San Antonio Roller Hockey League
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Important Info
03/22/26 – Week 5
8:00PM: Czechia (H) vs Italy (A)
9:00PM: Czechia (H) vs Russia (A)
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Last site update: 03/20/26 23:54
Game Previews
Week 5 Schedule and Preview
8:00 PM – Stray Cats (5-0-0) vs River Sharks (0-6-0)
9:00 PM – Stray Cats (5-0-0) vs Tarantulas (3-2-0)
As we head into Week 5, the Stray Cats are riding high with a flawless 5-0 record, while the River Sharks are still trying to shake their 0-6 curse. Meanwhile, the Tarantulas, at 3-2, look to regain momentum in the second game against the Cats after their last-minute loss to the undefeated squad in their last meeting. With one team fighting for survival and another eager to prove themselves as a contender, this week promises some high-stakes action.
Game 1: Stray Cats (5-0) vs. River Sharks (0-6)
The Stray Cats will open the night hosting the River Sharks in what’s shaping up to be a classic “David vs. Goliath” matchup—but only if David’s slingshot is in tip-top shape. The Sharks have been close a few times this season, but they just can’t seem to seal the deal. Last week, despite a couple of early goals from Junior and Ray, they ran out of steam against the relentless Stray Cats.
For the Cats, this game offers a chance to keep the momentum rolling and perhaps give their forwards some time to experiment. Jacob Hernandez, coming off a four-goal, “pass-who?” game last week, will likely be hungry for more. With Brian Van Vlymen expected back in the lineup, the Cats should be at full strength to continue their streak. The question here isn’t whether the Sharks can make it close; it’s whether they can finally find a way to upset the odds.
Key to Watch:
Will the Sharks pull out any surprises to keep this game competitive, or will the Stray Cats pounce on their familiar foes once again? Watch for the Cats to control the pace and for the Sharks to dig deep, as a win here would mean a massive turning point for their season.
Game 2: Stray Cats (5-0) vs. Tarantulas (3-2)
After the opening game, the Stray Cats will jump right into a second matchup, facing the Tarantulas in what promises to be a much tougher test. The Tarantulas are eager to erase the memory of the third-period implosion from their last match-up, which handed the Stray Cats a comeback win. With their lineup led by Collin Iacarella and Zack Merullo, the Tarantulas have the offensive power to match the Cats, but it’ll come down to whether they can keep their composure in the late stages.
The Cats, who seem nearly impossible to rattle, will rely on their deep roster to carry them through the doubleheader. Captain Andrew Minerd’s squad has shown they can handle close games, comebacks, and any weird twists the SARHL throws at them. Goalie Taylor Newton, who’s been trying to fine-tune his in-game routines, might be called upon to anchor a Cats’ defense that could see some tired legs.
Key to Watch:
Can the Tarantulas capitalize on a potentially fatigued Cats roster in the second game, or will the Cats’ depth once again carry them to victory? Look for the Tarantulas to come out strong, hoping to wear down the Cats early and capitalize in the third period.
Overall:
Week 5 is set to challenge every team on the rink. The River Sharks need a win to salvage some pride, the Tarantulas want revenge, and the Stray Cats look to maintain their perfect record. With storylines on every side, it’ll be a night worth watching.
Quick Stats
Standings
| Team | W | L | OTL | Pts |
| Czechia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Italy | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Russia | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
p = President’s Trophy
* = Clinched Playoff Berth
e = Eliminated from Playoffs
League Leaders
| Player | Team | G | A | Pts |
| Ortega, R | Italy | 8 | 3 | 11 |
| Popham, B | Czechia | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Narvaiz, D | Italy | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| Goalie | Team | W | GAA | SV% |
| Newton, T | Czechia | 4 | 3.75 | 0.847 |
| Artzberger, G | Russia | 2 | 4.17 | 0.824 |
| Rodriguez, F | Italy | 1 | 4.50 | 0.824 |
Minimum 1 games played
League News
Week 3 Recap
Game 1 Recap
The first game of the night saw the Tarantulas hosting the River Sharks in a matchup that didn’t exactly light the world on fire, but it got the job done. The Tarantulas secured a 7-3 victory, led by a dominant performance from Kaleb Morley.
Final Score: Tarantulas 7, River Sharks 3
Goal Scorers:
Kaleb Morley took over the game, netting four goals for the Tarantulas. Captain Penn chipped in with one of his own, and Zack Merullo, fresh off a contract dispute that we’ll get into, found the back of the net twice in his long-awaited debut. For the River Sharks, Junior did Junior things—two quick goals before fading into the shadows—and Matt Gilbert added another to round out their scoring.
Game Notes:
- Merullo’s M&M Demands: Zack Merullo made his Tarantulas debut after a lengthy contract holdout, demanding a bowl of M&Ms with all the brown ones removed before every game. “Van Halen got it. Why can’t I?” Merullo said, explaining his stance. With his demands finally met (we think), Merullo put up two goals, proving that maybe those M&Ms were worth it after all.
- Junior’s Disappearing Act: As usual, Junior started hot with two early goals but then pulled a classic Junior move and disappeared into the night. What he does after scoring, we may never know, but his team could have used more of him on the ice.
- Art’s Website Woes: River Sharks’ player Art spent much of the game questioning why his goal from last week still hasn’t shown up on the SARHL website. We have one thing to say to you, Art. Welcome to the SARHL, where the rules are made up, and the points don’t matter.
Overall:
While the scoreline suggests a decisive win for the Tarantulas, the game lacked the spark and enthusiasm we’ve come to expect from these teams. With both sides seemingly going through the motions, Kaleb Morley’s standout performance was the lone bright spot in an otherwise sleepy affair. The River Sharks, now 0-4, are still searching for their first win, while the Tarantulas continue to build momentum as they settle into the season.
Game 2 Recap
The night’s second game featured a dramatic showdown between the Tarantulas and the undefeated Stray Cats, and it did not disappoint. Despite holding a solid lead going into the third period, the Tarantulas imploded, handing the Stray Cats a 6-5 victory on a silver platter—complete with a power play finish.
Final Score: Stray Cats 6, Tarantulas 5
Goal Scorers:
For the Tarantulas, Zack Merullo and Kaleb Morley both notched two goals, while Collin Iacarella added one to the tally. The Stray Cats spread their offense across the board, with goals from Andrew Minerd, Micah Deary, Brandon Popham, Chris DeGroff, and two from Jake from State Farm.
Game Notes:
- Where’s Brian Van Vlymen? The Stray Cats were missing one of their top guns, Brian Van Vlymen, who was reportedly busy with work—or possibly joining the Crips. It’s hard to tell when it’s all in slang sign, but his absence was definitely felt on the ice.
- Tarantulas’ 3rd Period Meltdown: The Tarantulas entered the third period with a comfortable 5-3 lead, but what followed was nothing short of a self-destruction. The Cats capitalized on every mistake, clawing back to tie the game. The decisive moment came when the Tarantulas were called for Too Many Men on the Ice—a penalty that caused mass confusion on the bench. It was a real-life Spider-Man meme where every Tarantulas player was pointing at the others, but you can’t field 8 skaters on the ice at the same time. It was everyone’s fault.
- The Fallout: The aftermath of the Tarantulas’ meltdown could be heard from miles away, with emotions running high after the blown lead. The scene was described as something resembling the Chernobyl disaster, with tempers flaring and the team reeling from the loss.
- Felipe’s First Win: Special mention goes to sub-goalie Felipe Rodriguez, who stepped in for the Stray Cats and secured his first win of the season in dramatic fashion. While the game may have gotten away from the Tarantulas, Felipe’s clutch saves kept the Cats in the game long enough for the comeback.
Overall:
The Stray Cats keep their undefeated streak alive at 4-0, while the Tarantulas are left to wonder how they let this one slip away. Despite some stellar offensive performances from both Zack and Kaleb, the Tarantulas will need to regroup and figure out how to avoid these costly late-game collapses if they want to contend for the top spots this season. As for the Cats, they’re rolling along and showing no signs of slowing down.
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