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Startling Loss to St. Michael's with 9-2 Blowout

Date: Jan 29, 2010

Toronto, ON: Perhaps the penalty box was the warmest spot on the ice, because the line-up from both St. Michael's and the Patriots certainly was endless tonight. Though -21 degrees outside, tempers flared much hotter than that tonight at the MasterCard Center, bringing forth a humbling 9-2 win for the Buzzers.   

 A great start to the period with a nice early opportunity from Nick Perruccio, leading into some back-and-forth play from both teams. The first ten minutes of play, remained pretty evenly matched though a couple penalties to Upper Canada gave minor advantages to the Buzzers.

That being said, the Buzzers did manage to score the two goals just a wee past the mid-way point of the first period.  The first, a shot scored past goaltender Wes Annis from Tyler Forbes, was assisted by former Patriot defenseman Alex Bezerra, followed by a immediate goal from Elliott Burlon; both goals scored at even strength.  Unfortunately there was one more goal left in the Buzzers before the flood; a goal walked in on the corner and scored by Daniel Ciampini from Alex Rizzo and Bezerra.

 3-0 and looking gloomy, the Patriots' Erlich Doerksen brought back the cheer with a beauty goal, scoring his first of the season, with a minute left in the period. A nice shot past D'Elia; the passing from Ryan Martin and Nick Perruccio got the puck to Doerksen in the Buzzers' end while on powerplay, for the shot home.  

Not exactly the ideal start to the second period with not one, not two, but three more Buzzer goals, scored by Daniel Ciampini on Wes Annis, and Anthony Rizzo and Michael Hawkrigg on freshly-placed goaltender Jay Pelletier after Annis was pulled. At 6-1 and only the start of the second period, it appeared to be a long match-up ahead for Upper Canada unless they pulled it together to defend against the Buzzers' attacks.

But -boy did the penalty box get use tonight! It was a full house with what appeared to be shift work, having at least four Patriots and three Buzzers in the doghouse for a grab-bag of offenses, including inciting, roughing, boarding, tripping and unsportsmanlike behaviour.  Add in roughing after-the-whistle, slashing, hooking, goalie interference, and fighting and both teams collaboratively achieved penalties for the majority of offenses listed in the ref handbook.  22 penalties were awarded in the second period.

Seven isn't always a lucky number, unless in this case, if you're St. Michael's. Their seventh goal of the game was scored on Pelletier, a shot low past from Jesse Beamish with 11:04 remaining in the second period while on powerplay from one of Upper Canada's collection of penalties. The Patriots' continued the trend of late period goals with Matthew Galati scoring one of his own, beating D'Elias with a nice flick over blocker side and in.

Like rubbing salt in an open wound, the Buzzers scored their eighth and ninth goals (Tyler Forbes and Michael Capicotto) inside two minutes of the third period's start. And once again, nearing the end of the period, the doghouse started filling up with its new tenants Matthew Galati, serving a two-many men penalty, Anthony Rizzo for hooking, and Michael Cordi, Nick Perruccio, and St. Michael's Harry Howlett-Ben for roughing. Thankfully, the game ended shortly after and (not so thankfully) the Buzzers won a startling 9-2. Upper Canada visits Dixie tomorrow at Ice Sports Etobicoke, 8 p.m.

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