Week Four opened with Captain Jeremy Copp’s Orange taking on Captain Carl Vankoughnett’s Neon, with both teams looking to add a second notch in the win column and prove the brighter highlighter as we move into the middle third of the season. Copp & Company came into Week Four play with just TWO goals to show for nine periods of play, having been shutout in their previous two outings to drop to 1-2-0. With even the woeful and winless sides at the bottom of the standings boasting at least triple that total, Orange knew they would need to find their scoring form, or soon find themselves in league with those beleaguered cellar dwellers. Justin Hepler was on the case, and his first of the season at 3:59 in the first (Aaron Cooney & Andrew Wong), then second at 0:48 (Gordon Schmidt & Chris Fiore) gave Orange a 2-0 lead, and matched the team’s entire scoring output (Fiore’s scoring output, to be precise) from the last three games, combined. Hepler would complete the trick at 7:04 in the second (Fiore), padding the lead to three, and (more importantly) instilling some confidence in his Orange mates that the scoring punch had finally arrived. Captain Vankoughnett would cut the lead back to two with his second of the season at 1:38 in the second, leaving the score at 3-1 in Orange’s favor heading into the second break. Matt Henderson (15/17), FINALLY benefitting from some offensive support, held strong against the push to equalize, but would ultimately concede a second Neon strike to Ryan Karns with 2:57 to play (Joe Malki & Gary Peters). That would be the final answer from Neon, who would suffer their first loss of the season to POTW Hepler and Orange, 3-2. Don Tran (21/24) absorbed the loss for Neon, who will look to bounce back this Sunday against Captain Ossa’s Brown. It’s something of a miracle that Orange find themselves at 2-2-0 heading into a showdown with Captain Siemer’s Grey…they will certainly need more heroics and Hepler, Fiore, and…heck, maybe even another player or two in the Orange ranks if they hope to repeat the winning feat in Week Five.

Captain Bao Nguyen’s Green entered Week Four play as the only team without a point in the standings. With only one of nine teams missing the playoffs this season, a rather meager point total could get the job done, but even Captain Rob Gaudio’s 0-3-1 Red know that a ticket to the second season is already in hand if Green can’t find a way to straighten out that not-so-nice round number. Captain William Teglia’s Purple warmed up at the other end, hoping to keep that fine-by-us round number in place for Green and extend their streak in the opposite direction to three in the process. Grant Goins put Purple on the path to doing just that at 8:29 in the first (Captain Teglia), then added his second of the game and fourth of the season at 9:51 in the second (Teglia) to double the lead and quadruple his career high for goals in a season (granted…no pun intended…this is just his second SDFHL season). When Trevor Vick made it 3-0 at 7:23 (Tim Vick & Chad Goins), and Owen Perks padded the lead to four at 0:14 (Chad Goins & Tim Vick), an already down and deflated Green side had to be feeling ready for this game (if not season) to be over. Sadie Hellstrom struck the lone strike in the third at 4:10 (Perks), and Will Heinl (21/21) would stand strong to preserve the 5-0 shutout win, keeping Purple paced with the six point lead pack, and one step closer to punching a playoff pass. The loss, of course…one step closer to elimination for Green. If ever there were ONE game that Captain Nguyen & Company NEED to win, it is this Sunday’s showdown with Red. A win would not only sow some much-needed confidence, but would actually push them above the cut line for the first time all season heading into their Week Six bye.

Valentine’s Day in June! Captain Rob Gaudio’s Red would love to find a way to a first win of the season, especially the week before a hot date with Green, while Captain Lena Amelang’s Pink would love nothing more than to keep the win column kisses coming, having racked up two straight smackers coming in. In a Thanos-free Summer 2026 season, Brennen Abel has assumed the throne at the top of the scoring charts. The Young Canuck™ stud added another goal to his total with an unassisted strike at 5:22 in the first to put Pink on top, but even-Younger-Yank stud, Darin Cerasuolo, would answer at 2:52 to knot the score at ones heading into the first break. Abel would not score in the second, but he would provide the lone assist on the lone goal of the period…Steve Goncalo at 8:54 to push Pink back in front. Alas, for a Red team desperate for that first taste of victory, Goncalo’s goal would stand as the lone goal of the final two periods of play…the game-winner in a 2-1 Pink win. Chuck Bender (21/22) continued his crushing crusade (both for his team, and in stand-in stints), while Nick ‘The Megician’™ Meglich (17/19) suffered another very tough loss at the other end. Now at 3-1-0, Pink sit comfortably in the upper reaches of the standings as part of the aforementioned six point pack, while Red fall to 0-3-1, just one point north of the cut line heading into the big ‘Week Five Battle To Survive’™ with out only team below that cut line, Green.

The only two remaining undefeated teams finally found each other in the Week Four nightcap, with Captain Eli Schonbrun’s 2-0-0 Blue facing off against Captain Kalen Hunter’s 2-0-0 Grey. I don’t mean to suggest that the man is lucky charm, but John Kushneryk (proud member of last season’s wire-to-wire-loss-free Cup champions, Black) is on the roster for both Blue and Grey this season. If you ignore his ‘other team’ from last season, Gold, this means that JK has not lost a game in a long time. Barring a tie in this one, he would collect one more yin win, but also (at long last) a yang loss. Chuck Bender (who else…the man is a machine this season) was suited up in Kushneryk’s stead for Captain Schonbrun & Company, while Kushneryk manned the blue line for Grey as play got under way. Kyle Snyder was first to act, snapping home his seventh of the season at 7:30 in the first (Brendan Jew), and a trio of unanswered Blue goals would follow. Captain Schonbrun made it 2-0 at 6:02 (Josh Tran & Jason Northrup), Tran padded the lead to three at 5:22 (Schonbrun & Shelby Shattuck), and Schonbrun’s second of the game capped a blowout first period for Blue at 2:18 (Northrup & Snyder). Captain Hunter finally found a response for Grey at 6:24 in the second (Steve Linke), but a second for Snyder with just 0:48 to play before the second break restored the four goal edge, and Snyder’s third at 6:25 in the third put this game well and truly out of reach. Fittingly/ironically/whatever-adverb-fits-best-here, it was Kushneryk who would take the last scoring action, slipping home his first goal of the season with 4:42 to play (Zach Siemer)…ultimately a meaningless strike for his Grey team, and a meaningless strike against his Blue team. The (very) convincing 6-2 win for Blue came with no major attendance asterisks, and really has them looking like the team to beat this season now at 3-0-0 on the tippy top of the table. If you’re scoring at home, Bender (20/22) is now 3-0-0 as a sub this season! Jon Cima (22/28) was the latest HomiSnyde™ victim, with Kyle’s hat trick heroics vaulting him into first place in the goal scoring race. The loss drops Grey to 2-1-0, good enough for middle of the pack, but with a game in hand on the two six point teams ahead of them in the standings, including their Week Five opponent, Orange.

Our Week Three cover team was well rested coming into their matchup with Captain Bryan Ossa’s ‘Dookey Kong’, powering past Pink in Week One, surviving a harrowing bye week that no one enjoys the following Sunday, then doubling down on the downtime with a long holiday weekend. Ossa & Company opened their season with a narrow win over a Purple team that was without much of their punch, then became another Kalen Kasualty™ in a 4-2 Week Two loss to Grey. A bounce back win would keep them in the top half of the standings, while a loss would flip them to the shallow end of the slate (or deep end, depending on your preferred metaphor for struggle/peril, here). Brendan Jew put Blue on the board first, converting a defensive turnover into offensive paydirt at 8:20 (Captain Schonbrun), but Vance Morra was quick to respond for Brown, wristing home the equalizer at 7:12 (Chris Koziol & Mark Nagy). Blue racked up a staggering 20-7 edge in shots over the first two periods, and just as Brown was enjoying a brief respite from the onslaught with Jason Northrup off for holding, Brendan Jew notched his second of the game shorthanded at 5:19 (Josh Tran). Mark DeGraffenreid blasted his team’s second off the far post and in with 2:44 to play in the middle period (Josh Wirt), and while the shot totals and ‘Mojo Meter™’ had Blue way ahead in this one, the score remained knotted at 2-2 through two. The call and response scoring pattern continued in the third, with Shelby Shattuck blasting home a point shot to wrest the lead back for Blue at 6:58, and DeGraffenreid finishing a two-on-one rush with Wirt to bring Brown level once again at 5:52. The already absurd shot disparity widened in the third (ending with a 32-10 advantage for Blue), and while Mason Holcomb had been breakdancing and head-standing all game to keep his team alive, the levee finally broke in the final half period of play. Kyle Snyder shifted into ‘enough is enough’ mode, steering into the attacking zone and depositing the game-winner at 4:06 (Captain Schonbrun), Jew completed his hat trick and broke the game’s ‘scoring pattern’ at 3:51 (Jason Lee & Shattuck), and Snyder added insurance at 1:58 (Josh Tran), turning a tense, tight tilt into the convincing win that the shot totals would have you suspect, 6-3, Blue over Brown. Holcomb (26/32) was nothing short of heroic in the loss, while John Kushneryk (7/10) enjoyed what would ultimately be a nice rehab start in his first action of the season as Blue’s last line of defense.

The next match on the slate was…a major mismatch, with Captain Rob Gaudio’s Red powered down in the absence of Darin Cerasuolo, Dan Jurgens, and Sean Bathgate, and with Captain Carl Vankoughnett’s Neon fully assembled and ready to replicate their Week Two winning effort and keep pace with the other ‘perfects’ in the pack (Grey and Blue). This game was certainly something to behold, and the real spectacle was our POTW, Nick Meglich. In a season without the ‘big name goalie’ likes of Perks and Kelly, Meglich has certainly proven to be a, nay…THE game-changing goal-stopper in the game. As good as he has been in recent seasons, this was another level, entirely…to the point where every player from both teams was pausing to marvel/comment on the Megician™ and his sublime slight of glove and blocker. Neon outshot Red THIRTY-SIX to FOURTEEN in this one, and yet the game would end in a 1-1 tie! What’s more…the lone goal Meglich would allow was at least as controversial as it was crushing for Red (at least at the time). Scoreless first and second periods saw Neon carrying the play to the tune of an 18-9 shot advantage, but Meglich carrying the day, and keeping his team primed for their first win (indeed, first point) of the season. At 4:39 in the third, a Vinny Santora shot struck Meglich’s glove and produced a loose ‘popup’. Wendy Enright collected the ball out of the air with a clean touch, then swept it into the net to finally break through for Neon with what looked to be a surefire game-winner. Dissent and discussion bubbled from there, with Red asserting that Enright had made contact with Meglich’s glove, thereby interfering with his ability to pluck the loose ball from the air and complete the save. The officials deemed the goal valid, and Red looked like certain losers for a third straight game to open their Summer League campaign. With time winding down, Red’s desperation deepened, and somewhere in that final fighting flurry, Captain Rob Gaudio found the ball on his blade, and snapped it past Don Tran (13/14) to tie the game and send a ripple of relief through the Red ranks. Neither goalie would concede a second goal, and Meglich’s 35/36 night would finally steal a point for Gaudio & Company, now sitting just one point free of the cut line at 0-2-1.

A battle of two 1-1-0 sides was next, with Captain Jeremy Copp looking to rebound from a loss in their last outing, and Captain William Teglia’s Purple looking to match their latest winning effort and push into the top half of the table to wrap the first third of regular season play. Mason Holcomb had killed an hour, and was now suited back up to fill in for Orange’s Matt Henderson. He was likely hoping to avoid being subjected to an all-out shooting barrage for a second time in the same evening, but Purple had other plans. SUPER slanted shot counts of 13-1 and 13-2 proved just how potent Purple’s offense is, even in the absence of young scoring stud, Trevor Vick. It would be equally fair to suggest that this gross shot disparity speaks to the anemia of Orange’s attack, especially given that all (non-goalie) parts were present and accounted for in this one. Holcomb certainly held the fort as well (or better) than could be expected, but Captain Teglia tallies in the first (3:13 from Sadie Hellstrom & Owen Perks) and second (6:30 from Janet Goins and Perks) had Purple on top by two through two. The shot count settled and leveled significantly in the third (just a 5-4 edge for the ‘Willuigis’), but Orange would come no closer to clawing back, as Will Heinl’s 8/8 effort was enough to seal the 2-0 shutout win. Holcomb (28/30) would need an ice bath and an ice cold beer (or three) after facing SIXTY-TWO shots in sixty minutes of Week Three SDFHL hockey. Orange will look to bounce back in a Week Four ‘Citrus Bowl’ match with the lossless Neon, but will definitely need to muster more offense if they have any hope of securing a win. Their TWO goals in three outings technically has them in a tie for the league’s lowest output with (as fate would have it) Neon, but Neon has played just two games, and (see above) was just subjected to something of a miracle Meglich performance. The second straight win for Captain Teglia’s team has them at 2-1-0, in solid position in the top half of the standings, and primed to push higher with a meeting with 0-3-0 Green up next.

The Week Three nightcap matched the opener as a high-scoring bookend to two low-scoring middle matches. High scoring is already a trademark this season for Captain Lena Amelang’s ‘Kirby Enthusiasm’, having averaged four goals a game over their opening loss to Blue and rebound win over Orange. For Green, the story has also been high-scoring, but sadly high-scoring against, having allowed nine goals in their two losing efforts coming into Week Three play. With just one team missing the playoffs this season, it is WAY too early for ‘must wins’, but at 0-2-0, a victory would not only vault Captain Bao Nguyen’s side over Red into (at least temporary) safety, but would also go a long way towards instilling confidence in a slump-shouldered Green huddle. The big story in this one was Eric Willard, starting with his opening goal at 0:34 in the first (Brennen Abel), and a (very) quick second just six ticks later (Abel). Nick Vacchio managed a response with ONE second remaining in the opening period (Ty Pereira & Alex Rockoff), but Green still found themselves in a sadly familiar state, down going into the first break. Willard wasted no time completing his hat trick, striking at 9:09 in the second (Abel & Joel Gattey), meaning that he technically scored three goals in 85 seconds of play…wow! Ty Pereira’s first of the game for Green at 7:26 (Rockoff & Vacchio) cut Pink’s lead back to one, Willard’s fourth of the game would restore the two goal Pink edge at 6:46 (Gattey), and Pereira’s powerplay second would close the gap again at 1:50 (Chris Tran & Jackson Tomaszewski). When Tran finally brought Green level at 9:01 in the third (Tomaszewski), it looked like the Winless Wonders may finally shed the adjective on that moniker, or at least come away with a hard-earned point. Nope…more Willard. Willard’s FIFTH of the game with just 0:52 to play (Abel) would stand as the game-winner, and an empty-net SIXTH at 0:20 the icer as Pink proved that where there’s E-Will, there’s a way to a devastating 6-4 win over Green. Willard’s monster game would have made him a lock for POTW in just about any other week in league history…but THAT’S how good The Megician™ was against Neon. As impressive as Willard’s six pack was, it was also (appropriately) a gut punch to an already reeling Green side, who remain the only team without a point in the standings now at 0-3-0. While again it is way too early to count any team out, this Sunday’s meeting with Purple, and the subsequent showdown with cutline neighbor Red will be crucial for Nguyen & Company’s efforts to say ‘hello’ to a playoff spot in advance of their Week Six bye…

Week Two saw the debut of Captain Carl Vankoughnett’s Neon, the last team to see action on the season after a well-earned and restful opening week bye. Captain Bao Nguyen’s Green stood between this fresh meat and the frying pan as the slate kicked off with (technically) two winless teams looking to land in the win column for the first time. Vankoughnett’s draft creation wasn’t the only Neon-ate (see what I did there) coming into the season, with a big part of the decision for a Week One bye hinging on giving new dad, Joe Malki, some extra paternity leave before sliding into summer play. It was the proud new papa who would sire his team’s first goal of the season, and (sticking with the metaphor) it was definitely a preemie, arriving at 9:43 (Janice Darlington & Tom Darlington, fittingly enough). With Joe becoming a papa, Chris Malki became a grandpapa, and the old(er) man struck next at 3:42 (Joe Malki & Ryan Karns) in the first to build Neon’s lead to two going into the first break. Captain Vankoughnett produced the only scoreboard scion in the second at 4:36 (Chris Malki & Gary Peters), and Neon cruised through two with a 3-0 lead, in spite of being outshot 17-7 over that span. Green would mount a swift and startling comeback in the third, with Chris Tran scoring his (and his team’s) second of the season at 9:13 (Ty Pereira & Nick Vacchio), and Jordan Pynn stuffing home a second just twenty-one ticks later (Tran & Vacchio) to cut the lead to one with plenty of time remaining. Alas for Green, the early third period ‘twins’, while adorable, were upstaged by Neon’s fourth at 4:07 (Gary Peters from Vankoughnett and Joe Malki) and a short-handed, empty net fifth from…who else, New Papa Malki at 0:34. If you’re scoring at home, that’s a 2 and 2 outing for Joe…not bad for a tired dad! Don Tran (22/24) was sharp to start the season, while Gabe Davenport (3/7) had a tough outing as Green fell to 0-2-0 out of the gate with the 5-2 loss.

Both Captain Zach Siemer’s Grey and Captain Bryan Ossa’s Brown checked in with a Week One win, and both hoped to repeat the feat in a clash of (by far) the two drabbest Summer League colors. Brown had the throttle down in the first, and Mark DeGraffenreid found the first goal of the game on a rebound at 5:03 (Captain Ossa & Jon Zygelman). The reigning Cup champion captain, Kalen Hunter, was next to act, knotting the score at 3:36 in the second, with the lone assist going to fellow Cup defender, John Kushneryk. Kushneryk’s appearance in the lineup came as a surprise (at least to me), with the double duty dynamo nursing a nagging lower body injury that was slated to have him out until sometime in June. An even bigger surprise came with Grey’s next goal, also assisted by Kushneryk…Mark Chercoe’s first career SDFHL strike to push Grey in front for the first time at 0:39 in the second. CONGRATULATIONS, MARK (you have some catching up to do on your sister, though)! Chris Koziol evened the score at 5:42 in the third on an absolutely sublime feed from Leah Gonzales (Josh Wirt with the second assist), and the clock wound to five minutes remaining in a very close, very hard fought contest. Hunter’s second of the game at 4:46 would put Grey back on top (Steve Linke and Chuck Bender), and his third of the game at 2:59 would give him his second straight hat trick to open the Summer season. The lone assist on the hat-trick-capping-deal-sealer went to newcomer, Kristin Sigler…CONGRATULATIONS, KRISTIN! In case you missed it, Chuck Bender had an assist on the game-winner in this one, and also collected the win with a very strong 20/22 effort in lieu of Jon Cima. It would be the first jewel in a shimmering triple crown for Bender on the night…more on that in the coming recaps. Mason Holcomb (17/21) was no less solid at the other end, but ultimately became just another Kalen Kasualty™ in the 4-2 loss to Grey.

The slate shifted from a meeting of the season’s two drabbest colors to a clash of the two brightest brands, as Captain Jeremy Copp’s Orange looked to repeat their Week One winning feat and Captain Lena Amelang’s Pink hoped to rebound for a loss in their opener. A scoreless first saw the teams trade equal shot totals (six), and while the totals matched again in the second (five), it was Pat Gladstone who would finally break the scoring seal for Pink with her first of the season in her first game of the season at 5:13 (Steve Goncalo & Scott Wieland). The shots were very nearly level again in the third, with Orange holding a 7-5 edge, but Pink would account for all of the scoring…or, more accurately, Brennen Abel would account for all of the scoring. Abel’s first at 7:38 (Eric Willard) provided some breathing room for Pink, his second at 6:28 (Emily Bennington & Willard) had Pink well in control, and his third at 4:55 (Willard & Bennington) removed all doubt that this one was well and truly over. Chuck Bender (18/18) recorded his first shutout of the season in the 4-0 win, and his second win of the evening, after collecting a W for Jon Cima’s Grey in the previous game. Matt Henderson (12/16) absorbed the loss for Orange, who dropped into a tie with Pink in the middle of the standings at 1-1-0. Abel’s hat trick has him at the top of the scoring charts now with seven points through two games (4 and 3), just one point ahead of fellow Young Canuck™, Kalen Hunter. This will be a fun race to watch this season…my money’s on a player whose first name ends in ‘en’ (don’t forget about Owen).

The night cap was a battle of 0-1-0 sides, with both Captain William Teglia’s Purple and Captain Rob Gaudio’s Red looking for their first win of the season. When you need a Week Two win, the smart money is on Chuck Bender, and Bender was suited up for his THIRD game of the night, standing in for Purple’s Will Heinl. Of course, the return of Owen Perks and The Vick Boys™ to the lineup didn’t hurt Purple’s cause, either, and given that Red’s last line of defense is the presumed top of the Summer season crop (Nick Meglich), firepower would be at a premium in this match. Both sides showed some of that firepower in the first, with Owen Perks firing first for Purple at 6:41 (Shawna Hamon & Tim Vick), and equally big gun, Hima Joshi, firing back for Red at 6:04 (Darin Cerasuolo & Captain Gaudio). Hamon would get off the last scoring strike of the first at 0:58 (Trever Vick & Captain Teglia), putting Purple in front heading into the first break. The middle period was all Purple…and mostly Owen Perks. Perks’ second of the game at 5:35 (Trevor Vick) padded Purple’s edge to two, his third at 2:26 (unassisted) pushed the lead to three, and his assist on Trevor Vick’s first of the season at 2:19 gave Purple a complete stranglehold through two. Sean Bathgate (welcome back, Sean!) finally provided a response for Red at 9:17 in the third (Dan Jurgens), but young Grant Goins was quick to respond for Purple at 8:50 (Tyler Winstead & Captain Teglia). The clock quickly became the enemy for Red, and while they did mount a late charge in the form of Cerasuolo’s first of the season at 1:48 (Jurgens) and Mostafa Azab’s first of the season at 0:15, it would be a THIRD WIN ON THE NIGHT for Chuck Bender (19/23), outdueling Nick Meglich (29/35) to pace Purple to a 6-3 win. I mean…standing ovation, folks…Bender has always been a selfless volunteer for this league, but staying suited up for three straight games is a huge help…and managing to win all three games is a huge feat! THANK YOU, CHUCK!