “The Blue Label” Walker, a member of the last year’s Blue team that was upset in overtime, rushed the puck wide and got a wrap-around on goal that was saved by Dan Hudyka. The omnipresent Kevin Sakers tapped in the rebound at 12:16 of the extra session to give Blue a chance to play for the Cup.

Congratulations to a Green team that started slow, but came on with renewed vigor after the trading deadline. We would like to bid a fond farewell to Dan “RPI” Peace who is moving from the area and will be leaving the League. Best of luck to Dan and his soon-to-be wife Kristin (I sincerely hope I got that right).

Visit the Statistics page for all 2011-2012 DVMHL stats

DVMHL Semifinals

3:00 pm:
3 White (6-10-1, 13 pts.) vs. 2 Black (8-7-2, 18 pts.)

5:15 pm:
4 Green (2-12-3, 7 pts.) vs. 1 Blue (15-2-0, 30 pts.)

Both games are on Rink 4

If any player throws a punch during a game he will be assessed a Fighting penalty and immediately ejected. The player will be suspended for the next game (the Finals, if his team advances) and fined $25.

Players, please bring $15 to the rink on Sunday for the last installment of League dues for the 2011-2012 season. Also, if you plan to attend the Championship Day Party on March 25th, please bring $20 for all guests. Both payments can be given to Dan Hudyka.

Dan Wilen (4 G, 5 A), Paul Marvel (3 G, 4 A) and Barry “The Chief” Perez (3 G, 1 A) were studs for Blue. White’s Dennis Reardon avenged his brother’s knee injury with three goals. Carmen Marchesano was announced as a healthy scratch (trapped underneath a huge stripper).

Blue’s 15 wins this season is one less than the combined wins of the rest of the three other teams in the DVMHL (16). Brett Mandel took to the Twitter to protest this gross injustice:

@brettmandel: Mayor Nutter must reform DVMHL draft policies NOW – forget about the budget!

Black 4, Green 4
The nightcap match-up was a more pleasing contest, as a Black (8-7-2, 18 pts.) rallied for the tie against Green (2-12-3, 7 pts.). Green held a 4-1 lead until under seven minutes left in second period when Jeff “Wolverine” Sanka, Matt Medeiros and Denis “The Gentleman Dangler” Connell all found the back of the net. The tying score came with only :32.6 left in the frame. The teams were unable to dent the twine to break the tie in the third period, when Green held a 9-7 shot advantage.

Other Items:
-In case you missed it, are living underneath a rock or simply just stopped coming to games:

March 18, 2012

DVMHL Semifinals

3:00 pm: (3) White vs. (2) Black
5:15 pm: (4) Green vs. (1) Blue

Both games are on Rink 4

If any player throws a punch during a game he will be assessed a Fighting penalty and immediately ejected. The player will be suspended for the next game (the Finals, if his team advances) and fined $25.

No DVMHL Stars of the Week for this post, it’s time to lace ‘em up for games that mean something…

March 18, 2012
DVMHL Semifinals

 3:00 pm: (3) White vs. (2) Black
5:15 pm: (4) Green vs. (1) Blue

Both games are on Rink 4

If any player throws a punch during a game he will be assessed a fighting penalty and will be immediately ejected. The player will be suspended for the next game (playoffs included) and fined $25. The fine must be paid prior to playing after the suspension.

The teams traded sustained pressure in the offensive zone for most of the second period, until Black’s Jeff Sanka made it 2-2 on a clapper off the right post. The third period began with more attacking and counterattacking but resulted in no goals. Blue’s Kevin Sakers broke the tie with the game-winner at 6:45, assisted by Barry Perez and a random sub that used to be friends with Jeff Yaffa.

Black was without the services of leading scorers Denis “The Gentleman Dangler” and Matt Medeiros and dropped to 7-7-1 on the season. Blue improved to 13-2 with the win BUT WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO BLUE IN THE PLAYOFFS, DON’T WE?

Green 7, White 4
Just as St. Patrick delivered Irish people from misery, Dan Peace tallied four goals to lead the Kermit the Frog colored jerseys to their second win of the year!

Peace scored three goals in less than four minutes (sense a theme?) after White’s Carmen Marchesano made it 1-0 at 13:05 of the first period. Marchesano’s second goal made it 3-2 early in the second until LOUIE SCHAIVO harnessed the power of the Cosby Sweater and staked Green to a two goal lead. However, like most of his trips to a buffet, Marchesano would not be denied, getting a hat trick at late in the second and pulling White within one.

The third period began as Green increased its lead back to two – their third two goal lead of the game at this point – but White rallied YET AGAIN, as Jeff Stott made it 5-4 with ten minutes to play. COULD THEY COMPLETE THE COMEBACK THIS TIME AROUND?????

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…no. Brian Hindes scored three minutes later to make it 6-4 and Gabe Howard iced the win with an empty netter.

If these two games are any indication of the quality of games in store for the playoffs, Bert Archer better dust off his video camera and get his ass to the rink.

DVMHL STARS of the WEEK
1. Dan Peace (Green) 4 G, 1 A
2. Carmen Marchesano (White) 3 G
3. Kevin Sakers (Blue) 2 G, 1 A, GWG

ONE IMPORTANT ITEM
The DVMHL will be having a Championship Day Party on March 25, 2012 at the rink. The Championship game will begin at 3:30 pm on Rink 1 with a family skate to follow, depending how much of the ice slot is left. IceWorks is providing an all-inclusive food buffet and drink special for $20 per person. Friends and family are encouraged to attend.

IMPORTANT: If you are planning to attend the party, please bring $20 to the rink on Sunday, March 4.

The League has to pay the rink before the party, so your cooperation is appreciated.