Sweet as Honey, Badgers 10 Dark Side 8

By R. Inkrat, St. Louis Post Dispatch Hockey Writer

Lineup Changes Produce Spirited Contest

FALMOUTH, MAINE, September 14, 2011 – The Morning Hockey Club Honey Badgers relied on a game winner by Leo “The Lion” Iacopucci (two goals) and a brilliant four-goal performance by sharpshooter Steve Freese to prevail 10-8 over the MHC Blues in regular season action here this morning.

Before the contest the squads were realigned by MHC Ombudsman Don Simms.  He took a lot of grief but his "strategery" proved on target. The contest flowed freely and was characterized by lead changes and even, up and down the ice play.  High flying Dark Side forwards Gerry Nadeau (hat trick), Scott Rheault, Stu Palmer, Travis Philips, and Jason Willey kept up constant pressure on the Gold defense and goal tender Walt “the Wall” Leland, who turned in another outstanding performance in net.

Doug Pocock turned in a Hall of Fame performance, scoring a hat trick early in the game before Gold was barely even on the board, and finishing with four goals of his own in the losing effort for the Blues.  His longer range strikes were beautiful to behold.

Freese also turned in a performance for the books and nearly had a fifth goal.  In addition to Freese’s marvelous maneuvers, Badger skaters Eric Lagios, Matt Fitzgerald, and Ryan Foresman (2 goals) put pressure on the rock solid Darkside defense, anchored by reliable big men Scott Fone and Bryant Field.  Gold gradually found the seams in the back line as the contest went on.  Traded from Gold to Blue, goalie Jim Secunde was stellar as usual in the net.

Peter “Sneaky Pete” Eremita and Frank Cerullo led the gold defense, bolstered by a fine performance by returning veteran and fierce competitor Paul Mullen, whose return after a long absence was welcomed by both clubs.

MHC Notes

In related news, we learned that FBI special agents have closed their investigation into the Secunde fine scandal and that the results will be turned over the United States Attorney’s office in Portland.

Leland continues to amaze in net, and is mobile for a big guy, outracing the speedy Rheault to a 50-50 puck this morning.

Philips turned in his usual flamboyant and spectacular performance despite often being hacked, tripped, and interfered with by Gold defenseman Bryan Dench, who obviously recognized his only chance to slow down the speedy Philips lay in chippy play.