Game 1
Italy 9 – Russia 8
“A Game Neither Team Wanted to Win… Until Someone Accidentally Did.”
Week 6 may have been meaningless in the standings, but that didn’t stop Italy and Russia from delivering a wildly entertaining 9–8 thriller. In a game that resembled a roller coaster more than a hockey match, both teams took turns trying to hand the victory to the other before Italy finally accepted it with just 29 seconds remaining.
Scoring Summary
| Per | Time | Team | Goal Scorer | Assists | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3:56 | Russia | Vargas, Augie (PP) | Hernandez, Jaiden | 0 – 1 |
| 1 | 11:39 | Russia | Laveault, Travis | Hernandez, Jaiden | 0 – 2 |
| 2 | 0:15 | Italy | Baggett, Ashton | Unassisted | 1 – 2 |
| 2 | 1:23 | Italy | Narvaiz, David | Unassisted | 2 – 2 |
| 2 | 2:18 | Russia | Merullo, Zack (Sub) | Vargas, Augie | 2 – 3 |
| 2 | 8:13 | Italy | Gilbert, Matt | Motz, Nathan | 3 – 3 |
| 2 | 8:22 | Italy | Gilbert, Matt | Unassisted | 4 – 3 |
| 3 | 0:29 | Italy | Motz, Nathan | Gilbert, Matt | 5 – 3 |
| 3 | 2:01 | Russia | Hernandez, Jacob | Hernandez, Jaiden | 5 – 4 |
| 3 | 3:47 | Russia | Shanahan, Kevin | Unassisted | 5 – 5 |
| 3 | 4:47 | Italy | Motz, Nathan | Unassisted | 6 – 5 |
| 3 | 7:43 | Italy | Yupanqui, Junior | Unassisted | 7 – 5 |
| 3 | 8:50 | Russia | Merullo, Zack (Sub) | Lewis, Ryan | 7 – 6 |
| 3 | 9:20 | Russia | Hernandez, Jacob | Merullo, Zack (Sub) | 7 – 7 |
| 3 | 9:47 | Russia | Vargas, Augie | Hernandez, Jacob | 7 – 8 |
| 3 | 10:28 | Italy | Narvaiz, David | Motz, Nathan | 8 – 8 |
| 3 | 11:31 | Italy | Yupanqui, Junior | Motz, Nathan | 9 – 8 |
🚨 Penalty Summary
| Per | Time | Team | Player | Infraction | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2:19 | Italy | Narvaiz, David | Hooking | 2:00 |
| 3 | 5:49 | Italy | Gilbert, Matt | Roughing | 2:00 |
| 3 | 5:49 | Russia | Vargas, Augie | Roughing | 2:00 |
🎭 Notable (Or Not) Moments
- Zack Merullo’s Return: After a hiatus to recover from hurt feelings, Zack returned as a sub and immediately made an impact with two goals and an assist.
- Rick Odom in Net: Filling in for Greg Artzberger, Rick delivered a performance best described as “there.” While not solely responsible for the loss, he certainly didn’t prevent it.
- The Wrestling Match: Augie Vargas and Matt Gilbert engaged in a slow-motion grappling session that ended not with punches, but with laughter after a referee tripped over a crack in the rink surface.
- Italy’s Late Surge: Russia reclaimed the lead late in the third, only to surrender two quick goals, perfectly encapsulating their season-long inability to close out games.
⭐ Three Stars
★ Nathan Motz (Italy) – 2 goals, 2 assists, and involvement in the game-winning tally.
★★ Zack Merullo (Russia) – 2 goals and an assist in his impactful return.
★★★ Junior Yupanqui (Italy) – 2 goals, including the dramatic game-winner.
🧠 Final Thoughts
This game was a microcosm of both teams’ seasons: Italy’s resilience and Russia’s late-game collapses. While the standings remained unchanged, the entertainment value was undeniable. Italy skated away with a 9–8 victory and a temporary boost of confidence heading into the playoffs.
Game 2
Italy 10 – Czechia 7
“Meaningless in the Standings, Meaningful for the Ego.”
If Game 1 was a roller coaster, Game 2 was a victory lap for Italy. Facing a Czechia squad that appeared to be conserving energy for the playoffs, Italy capitalized with a convincing 10–7 win to complete the double-header sweep.
📊 Scoring Summary
| Per | Time | Team | Goal Scorer | Assists | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1:00 | Italy | Yupanqui, Junior | Unassisted | 1 – 0 |
| 1 | 3:12 | Italy | Baggett, Ashton | Salvano, Ray | 2 – 0 |
| 1 | 9:13 | Czechia | Merullo, Zack (Sub) | Popham, Brandon | 2 – 1 |
| 2 | 2:19 | Italy | Baggett, Ashton | Narvaiz, David | 3 – 1 |
| 2 | 4:45 | Czechia | Popham, Brandon | Minerd, Andrew | 3 – 2 |
| 2 | 7:29 | Italy | Baggett, Ashton | Unassisted | 4 – 2 |
| 2 | 9:17 | Italy | Ortega, Ray | Motz, Nathan | 5 – 2 |
| 2 | 9:54 | Italy | Gilbert, Matt | Salvano, Ray | 6 – 2 |
| 3 | 0:40 | Italy | Yupanqui, Junior | Unassisted | 7 – 2 |
| 3 | 2:01 | Czechia | Minerd, Andrew | Unassisted | 7 – 3 |
| 3 | 3:10 | Italy | Ortega, Ray | Unassisted | 8 – 3 |
| 3 | 5:15 | Czechia | Minerd, Andrew | Unassisted | 8 – 4 |
| 3 | 7:53 | Italy | Baggett, Ashton | Yupanqui, Junior | 9 – 4 |
| 3 | 9:18 | Czechia | Lewis, Neil | Unassisted | 9 – 5 |
| 3 | 9:25 | Italy | Motz, Nathan | Unassisted | 10 – 5 |
| 3 | 10:11 | Czechia | Popham, Brandon | Minerd, Andrew | 10 – 6 |
| 3 | 10:18 | Czechia | Popham, Brandon | Unassisted | 10 – 7 |
🚨 Penalty Summary
| Per | Time | Team | Player | Infraction | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7:50 | Italy | Motz, Nathan | Tripping | 2:00 |
🎭 Notable (Or Not) Moments
- Czechia’s Casual Approach: With playoff positioning already secured, Czechia appeared content to conserve energy, leading to defensive lapses and a lack of urgency.
- Ashton Baggett’s Commitment: Playing both games while allegedly “out getting milk,” Ashton delivered a standout performance, further cementing his reputation for dedication to the SARHL over all else.
- Zack Merullo’s Early Exit: After contributing in the first period, Zack departed, leaving Czechia scrambling to regain cohesion. They did not.
- Popham’s Scoring Title: With multiple garbage-time goals all season, Brandon Popham secured the league’s scoring crown in a season where many traditional stars were absent or played limited roles.
⭐ Three Stars
★ Ashton Baggett (Italy) – So many goals to think about while he’s sleeping on the couch.
★★ Junior Yupanqui (Italy) – Two goals and an assist, driving Italy’s offensive momentum. Is the real Jr back?
★★★ Brandon Popham (Czechia) – One goal and two “gimmes”, solidifying his claim to the scoring title.
🧠 Final Thoughts
While the results had no impact on the standings, Italy’s sweep provided a psychological boost heading into the playoffs. Czechia, meanwhile, will look to regroup and refocus as they prepare for the championship game.
🏁 Week 6 Summary
- Italy sweeps the double header, defeating Russia 9–8 and Czechia 10–7.
- Brandon Popham emerges as the league’s scoring champion. What planet are we living on?
- Momentum shifts toward Italy, though Czechia remains the top seed entering the playoffs.