Game Comments :
Game 1 Gold vs. Green
1st.
The questions of this game were: How does Gold’s offense stack up to Green’s defense? With two of Green’s defensemen out, would the subs step up to the challenge? It was obvious from the start, the goalies, Bill (TBAPGITL) Iannello and Pat Szuminski subbing for Joe Balmas was ready. (TBAPGITL) Iannello putting on the classic clinic (nothing getting past the line) and Szuminski not allowing any rebounds virtually shut down Gold’s offense. (1:42) an interference penalty to Dan Ficorelli gave Green the first power play of the game. Green took full advantage, (0:28) finally putting a chink in the armor of (TBAPGITL) Iannello. Green was pressing the play as Larry Huck managed to stop a clearing attempt, while Gold, looking tired needed a line change. Huck, quarterbacking the play from the point, sent the puck to Gary Szalanski. Szalanski took the shot, (TBAPGITL) Iannello was there making the save, but so was Mark Hubbard who grabbed the rebound. His shot went by the outstretched (TBAPGITL) Iannello. At the end of 1, it was 1-0 Green.
2nd.
More the same: goalies, goalies, goalies. Early in the period, Gold gave Green another power play chance as Joe Grazioli got just a little too much skate on a poke check attempt on a Green breakout. Gold kept Green off the board in spite of the fans (Black) cheering Green on. At mid period, as Green went for a change, Rob Solnik picked up the puck and passed it up the ice to Tom Brown. Brown went in all alone on Szuminski, and his move tied up Szuminski as he lit the light (4:46), making it all tied up at 1. The fans cheered. Both teams regrouped. Green’s D crowded the slot, and (TBAPGITL) Iannello put up the wall. At the end of 2 it was all tied up 1-1
3rd.
It didn’t take long for Gold to get started. (9:28) Tom Brown took the zone hitting the late man, Dan Ficorelli. Ficorelli’s pass to “the Doc” Paul Mansky was on the money and Doc buried it for a 2-1 Gold lead. Needless to say, the Emperor was not pleased. Back to Green’s game clogging up the lanes, cycling back, slowing it down, and then waiting for the break. The break seemingly came for Gold at (5:48) as Mark Hubbard was called for a trip. Off the faceoff, Green got the puck in deep into Gold’s end. As Mark Duane picked up the puck coming around net, he met Lou Bishop. Bishop’s efforts did not go unnoticed and was credited with an interference call at (5:28). Four on four hockey opened up the ice and it looked like Gold was going take the advantage. Green was scrambling, not able to clear and needing a change. Gold was cycling, looking to set the perfect shot when Larry Huck, playing heads up hockey, cut off the pass, got over the blue and sent the puck down the ice avoiding icing and another deep zone faceoff. Down by 1, and with the Hubbard penalty killed off, Green now gets a 20 second power play. (3:32) Tom Adams’ pass to George McKenzie set up the play. McKenzie took the puck to the net, there was a scrum in front, and it looked like (TBAPGITL) Iannello had it, but Mark Hubbard was able to drive the loose puck home. 2-2 all tied up again, and that’s how it ended splitting the points. Good game boys.
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