MLRH EURO CUP Results

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

Here's the latest press release from Major League Roller Hockey:

***

New York Rockers are the 2005 MLRH World Champions!

Sweep Prague APEX 8-6 and 10-2 for Title

Darryl Interbartolo is MVP

Sheffield, England -- The New York Rockers, after coming from behind in Game 1 to win in the final three minutes of play, wasted no time in Game 2, exploding for six unanswered goals in the opening period to down a gritty Prague APEX team for the 2005 Major League Roller Hockey (MLRH) World Championship.

Prague had claimed the European title, knocking off the Scottish Bucks while the Rockers eliminated the Carolina Knights to advance to the world title game. While the Czech team proved to be a gritty bunch, the Rockers had the superior goaltending in Nuno Costa and Roger Lee. Costa proved why he may be the best 4th period goalie in MLRH, and Lee was brilliant in turning aside 17 Czech shots in the opening period of Game 2 as Prague battled desperately to get back in the game.

Dan Liberty Gets the Game Winner and Hat Trick for New York
Game one was a MLRH classic as the two best teams in the world traded end-to-end rushes in a game that saw the lead change six times. The opening period was scoreless as the teams resembled heavyweight fighters feeling one another out in the early rounds. Prague got on the board early in the second period on a goal from Ivo Loskot at the 10:11 mark but 40 seconds later Darryl Interbartolo countered to tie at 1-1. APEX than opened up a 3-1 lead on Loskot's second goal of the period at 7:11 of the period and Jaroslav Machota's score at 4:08. At that point it began to look as though it could be Prague's night but with 28 seconds left in the period, Marcus Fajardo got the Rockers back in the game at 3-2.

A Wild, Wild Second-Half Shootout
New York opened the second period with a bang as Dan Liberty tallied the equalizer just 44 seconds into the period but Prague APEX battled back still again to regain the lead at 4-3 as Ivo Loskot completed his hat trick. Then it was the Rockers turn to counterpunch with Dan Liberty's second goal of the night and the count stood at 5-5.

Early in the 4th period, New York broke on top once again as the Rocker's Marcin Nieroda beat Pavel Siher to go ahead 6-5. And one more time the Czech team rallied with a goal from David Kamas at 5:13 of the final period. The lead was short lived however, as Dan Liberty chipped in what proved to be the game winner seconds later. Trailing by one, the Czechs put on huge pressure with Nuno Costa again coming up big in the Rockers goal. Finally, with 3:10 remaining in the game, Darryl Interbartolo threaded a slapper through traffic to seal the New York win.

Rockers Cruise in Game Two
The opening period of Game 2 proved to be a deadly (for Prague APEX) combination of offensive brilliance by the Rockers, great goaltending from Roger Lee in the New York net and a case of "everything that could go wrong, going wrong" at the worst possible time for Prague APEX. Seldom has a quality hockey team been so out of a game so early. The Rockers opened up with a goal from Tristan Gardner at 9:20 while Darryl Interbartolo and Marcus Fajardo added two goals within 22 seconds. Down by three early, the Czechs pinched in their defensemen, desperate to get back in the game and three times the puck bounced out of the zone, creating odd man rushes for New York and goals from Interbartolo plus two from Christian Thorman.

At the end of the first period, New York led 6-0 and extended the lead to 8-0 at the half. To their credit, Prague never quit and played New York straight up at 2-2 in the second half. New York's Marcus Fajardo and Prague's Filip Belsky provided some entertainment late in the game when Fajardo went after him at the drop of the puck to avenge some earlier slight (real or imagined).

New York's Darryl Interbartolo earned MVP honors in a close vote over teammate Dan Liberty. As the European Champions, Prague APEX earned the right to host the 2006 EURO Cup in Prague.

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Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[born2runPROgm]

congrats to the Rockers!

11

[NLane]

Lot's of names I've never heard before on the Rockers. Hope to see all of them in the new season.

[SpiderRat]

Thank you. We had a blast!!!!

Blah Blah Blah, Shoot the puck already

[yokes]

Congrats Rog!!! Give me a call later.

If you dont hit me im not stopping it.

[33]

congrats...but don't call me later.

[SpiderRat]

Who are you???

Blah Blah Blah, Shoot the puck already

[yokes]

I guess MR. World traveler has forgotten the little people?!?! Geez.

If you dont hit me im not stopping it.

[33]

c'mon, how could you forget me? D got MVP i see. who'd he threaten to get that?

[33]

wow, brutal.

[NLane]

Did you get to have a "sit down" with Bill to set up the new season? Any info you can convey?

[NLane]

Well, I've given you several days to reply and no answer. I figure you have learned, as all of us have that have known Bill longer than you, that the details (like schedule) aren't even being thought of right now. The next season will be on the website about 2 months before it starts. Teams will be rumored to be in the league and teams will be added and taken away up until the first game. That's the way it goes with MLRH. Thanks for trying, Roger.

[SpiderRat]

I apologies for not getting back to you sooner. Since getting back, I've been swamped at work and once I get home, too exhausted after playing with my little one to sit down and type at length. But, I said I would provide answers, so here ya go. What I got from Bill was that the league will start November 5th. We will have ten teams, from Boston to S. Carolina. The lower east coast teams will play each other, and the upper east coast teams will each other, two divisions meeting at the end of season play-offs vying for the trip to Prague to play for the "World Championship." This makes great sense to me because it always seems to be a problem fielding a team to drive more than 5 hours away to play. The schedule hopefully will be out by mid October. I know your thinking that that isn't enough time for teams, but if a team is already committed to playing, they know the schedule and will be ready once the league starts officially. We will play a 12 or 14 game season. As far as the website goes, apparently Stever Sieger had registered the site, MLRH.com, under his name only. So Bill is trying to get access. He assures me that the site will be very good. Stats, updated quickly, news and info. From what he told me, the site should look awesome. The site should be up soon. Not sure exactly, just soon. I think I answered a few concerns or questions. Please feel free to ask away. I'll try and answer them expeditiously. From what I understand, PIHA starts in the spring. Hopefully late spring so there won't be any issues with crossover games. Please keep your comments positive. I personally would like to see our league compete with the IHL hoping we could merge the two leagues. Remember that saying, "Don't kill the messenger". Keep that in mind when replying. "Thanks for coming, I'll leave the light on for ya"

Blah Blah Blah, Shoot the puck already

[SWAMPDONKEYS29]

Hey Roger, that all sounds great. What will be the home rink of the Boston team? Is there any talk about there being a minor league similar to the old MLRH "AA" division? I applaud the decision to start the league in November. It just doesn't make much sense for a player being forced to choose between playing for one team or another because of a scheduling conflict between leagues.

[SpiderRat]

I believe at this point it will be Tewksbury again. I don't believe there will be a minor league team for the Storm. Are you playing back in Tewksbury yet?

Blah Blah Blah, Shoot the puck already