Squirrels 7, Laughing Skulls 1

With only three subs on the bench, the Screaming Squirrels were in desperate need of goals and a win after a recent slump. And they got it.

With only two true defensemen in the lineup, the Squirrels moved forward Jeff Bobeck back to skate with Tony Richelsen and Doug Winters. That worked fine as the Squirrels limited the Skulls to 18 shots with Eric Coulson turning away 17 of them.

Brent Machado got the scoring started in the first period, but the shifts were long and the Squirrels knew there was a lot more time left. The Skulls goaltender, Shane Smith, made many great saves and kept the Squirrels moving by playing the puck instead of allowing the face-off, which would’ve enabled the Squirrels to catch their breath.

The second period ended up being even better for the Squirrels as Mark Tessar (from the roller team) scored in the first game back on the ice in several years. Tony Richelsen added another late in the period and the Squirrels took a 3-1 lead into the third period.

But the Skulls struck back as Vincent Barracchini’s individual effort cut the lead to 3-1.

Then Smith made a mistake. Skating out of the crease to clear the puck, he hit it right to Machado, who wristed a shot into an empty net, deflating the Skulls. A few minutes later, Machado completed the hat trick, then Doug Winters did his Mike Green at-his-best impression with some sort of spinorama move. Richelsen scored again shortly after, and it appeared he had scored once more from behind the blue line but the play was called offsides. Regardless, the Skulls weren’t happy that Smith had let in the shot, though it ended up helping the Skulls because the faceoff went into the Squirrels’ zone.

With just a few seconds remaining, Bobeck got into a minor scuffle with someone, but Barracchini took exception and clobbered Bobeck from behind. Barracchini is about a foot taller and 100 pounds heavier than Bobeck and literally blindsided him. The refs ended the game on the play, giving Barracchini a five minute major and game misconduct.

The Gardens IH – Patrick      Sat, Dec 11, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Squirrels 7 Laughing Skulls 1
Game Details
Scoring Shots on Goal
1 2 3 Total
Screaming Squirrels 1 2 4 7
Laughing Skulls 0 0 1 1
Squirrels 27
Laughing Skulls 18
Scoring Summary
Period 1
Screaming SquirrelsBrent Machado (Doug Winters) , 12:20
Period 2
Screaming SquirrelsMark Tessar (Brent Machado, Benjamin Sumner) , 5:30
Screaming SquirrelsAnthony Richelsen (unassisted) , 13:33
Period 3
Laughing SkullsVincent Barracchini (unassisted) , 3:13
Screaming SquirrelsBrent Machado (unassisted) , 6:29
Screaming SquirrelsBrent Machado (John Burke) , 9:06
Screaming SquirrelsDoug Winters (unassisted) , 10:26
Screaming SquirrelsAnthony Richelsen (Jeffrey Bobeck) , 11:59
Penalties
Period 1
(no penalties)
Period 2
Screaming SquirrelsBrent Machado – (Body Checking Minor), 2 min , 8:17
Laughing SkullsPeter Gruhn – (Body Checking Minor), 2 min , 8:40
Laughing SkullsPaul Keys – (High Sticking Minor), 2 min , 10:43
Laughing SkullsJames Ningen – (Body Checking Minor), 2 min , 12:18
Screaming SquirrelsJeffrey Bobeck – (Elbowing Minor), 2 min , 12:18
Period 3
Laughing SkullsVincent Barracchini – (Charging Major), 5 min , 14:54
Laughing SkullsVincent Barracchini – (Charging Game Misconduct), 10 min , 14:54
Screaming SquirrelsJeffrey Bobeck – (Interference Minor), 2 min , 14:54
Rosters
Screaming Squirrels Laughing Skulls
Goalies
Name Min Shots Saves
30 Eric Coulson 45 18 17
Name Min Shots Saves
35 Shane Smith 45 27 20
Players
# Name G A PTS PIM GWG
7 Doug Winters 1 1 2 0 0
8 John Burke 0 1 1 0 0
10 Brent Machado 3 1 4 2 0
12 Anthony Richelsen 2 0 2 0 0
16 Mark Tessar 1 0 1 0 1
19 Benjamin Sumner 0 1 1 0 0
22 Jeffrey Bobeck 0 1 1 4 0
61 Tero Moberg 0 0 0 0 0
# Name G A PTS PIM GWG
3 Mike Ohanian 0 0 0 0 0
4 Patrick Herwig 0 0 0 0 0
7 James Ningen 0 0 0 2 0
18 Douglas Church 0 0 0 0 0
19 Christopher Tucker 0 0 0 0 0
024 Nate Heard 0 0 0 0 0
24 Vincent Barracchini 1 0 1 15 0
39 Anthony Campanella 0 0 0 0 0
49 Peter Gruhn 0 0 0 2 0
54 Michael Davis 0 0 0 0 0
77 Paul Keys 0 0 0 2 0
Other facts
Referee
Default Referee, Larry Bertrand, Justin RalstonScorekeeper
Terri Ball

Squirrels Lose 2-0 in Gassert’s Final Game

For the 2nd time in their past 3 games, the Squirrels were unable to get on the scoreboard, falling to the undefeated first place Highlanders, 2-0. The game marked defenseman Kyle Gassert’s final game in a Squirrels uniform.

From the opening face-off, the Squirrels seemed to be on their heels trying to contain the Highlanders’ superior team speed. The Squirrels were unable to sustain much pressure on Highlanders’ goalie Nicholas Labarre despite the scorekeeper’s apparent neurosis in awarding the Highlanders only 17 shots on goal versus giving the Squirrels 21. Puck possession was heavily in the Highlanders’ favor and for most of the game, the ice was tilted towards the Squirrels’ defensive zone.

The Highlanders were finally able to solve goalie Eric Coulson while enjoying a power play. Squirrels forward Brent Machado was sent to the box for an interference penalty and Highlanders forward Jeff Gellman buried a wicked wrister through a Squirrels’ defenseman’s legs and past Coulson’s blocker for the power play (and eventual game winning) tally.

It was Coulson’s only blemish on the night. Solid stops from the goalie included a double pad stack stick save sliding to his left on a rebound opportunity in the 1st period, and a Sportscenter worthy glove save on a 2-1 rush against in the 3rd.

Kyle Gassert joined the Squirrels during the Fall/Winter season of 2009-10 and was an important member of that team which almost went undefeated and won the Bronze 2 Championship. Known for his hard slapshot and smart and aggressive defensive play, Kyle was a popular guy in the locker room, always quick with a sly comment. He and the previously departed former Squirrel Mike Bronson, will be the founding members of the Squirrels’ second iteration in the Chicago metropolitan area. Who will be the next Squirrel to depart for the midwest? Cheers to you Kyle. Kyle ends his Squirrels ice career with 7 goals and 6 assists for 13 points along with 20 PIMs in 28 regular season games and 4 assists and 2 PIMs in the Squirrels’ 3-game march to the 09-10 league championship.

The Gardens IH – Resor      Sun, Nov 21, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Squirrels 0 The Highlanders 2
Game Details
Scoring Shots on Goal
1 2 3 Total
Screaming Squirrels 0 0 0 0
The Highlanders 0 1 1 2
Squirrels 21
The Highlanders 17
Scoring Summary
Period 1
(no scoring)
Period 2
The HighlandersJeff Gellman (power play) (Justin Smith) , 11:13
Period 3
The HighlandersJeff Gellman (short handed) (empty net) (unassisted) , 14:54
Penalties
Period 1
Screaming SquirrelsBrent Machado – (Hooking Minor), 2 min , 7:18
The HighlandersNick Newman – (Hooking Minor), 2 min , 8:22
Period 2
Screaming SquirrelsBrent Machado – (Interference Minor), 2 min , 9:26
Period 3
The HighlandersJustin Smith – (Interference Minor), 2 min , 1:51
Screaming SquirrelsMichael Ricci – (Slashing Minor), 2 min , 3:28
Screaming SquirrelsMichael Ricci – (Slashing Minor), 2 min , 12:21
The HighlandersMatthew Journy – (Boarding Minor), 2 min , 14:14
The HighlandersNick Newman – (Hooking Minor), 2 min , 14:27
Rosters
Screaming Squirrels The Highlanders
Goalies
Name Min Shots Saves
30 Eric Coulson 44 16 15
Name Min Shots Saves
33 Nicholas Labarre 45 21 21
Players
# Name G A PTS PIM GWG
2 Donald Marks 0 0 0 0 0
5 Robert Valdes 0 0 0 0 0
7 Doug Winters 0 0 0 0 0
9 Charles Wolstein 0 0 0 0 0
10 Brent Machado 0 0 0 4 0
12 Anthony Richelsen 0 0 0 0 0
16 Michael Ricci 0 0 0 4 0
19 Benjamin Sumner 0 0 0 0 0
22 Jeffrey Bobeck 0 0 0 0 0
25 Kyle Gassert 0 0 0 0 0
61 Tero Moberg 0 0 0 0 0
88 Jason Nehmer 0 0 0 0 0
# Name G A PTS PIM GWG
3 Matthew Journy 0 0 0 2 0
5 Joe Burkhardt 0 0 0 0 0
8 Jon Funk 0 0 0 0 0
10 Justin Smith 0 1 1 2 0
12 Rahul Paris 0 0 0 0 0
16 Jeff Gellman 2 0 2 0 1
36 Nick Newman 0 0 0 4 0
52 Steve Causey 0 0 0 0 0
91 Kevin Stitcher 0 0 0 0 0
Other facts
Referee
Default Referee, Tom Latona, David MortimoreScorekeeper
Thomas Haworth
Game Notes
no notes entered for this game

Squirrels Trade Gassert to Chicago

In a move that surprised no one, the Screaming Squirrels traded ice and roller defender to Chicago for future considerations. Gassert has only been with the team for a little more than a year, but it seemed like 10. In his first season, he helped the Squirrels win the 2009-10 ice championship. He then skated on the roller team, before rejoining the ice team for the first half of this season. Aside from playing defense, Gassert’s main role with the team was to ask who is bringing the beer.

Roller Squirrel Mark Tessar will replace Gassert on the roster. Also, Gassert’s brother, Wes Gassert, is expected to join the roller team, and eventually the ice team. Gassert will be joining former Squirrel Mike Bronson in the windy city, where they are expected to be bunking together.

In completely unrelated news, Scurvy traded Alicia Krawitz and a broken Alex Ovechkin hockey stick to Chicago for future considerations.

Gassert Stats

Year (Div) GP G A PTS PP SH PIM
2010/2011 Ice 8 2 1 3 1 0 8
2010 Inline 14 12 12 24 4 0 15
2009/2010 Ice 20 5 5 10 3 0 12

Squirrels Battle for 2-2 Draw vs. Heineken

After the Squirrels jumped out to an early lead, Heineken Light scored two unanswered before a 3rd period marker from Brent Machado tied the game, allowing the Squirrels to secure a standings point.

Defenseman Don(nie) Marks opened the scoring for the Squirrels after his blast from the point found the top corner of the net. The seeing eye shot came after a nice play down below the goal line and some quality traffic in front by one or more Squirrels forwards. Heineken Light goalie J. Brodnax likely didn’t even see the shot until it was too late.

Heineken Light would answer later in the period with a goal from defenseman D. Deming. After gaining the zone on an end-to-end rush, Deming ripped a slap shot from just inside the blue line, then beat the defense to the juicy rebound and buried it along the ice and underneath goalie Eric Coulson.

The two teams would trade chances throughout the 2nd period. Defenseman Charles Wolstein had a wonderful offensive rush up the ice, beating at least 2 Heineken Light forwards along the boards and feeding a great cross-ice pass inside the offensive zone to a rushing Tony Richelsen. Unfortuantely, “T” could not bury the wrist shot, instead ringing it off the cross bar. The Squirrels were fortunate to get a few quick whistles to stop play as well as avoiding a goal against when a puck that almost squeaked across the goal line was swept out by an alert Donnie Marks.

Heineken Light broke the 1-1 deadlock with a power play goal late in the 2nd period. Playing in his next to last game as a Screaming Squirrel, defenseman Kyle Gassert committed what he he would surely call a boneheaded turnover in between the circles in his own zone while the Squirrels were on the penalty kill. J. Sybenga of Heineken Light corralled the loose puck, put a quick wrist shot on goal, and teammate M. Jenkins slid the rebound past a diving Eric Coulson.

But the Squirrels would not be deflated after giving up a late goal in the period. They came out in the 3rd with determination and created multiple chances by disturbing the Heineken Light breakouts. Machado’s game tying goal came on just such a play. “The Flying Fin” Tero Moberg was forechecking aggressively and was able to get his stick on an attempted breakout pass, deadening the puck in the high circle. Machado was in the right place at the right time, quickly pulled the puck to his forehand, and ripped a low wrister that beat Brodnax along the ice.

All in all, a well played, although sloppy at times, game for the Squirrels who, thankfully for this game, were able to enjoy some post game cold beers. Thanks Rob!! Speaking of Rob, who came out for the pre-game skate to test his injured back, brought the beer for his teammates, but didn’t stick around to see the end of the game, the quote of the night which must be captured for posterity’s sake goes to Donnie Marks. Regarding Rob’s bringing the beer then leaving before the end of the game, Ben Sumner complained, “How would you all like it if I brought beer then left early!?” To which Donnie responded, “That would be f–king awesome!” Good times.

The Gardens IH – Logsdon      Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Heineken Light 2 Squirrels 2
Game Details
Scoring Shots on Goal
1 2 3 Total
Heineken Light 1 1 0 2
Screaming Squirrels 1 0 1 2
Heineken Light 30
Squirrels 29
Scoring Summary
Period 1
Screaming Squirrels – Donald Marks (unassisted) , 3:51
Heineken Light – Drake Deming (unassisted) , 12:36
Period 2
Heineken Light – Matt Jenkins (powerplay) (Justin Sybenga) , 14:04
Period 3
Screaming Squirrels – Brent Machado (tero moberg) , 5:26
Penalties
Period 1
Heineken Light – Joe Summers – (Cross Checking Minor), 2 min , 3:51
Screaming Squirrels – Robert Valdes – (Roughing Minor), 2 min , 7:40
Period 2
Heineken Light – Joe Summers – (Hooking Minor), 2 min , 6:38
Screaming Squirrels – Doug Winters – (Hooking Minor), 2 min , 12:30
Period 3
(no penalties)
Rosters
Heineken Light Screaming Squirrels
Goalies
Name Min Shots Saves
85 Jason Brodnax 45 29 27
Name Min Shots Saves
30 Eric Coulson 45 30 28
Players
# Name G A Pts PIM GWG
5 Joe Summers 0 0 0 4 0
8 Drake Deming 1 0 1 0 0
10 Tim Phelps 0 0 0 0 0
11 Brian Roelofs 0 0 0 0 0
15 Jaime Hyun 0 0 0 0 0
16 Kevin Ceponis 0 0 0 0 0
17 Dan Mauer 0 0 0 0 0
20 Matt Lewis 0 0 0 0 0
27 Matt Jenkins 1 0 1 0 0
89 Justin Sybenga 0 1 1 0 0
93 Ed Degeyter 0 0 0 0 0
# Name G A Pts PIM GWG
2 Donald Marks 1 0 1 0 0
5 Robert Valdes 0 0 0 2 0
7 Doug Winters 0 0 0 2 0
8 John Burke 0 0 0 0 0
9 Charles Wolstein 0 0 0 0 0
10 Brent Machado 1 0 1 0 0
12 Anthony Richelsen 0 0 0 0 0
16 Michael Ricci 0 0 0 0 0
19 Benjamin Sumner 0 0 0 0 0
25 Kyle Gassert 0 0 0 0 0
61 Tero Moberg 0 1 1 0 0
77 Jeff Headlee 0 0 0 0 0
Staff
Other Facts
Referee
Default Referee, Didier Devynck, Joseph OgulinScore Keeper
Jason Flanagan

Brewins 1, Squirrels 0

Squirrels 0 The Brewins 1
Game Details
Scoring Shots on Goal
1 2 3 Total
Screaming Squirrels 0 0 0 0
The Brewins 0 0 1 1
Squirrels 31
The Brewins 20
Scoring Summary
Period 1
(no scoring)
Period 2
(no scoring)
Period 3
The BrewinsSteven Lippman (Evandro Valente) , 2:49
Penalties
Period 1
(no penalties)
Period 2
Screaming SquirrelsKyle Gassert – (Interference Minor), 2 min , 7:32
The BrewinsJim Killorin – (Hooking Minor), 2 min , 10:37
Period 3
The BrewinsAbdul Rahimi – (Body Checking Minor), 2 min , 0:13
Screaming SquirrelsKyle Gassert – (Body Checking Minor), 2 min , 0:13
The BrewinsJason Gustafson – (Hooking Minor), 2 min , 5:44
Screaming SquirrelsJason Nehmer – (Hooking Minor), 2 min , 8:11
Rosters
Screaming Squirrels The Brewins
Goalies
Name Min Shots Saves
30 Eric Coulson 45 20 19
Name Min Shots Saves
35 Ron Mcneil 45 31 31
Players
# Name G A Pts PIM GWG
2 Donald Marks 0 0 0 0 0
7 Doug Winters 0 0 0 0 0
9 Charles Wolstein 0 0 0 0 0
10 Brent Machado 0 0 0 0 0
12 Anthony Richelsen 0 0 0 0 0
19 Benjamin Sumner 0 0 0 0 0
22 Jeffrey Bobeck 0 0 0 0 0
25 Kyle Gassert 0 0 0 4 0
61 Tero Moberg 0 0 0 0 0
88 Jason Nehmer 0 0 0 2 0
# Name G A Pts PIM GWG
3 Michael Pesci 0 0 0 0 0
4 Kali Wood 0 0 0 0 0
6 Jason Gustafson 0 0 0 2 0
7 Daniel Weiss 0 0 0 0 0
8 Joseph Pavelka 0 0 0 0 0
9 Mark Mey 0 0 0 0 0
11 Tom Casciani 0 0 0 0 0
14 Chris Olson 0 0 0 0 0
15 Jim Killorin 0 0 0 2 0
18 Christopher Rodriguez 0 0 0 0 0
19 William Mosberg 0 0 0 0 0
21 Marcus Weisgerber 0 0 0 0 0
27 Richard Chang 0 0 0 0 0
42 Rodney Jokerst 0 0 0 0 0
77 Evandro Valente 0 1 1 0 0
78 Steven Lippman 1 0 1 0 1
80 Abdul Rahimi 0 0 0 2 0
Staff
Other Facts
Referee
Default Referee, Patricia Foote, Mike VivlamoreScore Keeper
Jason Flanagan