Visualeyes Loses 8-5

Tuesday night's highly anticipated EMHL match-up for first place between the Pappas Indians and Team Visualeyes turned into nothing but a pick up game. Because referees did not show up to the game, the two teams were forced to play an "on your honor" game until an official showed up. Faceoffs, offsides, penalties, icings and whistles all went wayward for the first half of the game.

Visualeyes found themselves down 4-1 when a single referee made it to the rink with half of the second period expired. 

OH LOOK, THERE'S A REF!

That three goal deficit proved to be the difference Tuesday night, as Visualeyes fell 8-5, dropping to second place of the EMHL.

T.J. Cooper (Hamburg) provided a much needed spark on offense early on, unloading two slap-shots off the rush, beating the Indian's goaltender for the V's first two goals of the game. Cooper's frustration with Pappas shined through late in the third when he challenged the entire team to drop their gloves, but no one stepped up to the challenge. "I got nothing, can't say it was much of a game without refs, we should've just went out and played on a pond, no holds bar match" said Cooper.

Rookie D-man James "Duffy" Dunnigan (Getzville) added the third goal for Team V in the third period on a spectacular end to end rush that was finished off with #14 splitting the two Pappas' defensmen and finding the back of the twine via the five-hole.

Andrew Leberer (North Tonawanda) couldn't bury on the first odd man rush he shared with Dan Brown (Lancaster), but made sure to knock home his third of the year later in the shift after a beautiful pass from the former Geneseo Ice Knight. Leberer added, "After breaking my stick in half over that kid's knees on the breakaway, I had to try out a new, shorter twig on the next shift. So I blame missing the open net on his strong knees."

VALINT CONCERNED

Visauleyes' luck was lacking all night, starting from the first shift when defenseman, Ryan Donnelly (Tonawanda), suffered a nasty cut on his lip after a collision behind goaltender, Adam Roma's net. Donnelly immediately left the ice, leaving Team V's defensive corps with only three men. Donnelly required no stitches, the Dr. chose to cut off that piece of his lip, and stop the bleeding with synthetic glue. D-man Andrew Valint (Tonawanda) added to Visualeyes' unlucky streak when one of his howitzer's from the point rang the left post. The boys of red white and blue added three more posts throughout the game. Valint commented, "Seeing a teammate get seriously hurt like that really set us back. I don't think we got our legs back under us until the third period and by then it was too late. The good news is he was up and walking at the hospital last i heard."

Schottke's stumped

The team's leading scorer, Eric Schottke (Tonawanda) netted his 11th goal of the year on a breakaway after Duff Dunnigan's D1 soccer skills, helped him bring an errant puck to his stick, finding an open Schottke for the breakaway. Schottke's concern was not so much with the loss, but with the direction of the EMHL may be heading. "I feel like this league is reverting back to the way it was pre-lockout. The amount of hooking and obstruction was disgusting. Its almost like the refs were invisible the first period and a half. If this keeps up, we may need to sign a few enforcers like Stemper or Rob Ray to open up some ice for our superstars."

Centreman, Don Borsuk summed up the 8-5 loss perfectly; "It was a disappointing night all around. Pappas has proven that dumping the puck and back checking hard beats teams in this league. Should we try and play like them? $^%@ no! Because they are a bunch of *$%holes. Once the full roster is available, and we get guys back from injuries, Simps (Simpson-Corigilano) with a bad back from shoveling, Donz with a broken face, and once hunting season is over, a more focused Jeremiah Crowe. Then we will be firing on all cylinders and take this league by the throat."

NEWS AND NOTES
-Matt Mesi has pneumonia.

-Bob Simpson-Corigliano will be out indefinitely with a pinched nerve after shoveling inches of snow earlier this week.

-Visualeyes takes the ice next week against Third St. Tap Room at 10:50pm.