The Squirrels brought their “A” game to the rink and put forth a total team effort for a very satisfying win against a strong Heineken Light team. Coming into the game, the Squirrels were 4 points back of Heineken Light and in a 2-way tie for 4th place in the Bronze 2 Division. With the win, they now sit in a 2-way tie for 3rd in the Division with next week’s opponent, the Bullets, and only 2 points behind Heineken Light.

The Squirrels held a 2-1 lead after the 1st period on the strength of goals by Rob Myers and Charles Wolstein sandwiched around a goal for Heineken Light by Justin Sybenga. Myers’ goal was his 4th of the season while Wolstein broke his season long goal scoring drought to pot his 1st.

An early 2nd period goal by Brent Machado, his team leading 9th of the season, gave the Squirrels a bit more breathing room before Heineken Light’s leading scorer, Drake Deming, got his team back within 1 with a well placed wrist shot, beating goalie Eric Coulson glove side. Meanwhile, Heineken Light goalie, Jason Brodnax made some keys saves to keep his mates within striking distance.

With the score 3-2 to start the 3rd period, the teams battled back and forth with chances generated in both ends. Machado scored his 2nd of the game and 10th of the season to re-establish the 2 goal cushion for the Squirrels and it would end up being the game winner. Deming was able to bring his team back to within 1 once more with another blistering wrist shot that beat Coulson 5-hole, but the Squirrels defense denied any more quality scoring chances.  Myers scored his 2nd goal into the empty net to seal the win.

Coulson ended the night with 24 saves, assists were credited to “Biker” Bob Valdes (2), Donnie “shoots it wide” Marks, Chi “???” Pham, Jeff “Look ma! No penalties tonight” Bobeck, and Jason Nehmer “Esq.” and Ben “can’t feel his legs” Sumner suffered 2 debilitating calf muscle cramps. A collection will be started to replace his wonky calf muscles with bionic ones.

Next up for the Squirrels is a battle with the Bullets on Wednesday, February 16th, at 10:10PM on the Resor rink.

After the Squirrels jumped out to an early lead, Heineken Light scored two unanswered before a 3rd period marker from Brent Machado tied the game, allowing the Squirrels to secure a standings point.

Defenseman Don(nie) Marks opened the scoring for the Squirrels after his blast from the point found the top corner of the net. The seeing eye shot came after a nice play down below the goal line and some quality traffic in front by one or more Squirrels forwards. Heineken Light goalie J. Brodnax likely didn’t even see the shot until it was too late.

Heineken Light would answer later in the period with a goal from defenseman D. Deming. After gaining the zone on an end-to-end rush, Deming ripped a slap shot from just inside the blue line, then beat the defense to the juicy rebound and buried it along the ice and underneath goalie Eric Coulson.

The two teams would trade chances throughout the 2nd period. Defenseman Charles Wolstein had a wonderful offensive rush up the ice, beating at least 2 Heineken Light forwards along the boards and feeding a great cross-ice pass inside the offensive zone to a rushing Tony Richelsen. Unfortuantely, “T” could not bury the wrist shot, instead ringing it off the cross bar. The Squirrels were fortunate to get a few quick whistles to stop play as well as avoiding a goal against when a puck that almost squeaked across the goal line was swept out by an alert Donnie Marks.

Heineken Light broke the 1-1 deadlock with a power play goal late in the 2nd period. Playing in his next to last game as a Screaming Squirrel, defenseman Kyle Gassert committed what he he would surely call a boneheaded turnover in between the circles in his own zone while the Squirrels were on the penalty kill. J. Sybenga of Heineken Light corralled the loose puck, put a quick wrist shot on goal, and teammate M. Jenkins slid the rebound past a diving Eric Coulson.

But the Squirrels would not be deflated after giving up a late goal in the period. They came out in the 3rd with determination and created multiple chances by disturbing the Heineken Light breakouts. Machado’s game tying goal came on just such a play. “The Flying Fin” Tero Moberg was forechecking aggressively and was able to get his stick on an attempted breakout pass, deadening the puck in the high circle. Machado was in the right place at the right time, quickly pulled the puck to his forehand, and ripped a low wrister that beat Brodnax along the ice.

All in all, a well played, although sloppy at times, game for the Squirrels who, thankfully for this game, were able to enjoy some post game cold beers. Thanks Rob!! Speaking of Rob, who came out for the pre-game skate to test his injured back, brought the beer for his teammates, but didn’t stick around to see the end of the game, the quote of the night which must be captured for posterity’s sake goes to Donnie Marks. Regarding Rob’s bringing the beer then leaving before the end of the game, Ben Sumner complained, “How would you all like it if I brought beer then left early!?” To which Donnie responded, “That would be f–king awesome!” Good times.

With a relatively short bench, the Screaming Squirrels posted a 5-3 victory against Heineken Light on Saturday. The Squirrels took a 2-0 lead in the first period before Heineken tied it up early in the second. The Squirrels then scored three straight and held on for the victory. Tony Richelsen, Kyle Gassert, Rob Myers, Chi Pham and Tero Moberg scored for the Squirrels, who improved to 14-1.