Hawks best Pucks 2-1 in OT thriller

LEWIS CENTER, OH - The Arrowhawks put there best netminder forward tonight, besting a fantastically skilled Pig Pucks team, 2-1 in a thrilling overtime shootout. League commissioner Martin Spanhel was even on hand to witness the game. If you weren't one of the lucky twenty or so fans in attendance I'll do my best to fill you in.

Think Ali Frazier -- two heavyweight slugging it out. Center ring, trading blows. It was that kind of night. It was what every beer league hockey player hopes happens at the end of their session. The final decision could have gone either way.

The Big Pucks had defeated the Hawks two times during the regular session. Once on an overtime shootout behind Letizia's brilliant slapper. The second time in regulation behind Wharton and Santho's dominant will. If the Hawks were to win their sixth championship, it would take disciplined skating in both zones from all three lines of forwards and two lines of defense. From the Hawks perspective, they did just that.

The Big Pucks brought their A game tonight, though their bench may disagree. Goaltender Jamie 'Freakin' Santho and his cool as hell shamrock mask was a stone wall. Mike Letezia, an Arrowhawk killer, was terrific in both zones. Tommy Parker was his usual self, calmly controlling the puck in the defensive zone and setting up his forwards with crisp as hell transition passes. Bryan Wharton, a league-leading point man every session, brought a heavy-handed haymaker that just didn't land. The Hawks had defenseman Mac Lawless and Nick Lanctot to thank for slipping the punch.

"We knew if we were going to win we'd have to shut Wharton down," said captain Mark Monahan. "He's able all over the ice and they don't have a weak skater among them." he added.

Monahan was the difference tonight. He scored the Hawks tying goal and added the critical goal in the shootout when all hope looked lost for the Hawks.

"Mark did his thing, patrolling both zones and skating like the champion he's become," said linemate Tom Morgan. "He's shown during this playoff run why he's the league's top two-way player, even though he has a lousy taste in music."

Monahan adopted Michael McDonald's timely classics to gain inspiration. "Who can argue with McDonald's brilliant tone?" asked Monahan after the game.

Although this beat reporter is proud of the Hawks outcome, I'm reminded of just how far hockey has come in Central Ohio. I didn't grow up playing the game. It took the Browns leaving Cleveland in 1995 for me to strap on the skates with by apparent broken ankles. Year upon year of losing game after game gave me an appreciation for the sport and for players like Monahan, Morgan, Jensen and the others in the league. Over the course of fifteen years we've lost more lopsided games than one can count, only to finally be a quality team. I'll never forget a former league commissioner saying, "just add some better guys" and one day you'll be able to compete. I look at the Friday night league and how competitive it has become, with really good skaters and even better guys and I'm proud to be a part of what Central Ohio beer league has become. I don't know about the other nights, but Friday night C2 action is fun as hell, win or lose. It's team's like the Big Pucks, Maple Leafs and Eskimos that make Fridays fun to look forward to. And it's guys like Barry Snow and his bench banter or the refs who remind us that really need to keep our day jobs that keep us coming back for more. I don't know about the rest of you, but I for one and having a great time battling tough economic times with some good ol' fashion hockey to split the time.

"We could have lost tonight," said John Kenyon. "But we didn't and watching my family enjoy this sport as I play is really gratifying."

The Big Pucks could have won tonight. If you ask them, they'll say they should have. But that's what makes Friday's so gratifying, it can go either way.

My hats off to Martin Spanhel and Doug MacLean and the Blue Jackets, despite their losing ways of late (10+ years, really?) It makes me wonder what the secret ingredient of winning is. Maybe it's just a collection of guys who realize they're having a blast playing a game they love.

Win or lose.

Congratulations to Nick Elswick, Chris Carpenter and the rest of the Hawks who stared in the face of perhaps a better fighter and somehow found a way to win.

"This was fun," said Tom Morgan. "Just as fun as the other five. Just as gratifying. It's beer league hockey and it's fun as hell to compete from week to week."

Merry Christmas, Hawks. And Merry Christmas to the rest of the league. I for one am thankful to not play against a bunch of NHL wannabee's who think being a knucklehead and taking cheap shots is the way to go. Guys like Mark Waterstreet and Eric Ott are fun to play against. Doesn't matter if you win or lose -- playing hockey in Central Ohio has never been more fun.

Right? Cue the Michael McDonald music.

--

THREE STARS
Arrowhawks 2, Big Pucks 1

Third Star
#44 Daniel Rott, Big Pucks
Potted the first goal of the night, past Hawk netminder Jason Jensen to open the scoring.

Second Star
Nick Lanctot, D, Arrowhawks
Dude is flat good and refuses to lose. Must be the Minnesota in him. He was stellar with the puck in the defensive zone, playing physical when it mattered and notching the deciding goal in the shootout. No confirmation whether he really thinks the Michael McDonald influence played a role, but his play during the session certainly did, especially in the championship game.

First Star
Jason Jensen, G, Arrowhawks
The Blue Jackets should trade for this kid. He and his bald as hell head were cool as the other side of the pillow once again. He took the Big Pucks best shot and shut Letizia, the Hawk killer, down when it mattered. He controlled rebounds and directed his defenseman, despite being shorthanded most the night. Well done, Jay. Merry Freakin' Christmas, brother,