GAME 2 RECAP
B1 - Cuckoos Vs. Nomads - 1/14/05 - 9:15pm
FNF Game #2 began with both teams exchanging exciting, end-to-end rushes resulting in near goals & spectacular saves by both Cuckoos goalie, Chris Redding, and Nomads netminder, James Bradley. Strong fore-checking by Cuckoos forwards Brian Burke, Denny Rahilly, & Geoff Duncan eventually led to a goal midway through the period, and at the end of 1st, the score was 1-0. Already playing their third game of the year (compared to Nomads who were making their debut), Cuckoos' strong physical conditioning & familiarity with each other on the ice, began to take it's toll on the undermanned Nomads, who were missing 4-5 regulars from last year. At the end of two, Cuckoos, bouyed by more relentless offensive pressure from the likes of Burke, Rahilly, Duncan, John Robinette, Matt Skinner, & Kevin Dezendorf, Cuckoos had staked itself to an insurmountable 4-1 lead. Goals from Duncan, Burke, & Rahilly put the game away late in the second, though momentum momentarily shifted in favor of Nomads right before and shortly after lanky sniper Frank March snapped home his first goal of the year cutting the Nomads deficit at the time to 3-1. March's goal, the first given up by Cuckoos puck-stopper Chris Redding in almost 3 games!) was setup deftly by Jen Zahratka and Chris MacGrath, and it gave Nomads some temporary hope, but it was not to be on this evening, as in the third period Cuckoos potted 4 more goals against the tired Nomads and ended up with another well-played, decisive victory, this time the score was 8-1. Gregg Duncan, who scorched the Nomads net 4 times, earned himself the game's First Star (and a Free skate-sharpening). Brian Burke and Denny Rahilly both finished with 2 goals and 1 assist each, and for their efforts were named 2nd and 3rd Stars respectively. Other players of note who impacted the game include Eric Bekkala, Mike Johnson, Wally Millar, & Jeff Meyer of Cuckoos, and Yurii Potemkin, Joe Williams, Mike Hale, & Steve Holmes of Nomads. Congrats to Kristen Hale who won the 'Puck-Toss' Raffle (Cuckoos restaurant gift certificate) and Pam Smith, who finished 2nd (she won the giant hockey glove, also donated by Cuckoos - super thanks to Michelle & Chris Redding for donating the prizes!).
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