By Michael Garbacz
Game 1: Blues 0, EZ Loan Bruins 2
This week’s games kicked off with a nail-biter between the blueshirts and Killer B’s. The Bruins jumped out to an early lead, playing chess for the rest of the game and holding on for the win. Alex McCullough did the goalie dance of joy en route to the shutout victory. The Smooth Criminal and Bradley Colona scored the Bruins’ goals; Gabe Nock picked up the helper.
Game 2: Delmarva Soil and Concrete Red Wings 0, 3 Knots Taphouse Whalers 7
Registering far fewer shots for the game (2) as their opponents produced in goals, the less said about this one for the Wings, the better. Brandon Morgan produced a hattie and a helper; Scott Millikin tickled the twine twice; Derek Hail scored and added two assists; New York Metzger found the back of the net; Annika Fread kicked in an apple dumpling (3 assists), a huge multi-point game on the strength of some sick passes; Cory Chance had a pair; Michael Fanning handed out the goose egg.
Game 3: Thornton Services Renegades 0, NeuBeam Harambe 3
The shutouts kept coming, as the gorilla squad managed to blank the ‘Gaders. Preston Shover put a pair of biscuits in the basket; Josh Taylor had the other goal; Luke Webb and power forward Jennie Rice picked up an assist apiece; emergency goalie Danny Tweedy was validated with a shutout win. The Renegades were thoroughly frustrated in this one, never really getting the motor going and producing only eight shots.
Game 4: K&E Marine Capitals 0, EZ Loan Bruins 2
It’s starting to feel like a lottery ticket here—another shutout! The Caps, missing the Pat Trick, kept things close but could not solve Alex McCullough. The Smooth Criminal potted the game winner and one more for insurance, and that was all she wrote. Pat Cornwell picked up a helper. McCullough, after putting up double goose eggs, was really smilin’ like a butcher’s dog.
Game 5: Blues 3, 3 Knots Taphouse Whalers 5
Well, the Blues went and managed to break the shutout streak, so at least that’s a positive takeaway. They managed to stay in the game and fought hard, but the Whalers’ skill and speed are tough to stave off. TR Hoyt led the Blues with a goal and an assist; Guy Shover and Matt Yetter scored; James Haley and the Parksley Original chipped in a helper apiece. For the Whalers, once again Brandon Morgan picked up a hat trick; Annika Fread and Derek Hail rang up a goal apiece; Scott Millikin and Ryan Parks added apples.
Game 6: NeuBeam Harambe 7, Delmarva Soil and Concrete Red Wings 1
This was just not a day to leave the house for the Wings, as they again were clobbered, this time at the hands of the gorilla squad. Wes Stapleton did manage to spoil the shutout parade, though. Josh Taylor picked up a pair of goals; Preston Shover, Robbie Washington, Caleb Clark, Zach Webb, and power forward Jennie Rice all found the back of the net. Johnny Irvin and Luke Webb registered assists.
Game 7: K&E Marine Capitals 1, Thornton Services Renegades 7
The ‘Gader squad managed to rebound after their first game and give the Trick-less Caps a drubbing to end the day. Dustin Aigner had a big multi-point effort with a hat trick plus an assist; the Onancock Kid rang up two markers and an apple; La Boca chimed in with a goal and an assist; Trey Lodge put the biscuit in the basket once and found an assist; Cliff Windsor and Ray Johnson each added a helper.
ESSHL Senior League action resumes Sunday, January 19, at 1:30 p.m. at Stapleton Rink in Parksley. Check out the website at www.esshl.org, and find ESSHL on Facebook.