Week 25 results: Borschland Hockey League
05/14/2020
A new week of hockey just before the Flowering Branch Cup final pitted the finalists Holtzlund and Rjaward against each other in the mountain city of Erichels, and it was as close as advertised. In the Grand Final of the Cup, of course, there will be no ties. If the score is knotted at the end of regulation, they’ll play 10 minutes of overtime, first goal wins. If there’s no winner after OT, it’ll be a shootout.
Image: Borschland national selection uniforms.
As Meenesanne and Tarlunz have already played each other twice this year, they were off this week, mutually choosing not to play a friendly, which meant that Rjaward and Tarlunz now both have a game in hand against Holtzlund.
3 Holtzlund v. Rjaward 3: Home ice advantage did not help the Axe Men as much as they wanted it, despite a screaming crowd of 7,489 gathered around Te Krick, the hockey rink known as “The Cove.” It was a see-saw game the entire time, with Holtzlund scoring one goal in every period and Rjaward expending most of its energy in the second, when they took a brief 3-2 lead on a goal by Christian Zeeberg. But they came out flat in the third period, Jens Gladweel took a high-sticking penalty, and Saruman Gloostick converted the ensuing power play with an elevated shot past Lemdeveel Schmeechtpujtr, who was spelling Franck Pharendaal in goal. Rjaward coach Norbert Grimm said about his decision to start Schmeechtpujtr: "It was time for Lem to have a turn in goal. We're comfortable with either goalie, to be honest." Holtzlund coach Dirk Eechen was steamed afterwards. "That last high stick wasn't the only penalty they had, but it seemed as if the officials were content to let it be."
3 Meechen v. Lojren 1: Lojren lost its fifth in a row, while Meechen kept pace with the leaders in the championship. Meechen got goals from two defensemen, Voga Terkel and Bartul van Abeele. Welneth Ungarth seemed his unbeatable self: Lojren’s Sander Glossamer had the lone goal for Lojren and would’ve had more if Ungarth had not made several unbelievable saves.
4 Bjaward v. Sajbell 3: Not quite enough yet again for the Sea Gods. Bjaward won for the first time in six games, having gone 0-2-3 before last night. Bjaward's offense woke up, as centerman Alex Meesenhammer had a hand in all four goals, scoring 2 and assisting on 2. 17-year old Antonius Udelhooven scored his first goal in the BHL, a nifty tic-tac-toe with Man Grizzlyfaith and Ruud Beecker.
3 Te Staff v. Dohmatische 2: Yet again, Dohmatische’s tough defense was involved in controversy. With Te Staff pressing in the third period and the score tied 2-2, defender Parn Uptek was called for tripping. That was too much for coach Azofer Teekeetl, who apparently said something that upset the officials. He was assessed a major penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, and Te Staff converted the resulting 5 on 3 advantage into the winning goal, a rebound put back by Christoff Anselm at 3:09 left in the game.
2 Atterische v. Wrischer 2: A quiet game for two middle-of-the-table teams that were hoping for more this season. Atterische had a goal from bench forward Bram van Brick, his first of the year, to preserve the tie.
2 Bevinlunz v. Onatten 0: Heiko Moordfors recorded his 50th career shutout as the Merchantmen won the Battle of the Seaports. Moordfors had little to do, making 24 saves. Roger Wijkenschaud had a goal for Bevinlunz, and Tomas St.-Ambroos put in an empty-net goal for insurance at the end of the game.
2 Matexipar v. Sichebach 1: Matexipar played to the smallest crowd of the season, 6,354, as Iron Stick fans showed their displeasure with the team’s performance by staying away from the rink. Sigiswald Zberg got goal number 16 for Mat-X, tops on the club.
OFF: Tarlunz, Meenesanne