Panic 3, Squirrels 2

Playing with a full line of forwards for the first time in a couple of months, the Squirrels put forth a valiant effort Sunday but couldn’t capitalize on a last-minute chance, and fell to the Panic, 3-2.

The teams skated to a scoreless first period and traded goals in the second. Chris Long put in a rebound off of Matt Borlik’s shot for the first goal, then the Panic answered a minute and a half later. With 3:15 remaining in the period, Borlik fed Wade Marks, who sent in a wrister to the top shelf. Again, the Panic scored on the next shift. In the third period, the Panic scored the winning goal with 8:39 remaining, and held on for the victory. All three Panic goals came after poor breakouts by the Squirrels.

The Squirrels killed all five of their penalties, sometimes looking more in control than the Panic. Drew Theimann made 28 saves for the Squirrels in net.

Thiemann, Borlik, Long, Wade and Don Marks, Desi Richelson, Charles Wolstein, Juan Canchasto, Ben Sumner, and Greg Wenograd played for the Squirrels.

The next game is Sunday, August 7, at 10:30 against the Volcanoes in Logsdon. Five games remain in the season.

Honkey Kong 7, Squirrels 0

Honkey Kong did to the Squirrels what the Squirrels routinely did to them the last three years on Tuesday. They blew them out, 7-0.

Greg Wenograd, Chris Long, Matt Borlik, Ben Sumner, Adam Hughes, Desmond Richelson, Drew Thiemann, Juan Canchasto and Charles Wolstein played for the Squirrels, who lost their tenth game in a row.

The next game is Sunday, July 31 at 9:10 against the Panic.

Panic 11, Squirrels 1

With only one substitute Sunday, the Squirrels didn’t have the endurance to match Panic. And Panic didn’t even have a goaltender. Playing five against six skaters and an empty net proved to be a disadvantage as the Squirrels had difficulty getting it past a third defenseman. The game ended near the end of the second period when Panic went up 11-1. At that point, the Squirrels had no substitutes because of excessive penalties.

The Squirrels only had one official shot on goal because shots are only counted when they go in if the opposing team doesn’t have a goaltender. The Squirrels used a substitute goaltender, who plays for the Dead Kings. Matt Borlik, Charles Wolstein, Sergio Balatan, Ben Sumner, Adam Hughes and Desmond Richelson played for the Squirrels.

The next game is Tuesday, at 10:45 against Honkey Kong.

Volcanoes 10, Squirrels 0

In three games so far this season, the undefeated Volcanoes have outscored the Squirrels 30-3, the latest a 10-0 game on Sunday night. Two more games remain between the teams later in August, and the Squirrels have shown few signs that they’re about to turn it around against this team.

While the Ice Gardens has in the past rearranged leagues midway through the season based on skill level, there has been no sign of it happening as of yet., despite a huge gap in the standings between the Volcanoes and Dead Kings, and the Panic, Squirrels and Honkey Kong.

Drew Thiemann, Matt Borlik, Chris Long, Adam Hughes, Sergio Balatan, Charles Wolstein, Juan Canchasto and Ben Sumner suited up for the Squirrels.

The next game is Sunday, July 24 against the Panic at 9:10.

Dead Kings 10, Squirrels 5

If there was any consolation to Sunday’s 10-5 loss to the Dead Kings, it was the the Squirrels put up their highest goal total in almost two months, and they did it with only two substitutes on the bench.

Ben Sumner scored the first two goals for the Squirrels, and Greg Wenograd sailed in a shot with three seconds remaining in the second period. Sumner scored again in the third, and Matt Borlik got the Squirrels’ fifth goal between the goaltender’s legs.

No. 71 on the Dead Kings had eight points – five goals and three assists – and has several more points on the season than the Squirrels’ goal total.

Drew Thiemann made 26 saves for the Squirrels. The last goal was an empty-netter. Chris Long, Desi Richelson, Charles Wolstein and Adam Hughes also played. The next game is Sunday, July 17, at 10:30 against the unbeaten Volcanoes.