Author Archive: Ben Sumner

Squirrels 8, Mors ab Alto 1

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The Squirrels found their offense Wednesday, winning 8-1 and avenging an early-season loss to Mors ab Alto. Jeff Ford scored five goals and added an assist, while Ben Sumner notched two and assisted on four of Ford’s goals.

The Squirrels didn’t start out well, however, as Mors ab Alto scored in the first minute of play. Sumner tied the game a few minutes later by taking the puck around the net and shooting far-side as Ford tied up the defender in the middle. The score stood for eight more minutes before Ford got his first and second of the game, giving the Squirrels a 3-1 lead at the half.

Three minutes into the second period, Ford scored his third of the game, then his fourth six minutes later. Finally, the Squirrels’ second line got in on the action as Ed Bager hit in his third of the season. With three and a half minutes to play, the Squirrels had a face-off in the offensive zone. Ford skated over to Sumner and said, “Try to [win the face off] more to the left.” Sumner won the dual, to the left, and Ford immediately shot the puck and scored his fifth goal. Sumner scored on a breakaway with 30 seconds remaining.

The Squirrels only played with two full lines, something that concerned them going into the game. Don Marks, Kit Watson, Juan Canchasto, Rob Myers and Matt Borlik missed the game. Mors ab Alto played without their starting goaltender, Ryan Meeks, and instead used the Bullhawks’ Guile Ghambir, who made 30 saves. The Squirrels held Mors ab Alto to seven shots.

The next game is Tuesday, May 30, at 8:30 p.m. against Silver Spring.

Notes: No penalties were called in the game, something that hasn’t happened in a Squirrels game in years… Tony Richelsen got his cast taken off, but is still recovering… At 4-3, the Squirrels once again have a winning record, but still have more losses than four other teams in the nine-team division.

Squirrels 4, Bullhawks 1

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5/18/2006

Though the Squirrels defeated the winless Bullhawks on Wednesday, 4-1, they were left to wonder why they made it so difficult for themselves. The referees called the penalties evenly, but Squirrels blew several odd-man advantages with penalties and took three ten-minute misconducts, leaving them to shuffle the forward lines for much of the game.

Juan Canchasto scored shorthanded to get the scoring started, but that was all for the first period. In the second period, Rob Myers, playing offense, scored a power-play goal with a slap shot from the left circle to put the Squirrels up 2-0. Later in the period, Don Marks – playing his first game of the season – floated a shot from the point, which deflected off of a defender and went past Bullhawks goaltender Guile Ghambir.

With 1:24 remaining in the period, the Bullhawks got a shorthanded goal to cut the Squirrels’ lead to 3-1. Then, with 23 seconds remaining, Myers took the puck hard to the net, crashed it, and scored.

Bob Sewell made 14 saves in net for the Squirrels, who played without Matt Borlik. The Squirrels skated with three full lines. Jeff Ford returned wearing a face mask after getting six stitches from a high stick last week. The Squirrels wore their new mesh roller jerseys, instantly feeling a difference in the weight and temperature. For the record, Ed Bager took a shot using his backhand for the first time ever.

The next game is Wednesday, May 24, at 8:30 p.m. against Mors ab Alto.

Quote of the game: “I took one in the ass for the team.” — Ed Bager

Snipe 5, Squirrels 4

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The Squirrels dug themselves into a hole Thursday, giving up four goals in the first period before losing 5-4 against Snipe. The loss was the first time in at least four years that the Squirrels’ roller team lost three in a row. Matt Borlik played in net for Bob Sewell, who missed the game with a family emergency.

Juan Canchasto played his first game of the season, making his mark with two goals, including the Squirrels’ first to cut Snipe’s lead to 3-1 in the first period. Snipe scored again, going into the half with a 4-1 lead.

The Squirrels turned up the intensity in the second period. Jeff Ford scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season, but Snipe struck back with their second power play goal of the game to go up 5-2. Later in the period, Ben Sumner reached behind him for a loose puck in front of the net and banked it in off the goaltender. Moments later, Canchasto scored a similar goal out front to cut Snipe’s lead to 5-4.

With about four minutes remaining in the game, Rob Myers scored what appeared to be the tying goal, but the referees blew the play dead and called coincidental minors against a Snipe player and Ford, whose lip was bleeding from a high stick.

The Squirrels got a power play with two minutes remaining, pulled Borlik, but couldn’t get a decent shot on net.

The Squirrels played without Sewell, Phil Van der Vossen, Don Marks, Kit Watson and Tony Richelsen. With Borlik in net, the Squirrels played Chris Long on defense most of the game, and Myers on offense.

The next game is Wednesday, May 17, at 8:30 p.m. against the Bullhawks.

5-Holes 4, Squirrels 0

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Just four games into the roller season, the Screaming Squirrels are already off to their worst start in years. Longtime rival The 5 Holes out-hustled and simply out-hockeyed the Squirrels Wednesday, winning 4-0. The Squirrels are now 2-2 on the year as The 5 Holes remained undefeated.

Goaltender Brandon Miller made 16 saves for The 5 Holes, as the Squirrels gave up 27 shots and three first-period goals.

With the Hurricanes out of the C Division, the Squirrels and 5-Holes now have the most intense rivalry, split in the all-time series at 5-5-1.

The Squirrels played without defensemen Don Marks, Kit Watson, Tony Richelsen, and Juan Canchasto, who is expected to rejoin the team soon.

The next game is Thursday, May 11, at 8:30 p.m. against Snipe.

Mors Ab Alto 3, Squirrels 1

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The Squirrels got a reality check Wednesday. After easily winning their first two games, they again dominated the zone most of the game, but fell 3-1 as Mors Ab Alto goaltender Ryan Meeks made 23 saves.

The shots just wouldn’t fall for the Squirrels, and Mors took the lead in the first period with a 2-on-1 break.

Rob Myers tied the game with a goal late in the first period. Midway through the second period, the Squirrels got two unlucky bounces in a 15-second span. In front of the net, the puck bounced over the defender’s stick, and Mors hit it in to regain the lead. On the next shift, a shot from the point deflected in through a screen.

Despite a desperate flurry in the final moments, Meeks saved the day for Mors Ab Alto, who only put up 13 shots in the game.

Don Marks and Tony Richelsen missed the game for the Squirrels. In other news, Juan Canchasto will be returning in place of Tony, who is out at least four weeks with an injury.

The next game is Wednesday, May 10, at 8:30 against the 5 Holes. The Squirrels then play on Thursday, May 11, at 8:30 against Snipe.