Invaders 4, Squirrels 1

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In a game that will be remembered more for its timekeeping than its outcome, the Screaming Squirrels fell to the Invaders on Sunday, 4-1. With only one referee and no scorekeeper, periods were counted with a 25-minute running clock, as opposed to the regular 15-minute periods with stoppages.

Despite controlling the offensive zone most of the first period, the Invaders, now 9-3 in the 4A Division, couldn’t crack the scoreboard until they sent in a floater from the point in the second period. The Squirrels answered on the power play, as Juan Canchasto tipped in a pass through the goaltender’s pads. The Invaders took the lead again only seconds later, then scored twice in the third on breakaways. The scoreboard, meanwhile, blanked out several times in the later half of the game, leaving the teams to wonder how much time was left.

The Squirrels skated without Don Marks, Jared Genser, Jon Magi, and Joe Wu. Defenseman Chi Pham injured himself late in the game and is out indefinitely. Adam Hughes also left the game early.

The next match is Tuesday, 10 p.m., at the Wheaton Indoor Rink against the Division 4B leaders the Panthers. The Squirrels previously lost to them, 4-1, in December.

Squirrels 4, Green Hornets 2

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Despite flurries around the net and long lengths of time in the offensive zone during the first period, the Screaming Squirrels couldn’t crack the scoreboard and fell behind the visiting Green Hornets early. But the Squirrels didn’t panic, played their game and came away with a 4-2 victory Monday at the Wheaton Outdoor rink.

Thirty seconds into the second period, Juan Canchasto broke into the zone on the power play, had the puck poked from his stick, retrieved it behind the net and wrapped it around to tie the game. Later in the second period, Philip Van der Vossen intercepted the puck in the defensive zone and quickly passed it to Matt Borlik, who sped around the Hornets’ defense and scored on the breakaway. In the third, Desmond Richelsen intercepted a pass at the offensive blue line and slapped it in to put the Squirrels up 3-1. Later in the third, Ben Sumner streaked in and centered to Don Marks, who slammed it home. The Hornets scored once more in the third, but the Squirrels held on for their fourth victory of the year.

The next game is Sunday at 10:30 p.m. in Rockville against the Invaders, who are currently 8-2 in the 4A division.

Squirrels 5, Tigers 4

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Entering the third period Sunday with a 4-1 lead, the Screaming Squirrels could feel it. Two months since their previous victory, they desperately needed a win in the newly aligned HNA divisions. They got it, holding on to beat the Tigers, 5-4, in the Wheaton Outdoor rink.

Ben Sumner got the scoring started with a quick wrist shot off of Matt Borlik’s centering pass in the first period. The Tigers later tied it with a floating shot from the point. In the second period, the Squirrels scored three goals in a 3 minute-25 second span. Oriana Senatore knocked in a rebound for her first goal of the year. Don Marks, playing forward for the first time this season, scored unassisted soon after. About a minute later, defenseman Chi Pham hit winger Greg Wenograd with a breakaway pass, and Wenograd knocked it by the Tigers’ substitute goaltender to put the Squirrels up by three after two periods.

The Tigers didn’t quit. They got two breakout goals in the third period û one on the power play û before Borlik scored to make it 5-3. The Tigers moved within one with 30 seconds remaining, but the Squirrels killed the remaining time and snapped a five-game losing streak.

Drew Thiemann made 31 saves in net behind a shortened-bench defense. The Squirrels skated without Jon Magi and Charles Wolstein. Forwards Chris Long and Robin Berlin also missed the game.

Pham skated his first game of the season for the Squirrels, subbing for the injured Joseph Wu. Wu injured his groin back in October and says he is about 80% cured.

The Squirrels next play the Green Hornets in the Wheaton Outdoor rink on Jan. 24 at 8:30 p.m.

D.C. Bulldogs 7, Squirrels 3

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The Screaming Squirrels returned from their holiday break Wednesday at Wells, and fell to the D.C. Bulldogs, 7-3. Down 5-0 in the second period, the Squirrels showed signs of life as Don Marks darted through the neutral zone and took it in for a power play goal. Later in the period, Wade Marks scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season. Late in the third period, Ben Sumner stole the puck from a defenseman, got around him, and scored right-side top corner.

The Squirrels put up 29 shots, the most in any loss this season. Drew Thiemann stopped 38 shots in net, including several highlight-real saves. The Squirrels’ next game has yet to be scheduled. It’ll be posted on the web site and e-mailed to the team as soon as Hockey North America posts it.

Lords 5, Squirrels 0

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The Screaming Squirrels’ ice team was shut out for the first time Monday, falling 5-0 to the very experienced Lords at Wells. Despite the lopsided scoreboard, the Squirrels did have their chances, posting 23 shots against the second-place team. The Squirrels had several shifts where they controlled the zone for an extended period of time, but couldn’t break through league commissioner Doug Updegrove’s goaltending. One of the Squirrels’ best chances at scoring came on Ben Sumner’s second-period breakaway, but his backhander was stopped with a pad save. Drew Thiemann made 27 saves in net for the Squirrels.

The next game is January 5 at Wells against the D.C. Bulldogs, at 9:15 p.m.

Quote of the game:
“I felt better before they took their helmets off”- Philip Van der Vossen