TORONTO - A 4-2 Humiliation victory over the Jokers, and a 3-1 Wheatfield Souldiers win against the Brockton Rockets this past Saturday night saw the two triumphant squads move on up the UUHA standings, joining the Beau's Beer Hack for a share of top spot.

 

For the Humiliation, the win was the team's first successful contest of the year, having lost their previous three games by a combined score of 12-7 going back to mid December, 2022. Prior to that, the Black Wizards had enjoyed one of their strongest season starts in years, posting wins in 5 of their first 6 games, including a 3-0 blanking of the Jokers way back on Nov. 19. 

 

Saturday night's rematch appeared headed in a similar direction, with Luke Moretti and Jeff Hohendorf giving the Humiliation a 2-0 advantage by the midway point of the contest (Ben Hung had the lone assist on the second goal - Hohendorff's 12th of the campaign, while Moretti tallied unassisted). But with 4:37 remaining in the 2nd, Craig Hughson combined with Steve Levine and Derek Thompson to halve the deficit. An early 3rd period Jokers power-play expired just as Jeff Kassel converted a feed from Kyle Dooley to draw the Funniest Team on Ice even, putting a pair of duces up on the board. Eight minutes later, though, Hung found Sean Morrison in front on the Jokers net (staffed by veteran third-stringer, Gary Emanuel) to put the Humiliation back on top. A late empty-netter off the stick of Hohendorff sealed the deal with just 13 inconsequential seconds remaining.

For the Jokers, the loss was the team's third in-a-row, establishing a current season record of 3-7-1. The Humiliation, meanwhile, appear back on course at 7-4-0, a record that will stand for the better part of two weeks as the team won't see action until Saturday, Feb. 25 when they go up against the Gas Station Islanders. Coincidentally, GSI currently boasts the same record as the Humiliation but sits 2 points back due to a penatly-free bonus point differential.

 

Saturday night's other UUHA contest saw the Brockton Rockets take to the ice against the Wheatfield Souldiers - the latter squad looking to extend a four-game winning streak that has seen them move steadily up the standings since posting just a single win in their first six games of the season. A big part of that turnaround has been the acquisition of a steady presence between the pipes, which the team found in goaltender Tim Walker. The Peterborough, ON native came up solid again in this game, turning aside 13 of 14 shots on net to claim his 4th win of the season. Despite that result, though, Walker's counterpart at the other end of the ice, Jonathan Dickson, turned in a stellar performance as well, allowing just 2 goals on 29 shots (the 3rd Souldiers goal was an empty-net tally).

 

Jon Weier opened the scoring for Burton's Boys eight minutes into the 2nd period, with a net-front deflection that sent an arcing point shot from Chuck Molgat up off the helmet of Dickson and into the top corner of the Brockton net. The Rockets drew even early in the 3rd, though, as Michael Wilcox made good on a feed from Oliver Sutherns, solving Walker with a hard, partial-screen shot on the rush from the top of the slot. Kyle Welton reestablished the lead 2 minutes later, combining with Eric Toth and Herbie Barnes with 8:06 remaining on the clock. Welton would pot his second of the game with a minute left, finishing off a zone-clearing passing play with Weier and Mark Jones and into the empty cage.

 

In addition to the win, the Souldiers enjoyed the company of longtime team veteran Wes Gerbrandt, who relocated back to Winnipeg just over a year ago and was visiting Toronto for the weekend.

 

The Rockets (2-9-0) will have an opportunity to get back in the win column this coming Saturday, Feb. 11 when the line up against the Gas Station Islanders at 8:00 pm at Upper Canada College. The Souldiers, meanwhile, will attempt to prolong their time at or near the summit of the league standing when they take on the Beau's Beer Hack in the 9:00 pm match that night. The UUHA enjoys a mandated break the following Saturday due to the Family Day Long Weekend.