Thursday, March 27, 2008

Raider's upset SVCU 3-1...

This was not the pre-tourney warm up that SVCU had in mind. Playing the majority of the evening in their own end, SVCU was once again badly out played by the Swan River Raiders. Caught flat footed for most of the contest, SVCU struggled to gain puck possession in either end of the arena. Stand out goaltender Mike "Smitty" Smith was tested early and often , and made numerous key saves that kept the game close. Receiving very little help from the front end, the defensive trio of Craig "Zammer" Zamzow, Brain "Barnes" Minish and Evan "Man Boy" Morden battled diligently all night long. One other bright spot in this sordid affair was the play of Craig "Zammer" Zamzow. The big bruising defence man made countless rushes and assisted on the lone marker scored by Minish. Showing no signs of a recent back injury, the dangling D-man seems to have found his stride again. Hopefully the same will hold true for the rest of the SVCU squad come tourney time.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

SVCU Bounce Back ... 10-3 win over RCMP...

Doing what they do best, SVCU used their speed and quick puck movement, to hand the RCMP a 10 -3 loss. Jeff "Skinny " Knight led all SVCU scorers with four goals . Matching Marvin "Sniper" Clarkson's Dipsy Doodling step for step, the shifty forward seems to be finding his stride at just the right time. Badly out shooting the opposition, countless shots finding the iron, left many SVCU forwards frustrated and dumbfounded. Mike "Smitty" Smith although not overly worked , made the big save when called upon. With their annual Spring Tourney only weeks away, SVCU seems to be heading in the right direction. The countless hours of dry land training, the well thought out game scheduling, all part of a season of preparation as defending Champions , will soon be put to the test...

Friday, March 14, 2008

3-2 Loss to Raider's humbles SVCU... Mike "Smitty" Smith joins an elite group..




Perhaps it was the full roster, perhaps it was the week long lay off, whatever the reason SVCU seemed to have taken the night off. . If not for the almost flawless performance by net minder Mike "No Look " Smith, the game would have been over after 30 minutes. From the opening face off, the Raider's were all over SVCU, out skating, out shooting, out working, and eventually out scoring. Smith , making one big save after another, held the Raider onslaught to 2, allowing SVCU to score and get themselves back into the game. Opening the scoring on a quick shot off the draw, Randy "Knees" Matekia showed mid season form , on this his first outing in almost two years. Finding new life, SVCU took control of the game in the later stages and knotted up the score on a "seeing eye dog" shot to the top corner by Warren "Wheels" Gray. Pressing for the go ahead goal in the final minutes, SVCU turned the puck over in the neutral zone , forcing goaltender Mike Smith to rush out of the net and make a "no look" pass onto the stick of a fore checking Raider, who promptly deposited the puck into the open net. SVCU has but two weeks to prepare themselves for their season ending Tournament, will they rise to the occasion, only time will tell.....

Thursday, March 6, 2008

SVCU Chip by Loggers 4-3...

With three of SVCU's top sniper's out of the lineup veterans Gary "Duke" Kennedy and Dennis "Surgeon" Bowles responded to the challenge. Showing the passion and drive of a forty something, Kennedy single handily accounted for half of the SVCU offense. "Duke" opened the scoring for SVCU when he blew by a startled Logger defender, walked in and "roof daddied" a wrist shot over the shoulder of the motionless netminder. Not stopping there, Kennedy sealed the deal by hacking and whacking a loose puck into the net in the final minutes of the game. Not to be outdone , Bowles found the back of the net on a pretty give and go play. Warren "New Guy" Clark opened the scoring with a gritty " go to the net" goal that seemed to give SVCU a bit of life. The "Zamzow Brothers" reunited once again on the blueline played a very stay at home game. Picked up as two free agents for an up and coming "over the hill" (55+) tournament in Victoria , both Kennedy and Bowles will not be lacing up with SVCU at their anuual Spring Tourney. Playing the best hockey of their storied careers, one can only surmise that the " tenacious two " are not sure that a roster spot will be handed to them come next fall. Next action for SVCU will be Wednesday night when the do battle with they Swan River Raider's. Should be a good one.