By Michael Garbacz
Game 1: Blues 2, Delmarva Soil and Concrete Red Wings 8
A new season is upon us, and the first game started off with a bang, as the Wings sailed over the Blues. The Red Wings potted three in the first and never looked back, while the Blues shook off summer’s rust. Ethan Ayer led the charge for the Wings, notching four goals and two assists; the Huntsman (Brandon Stapleton) contributed two goals and an assist; George Smith rang up a goal and an assist; Michael Garbacz scored; Devon Corbin tacked on a helper. For the Blues, TR Hoyt recorded bothgoals, each assisted by Guy Shover.
Game 2: K&E Marine Capitals 3,EZ Loan Bruins 3 (shootout)
Last season’s marquis teams pick up right where they left off from the championship series, battling each other to a standstill. The Killer B’s, led by the Smooth Criminal (Donnie Williams Jr.), leapt out to a 3-1 lead after one period but could not hold on to seal the win. Pat Luckenbach (the Pat Trick) got his squad crawling back into it bit by but until the tying goal forced overtime. In the shootout, Cabe Morgan and Pat Christman each stood tall, allowing no goals. In regular time, Garrett Baylis struck twice for the Bruins; the Smooth Criminal scored the other goal; Pat Cornwell and Chris Potter each recorded helpers. For the Caps, Sharkey Parks opened up the season with a pair of goals and a helper; the Pat Trick registered a goal and an assist.
Game 3: 3 Knots Taphouse Whalers 1, NeuBeam Harambe 5
Harambe charged out of the gate this season ready to come hard and were rewarded with a four-goal cruise to victory, as the Whalers look to find an identity and shake a bit of rust of their own. Preston Shover led the way for Harambe, potting a hat trick; Luke Webb and power forward Jennie Rice each recorded a goal and an assist; Zach Webb and Robbie Washington chipped in two helpers; Josh Taylor added an assist. For the Whalers, it was Brandon Morgan who scored the lone goal, unassisted.
Game 4: Thornton Services Renegades 5, Blues 4
In their second game of the day, the Blues were much sharper, but it was just not enough to overcome a Renegades squad looking to make some noise. A wild first two periods found the game tied at four; the difference maker came in the third off the stick of the Onancock Kid (Danny Miller) to seal it.
For the Blues, TR Hoyt registered two goals and an assist; Guy Shover potted a goal and an assist; James Haley tickled the twine; the Parksley Original (Mark Stapleton) and McKaley Parks each picked up an assist. On the Renegades’ side, Miller and CJ Jones each found the back of the net twice; Cliff Windsor scored the other goal; Austin Gregory picked up two helpers; Dustin Aigner, Trey Lodge, and Ray Johnson each recorded an assist.
Game 5: Delmarva Soil and Concrete Red Wings 2, K&E Marine Capitals 5
The Wings never seemed to be able to establish their game this time around, and while they lead through two periods, the Caps stormed back in the third, scoring four goals to steal the win. The Huntsman scored both Wings goals, assisted by Ethan Ayer, Matt Sullivan, and Devon Corbin. For the Caps, the Pat Trick rang up a hat trick plus an assist; Brett Morgan put up a goal and an assist; Keith Hagler scored; Dalton McDaniel threw in two helpers; Sharkey Parks added an assist.
Game 6: EZ Loan Bruins 7, 3 Knots Taphouse Whalers 4
The Whalers looked a bit sharper in this one compared to their first game, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Killer B’s. The game was closer than the score would indicate, with shots 16-15 in the Bruins’ favor, but the Smooth Criminal made it his business to put this one away, burying a “pace yourself” hat trick along with two assists.
Not to be outdone, Garrett Baylis also registered a hattie; Gabe Nockpicked up a goal and two assists; Pat Cornwell registered two assists. For the Whalers, Scott Millikin and Brandon Morgan each put up two goals and a helper; Cory Chance added an apple.
Game 7: NeuBeam Harambe 3, Thornton Services Renegades 2 (shootout)
In easily the most intense game of the day, Harambe and the Renegades battled fiercely through two periods, and, even though the former outshot the latter 27- 17, the game could not be decided in regulation. There, captain Zach Webb made the most of his long reach and was able to pot the only shootout goal, all that his team needed to pick up the victory. For the Renegades, the Onancock Kid and La Boca (Jesse West) were regular-time goal scorers; Ray Johnson picked up an assist. Zach Webb also scored both of Harambe’s goals in regulation; Preston Shover threw in an apple.
ESSHL Senior League action resumes Sunday, September 22 at 1:30 p.m. at Stapleton Rink in Parksley. Please check out the website www.esshl.org for news, stats, schedule, and more, and find the league on Facebook. Late sign-ups are still underway!
