XIHL Playoff Results

[XIHL]

On Saturday, February 26, the Hartford Thunder defeated the Garden State Ottakringer by a score of 14 to 6. The Thunder lead at the half by a score of 7 -5, then outscored the Ottakringer 7 - 1 in the second half. Leading then way for the Thunder was John Pinhiero with 4 goals and 3 assists. Top scorer for the Ottakringer was Ken Meyer with 4 goals and 1 assist.

The Thunder will now travel to Bridgewater, NJ to face the number one seed, New Jersey Werewolves for the inaugural XIHL Championship. The game is scheduled for 1:30PM on Sunday, February 27 and will be played at the Extremes Indoor Sports Center.

A complete XIHL Championship Weekend wrap-up will be on the XIHL web site shortly after all the games are completed.

Benny Gulakiw
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
eXtreme Inline Hockey League

[MDE3]

Congratulations for the Werewolves on their 11 - 6 XIHL first Championship game victory over a very determined Conecticutt Thunder. Congratulations to Joe D'alosio "best goalie", and Ray Katinsky "MVP".

The game was much closer that the score, and were it not for the heroics of Joe D'alosio(sp) in goal for the Werewolves, the score might have been much closer, or the result different...

John Pinheiro was his usual spectacular self, with Jason Salvato in strong evidence as well for the Thunder.

The balanced attack of the Werewolves was just too much for the Thunder to overcome, with 8 different players scoring goals. This was typical Werewolves hockey, with the opposition unable to cover all the firepower. Trying to keep the Werewolves from scoring was like trying to keep a bubble under water....you just never knew where another sniper would pop up.

The Thunder jumped out to a two goal lead, before the Werewolves woke up to playing the body. This effort paid off soon as Simon Egan broke the ice for the 'Wolves to cut the deficit in half, followed quickly by three other 'Wolves goals, The first half finished 6-3 in favor of the 'Wolves, but with the Thunder scoring a momentum building goal in the final seconds.

The second half was a seesaw battle, with the Thunder bringing the game again within 3 goals to 9 - 6, with time remaining to still mount a comeback. Joe D'alosio in goal was up to the task, turning back great efforts from the Thunder's star, and several others. The territorial play of the second half had the floor tilted a bit in the Thunder's direction, but the 'Wolves had too many good snipers to keep them off the boards, winning the second half 5 - 3.

Congratulations again to both teams for a hard fought, and very entertaining championship game. Full marks go to the Thunder, who if they had any accumulated fatigue from playing just the night before in the semi's....did not show it in their effort. They battled right up to the last seconds.

This was great hockey to watch, with spectacular plays from both sides, and minimal unecessary nonsense...physical without being cheap.....great job all of you involved.