Typically it would be considered an upset if an 8th seed beat a top seed, but considering the Real C Team has been the most difficult team the Squirrels have faced all season, they knew it wouldn’t be easy to advance. Due to the play of goaltender Ryan Meeks, the Real C Team beat the Squirrels earlier this season, and also forced them to a shootout. On Tuesday, Meeks showed signs of his goaltending brilliance before the Squirrels were able to power past them and win, 7-2.

After a couple of failed power plays and numerous chances, the Squirrels finally found the net on a first period power play when Chris Bedrossian scored the first of his three goals. Mark Tessar added another power play goal, but it was his next one that set the tone for the rest of the game. He fell and hit his head on a play, struggling to get up, before regaining his footing, somehow getting the puck, making a power move to the net and slam dunking it in.

But the Real C Team answered on the next face off, scoreing on a slap shot from the point to make the score 3-1 at the half.

Only a minute into the second half, Don Marks lined up for a slapshot that got past Meeks, which wasn’t a goal that he normally gives up. Then the Squirrels started taking penalties, but Bedrossian scored almost immediately shorthanded, before the Real C Team scored to cut the lead to 5-2.

Tessar wasn’t done. A couple of more power moves left a defender on his face – twice – while Tessar fought for the puck, assisting on Brian Iciek’s goal to put the game out of reach. Bedrossian scored once more and the Squirrels advanced to the second round, which will be Thursday at 7:30.

Eric Smith had four assists, despite using gloves he wasn’t used to.

It’s been a couple of years, but the Real C Team pulled off its occasional upset of the Screaming Squirrels as goaltender Ryan Meeks stopped 33 shots. The Squirrels typically finish ahead of the Real C Team but Meeks remains one of the best goaltenders in the division regardless.

Playing against a much-improved Real “C” Team, the Squirrels jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first half, only to give up a short-handed goal, and another goal a few minutes into the second half which cut the lead to 4-3. Brian Iciek scored the first goal of the game for the Squirrels, followed by three top-shelf goals by Jeff Ford. But it was Rob Myers who took over to put the game out of reach with a natural hat-trick in the second half (not to mention two assists in the first period). The Real “C” Team scored two more but the Squirrels ran out the clock for the victory.

It was another dominating game for the Screaming Squirrels, who have no shortage of speed and offensive output this season. Facing goaltender Ryan Meeks, who is known to steal games for his team, the Squirrels put up five goals in the first period. The Real C Team cut it to 5-3 early in the second half but the Squirrels kept the puck in the offensive zone most of the game and ended up winning, 7-3.

Mark Tessar and Brian Icieck each scored twice, while Jeff Ford, Ben Sumner and Eric Smith each added one.