Squirrels 6, Nordiques 5

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In what is now one of the biggest rivalries of the division, the Screaming Squirrels and the Nordiques faced off for the third time Sunday night, trading goals down to the final moments. This time, the Squirrels found a way to win, snatching a 6-5 victory by scoring three times in the third period.

The Squirrels knew that there was one guy in particular who they needed to shut down: The league’s leading scorer, Walt Bender Jr. They didn’t. But the Squirrels got a spark of their own from Don Marks, who hadn’t played in more than a month. Two minutes into the game, Marks took a centering pass from Tony Richelson, and knocked the puck in to get the scoring started.

Bender scored his first goal midway through the first period. Thirty seconds later, it appeared that the Squirrels went ahead as Ed Bager hit the puck in the net, but instead he was called for high-sticking and served a four-minute penalty. The Squirrels killed it, and then another minor, but gave up a goal just as the power-play expired in the final minute of the period.

The Nordiques and Squirrels traded two goals apiece in the middle frame. Matt Borlik tied the game on a power play, and Ben Sumner slid in a loose puck to give the Squirrels the lead. Then Bender took over, getting two more in the second period to put the Nordiques back ahead.

Brian Jackson took a major penalty late in the period, which carried over to the third period, but the Squirrels managed to kill it. Jackson then redeemed himself by scoring later in the period on another power play to tie the game. With two and a half minutes remaining, Marks whacked in another loose puck in front of the net to regain the lead. On the same line shift, Bager scored a much-needed insurance goal. The Nordiques got one back with a late flurry around the net, but the Squirrels held on to win.

Rob Myers, Sergio Balatan and Greg Wenograd missed the game for the Squirrels. Drew Thiemann faced 19 shots in net as the Squirrels posted 35. The Squirrels and Nordiques are now 1-1-1 head-to-head this season.

The next game is Wednesday, February 22, at 10 p.m. in Resor against Southwest Airlines.

Squirrels 10, Maryland Mutineers 0

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The Maryland Mutineers had beaten the Clippers a couple of weeks ago to get their first victory of the season. The Screaming Squirrels, riding a one-game winning streak themselves, took them on late Thursday night, winning 10-0 in front of a handful of spectators in the Resor rink.

Nine different Squirrels scored. Ben Sumner, Adam Hughes, Tony Richelson and Phil Van der Vossen hit the net in the first period. Brian Jackson, Greg Wenograd and Matt Borlik scored in the second period, and then the seven-goal running clock rule went into effect.

In the third period, the Squirrels shifted their defensemen to forwards and the first two forward lines to defense. Tony Richelson scored his second, Desi Richelson made several nifty moves to get his first of the season, and Drew Thiemann, playing defense instead of goaltender, netted his first as a Squirrel. The 10th goal ended the game three minutes early.

Backup goaltender Brian Rimm made three total saves in net to get the shutout. He wasn’t sure the Mutineers even had three shots, but was happy nonetheless. ôHOCKEY!!!!ö he screamed as he entered the locker room, soaking himself with a Bud Lite and claiming it was the best beer he ever had.

Don Marks and Sergio Balatan missed the game for the Squirrels. Jared Genser officially dropped off the team for the rest of the winter season, but hopes to return this summer. Chi Pham subbed on defense, notching four assists. Charles Wolstein and Sumner had three assists each. The Squirrels played with three full lines of both offense and defense for the first time in months, and put up 30 shots on goal.

The next game is February 12, at 10:10 p.m. against the Nordiques in the Logsdon rink. The Squirrels are 0-1-1 against the Nordiques this season.

Squirrels 5, Wrong Stuff 1

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After a two-week break, the Screaming Squirrels stormed onto the ice Sunday and scored four goals in the first period, and held on for a 5-1 victory against the Wrong Stuff.

Chris Long put in a rebound two minutes into the game on an early power play. Matt Borlik scored five minutes later, and Tony Richelson, double-shifting on right wing, scored on a breakaway. Rob Myers got the last goal of the period to give the Squirrels a comfortable lead.

Despite outplaying the Wrong Stuff in the second period, the Squirrels couldn’t get any shots to fall, and eventually gave up a breakaway goal.

Ben Sumner scored late in the third period on a four-on four. Tony Richelson finished the game with a goal and two assists. The Squirrels outshot the Wrong Stuff, 25-17, as Drew Thiemann made 16 saves in net.

The Squirrels played without Don Marks, Greg Wenograd, Brian Jackson, Sergio Balatan and Jared Genser. Chi Pham subbed on defense.

The next game is Thursday, Jan. 26, at 10:30 against the Maryland Mutineers in Resor.

Dog Star 4, Squirrels 2

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In a matchup of the two best defenses in the league, Dog Star again ended up on top of the Screaming Squirrels, winning 4-2 on Sunday in the first league game of the new year. While Dog Star ranks only fourth in offense, they have only lost one game all season. The Squirrels dropped their fourth.

Dog Star took an early lead, scoring two minutes into the game and again later in the first period. They went up 3-0 in the second period with a short-handed goal.

The Squirrels turned it around late in the second period as Ed Bager connected with Rob Myers, who shot the puck into the right corner of the net to cut the lead. In the last five minutes of the second period, Dog Star took five minor penalties. During that time, Phil Van der Vossen swatted in a rebound before drawing another penalty as the puck went in. But the Squirrels could score no more, despite having a two-man advantage for several moments.

Dog Star scored again late in the third period, just as a Squirrels penalty expired. The Squirrels were outshot, 25-17.

The Squirrels played without Desi Richelson, Charles Wolstein, and Jared Genser. The next game is Jan. 22, at 9 p.m. against the Wrong Stuff in Resor.

Squirrels 7, Clippers 0

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Aside from holding the Clippers to seven scoreless shots on Wednesday, the Screaming Squirrels got their second consecutive shutout and put a team record 49 shots on net.

Using a brand new stick his brother bought him for Christmas, Tony Richelson scored three goals and added an assist while playing forward. Greg Wenograd netted two goals, while Don Marks and Ed Bager had one apiece.

The Squirrels played without Rob Myers, Jared Genser and Brian Jackson. Drew Thiemann played in net, and noted that his equipment was dry after the game. Despite giving up seven goals, the Clippers’ goaltender, Barry Willen, made 42 saves, robbing the Squirrels on many more opportunities.

The Squirrels are now 7-3-1, good for third place in the division.

The C-3B division All Star game is Sunday, January 1, at 4:20 p.m. The Squirrels expect to have a few players in the game. The next game is Jan. 8, at 10 p.m. against Dog Star in Logsdon.