Gnu 3, Squirrels 2

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The Screaming Squirrels failed to shut down a single player on Gnu on Friday, and that was the difference in a 3-2 loss to the first-place team.

The game started out fine for the Squirrels, as Brent Machado scored on the first shift of the game. Then No. 25, Norman Hayes, took over, scoring on the power play in the second period, and then a shorthanded goal and an even-strength goal in the third, all by skating far faster than everyone else on the ice. The Squirrels dominated the zone much of the game and had many quality scoring opportunities, but missed wide-open nets by inches. Rob Myers pulled the Squirrels within a goal late in the third, and a late flurry led to several shots but Gnu escaped with the win.

Goaltender Drew Thiemann made 24 saves for the Squirrels, who put up 32 shots. Don Marks, Phil Van der Vossen, Adam Hughes, Chris Long, Sergio Balatan, Chi Pham, and Greg Wenograd missed the game.

The next game is Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 10:30 p.m. against the Dead Kings.

Squirrels 5, Dog Star 4

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The Squirrels had this one circled on their calendar. Desi Richelsen marked the occasion by taping a Squirrels’ “Watch Your Nuts” poster on the locker room door. The last times these teams met, it ended with top-ranked Dog Star falling 2-1 to the third-ranked Squirrels in the championship game, back in April. This time, there was a bit more offense, and the Squirrels prevailed yet again with a 5-4 victory.

The game didn’t start out well, however, as the Squirrels spotted Dog Star two first-period goals. But the Squirrels exploded for five goals in the second period, including four in a row. Adam Hughes brought the Squirrels back into the game with a point-blank shot in front of the net on a pass from Ben Sumner. When Desi Richelsen found himself on the breakaway, he pushed the puck far in front of him in an effort to draw the goaltender out, but that didn’t work so he instead shot it through the 5-hole.

“I don’t know how that squeezed in,” Richelsen said.

Rob Myers found Ed Bager in front of the net, and Bager whacked in the puck to give the Squirrels a 3-2 lead. Then Tony Richelsen sent a high floater over the goaltender’s shoulder. Dog Star then got a goal, but Chris Long scored on a power play to go up 5-3.

In the third period, Dog Star cut the lead to 5-4 but the Squirrels held on for the rest of the period. With just a few seconds to go, goaltender Drew Thiemann made a save on a Dog Star fast break to preserve the victory.

Adam Hughes, Ed Bager, Desi Richelsen, Chris Long, and Tony Richelsen scored for the Squirrels.

The game featured seven minor penalties on the Squirrels, while Dog Star took nine minors, two misconducts and one game misconduct. Twice Dog Star took penalties while already playing with three skaters, leading to a bit of confusion with the penalty timekeeping.

The Squirrels played without Matt Borlik, Don Marks, Wade Marks, Paul Kobernick, and Sergio Balatan.

The next game is Friday, Jan. 19, at 9:45 p.m. against first-place Gnu in Logsdon.

Quote of the game: “They needed stadium seating in their penalty box” — Desi Richelsen

Squirrels Notes: Longtime ice teammate Adam Hughes announced that he will be leaving the area t the end of the month.

Squirrels 9, Mighty Old Ducks 2

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Desperately needing a victory going into the month-long break, the Squirrels clobbered the Mighty Old Ducks on Sunday, 9-2, in the teams’ first meeting ever.

Tony Richelsen had four goals, Rob Myers added two, and Ben Sumner, Brent Machado, and Matt Borlik each had one.

The Squirrels played without Drew Thiemann, Don Marks, Wade Marks, Sergio Balatan, Paul Kobernick, Chris Long, Greg Wenograd, Phil Van der Vossen and Brian Jackson. Brian Rimm played in net. No penalties were called in the game.

The next game is January 2, 2007, at 10:25 p.m. against Dog Star in the Resor rink. The Squirrels last met Dog Star back in April in the C-League championship game, which the Squirrels won, 2-1.

D.C. Fire 7, Squirrels 5

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The Squirrels gave up an uncharacteristic seven goals Thursday as the D.C. Fire came away with a 7-5 victory after six lead-changes.

The Squirrels got the scoring started in the first period as Ben Sumner centered to Brent Machado, who roofed a shot to give the Squirrels the lead. The Fire scored the next two goals, the second of which came on a power play.

In the second period, Tony Richelsen – playing defense – made several nifty moves into the zone but his shot sailed wide. The puck eventually came to Paul Kobernick, who swatted it home from the left side of the net. The Fire scored a minute later, then Ed Bager scored on a power play to tie the game again. The Squirrels took the lead midway through the second period on a very bizarre play. As the teams skated 4-on-4, Desi Richelsen shot the puck toward the goaltender from the Squirrels’ zone. The Fire’s goaltender then hit it to a defenseman, but the puck bounced off of him and went in. Unfortunately for the Squirrels, that lead didn’t hold, as the Fire scored a minute later on the power play, then on yet another power play with 42 seconds remaining in the period to retake the lead, 5-4.

Sumner scored at 10:10 of the third period to tie the game at 5-5, but the Fire scored the final two goals.

The Squirrels posted 29 shots on goal, including 16 in the final period, as the Fire shot 30.

The Squirrels played without Matt Borlik, Chi Pham, Wade Marks and Sergio Balatan. The next game is Sunday, Dec. 3, at 10:30 p.m. against the Mighty Old Ducks in the Patrick rink.