Commentary by Mark "Gunner" Guarnieri

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VIGNASTY 3 VS HONEY BADGERS 1

The championship game played the first period with a clean scoreboard. Neither team wanted to make a mistake and relinquish that all important first goal. The Honey Badgers right from the second stanza faceoff pressed the attack and were rewarded. Off a scramble Dave Tesch put the Honey Badgers ahead aided by Don Gardner and Dave Szachta. The 2 goalies, Joe Dudek for Vignasty and Rick Zwieg for the Honey Badgers, were phenomenal in rejecting all attempts by the opposition to score. Just before the midpoint of the final frame Vignasty was handed a golden opportunity to even the score as they went on the power play. Dan Smolinske working with Dan Stevens and Brandon Kane scored the game tying goal. With the momentum shifted 90 seconds later Vignasty captured the lead as Frank Jaramillo converted the work of Dan Stevens and Joe Moceri. With just over a minute left to play the Honey Badgers went on the power play but could not cash in on the chance. Dan Stevens scored into the empty net to close out the scoring in the game. Rick Zwieg stopped four breakaways during the game to keep the Honey Badgers in the game. Joe Dudek was solid in keeping Vignasty within striking distance.

GRINDER HOCKEY 5 VS COBRAS 2

The Cobras put their resident tough guy, Josh Bigelow, in net for this tilt. The first period Josh only let 1 of 9 shots directed at him go in the cage. The only goal for Grinder Hockey came off the stick of Kevin Gordon aided by John Skolas and Craig DiPaola. The Cobras had taken the lead earlier in the frame on an unassisted goal from Tom Witters. The wheels fell off the cart in the second stanza as Josh relinquished a trio of goals. Dominic Magnie started the flurry with help from John Skolas and Craig DiPaola. Kevin Gordon got his second of the game this time assisted by Tom Darling and Craig DiPaola. The third goal of the string was started by Mark Rodgers who maneuvered the puck to sub, Scott Stevens. The Cobras received a gift goal as Grinder Hockey played shorthanded. Kevin Gordon completed his hat trick in the third frame set up by Keith Leduc.

STARS 3 VS RED WINGS 0

This game saw the return of Trip Maghielse to active duty after being out since the second week of the season after undergoing surgery. With almost 7 minutes of play elapsed the Stars took the lead when Jamie Nack spotted an open Greg Wills, subbing in the foray. The Stars got some insurance four minutes into the third period on the strength of a Jamie Nack goal set up by Jim Clairmont, his first point of the playoffs. The Stars added an insurance marker later in the frame when Jay Stanczak converted a Greg Wills pass. Tim Kiefiuk was brilliant between the pipes for the Stars registering his second shutout of the playoffs both against the Red Wings.

PENGUINS 7 VS ACCIDENTS 1

This game followed the number one rule of Thursday Hockey which is the team with the better subs wins. The Penguins received 3 goals and 6 assists from their 5 subs where the Accidents only got a lone goal from their 4 subs. The Penguins opened the scoring when sub, Dale DiBartolomeo picked up a loose puck and lit the lamp. 24 seconds into the second period Brett Bowyer got his first of four goals on the night. The engineers were subs, Bill Griffith and Joe Churilla. Sub, Gonzalo Vittorio, grabbed an errant pass and the Penguin lead had grown to three goals. Brett Bowyer personally put the outcome of this game away scoring three straight goals over an eight- minute span. Assisting on the first were Glenn Smith and Joe Churilla. Helping on the second was Dale DiBartolomeo. The third was constructed by sub, Tim Frederick. Joe Churilla and Dale DiBartolomeo combined late in the third frame for the seventh Penguin goal. The Accidents with just over a minute to play ruined the shutout bid of Neil Henriques, who was stellar in deflecting 18 attempts to score. Sub, John Higgins, got the lone Accident goal aided by Bill Tucker.