March 21: Womp Rats vs. Motley Crue (game #1) In
their eagerly-anticipated debut, the Womp Rats beat Motley Crue
9-1. Forward Greg Saliba led the team,
providing three goals and an assist
along with a hard-hitting, physical presence.
Forward Eric Hendrickson, subbing for Ro Kolakowski who
will join the team
next week, added three assists and a goal.
The game could not be played on center court due to weather conditions, and
instead was played in an incomplete rink on a bumpy acrylic surface. The
scoreboard didn't work either, fortunately for the overmatched Motley Crue,
who appeared helpless as seven of the Womp Rats' eight skaters lit the
lamp.
"We knew coming into the season that there would be a lot of blowouts with
some beginner teams and some with greater levels of experience," said
Womp Rats captain James Ozenne.
"Motley Crue is a class act and I'm sure
they'll have a productive season, even if they go 0-10."
All eyes were on Ozenne, one of the league's most exciting defensemen, as
he
used a lightning-quick "spin-o-rama" move to advance the puck at center ice.
Pete Cruz began his quest to lead the
league in penalty minutes, picking up
a two minute hooking penalty and a two minute elbowing penalty. Cruz also
had a goal and an assist in the contest.
Rob Lee established himself as an "offensive defenseman,"
putting five shots
on net in the first half. Lee scored on a breakaway in the second half,
deking the goalie out of position before slipping the puck in low.
Motley Crue had a scary moment in the second half when one of their
defensemen found himself in the path of a hard-charging Saliba at center
ice, resulting in a violent collision. No penalty was called. |
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