WINTER 2012 SEASON RESULTS
In the very close race for the Copper playoff spots, where it came down to the last game of the season to determine the playoff teams, the Violators were just 2 points from not even qualifying for 1 of the 4 playoff spots. Finishing a mere 1 point ahead of 3rd and 4th place to claim 2nd place in the regular season, the Violators snapped off the Slap Shot team 3-2 in the semi final game to face off against the Magic Dragons, who not until the 2nd to last game of the season, were not even in a playoff spot. The Magic Dragons upset the Blue Meanies who went wire to wire to finish in 1st place in the regular season, 4-1 in their semi final match up. This set up a Violator vs Magic Dragon showdown. In game 1, the Violators scored 4 times in the 3rd period to breakaway from the Magic Dragons and win easily, 7-2, on a hat trick from Jon Glass. In game 2, looking to even up the series, the Magic Dragons came out breathing fire with Mark Juncosa scoring 3 goals in the 1st period. The Violators were not about to give up and scored the last 3 goals of the game and tied it 4-4 at the end of regulation. The 5 minute overtime didn’t produce a winner, so a shoot out is what stood in the way of the Violators claiming a Championship. After exchanging goals in the 1st round, we went to sudden death. With the Violators shooting first, Steve Peng scored for the Violators and that left it all in the hands of goaltender James McGhee. The Magic Dragons could not get that one last shot past McGhee and the Violator completed their quest and claimed their names on the Ice Angeles Cup!
It was a long time coming, but the Jackalopes finally were able to grab a championship. It wasn’t easy though. Coming in as the number 1 seed, the Jackalopes went up against a fiesty Slip and Fall team. Though Slip and fall was seeded 4th, that didn’t stop their confidence going up against the Jackalopes. It was a tough battle both ways, and it could have gone either way, but in the end, the Jackalopes emerged with a narrow 4-3 victory. In the 2nd vs 3rd bout between #2 Redrum and #3 Leafs, you could not have asked for a more exciting game. After 2 periods, the score was tied at 3. The teams exchaged goals in the 3rd with the Leafs taking a 5-4 lead midway through the 3rd and into the last minute of play. With the Redrum goalie Brian Folks pulled, Kevin Flattery put the puck past Leaf goaltender, Warren Hayes and tied the game with 11 seconds left in regulation! The 5 minute overtime did not resolve anything, so a shoot out would have to. And both goalies took center stage! 13 rounds, yes, 13 rounds and both netminders stopping all 13 attempts, until Kevin Flattery repeated his heroics and finally got a puck past Warren Hayes in the 14th round. But all the pressure was now on goaltender, Brian Folks, who came up with the biggest save of the game, sending Redrum into the Finals. The Jackalopes confidently took game 1, 6-4. But Redrum came back and forced game 3 with a close 6-5 victory at the hands of Cody Claytons 3rd Period hat trick! Game 3 was all Jackalopes, as they showed why they were the number 1 seed to start with and took home the Ice Angeles Cup with a 5-1 victory.
The Hawks emerged as the Champions of the Upper Bronze division with an exciting series vs the Chiefs. The #1 seed Chiefs easily took care of the #4 seed South Stars, 15-5, as the South Stars had no gas to keep up with the Chiefs. The Hawks were in a tight battle against the Violators through 2 periods, leading 5-4. But the Hawks came out strong, scoring 3 goals in the final period and advancing to meet the Chiefs. This Championship series was the closest series of them all. Two teams with a history, came out and gave the crowd what they expected, with 1 goal deciding each game! Game 1 was a little unorthodox, as the Chiefs came out on fire, scoring 4 unanswered goals, and leading 4-0 half way through the game. But, the Hawks said it was their turn and scored 5 unanswered goals of their own, with the last one from Ed Mederios with 1 minute left in regulation, giving the Hawks a 5-4 win. Game 2 again was again dominated by the Chiefs in the early going, getting 5 goals in the 1st period, but this time hung on for a 6-5 victory to force game 3 on a 4 goal night by Joe Alexander. Another early Chief lead through 2 periods, 3-1, put them 20 minutes from another championship. But wait, in Hawk fashion, they got the 2 goals needed to net them a tie in regulation, 3-3. So on to overtime to decide the Upper Bronze Champs. With just a tad over 1 minute left in the overtime period, Ed Mederios took a shot on his off hand and bad angle and put the puck through the only opening he had, just over the left shoulder of Chief goaltender, Carl Diamond, and into the upper right corner of the goal, sending the Hawks into a 4-3 overtime game 3 frenzy!
In the Silver division, the Angry Dolphins emerged with a game 3 victory against Monkey Time to take home the Ice Angeles Cup, but not without controversy. With the #3 seed Kings up against #2 Monkey Time, Monkey Time didn’t monkey around and took the semi game 5-2 to face the always tough Angry Dolphins. The Angry Dolphins took game 1 with a dominating 5-2 win. As the clock sounded to end game 2, the scoreboard showed the Angry Dolphins victorious, and the Cup was handed over to them to celebrate. But wait, it was revealed the Angry Dolphins had a non rostered player and the victory was given to Monkey Time! So now Monkey Time looked to take advantage of this opportunity and pull an upset. But the Angry Dolphins showed who was boss and it was never really close, as they again were handed the Cup for their victory to close the book.
