TORONTO - The Jokers registered their first win in four games this past Saturday night at Upper Canada College, edging the Beau's Beer Hack 4-3. Meanwhile, the Humiliation and Gas Station Islanders skated to a 2-2 draw in a hotly-contested match that saw the rival squads combine for 18 minutes in penalties.

 

Former Porcupines goaltender Dean Bentley dusted off the pads for a turn in the Humiliation net in Saturday's 8:00 pm contest, ultimately turning aside 17 of 19 shots faced. At the opposite end of the rink, Isles goalie Joseph Steinman fared slightly better, preventing 21 of 23 attempts off of Humiliation sticks. The two that evaded him were both potted by Sean Morrison, who now has 19 points in 11 games this season, including a league-leading tally of 10 assists. On this night, however, it was Luke Moretti and Geoff Hohendorf credited with helpers, the latter picking apples on both Morrison goals.

 

Gassers Courtney Stevens and Dominic Chartier were responsible for their side's goals, with Chartier opening the scoring late in the 1st period, and Stevens reestablishing GSI's lead with a power-play marker at 5:15 of the 2nd frame. Nick Purdon was credited with the lone assist on both of those goals.

 

Morrison's second goal provided the game's most dramatic moment, scored as it was with 36 seconds remaining in the 3rd period and with the Humiliation net empty for the extra attacker. The resulting tie held up, affording both teams a single point which saw the Humiliation (7-4-1) overtake the Beau's Beer Hack (7-6-0) for 2nd place in the current UUHA standings. The Islanders (7-5-1) currently sit in 4th place overall, due in part to a dearth of penalty-free bonus points. The Gassers lead the UUHA with 60 PIMs, which is nearly double the next closest team's total. 

  

Saturday night's 9:00 pm UUHA game provided a similarly close contest, one that saw multiple lead changes as well as a late game-winning tally, this time scored by veteran Jokers forward Steve Levine with under a minute-and-a-half remaining in the 3rd period. Gary Rideout Jr. (who assisted on Levin's late tally) had opened the game's scoring midway through the 1st frame, combining with Joel Lacoursiere and Craig Hughson to put his side up 1-0. That lead was erased about three minutes later, though, when Hack forward Stefan Barkley converted a Kerry Towndrow pass to even things up at 1 apiece. Louis Durand put the Hack on top late in the 2nd (with Dom Donatelli assisting), but Jokers captain Ted Bisaillion reset proceedings closer to the buzzer, sending the game into the 3rd tied 2-2. Bisaillion would be in on the next goal, as well, teaming up with Hughson to spring Mike Takacs for his third goal of the season, and once again putting the Funniest Team on Ice back in the Lilith position. But that lead would soon crumble, too, as Tim Bolen fed Aaron Foster at the 5:30 mark to make it 3-3. Levin'e aforementioned heroics played out a mere four minutes later.

 

For the Hack (7-6-0) the result represented the team's first back-to-back loss of the season. For the Jokers (4-7-1) the win ended a three-game losing skid, and was just the second time in nine games that the team scored 4 (or more) goals.

 

UUHA action continues this coming Saturday, March 4 with the Brockton Rockets taking on the Humiliation at 8:00 pm, followed by the Wheatfield Souldiers and Jokers at 9:00 pm. Both of those matches take place at UCC.