Week One of playoff action kicked off with the closest of playoff seeds in the closest of contests. This was also a battle between two teams with the most ridiculously wordy names, as Captain Arnold Gonzales’ ‘Canadian Moun-Theis Of Navy Scotia’ entered as the four seed to face Captain Ian Crooks’ fifth-seeded ‘Black Bacon, Trancakes & Mabel Syrup’. A scoreless first saw Chris Tran stop all THIRTEEN Navy shots, while the five seed managed just three balls batted at Alex Theis. The shots were a bit more even in the second, and Black found a way to un-even the score, as the regular season scoring co-champ and Young Canuck™ super stud, Brennan Abel, made it 1-0 Black with 2:01 to play in the middle frame. Joe Nguyen re-evened things midway through the third, finally solving Tran, with assists to Jim LaGrossa and Nick Vacchio. The 1-1 tie looked likely to last through regulation, but Josh Wirt gave the game-winner a good home with just 1:07 remaining, sending Black to the Losers’ Bracket track with a 2-1 *yoink* job. Rarely does a player from the losing side earn the top star of the game, but Tran (33/35) was the real story of this game…a story with a sad ending for Black. Theis (19/20) was no slouch at the other end, deserving a healthy serving of credit for keeping his team in it from start to finish. Navy move on to face top-seeded Green, while Black look to stave off elimination against bottom-seeded Purple, as Week Two action ratchets up the stakes…

Captain Brandon Olsen and ‘Nickelbackcheck’ snatched headlines in Week One by becoming the only lower seed to prevail. The six seeds upended third-seeded Red in a laugher-turned-nail biter for the ages. Grey showed incredible scoring depth in this one, with no one player scoring more than once, and two of their goals coming from rather unlikely sources. The first such surprise came courtesy of Phil Nguyen, who cashed in a Kevin Dinino assist at 0:52 in the first to put Grey in front. That lead lasted just sixteen seconds, though, as The Gaudio Boys™ were there with a lightning quick response (Joe from Rob). It was a more customary combo putting Grey back on top in the second…Alexis DaCosta from Eric Herrmann, but the third period shifted back to ‘variety is the spice of life’ mode. Marc Lapointe scored his first of the season (indeed, his first point of the season) just 0:31 into the third, and Captain Brandon Olsen and Eric Herrmann quickly followed to build the lead to 5-1 in Grey’s favor. Red did not earn a top three regular season finish by lying down when losing, though, and Captain Rob converted on the power play at 5:41 (from brother Joe, of course) to spark a heroic comeback. Craig Russell decided that one ‘first goal of the season’ deserved another, matching Lapointe’s effort, and cutting the lead to 5-3 at 3:41. Nick Meglich (14/18) weathered the storm well, but Joe Gaudio whitened Grey knuckles even further with his second of the game with just 0:16 remaining. Meglich and Grey would hold on to win 5-4, bouncing the three seed to the lower decks, and setting up a showdown with second-seeded White. Don Tran (18/23) suffered the loss…just his second in nine outing this season, and Red will now need to fight for their playoff lives against a scrappy Neon side.

There was certainly no tension or drama in the top v bottom match, as Captain Jon Champine and ‘JOntario’ shook, rattled, and rolled over Captain Matt Rogers and ‘The Grape Ones’ in a laugher-turned-even bigger laugher. Josh Tran, Gary Peters, and Zach Siemer each pumped home goals to put the top seed in the driver’s seat 3-0 after one. Jon Salt joined the scoring parade on the power play early in the second, before Emily Bennington (filling in for the AWOL Gladys Balderas) finally answered for Purple. The flood gates opened for Green in the third, as Salt, Justin Ker, John Hwang, and Salt again bloated the board to an 8-1 ‘stop the fight’ final. Eric Willard collected three assists in the win, which saw EVERY player on Green make the score sheet (including Pat Gladstone, who filled into for Kim Hernandez)…Captain Champine made it by virtue of taking a penalty, but who’s counting? Silas Perks (19/20) was steady as ever, having actually faced more shots in the win than Chris Malki (9/17) did in the loss. Green move on to face Navy this Sunday…the same Navy who defeated them 3-1 in Week Four. Purple will need a MUCH better effort Black in the Week Two early game if they hope to live to see another Sunday.

The nightcap was well in line with game two in Week One, but this time it was the favorites building a big lead, then holding on to secure the win. Captain Tomáš Jankovic put White in front late in the first, with Jeff Henderson on the helper. Jankovic’s crew broke the game open in the second, with goals from Zach Salt, Kyra Forsyth, and Rich Shane ballooning the lead to 4-0. Forsyth was actually a fill-in, with both Sally Jackson and Shelby Shattuck out of the lineup, but her goal would stand as the game-winner, after Neon woke up and fought back in the third. Rob Lavigne broke the scoring drought for Neon with 7:00 to play, and when David Schlatter followed suit just twelve seconds later, the door was open for a swift and stunning comeback form the seven seeds. Matt Henderson (22/24) decided that enough was enough, though, as the injury plagued backstop snuffed out the Neon coup, and held the fort to preserve the 4-2 win for White. Sean Kelly (18/22) suffered the loss, and may now officially be having and ‘off’ season…by Da Kid standards. He will need to be in top form, and/or Captain Luke Wolmer & Company will need to find more scoring as they face a tough Red side in the Loser’s Bracket this Sunday. White move on to face an upstart Grey, whom they nipped 3-2 back in Week Six of regular season play.

“OAT, OAT…and STAY OAT!” I am paraphrasing here, but these words were overheard on Sunday, as Gold and Blue were officially sent packing from the playoff picture. The remaining eight teams have nothing to lose (nor gain) in the final Sunday of regular season play, save positioning, pride, and the plumping of personal points.

I don’t believe anyone bothered to do the math, but it’s entirely possible that Blue’s playoff hopes were already cement-shoed coming into Week Eight. With zero wins and just one point to show for seven games, the blast doors were closing, if not already closed. Still, Captain Chuck Bender and the gang were all present, accounted for, and ready to play with/for pride, if nothing else, against a hit or miss Grey side. Eric Herrmann has a penchant for pile driving pride, and ripping out throats and hearts, and he got all of that glorious gore underway early in this one. Goals at 8:46 and 7:18 had Grey up 2-0, and the bloodbath looked to be coming to a boil before Blue had even completed a second line change. But lo…a spark…the aforementioned Blue pride fueled a spirited comeback, with John Boddy and Vance Morra rising up to level the score through one period of play. Captain Brandon Olsen wrested the lead back for Grey midway through the second, only to have Blue’s unsung hero, Weston Nawrocki, nip and tuck home his fourth of the season to knot the score at 3-3 through two. Remember Eric Herrmann…from earlier in this paragraph…pile driver of pride…remover of throats and hearts? Well, Herrmann is as Herrmann does, and Herrmann did Blue in for good at 5:51 in the third…completing the hat trick, producing the 4-3 win for Grey, and officially (super officially) putting Blue out of their season-long misery. Nick Meglich (20/23) was steady as ever, but did get some help from the iron in surviving a furious late push from Blue. Chuck Bender (23/27) was tagged with yet another loss, but he and his mates can take solace in the fact that the suffering is nearly at an end…

Black and Red rolled into Week Eight with playoff passports already stamped, just looking to tune up against like-caliber competition, and maintain or improve their respective playoff seeds. Young Canuck™, Brennan Abel, finally yoinked Black’s goal scoring crown from early season scoring stalwart, Carl Vankoughnett, notching his ninth of the season (from Vankoughnett, of course) late in the first to put Black in front. Veteran Joel Gattey brought Red level with his first of the season in the second, leaving the outcome very much outstanding going into the final frame. Chris Tran (22/24) and Don Tran fill-in, Nick Meglich (31/33), kept their dynamic duel going late into the third, when Captain Rob Gaudio finally broke through and broke the tie for Red at 2:51 (from brother Joe…who else). Just when a Red win seemed signed and sealed, Captain Rob’s counterpart stood and delivered. It was the first of the year for Captain Ian Crooks, and it came with 0:19 remaining, preserving 2-2 tie, and preventing Red from keeping pace with Green and White in the regular season points race. The one point leaves both teams ‘in place’, but Navy’s win later in the evening actually moves them ahead of Black on head-to-head going into the final week of play. Red still have a chance to capture the top playoff spot with a win over playoff flotsam, Gold, along with losses for Green and White. Black can climb as high as two, and fall as low as six, but…odds are they will remain at four or five, meaning they will likely face Navy in Week One of playoff action.

A late season matchup between two top teams is already charged enough, but add in that it happens to be the Battle Of The Salt Bros™, and well…hot ticket. As with Red v Black, playoff placement has not been in the peril for Green and White for at least a month, so this one was all about pride, bragging rights, and sowing seeds for a second season rematch. The elder Salt had the first laugh in this one, scoring an unassisted goal just one minute and one second in. White would respond in the second, with Justin Stege drawing his team level at 6:50, and little Salt Bro™, Zach, putting White on top 2-1 on the power play later in the period. The third period belonged to Jon Salt, as he smacked Zach and company with the game-tying and game-winning goals at 3:54 and 1:31. The 3-2 win for Green sets up an intriguing rematch, which seems all but guaranteed to be in our future. The fate of both teams, and the Salt’s Thanksgiving table smack talk trajectory hangs in the balance. Silas Perks picked up his league-leading fifth win with a 12/14 showing, while Alex Theis (15/18) did all he could in a loss (White’s first of the season!) in place of the (still) injured Matt Henderson. The win finds Green in sole possession of first place at 6-2-0, but the final seeding will come down to the final week of play. White (5-1-2), can claim the top spot with a win over Neon, and a Green non-win, while Green will look to tune up for the playoffs in the best way possible…by beating Purple. A win over Purple this Sunday ensures that Green will face…Purple in the first round.

Captain Arnold Gonzales and his Mounties entered Week Eight looking to rebound from a stunning loss to Purple, and generally regain their swagger after having lost two of their previous three games. Neon came in also having dropped two of three, with that one win coming at the elimination expense of Gold. A win for either team would mean a solid chance to finish the season in the top half of the playoff bracket, while a loss would do damage to little beyond pride. David Schlatter put Neon in front early in the first, and put his team back in front late, after a Josh Wirt strike had evened the score. Jim LaGrossa drew Navy level again with the lone goal for either side in the second, with Captain Gonzales and Mark Nagy collecting assists. It was Schlatter, this time short-handed, putting Neon out front early in the third, put Nagy answered with his first goal of the night, then chalked up his third assist of the night on LaGrossa’s game-winner with 1:56 to play. Alex Theis (18/21) backstopped the 4-3 Navy win, while Silas Perks (13/17) did his best Sean Kelly impersonation to no avail in the Neon loss. Neon can now rise no higher than sixth with a win over White in Week Nine, while a loss puts them in jeopardy of falling to the bottom seed. A win for Navy in their finale versus Grey, and some (frankly, highly unlikely) help could push them as high as the three seed, while the lowest they may fall is the six spot.

The marquee game came in the Week Eight night cap, with Purple and Gold facing off with all of the playoff marbles at stake. Well, not quite all the marbles, as a Purple win would take all, while a tie, or a Gold win would push the determination of both teams’ fates to the final week of play. A scoreless first period ratcheted up the tension a notch, with both teams finding opportunity, but no results early. Young Canuck™, Kalen Hunter, decided it was (once again) his time to shine, as the skilled, speedy forward struck gold first for Purple early in the second, then struck second later in the period. The 2-0 lead would hold, as Chris Malki (17/17) chose the perfect time to have a perfect game…his first career shutout, and a sparkling, season-saving performance. His boy, Joe, added the empty net icing on the 3-0 Purple win, with Nick Vacchio (30/32) doing all he could and more in vain in a sub role for the (still) injured Captain Parsa Mostafavi. The loss was the final nail in an already lived-in Gold coffin, while the win pulled the nose of the Purple plane up just in time to avoid a messy mountainside meeting. While there is almost no real benefit to be gained for Purple from what would be a colossal upset win over Green (the potential to move up from eighth to seventh) in their regular season wrap, it would be something of a statement. A loss to Green, and they will have an insta-rematch with Captain Jon Champine’s squad in the first week of playoff action. For Gold, they will play out the string along with fellow playoff castoffs, Blue, just looking to have some fun and avoid injury against Red this Sunday.

‘The Grape Ones’ moved north of the playoff border in Week Seven after mounting a big second period to push past the ‘Mounties’. Meanwhile, Gold is still struggling to secure safe passage to playoff pastures, while Blue has all but officially been bounced, as we enter the penultimate week of play…

Captain Chuck Bender and his Blue crew have had a tough go of it this season. Lava is hot. With examples of gross understatements out of the way, we turn to review the tilt between two teams on opposite poles of the SDFHL standings. Blue entered Week Seven with no wins, and nothing but sheer desperation at their disposal, while White brought losslessness, and the league’s (runaway) leading scorer, Zach Salt. Weston Nawrocki touched off a career night with the first goal of the game for Blue, but White Captain, Tomáš Jankovic, would not allow Blue to escape the first period with a lead. The captain followed his last minute first period tally with the primary assist on Shelby Shattuck’s first of the season early in the second, and the ‘proper’ pecking order was reestablished, with White on top 2-1. Nawrocki’s noteworthy night picked up at that point, as the veteran converted a pair of John Boddy passes into parts two and three of a heroic hat trick to put Blue back in front, 3-2. To say ‘that lead would be short-lived’ would be the third gross understatement of this recap, as Zach Salt brought White back to even footing just 0:13 later. The third period wore on, with Blue pushing for the season-saving win, and White calmly rebuffing the challenger. Math being what it is, it was just a matter of time before White delivered the devastating knockout blow…Zach Salt again…1:10 to go…White over Blue, 4-3. That same unforgiving math has Blue all but officially eliminated from post season consideration. If they win their remaining two games, and get some help, they may have hope, but…yeah…not going to happen. The win has White in sole possession of first with two games to play. They face their closest competition in the Battle Of The Salt Bros™ this Sunday.

The stars shone brightly on both sides of the ball in the second game of the Week Seven slate, as eleven shots found twine in a wild and wonderful monochromatic match between Grey and Black. Alexis DaCosta put Grey on the board at 3:24 in the first, and (clock be damned), THREE more goals were scored between that strike and the buzzer. Brennan Abel notched his first of four on the night to level the score, but a pair of Eric Herrmann hammers at 2:12 and 0:38 had the underdogs on top 3-1 through one. Abel’s second early in the second cut the lead to 3-2, but newcomer, Tim Helmbrecht, potted a pair (to match his pair of first period helpers) to build the lead to 5-2. Abel’s third made it 5-3, but…DaCosta and Herrmann again…7-3, through two. Abel found a fourth in the third, but he and his mates were un-Abel to undo the DaCosta/Herrmann damage…7-4 Grey over Black. If you’re scoring at home (or, if you clicked on the link to the box score, that’s: Herrmann 3 & 2, DaCosta 2 & 4, Helmbrecht 2 & 2, and Abel 4 & 0. I’m not sure either goalie wants a shout out on this one, but Nick Meglich (31/35) did best Chris Tran (28/35) to help his team to an important third win, which all but assures them a playoff berth. Captain Ian Crooks and Black have dropped two in a row, but remain firmly entrenched in the playoff picture at 4-2-1. They face another big test in Red this Sunday, while Grey have the ‘bye week that still earns you points’ against Blue in Week Eight.

Captain Matt Rogers and ‘The Grape Ones’ (I got tired of waiting for a name), will likely look back at Week Seven as the Sunday that saved their season. Entering at 0-4-2, and facing a tough and talented Navy side (3-1-2), it was crucial that Purple find their way to at least a point heading into the final two weeks of play. A scoreless first, and a 5-1 shot total in their favor, had Purple standing tall, in spite of a very short bench (missing Russell, Balderas, Northrup, Wirth, and Winstead). Navy was missing players, too…their two biggest weapons in Josh Wirt and Nick Vacchio, but they were not missing Jim LaGrossa (not too shabby as a ‘third weapon’) ], who put Navy on the board first at 5:56 in the second. Enter Kalen Hunter, the Young Canuck™ star who has carried the goal scoring torch for Purple this season. Hunter evened the score just 0:13 after LaGrossa’s goal, then made it 3-1 Purple, after assisting on Captain Rogers’ game-winner. Joe Nguyen capped the three and a half minute scoring flurry to leave the ledger at 3-2 Purple through two, and a lonely Joe Malki empty-netter was the only other action in the 4-2 upset win…Purple over Navy. Chris Malki (9/11) earned his first career win in nets (CONGRATULATIONS!), while Alex Theis (25/27) ate a rare loss in the face of a lopsided shot count and a motivated opponent. Purple are not out of the woods yet, with a MASSIVE game against cut line cousins, Gold, on the slate for Week Eight. Navy are already a lock for the playoffs, but will look to maintain (or improve) their playoff standing in a showdown with ‘Celine Neon’.

It was ‘Marquee Matchup’ time, as 5-1-0 Green strutted to the surface to face the 4-0-2 Red in Week Seven. Both teams have the record and the resources to go all the way this season, and this first meeting will not likely be the last. Gary Peters made Red pay on the powerplay, scoring his second of the season at 1:11 to give Green the early edge. Brian Sheptycki dulled that edge at 3:44 in the second, but Eric Willard sharpened it back up to put Green ahead 2-1 through two. Jon Salt doubled the lead with his dirty dozenth of the season, before Captain Rob Gaudio brought the margin back to one less than a minute later. Josh Tran sealed the deal with his first of the season with 3:50 to play, and Chuck Bender (13/15) would hold on the rest of the way to earn his surrogate side a win. Don Tran (17/21) absorbed the 4-2 loss for Red…their first of the season. Both teams are high and dry in the playoff standings, both with ten points, and both with a chance of snatching the top spot with a good showing in their final two games. Green will face White in the Battle Of The Salt Bros™, while Red will hope to keep pace in the top seed race against a slumping Black side.

Captain Mostafavi has had to watch from the bench as his team struggles to survive the regular season. With their only win coming against a woeful Blue, they cannot be brimming with confidence against the other eight teams in the league. Still, they entered Week Seven with the playoff door still very much open, and with an opportunity to make a major leap in the right direction against ‘Celine Neon’. A win would have them at 2-4-1, out from under the cut line, and holding an important head to head tie breaker over Neon with just two weeks to play. A loss, and their path to the second season would be that much further in peril. Captain Luke Wolmer drove a short handed dagger into Gold in the first, and Chris Grote’s career first (CONGRATULATIONS!) made it 2-0 heading to the second. Jon Zygelman cut the lead in half with the only goal of the second period, and the scene was set for a heroic, come-from-behind finish for Gold…or not. Will Heinl drained any lingering drama with a goal at 1:21, as Neon snuffed out Gold (possibly for good), 3-1. The win, backstopped by a stellar sub turn from Don Tran (22/23), moves Neon to playoff safety at 3-3-1, while the loss, suffered by Chuck Bender (18/21) in Mostafavi’s stead, pushes Gold to the brink of elimination with two games to play. The silver lining for Gold…they will get their captain back this Sunday, and they control their own fate in a serendipitous showdown with Purple. A win will not completely lock them in, but suffice it to say that the stakes are elimination-caliber in this one for both sides.

Last week’s cover team kept the hits coming, and the heat on, moving into a tie with Red for the top slot in the standings with a wet and wild 3-2 win over Grey. The ‘wet’ came courtesy of Mother Nature, who up and decided that the area needed roughly seven minutes of rain after two periods of play. A sizable delay featuring plenty of sopping and squeegeeing brought the court back to a usable state. To that point, White had built a 2-1 lead on the back of…who else, Zach Salt. Salt scored midway through the first (from Andrew Wong), and again at almost the very same time in the second (from Justin Stege). Phil Nguyen responded for Grey late in the second (from Kevin Dinino and Pat Gladstone), then the skies opened up. Unfortunately for Grey, the rain delay swept away their leading scorer, Alexis DaCosta. Play resumed, and White reassumed their two goal lead on Justin Stege’s third in as many games. Tim Helmbrecht, who joined Grey to replace the injured Matt Gottfried, paid immediate dividends, cutting the lead back to one less than a minute later, but super sub, Chris Tran (15/17), kept White winning, and left Grey high and (mostly) dry. Nick Meglich (23/25) soaked up the loss, which leaves both his personal record and his team’s at 2-4-0…just hovering above the cut line with three games to go.

Captain Arnold Gonzales and Navy came into Week Six having lost their first game of the season to White the week prior. Black strutted in with an empty loss column, having finally discovered some scoring depth and diversity the week prior in a 6-2 punishing of Purple. The two dark sides put on quite the display in the first period of their meeting, with usual suspects, Carl Vankoughnett and Brennan Abel, putting Black up 2-0 in the opening minutes, and Navy roaring back to snatch the lead with Josh Wirt scoring first and third, and Nick Vacchio providing the creamy middle. Alex Theis (23/25) kept Black at bay the rest of the way. while Joe Nguyen and Jim LaGrossa added to the winning cause, as Navy sailed away with a big 5-2 win. Chris Tran (20/25) maintains very impressive numbers, in spite of the five spot L, and Black certainly still pass the eye test as a top competitor. Still, it is an impressive bounce back win for Navy, and something of a statement to the teams above them in the standings. Black will look for their own bounce back win against Grey this Sunday, while Navy hope to further sink Purple’s playoff hopes.

Blue v Gold….the Battle Of The Basement. Two winless teams, hoping to make their way out of a no win situation. Conventional irony would have this one end in a tie, but, alas…not the case. Gold came in having scored just THREE goals in FIVE games, but a game against Blue will cure even the most desperate scoring drought, and that meager total was doubled within one period of play. Ryan Karns and Harsh Wanigaratne scored 0:27 apart to put Gold in front 2-0, before the first of two Vance Morra top shelf laser wristers cut the lead to one. Karns closed the period with another, leaving the score 3-1 in his team’s favor through one. Wanigaratne struck again to build the lead to 4-1 early in the second, but Blue mounted an inspired late period comeback, with a breakaway conversion from Mark DeGraffenreid, and the second top shelf laser wrister from Vance Morra drawing things close at 4-3. Jordan Pynn’s first of the season (let that sink in for a bit) off an offensive zone draw built the lead back to two, and a Mark Ennsmann empty netter meant that ‘My Harsh…’ would ‘…Gold on…’ to their first win of the season, 6-3 over Blue. Combined with Purple’s loss in the night cap (spoiler alert), the lone win (along with their lone tie) is enough to move Gold above the cut line. The loss finds Blue in dead last, with just three games left to play. It is going to take A LOT for Blue to find their way out of this mess, and a Week Seven meeting with first place White is not helping that cause. Gold will hope to preserve their momentum and knock off Neon this Sunday. A second win should put them free and clear, while a loss could spell trouble, as they face standings neighbors, Purple, in Week Eight, and standings toppers, Red, in Week Nine.

Captain Jon Champine and ‘JOntario’ (Green…I know their name has nothing to do with their shirt color…directions are hard) swung into Week Six off the sturdy vine that is a game against Blue. The 8-0 Week Five romp had the offensive juices flowing throughout the ranks, and history tells us that you need your scoring punches popping if you hope to KO the netminding legend that is Sean Kelly. Enter Jon Salt…tucking two past Da Kid in the first period (both primaries to Eric Willard), and completing the hat trick in the third. Justin Ker notched his first career goal in the second (CONGRATULATIONS!), and Silas Perks recorded his second straight shutout win as Green ghosted Neon, 4-0. Kelly (20/24) was not not sharp, but still suffered the loss, and Neon still find themselves safe-ish at 2-3-1 going into the final third of the season. A win over Gold this Sunday would almost certainly punch their ticket, but even a loss would not be deadly, what with Purple and Blue still wallowing in the depths of the standings. The win propels Green into a striking distance of the top spot at 4-2-0, and (amazingly enough), they can pass their Week Seven opponent, Red, should they find a way to prevail for a third straight week.

Captain Rob Gaudio was north of the border in Week Six, but his ‘Robby Reddy Piper’ took care of business against Purple in his absence. Fellow Canadian, Brian Sheptycki, put Red on the board first in the first, but Young Canuck™, Kalen Hunter, struck back with just 0:24 to go in the period. It was Sheptycki again on the powerplay (from Joe Gaudio) to regain the lead in the second, then an early third period strike from Dan Jurgens to account for the game-winner. Kalen Hunter’s second of the game provided that ‘game-winner’ designation to Jurgens’ goal, and Jurgens added an empty netter at 0:22 to seal the deal, 4-2 Red over Purple. The loss is especially hard to swallow for Purple, as it lands them below the playoff cutline at 0-4-2, sharing that sad space with the only other winless team, Blue. Purple has Navy this Sunday (ouch), and Green in Week Nine (ouch), but Gold in Week Eight (hmmm). That game may be their only hope at playoff redemption. Red, meanwhile, have already booked playoff passage, and will use their final three games, starting this Sunday against Green, as a tune up/test to preserve their lofty seed.