Hurricanes 4, Squirrels 1

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Byrne Bids Farewell to Squirrels

For three seasons, Brian Byrne was the man in net for the Squirrels, helping them produce three winning seasons and a championship. He was always one of the league leaders in goals against average and fewest goals allowed, and he often came up with big saves to keep the Squirrels in a game they had no business winning or tying. Byrne played his final game for the Squirrels on Tuesday, against a team that has always been a thorn in their side.

The Hurricanes, again, got the best of them. This was despite the fact that the Squirrels – who played with a full roster – posted 19 first-half shots, and controlled much of the second half as if they had a power play. But fast breaks, rebounds and second-chance shots led to four first-half goals for the Hurricanes. Don Marks put the Squirrels on the board with ten seconds remaining in the first period with a defender draped all over him. But that was all the Squirrels could manage offensively, despite a 28-21 shot advantage.

The Hurricanes used backup goaltender Bob Sewell, who the Squirrels had easily beaten earlier in the season when he subbed for the Fish.

Byrne will now move his family up to his native New Jersey to continue his career in education, and hopefully, roller hockey.

The Squirrels play their regular season finale against another team they haven’t beaten this season – the 5 Holes. The game is Tuesday, August 16, at 7:30 p.m. While meaningless in the C Division standings, the Squirrels hope to get some momentum going into the playoffs.

Volcanoes 10, Squirrels 0

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The Squirrels were laughing and carrying on in the locker room following the game Sunday, making the best of a lost season. They had just suffered another 10-0 defeat at the hands of the Volcanoes, this time with ten minutes remaining in the third period.

Despite the lopsided loss, there were some positive moments for the Squirrels, who were only playing with two substitutes. The Volcanoes didn’t score until midway into the first period, and were held scoreless during a four-minute power play. Matt Borlik, playing in net, made 31 saves.

The Squirrels did have a few quality chances, but just couldn’t get the puck past the goalkeeper. Greg Wenograd showed perhaps the most heart in the entire game for either team, as he streaked up mid-ice for a puck that a defenseman was lazily retrieving. Wenograd unfortunately didn’t get a shot away as several Volcanoes finally converged, but he made a play out of nothing while already skating on a long shift.

Borlik, Wenograd, Chris Long, Ben Sumner, Juan Canchasto, Wade Marks, Charles Wolstein and Adam Hughes played for the Squirrels. Goaltender Drew Thiemann missed the game as he is recovering from having his wisdom teeth removed. It was also his birthday.

The Volcanoes will go for their third consecutive 10-0 game against the Squirrels on Sunday, August 14, at 9:10 p.m. The Squirrels play again Monday, August 15, at 10:30 p.m. against Honkey Kong. Four regular season games remain.

Squirrels 2, Bullhawks 2

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Playing against a much improved Bullhawks team, the Squirrels struck first Tuesday, but had to battle back and kill a late penalty to settle for a 2-2 tie.

Don Marks scored through a screen in the first period to put the Squirrels ahead. In the second period, the Bullhawks scored on a delayed penalty, and then again 34 seconds later to take the lead. Then Jeff Ford scored off of the goaltender’s shoulder to tie the game at two. The Squirrels killed off a four-minute penalty with less than five minutes remaining, saving the tie.

Ford’s goal was his 20th of the season, a team record.

Two games remain, both against the top two teams in the league. The next game is Tuesday, August 9, at 9:30 against the first-place Hurricanes.

Panic 3, Squirrels 2

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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.

Squirrels 9, Mors ab Alto 0

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Craving a victory after last week’s last-second loss, the Squirrels unleashed a flurry of offense against Mors ab Alto, easily winning 9-0 while only giving up five shots.

Jeff Ford led the way with four goals and two assists, as the Squirrels scored seven in the first period to force a running clock.

Mors Ab Alto had a huge disadvantage. Their leading scorer, Chris Wautel, played goaltender, and he had never played in net before. However, he still made 26 saves, and held the Squirrels to two goals in the second period. Matt Borlik played in net for the Squirrels, in place of Brian Byrne, and easily got the shutout. Byrne recently announced that he will be leaving the team soon as he takes a job in New Jersey.

Kit Watson returned after nearly three weeks out of town, while Phil Van der Vossen and Wade Marks missed the game for the Squirrels.

The victory locks up third place for the Squirrels, who have three games remaining before the playoffs. The next game is Tuesday, August 2, at 9:30 p.m. against the Bullhawks.