With Third Straight Win, Soviets Appear to be Peaking at Right Time

Mark Hendricks' six point evening propelled the Soviets to a convincing 6-1 win over the Puck Ewes on Tuesday night, giving the Comrades their third consecutive win and more credence to the argument that the season may not be lost.

"We're loose right now and we're having fun," Hendricks said after the game. "I think people counted us out when we were dead last and only had one win. But now we are finding out groove, one game at a time."

The Soviets, after winning only once in their first nine games (1-7-1) have now won three straight, with each win coming against an opponent higher in the standings than the previous. In their past three contests, they have defeated the 5th, 4th, and 2nd place teams, accruing an impressive aggregate score of 25-8 during the brief streak.

"We're still not where we need to be defensively," Ryan Odell said. "A lot of issues with gap control and breakouts, but we're playing the brand of hockey that the mistakes aren't killing us. We were positionally sound enough to get by last game."

Odell, who played in his first game on Tuesday after returning from a back injury, was quick to point out positives as well.

"I don't think I've ever seen a team have a higher conversion rate than we did. They would have the puck for minutes at a time, then we would get it, go down the rink, get one chance and score. That's back crippling. That's Red Army hockey."

Odell scored a goal just as he described about midway through the second period. With the score tied at one and the Puck Ewes pressing for the go ahead marker, they pinned the Comrades deep in their own zone for over three minutes of attack time. When the Comrades were finally able to break out of the zone, Hendricks found Odell with a rink wide pass and Odell ripped a slap shot from just inside the blue line. The puck ricocheted off a defender, who was jostling with Mike D'Ignazio in front, and past the goalie to give the Comrades a 2-1 lead.

The Puck Ewes would continue pressing as the period continued, but a neutral zone gaffe sprung Hendricks on a breakaway, and the forward was able to slide the puck home on a nifty backhand deke.

Though the Comrades carried a 3-1 lead into the third period, it was not enough to satisfy D'Ignazio.

"I was pretty vocal between periods," D'Ignazio said. "I was calling out the forwards for not playing defense, I was calling out the defense for not chipping in offensively. It was a very inspired speech."

"I didn't even know that guy was on our team," Jason White said. "He was so angry."

Though the Puck Ewes would again carry the puck for most of the 3rd period, it was the Soviets providing the knock out blows. Hendricks scored his second of the game on a high snap shot through a screen, then tacked on the hat trick on a well placed wrist shot after collecting a feed from Pete Collis.

"It was tough to pass to him, given our current 'Words With Friends' battle, but he was open," Collis said.

Added Hendricks, "Triple goal!"

D'Ignazio would tack on the final goal of the game with just a few minutes remaining to add a little salt in the Puck Ewes wounds.

"Overall I was pretty pleased with our performance," Captain Steve Hand said. "Not bad. Not bad at all."

"For the record, I also scored," Tony Horton said.

THREE STARS:
#3: Tony Horton
#2: Ryan Odell
#1: Mark Hendricks

BOXSCORE:
First Period:
1: Horton (Hendricks)

Second Period:
2: Odell (Hendricks)
3: Hendricks (unassisted)

Third Period:
4: Hendricks (unassisted)
5: Hendricks (Collis)
6: D'Ignazio (Hendricks)

Penalties:
Hendricks (hooking, 2 minutes)

Special Teams:
Power Play: 0 for 2
Penalty Kill: 0 for 0

With 9-6 Win, Red Army has First Win Streak of Season

It took 11 games for the Red Army to finally string together back to back wins, but on Sunday afternoon against the Strangers, the Comrades were finally able to put together their first winning streak of the season. With the two points earned on Sunday, the Soviets no longer find themselves in the basement of Silver South. Instead, they now reside just a mere few inches above the basement, still several feet from the ground floor and certainly miles from the attic, but nonetheless, they are not in the basement (by way of a tie breaker).

More to come later.

Red Army Falls Yet Again to... Wait... We Won? We Won?!?

The last time the Red Army won a game, a slice of pizza cost only a nickel, schools were segregated, and Woodrow Wilson was president.... of his elementary school. Yes, many years have passed since the team clad in red last scored more goals than their opponent. So many years, that this journalist forgot the feeling. The feeling of victory. The feeling of not being disappointed like a small Jewish boy on Christmas. The feeling of looking at your opponent after the game and thinking, nay, knowing, "It sucks to be you right now."

Well, all those feelings returned on Sunday night. They returned in feral waves, like memories triggered from catching the scent of an ex's perfume or the aftertaste of homemade Eastern-European moonshine. A scent or taste so bitter or euphoric it's tattooed on your memory. Sunday night's 10-1 pounding of the Easton Fections was the cathartic trip down memory lane. A joy ride through the old neighborhood. The Soviets scored early and often. Then they scored again. It was a team so frustrated with losing, for 45 minutes they possessed an insatiable desire to dominate.

It was the scene you shield your eyes from in the cinema.

But before we proclaim this the turning of the worm or the awakening of a giant, we first must give credence to the facts that others will quickly point out: the lineups. To the Red Army's credit, they defeated the Easton Fections, a team that even after the loss, still sits near the middle of the pack with a 4-6 record, and despite the 11:00 pm start time, was able to field a full roster. The Red Army on the other hand, were aided by some hired guns. Without Mike D'Ignazio, Steve Hand, Pat King, Dan Merold, Ryan Odell, Jamie Simek, Andy Schram, and Jason White, the Soviets relied on regulars Pete Collis, Mark Hendricks, and Tony Horton, as well as fill in goaltender Matt Dixon and loyal allies to the Red Army, Brian and Neal Hendricks. Though the one-sub underdog story is compelling, it loses some appeal when there is that much talent on the bench (albeit a short one). At the Plex, so often speed makes the difference, and if Mark Hendricks is your slowest skater in a game, chances are you're in good shape, or, great shape.

Horton started the scoring a few minutes into the game on a one time rocket from the point. The play began in the corner when Mark dug the puck out of a scrum and fed Brian at the point. Brian quickly dished the puck over to Horton who blasted a shot through a screen set by Neal in front.

"We were talking a lot out there from the start. I heard Beege yell to Mark that he was open, and then right away I called for it," Horton said. "It's the little things like that which make a huge difference." Continued Horton, "Plus that shot was probably the hardest of my life."

Moments later Neal scored his first of five after a long goal mouth scramble. After shots by Pete, Brian, and Mark were all stopped, Neal corralled a rebound and fired it into the top part of the net.

"Goal!" Neal said.

Defensively, the Comrades shut down Pearson and the Easton Fection attack, including a penalty kill in the first after Mark took an unsportsmanlike penalty for throwing Pearson's stick.

"He hooked the [expletive] out of me, so I told him to [expletive] off," Mark said. "I also threw his [expletive] stick." Mark, who was clearly frustrated from being mired in his longest goal-less drought of his career, would snap out of it in the second frame.

After setting Neal up for two goals in the opening minute of the second period, Mark finally ended the drought. Brian took the puck wide of the net into the offensive zone and backhanded a no look pass back across the slot where Mark had crept into. Mark one timed the puck into the vacant cage. His reaction? Pure elation.

"I know we were up 5-1 at the time and dominating, but I couldn't help but jump on Brian. I was so happy to finally score," Mark said. "I almost tackled him. I'm back baby! I'm back!"

Said Brian, "I hate when he scores because I always get jumped on."

The rest of the game continued with more and more goals. Pete scored on a breakaway. Brian scored on a one timer. Mark scored on a one timer. Neal scored on a breakaway.

The goal of the game went to Neal, who showed that in the hands department, he may be unseating Mark shortly. Mark sent a slap pass through the seam to Neal on the power play, and Neal tipped the puck up in the air. The puck ramped up his stick and deflected off the crossbar. The puck ricocheted right back to him, and without missing a beat, Neal batted the puck out of mid air and past the goalie who was still reacting to the initial deflection.

"Five goals, enough said," Neal said.

"Five goals and zero assists," Brian added. "I finished with a goal and three helpers. I'm the complete player."

Pete Collis then interrupted the twin debate, saying, "Boys, it's 12:30 am. I have work in the morning." Collis then entered the rocket ship he parks outside of the Plex and blasted off to his summer house on Jupiter.

THREE STARS:

#3: Tony Horton (1 goal, 4 assists)

#2: Neal Hendricks (5 goals, 0 assists)

#1: Mark Hendricks (2 goals, 7 assists, 0 droughts)

"It's not about finishing first, it's about not finishing last"

- Plato, when asked about Red Army's 2011 summer season.