Squirrels Win Ice Championship! Squirrels 2, Bullets 1

The Screaming Squirrels won their fifth ice championship Thursday, defeating the top-seeded Bullets, 2-1, in the Bronze 2 finals. It was the second consecutive winter season the Squirrels won, though in two different divisions.

The Squirrels caught a huge break in the first period which ultimately decided the game. Only four minutes in, two Bullets took penalties at the same time to give the Squirrels an early 5-on-3. Then, the Bullets took another minor, and the Squirrels cashed in. Don Marks scored on what he called his prettiest one-timer in five years, as his slap shot from the point got through Bullets goalie and sometime-Squirrels sub Adam Hart. Rob Myers scored shortly after.

The Squirrels sat on the 2-goal lead for the rest of the game, as goalie Ryan Griffiths made 24 saves, many under high pressure, to ensure the victory. The Bullets scored on a frantic play with 16 seconds remaining, but it wasn’t enough for them.

During the regular season, the Squirrels had a record of 1-4-1 against the three teams they faced in the playoffs, while ending up a third seed.

The Screaming Squirrels express their gratitude to goalies Ryan Griffiths, who came in as the semi-full time goaltender, Shane Smith, who delivered two clutch playoff wins for the Squirrels, and Adam Hart, who despite losing to the Squirrels in the championship game this year and last year, still subbed for them in those very same seasons.