Team Visualeyes Takes Game One of EMHL Semi-Final

Mesi Scores Hat-Trick, Bellows-Morrison gets Gordie Howe Hat-Trick in Win

Visualeyes began their quest for the EMHL Cup Friday night with a 6-2 rout over the Peace Frogs at Buffalo State Arena. In a chippy, one sided affair, Visualeyes rolled the Frogs effortlessly and look to close out the EMHL Semi-Final Series tonight at 7:50 PM.

"MAD DOG" MESI SCORES 3

Duffy Dunnigan scored first for Team V, tying the game at one on a beautiful feed from Andrew Valint. Matt Mesi quickly increased Visualeyes' lead burying his first of three on the night from Adam Bellows-Morrison. Bob Simpson-Corigliano's tough play in front of the Peace Frogs net-minder gave Team V its first power play of the evening where EMHL leading scorer Eric Schottke on passes from Dunnigan and Don Borsuk. As the Peace Frogs continued to take penalties, Visualeyes took advantage of the opportunity.  Matt Mesi scored his 2nd of the evening on the power-play on a great back-door look from Bellows-Morrison. Visualeyes took a 4-1 lead into the second period.

As the least penalized team in the regular season by almost 80 minutes, some wondered if Visualeyes style of play would bode well in the post-season. Team V proved those critics wrong, recording a season high 44 minutes in penalties, with Matt English-Gunning and max Bonito leading the way with 16 and 15 minutes respectively. English-Gunning started parade to the box early in the second, taking care of a pesky, caged tough guy, #12, with a clean punch to the side of his head. English-Gunning earned a two minute roughing, a two minute unsportsmanlike conduct and a 10 minute misconduct on the play. Short-handed for much of the second period, Team V kept the Frogs at bay and finally scored with 3 minutes remaining in the period when Max Bonito found Adam Bellows-Morrison to make the score 5-1.

The rough stuff boiled over into the 3rd period when Max Bonito laid out the same punk English took care of in the second. Bonito's open-ice hit left the little caged pest without wind and flat on his back just inside of Visualeyes' defensive zone. The hit was rewarded with a 5 minute major and a 10 minute misconduct. Again, in penalty trouble, Team V faced a 2 man disadvantage, for four minutes. "I was pretty sick about the workload I was going to have to face when we took that 5 on 3. Then I realized that this team can't pass, let alone shoot, so I fell back asleep. How do go about scheduling a tune-up scrimmage before the 'ship?" said winning goaltender Matt Baudo. The boys in White, red and blue killed off the penalties and Mesi finished off his hat-trick, making the score 6-1.

Bellows-Morrison finished off his Gordie Howe Hat-trick (1 goal, 1 assist and 1 fight) with 44 seconds remaining in the rout when the same caged pest didn't learn his lesson from Bonito earlier in the game. Bellows-Morrison took matters into his own hands, making #12 "pay for what he started" after he speared Simpson-Corigliano in the family jewels and punched Bellows-Morrison in the face with his glove on by dragging him like a baby cub to center ice to face retribution. 

After Visualeyes opening game win, Eric Schottke voiced his opinion about the game. "I really think the commissioner should get rid of the "C" league crossover games, especially in playoffs. What a joke the frogs are."

Visualeyes looks to sweep the Peace Frogs Sunday night, April 1st at 7:50 PM at Buffalo State Arena. Great Seats are still available.


NEWS AND NOTES:

Bellows-Morrison gets the "Gordie"

-Adam Bellows-Morrison received a one game suspension for his altercation at the end of Game 1. Bellows-Morrison completed his first career Gordie Howe hat-trick on the day the same man who originated the feat turned 84! Happy Birthday Mr. Hockey!