The Screaming Squirrels won the C Division championship Thursday with a 4-2 victory against the Chupacabras. It is the second title in roller hockey for the Squirrels in three years, the first being shared with the Hurricanes because the final game was never played.
The Chupacabaras struck first with a high corner shot over goaltender Bob Sewell’s shoulder. Tony Richelsen then tied the game after regaining the puck along the boards and sending it through a screen.
The Chupacabras took a 2-1 lead on the power play by knocking in a rebound in front of the net. Later in the first period, Kit Watson tied the game on a Squirrels’ power play with a shot from the circle into an open net as the goaltender was flat on the ground.
In the second period, Juan Canchasto battled two opponents for the puck behind the net, going back and forth until he was open, and then sent it out front to Ben Sumner, who tapped it in. Canchasto scored later in the period off of a centering pass from Chris Long, and the Squirrels held on for the win.
Watson, Canchasto, Sumner, Sewell, Long, Tony Richelsen, Desi Richelsen, Don Marks, Ed Bager, Phil Van der Vossen and Matt Borlik played for the Squirrels, who were missing Rob Myers, leading goal-scorer Jeff Ford, Wade Marks and regular goaltender Brian Byrne.
The Squirrels will now shift their focus exclusively to ice hockey, which starts in a week.