By Andrew Delios

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

Division 1 Winner: Linear Technology Lions

Division 2 Winner: M1 Hornets

The Linear Technology Lions emerged as the victors in a wide-open but close battle with the L'Estaminet Beers in the Division 1 Final. After taking a 6 - 2 lead to the third period, on the strength of Pat Bowers 5 point night, the LT Lions were subject to a strong comeback from the Beers. Jocelyn Nadeau tied the score for the Beers at 7, in the last minute of the third period

... but again the common factor in this playoffs was Russ Ramos keeping his team in the game ...

The 5 minutes of overtime saw the score remain tied, despite some good pressure from the Beers on the LT net. Russ Ramos, who was entering his fourth hour of hockey on the night, stopped many close chances to preserve the tie through the OT session. With the match still tied after the OT, it went to a shoot-out. Chris Poohachoff and Russ Ramos did not allow a goal on the first seven shots aside. After Ramos stopped shot number eight, John Freeman returned to the ice from his conference call, to put his shot high over Chris’ blocker to steal the victory for the Lions

Congratulations to the Lions, who took an odd path to the Division 1 championship. Their strategy to give Ramos a record number of shots in the regular season looked suspiciously poor during the regular season, but in the end it paid-off. After all the practice of stopping more than 1,000 shots during the regular season, Ramos excelled in the playoffs, to lead the Lions to the season championship

... two Brewerkz squads and the Coq’n’Bull and San Miguel teams failed to capitalize on their strong regular seasons ...

The Division 2 final likewise went to overtime. The M1 Hornets outplayed the rival squad Continental Wheels for muchof the night, but again the common factor in this playoffs was Russ Ramos keeping his team in the game. The Hornets had a 2 to 1 lead going into the last few minutes of regulation, before a Don Cherry inspired too many men on the ice penalty by the Hornets gave the Wheels the man advantage with 2 minutes left in the third. The Wheels did not waste the opportunity. Keaton Newson did his best Guy Lafleur impression to tie the score on the ensuing powerplay. The Bruins-Canadiens analogy failed there as the Hornets, not the Wheels, came back to win in overtime. Hans Chen went end to end to end, scoring the winner in a rink long rush that saw the puck enter the net just as he fell to the ice on his backside.

The two league champions emerged from the bottom of the playoff pooling as the two Brewerkz squads and the Coq’n’Bull and San Miguel teams failed to capitalize on their strong regular seasons. Both sets of teams fell in the semi-finals, with the Brewerkz Division 1 team being beaten in two wide open, semi-final games against the Beers. The Saints put up a bit stronger of a fight, with John ‘Gumper’ Ward, helping the Saints win a close Game 2 against the Lions. The Lions prevailed in Game 3 with the Argue-Speers connection potting several goals to help the Lions take the three game series 2 games to 1.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS

Division 1

Most Valuable Player – Jarko Salo
Best Forward – Timo Rasanen
Best Defenceman – Darryl Eisler
Best Goalie – Russ Ramos
Lady Byng – Scott Clements

Division 2

Most Valuable Player – Michael Marusiak
Best Forward – Andy Ho
Best Defenceman – Gerald Toh
Best Goalie – Yusoff Ali