Canadiens 6 Canucks 5

Once again the Bermuda In-Line Hockey League featured some very close hockey games last Saturday reflecting the league parity.

The second intermediate game had the all-girl Canucks taking on the Canadiens. The Canadiens pulled out a 6-5 victory but the outcome was in doubt up to the last second. The MacNeil brothers, Tyler and Riley (nicknamed the "Rocket" and the "Pocket Rocket") were the story of the game for the Canadians as they combined for five goals and seven points. "Pocket Rocket" Riley continued his recent hot hand opening the scoring tipping in a nice cross rink pass from Tyler. Conor Lohan pushed the lead to two as he was not going to be denied banging in his own rebound after a point blank save by Canucks goaltender Jasmine Outerbridge. The Canadians continued to carry the tide when Tyler netted his first goal ripping a wrist shot by Outerbridge on the short side. The Canucks changed the momentum when Chistina Collis ripped a shot through Krishna Boudram's legs after taking a nice pass from sister Sophia to make it 3-1.

The final period opened with fast end to end skating from both teams with several mad furious scramble saves by both goaltenders. Undersized Riley pocketed his second goal of the game ripping a hard low shot into the far side after streaking in from the right wing. The Canucks finally solved Boudram with two quick goals, Christina Collis' second of the game knocking in a rebound off a hard shot by Paula Weech. Weech then put the Canucks close knifing a shot through the five hole after picking up a nice pass from Adrianne Miller. The Rocket made it 5-3 when hammered a rebound by Outerbridge after she made a dazzling save off a shot from Riley Voth. The Canucks started to apply intense forechecking pressure putting the Canadians on their heels. Celine Collis tied the game with two late goals both coming from close range in front of the net banging in loose balls after shots from Asha Uchida and Sierra Yit respectively.

The Rocket won the game for the Canadiens completing his hat-trick by streaking in from his off-wing and knocking a Ryan Goodard pass by a sliding Outerbridge with 37 seconds left in one of the most exciting matches of the season. Boudram preserved the win with a great save off a point blank shot from Christina Collis as the buzzer rang to end the game. Canucks Coach Daly commented: "It's frustrating; we were missing some key players today but the girls continue to outplay opponents but we have to find a way to tighten up in our own end and not give up so many point blank scoring opportunities."

The Intermediate league opening game saw the Senators make it four wins in a row with a tough 5-4 win over the Oilers. The Senators started fast with two quick goals against Oilers' goaltender Ethan Phillips. The first goal saw Danny Heintzman rip a shot into the far side lower corner after corralling a nice feed from centreman Tyson Harvey. Smooth skating Cameron Neal increased the lead to two when he darted through two players and neatly flicked a shot into the Oilers' net. Laird Simmons put the Oilers on the board taking a nice pass from Adam Weech and dashing down the length of the rink before depositing a low backhand shot into the net behind Senators netminder Ben Williams. Time in the opening frame was ticking down when Heintzman picked up his second goal with a blast from the blue line that eluded a screened Morrow. The Senators well executed defensive "trapping" system continued to frustrate the fast skating Oilers' forwards for most of the final period. Hientzman completed his first career hat-trick with another hard shot from the blueline after a nice pass from Nicklas Miranthis. The Oilers finally received the spark they needed when Toby Brook took a long cross rink pass from Beckett Simmons and roofed one over a sprawling Williams. Adam Weech completed the Oilers' comeback with two quick goals, one with a hard snap shot from the right side and the second after navigating by two Senators and racing in from the centerline before flicking a shot into the top shelf over an acrobatic Williams. Centreman David Lehman finished off the Oilers late in the game taking a pass from Henry Taylor and finishing off a spectacular individual effort bulling his way past well positioned defenceman Eddie Dawson cutting to the net and pushing a shot under Morrow.

Action continues every Saturday behind the Pembroke Community Centre at Admiralty Park. This Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. sees the Canadiens taking on the Oilers and the Leafs battling the streaking Senators.