Whither the Weasels?

Weasels fall to the Blue Dogs 6-3 (mercy rule invoked)

By R. Inkrat, Toronto Globe & Mail

republished by permission

FALMOUTH, MAINE, AUGUST 15, 2011 - Are the once high flying Golden Weasels a mere flash in the Morning Hockey Club pan?  Or are they the team that dominated the Richelieu Cup playoffs only a few short weeks ago?  This is what has everyone in the hockey world buzzing after the Blue Dogs skated to another decisive victory this morning.

Led by two-goal performances by snipers Tim Boardman, Gerry Nadeau, and Tom Golebiewski, and with several others contributing goals, the Blue Dogs jumped to a 3-0 lead and never trailed in this morning's MHC classic matchup.

"I have said all along, the Weasels are a playoff team, period," said veteran ESPN hockey analyst Barry "Mullett" Melrose.  "I would not go quite that far," NESN's Andy Brickley said, while trying to duct tape Jack Edwards' mouth shut.  "But I have to agree, the Weasel team we saw this morning lacked the spark the world saw during the Cup series."

Despite having the famed Richelieu Cup at rinkside, in all its gleaming glory, the Weasels struggled early and failed to breakdown the "Walt Wall" of ace goal keeper, Walt Leland, until well into the second period of play.  Leland was brilliant in the net, stopping almost everything the Weasels could throw at him, and this morning his defensive corps was rock solid in front of him, frustrating Weasel sallies time and again.

Meanwhile, the Blue Dog forwards controlled the flow of play and consistently forechecked and backchecked with energy and skill while peppering Jim Secunde with shots in the Weasel cage.  Secunde did all he could, but even he could not stem the Hound tide.  It is believed the actual score was higher than the 6-3 tally shown on the scoreboard.  MHC Ombudsman Don Simms, a wise public school educator in his other life, saw no need to register any more goals after the Hounds hit six.  He invoked the discretionary MHC "mercy rule" that allows the scorekeeper to withhold the entry of goals when the "self esteem" of the players on the losing side is in danger.  Thus, while it seems likely the Dogs lit the lamp more than 8 or 9 times, who's counting, anyway?

The Weasel highlight of the game was Brian Linscott's perfectly timed tip in on a centering pass, as the wily Gold defender arrived at just the right second to deflect it in.  In doing so, he was imitating several brilliant Dog strikes, including skilled tips by Boardman and Nadeau, the "good hands" people.  Since the scoring was murky it may be hard to tell but Leo Iacopucci and Matt Fitzgerald among others also added Blue Dog tallies and there were probably more.

Linscott remarked in the locker room, while noting he did have a good game, "We are a playoff team.  We're not ashamed of that.  We know when to peak and how to be ready when it counts."

Forward Ryan Foresman, who continues to be a mainstay for the Weasels, picked up the refulgent Richelieu for his week of glory after the contest.  Golebiewski had just come off his week with the Cup (he was a Weasel but now he's a Dog), which doubtless contributed to his inpsred effort today.

Explaining the cancellation of a planned documentary feature on the Weasels by NESN, "I was planning to do a feature on the Weasels and get up close and personal with them in the locker room," admitted Kathryn Tappan.  "But, like, now, I don't know.  They're just so 'then' and the Dogs are the 'now' team." 

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