Game 1
The first game of the night saw the Stray Cats hosting the Tarantulas, and while the final score was a dominant 10-3 victory for the Cats, the excitement level was… well, let’s just say it wasn’t exactly edge-of-your-seat material.
Final Score: Stray Cats 10, Tarantulas 3
Goal Scorers:
For the Stray Cats, the stars of the show were Brian Van Vlymen, who casually notched four goals, and Jake from State Farm on the ice lit up the scoresheet with a hat trick. Captain Andrew Minerd and Mike Mallery added one each, while Brandon Popham chipped in for good measure. On the Tarantulas’ side, Collin iacarella found the back of the net, and their mystery Sub Skater bagged two goals.
The Missing Stats Conundrum:
This may be the 74th season of the SARHL, and somehow, we’re still struggling with keeping score. Word got out after the game that no official stats were recorded, leaving us to rely on the ever-reliable “honor system.” That went about as well as you’d imagine. Malleryhad penciled his name in as an assist on every goal. Not just Cats’ goals, every goal. Even his own. In the end, though, we were left with only the Tarantulas’ assists being counted, both by iacarella.
Penn & Rick Odom’s Absence:
The Tarantulas were missing their fearless captain, Penn, which was clearly a big blow. Seeing Penn’s out of action, Rick Odom decided to sit this one out as well. Both were noticeably absent, but for wildly different reasons. It was a case of “if he’s not going, I’m not going” that left the Tarantulas short both leadership and giggles.
Van Vlymen and Jacob Dominate:
Van Vlymen and Jacob Hernandez made their season debuts for the Stray Cats, and they came in hot. Combining for seven goals and a handful of unrecorded assists (allegedly), the duo completely took over the game and set the tone early. Between Van Vlymen’s finishing touch and Jacob’s knack for finding the back of the net, the Cats cruised to an easy win.
Overall:
To be honest, this game won’t go down as a thriller. A lopsided scoreline, a missing captain/league leadership, and the typical overall confusion the SARHL is known for made this one more of a formality than a highlight reel. But hey, a win’s a win, and the Stray Cats will take it. As for the Tarantulas, there’s always next week.
Game 2
After a comfortable win in the first game of their double-header, the Stray Cats faced a much tougher challenge against the River Sharks, who were looking to avenge last week’s loss. The Sharks pushed the Cats to the brink, but in the end, the Stray Cats squeaked out a 6-5 victory in dramatic fashion.
Final Score: Stray Cats 6, River Sharks 5
Goal Scorers:
For the Stray Cats, goals came from Andrew Minerd, Brandon Popham, Jacob Hernandez, Augie, and Brian Van Vlymen—who, in classic BVV fashion, picked up a late breakaway goal that sealed the game. Since the sixth goal wasn’t officially noted, we gave the credit to Brian, because let’s face it, it was probably his.
The River Sharks saw a standout performance from Junior, who netted a hat trick. Ryan Lewis, fresh off his stint as the secretive and elusive Sub Skater from Game 1, and “Captain J”, Jaiden Hernandez added goals as well, but the Sharks still fell just short.
Game Notes:
The River Sharks came into this game hungry for a win, and they almost pulled it off. Junior, true to form, got the Sharks on the board early with his trademark fast start, but he also trailed off in typical trademark Junior fashion.
For the Stray Cats, Jacob Hernandez and Brian Van Vlymen were clearly feeling the effects of the double-header. They didn’t have quite the same spark that powered them through Game 1, but they still managed to make key plays when it counted. Brian’s late-game heroics, though, came after the Sharks clawed back with a pair of goals in the final minutes, tying the game in the final few minutes.
The game’s decisive moment came on a mad scramble in the Cats’ zone as the Sharks applied relentless pressure, looking to steal the win. But when an errant pass found its way towards Cat’s d-man Mike Mallery, he tipped it straight to Van Vlymen, who broke loose on a breakaway. River Sharks’ goalie Felipe Rodriguez—who had stood on his head all game long—was left to face BVV one-on-one. Despite all of Felipe’s incredible saves, there was no stopping the inevitable, and Van Vlymen coolly buried the Cats’ sixth and game-winning goal with just seconds left.
Final Thoughts:
The Stray Cats move to 3-0, continuing their hot start to the season, while the River Sharks fall to 0-3 in heartbreaking fashion. It’s been a tough start for the Sharks, who just can’t seem to catch a break despite some strong individual performances. With both teams showing they’ve got plenty of fight left, it’ll be interesting to see how they bounce back in the coming weeks.