RICHELIEU CUP PLAY BEGINS WITH THRILLING 8-8 DRAW

RICHELIEU CUP PLAY BEGINS WITH THRILLING 8-8 DRAW

By R. Inkrat, Special to the Toronto Globe & Mail

FALMOUTH, MAINE, SEPTEMBER 17, 2012 - Bryant Field's shot from the point with less than a minute to play found its way into the goal to give the Morning Hockey Club Gold Honey Badgers (f/k/a Weasels) an 8-8 come from behind draw with the high flying Blue Dogs in the opening tilt of the long awaited Cardinal Richelieu Cup playoffs here today.  Controversy swirled about the game, however, as there were claims of inaccurate scorekeeping and the invocation of a little know rule that may change the outcome to a Badger win.

            Field worked his magic just moments after Dog sharpshooter Matt London had knotted the score at 8 with his third goal of the contest.  Badger sniper Tim Boardman was on fire, scoring four and back checking and fore checking over the entire ice sheet.  The see saw contest saw Blue take the early lead on back to back London markers, only to be tied and eventually to fall behind 7-6 on a Boardman tally.

            The Gold Honey Badgers were missing several key players who unaccountably failed to make it to the arena by game time.  Initially it was feared they were simply late and unable to make it into the Family Ice complex due to traffic and huge crowds.  But that did not turn out to be the explanation.  Gold captain Pete "Little Pete" Eremita was asked after the match whether a special rule applicable only to the Richelieu Cup may have actually called for goals to be added to the Gold tally, which would give them a win.  "I don't know.  I'm not sure," Eremita said sagely.  Both teams were missing key players but Gold was one player short compared to Blue.

            Under Article XXIV, Chapter 17B, Section 202.332, Subsection 202.332-N, Paragraph (a) (vii), Subparagraph K, during Richelieu Cup play only, "if at the drop of the puck the Gold team only shall be less numerous than the Blue team due to unexcused absences of players, then, in such event, there shall be added to the Gold team's final goal tally one (1) goal for each player less than the Blue team taking the ice for Gold during the contest."  The matter is under review by Ombudsman Don Simms.  If applicable the rule could possibly give Gold a 1-0 edge in the series, but as it stands now the draw leaves the squads in a dead heat.  This signals a high level of competition for the future course of the series, especially if both clubs can get their full rosters to the rink.

            Dogged Dog Defenseman Brian Linscott, always good for a memorable observation, thought for a long time when asked whether he had "had a good game."  "I hooked Boardman a couple of times," he said.

 

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