April 6, 2023 – Tacoma Twin Rinks – South Rink
Muscle Hamsters vs. Polar Bears 5 – 0
Game Stats: https://stats.ttr.timetoscore.com//oss-scoresheet?game_id=28595&mode=display
Video Link: https://youtu.be/gTa7y4X_OWs
Goals at: 23:11, 28:00, 50:05, 1:01:42 and 1:03:37

Back in our purple sweaters for the first time in 3 weeks, it was time for another face-off with the Polar Bears. We had a distinct advantage in personnel numbers, with 14 on our bench to their 9, but our beloved Shae was absent from the crease, so there was cause for at least a little worry.

But the theme for this game was defense, and why not, with the triumphant return of “The Big Hamster” Chadd, who was back on the ice following an extended work engagement over in Port Angeles. Everyone on defense, Seth, Chelsie, Justin, Chad and Tanner built strong walls at the lines, and when the puck did happen to stray into our zone, they blocked the few shots that were made and made some pretty great passes to start breakouts the other way.

Our visiting tendy, Rob Perlot, only had to face 13 shots, and stopped every one. Thanks for filling in, Rob!

After a scoreless first period, Randy and Kevin decided enough was enough and got us on the board, each with their own unassisted goals. Randy’s came just 90 seconds into the second when he took the faceoff in our end, drove it the length of the ice and buried it in the back of the net. Tanner tried the same a few minutes later, but sadly was denied. Not to be outdone, Kevin put on his own show, taking the face-off in the offensive zone and immediately sent the puck where we wanted it to be. Justin even added an impromptu break-dancing show, spinning down the ice on his side!

The third period saw only 9 shots on goal from us, but we made the most of them, scoring three times! Almost half-way through the period, our points leader Adam joined the scoring fun, being at the right place at the right time, taking the rebound and burying it in the net. Five minutes later, the Bears’ tendy came out of the crease to charge Randy, who went flying, landing hard on the ice and dislocating his shoulder. Here he is at the hospital, still in his hockey pants, because yeah, he’s a bad-ass.

Unshaken, Mason and Quaid then scored the next two goals. Justin picked up another apple and Mason ended the evening with a goal and 2 assists.

Unfortunately, the fun was marred at the end when the Polar Bears’ tendy took offense at JR shooting the puck right at the buzzer, taking a swipe with his paddle and even dropping the gloves! Okay, it was a frustrating night, but it certainly didn’t call for that.

To emphasize the defense’s contribution to the game, to mark his return and to thank him for the slap shot to the tender’s head, Sanguinet was awarded to Chadd as the MVP. Unfortunately, he didn’t take Sanger home because he knew he wasn’t going to be able to make it to the next game. Congrats, anyways!

Starting on the 12th, we will have the potential of 9 games in 9 days, with the addition of the Spring Thaw tournament to our already busy regular season schedule. I will do my best to keep up with this blistering pace, but I can’t guarantee I’ll get them all.

April 1, 2023 – Tacoma Twin Rinks – North Rink
Muscle Hamsters vs. Polar Bears 5 – 1
Game Stats: https://stats.ttr.timetoscore.com//oss-scoresheet?game_id=24526&mode=display
Video Link: https://youtu.be/0lV1RxLH6qU
Goals at: 12:20, 35:24, 36:10, 45:14 and 50:10

April 2, 2023 – Tacoma Twin Rinks – South Rink
Muscle Hamsters vs. Bandits 2 – 1
Game Stats: https://stats.ttr.timetoscore.com//oss-scoresheet?game_id=24761&mode=display
Video Link: https://youtu.be/cfwjLudyuRc
Goals at: 44:43, 54:20

Another busy weekend for the hamsters, including a glorious return to the rink by our beloved Sanguinet! First up was a late-night game with the Polar Bears. We were a bit short-benched, with only 4 defense, 3 forwards, 2 centers, and a Shae in a pear tree (well, crease, anyway). The memory of our defeat to the ‘Bears in our previous meeting was fresh and painful, so despite the extra ice time, we were determined to come out on top this time.

Manny (Polar Bears) was of course being Manny, skating circles around all of us. But unlike a certain player on another certain team, even though manny could probably give us a pretty good run if it was only him and their goalie, he continued to feed his teammates selflessly.

On our side, Shea was up to his usual self, facing 33 shots with ice in his veins, and 1 particularly greasy one that slipped past and must have made the handle of his stick slippery, because when he got up, it went flying across the ice. Adam spent a couple minutes in the penalty box talking to Sanguinet about it, though. 🙂

Offensively, Mason kind of stole the show with a hat trick and an apple on the evening. The assist was a beautiful no-look centering pass that surprised Todd so much, his reflex action knocked the puck in the net! More often than not, though, it was Adam shepherding the puck into the zone, keeping it headed to the net, even from the seat of his pants.

In the end, though, Sangunet went home with Dorsey, who played a fantastic defensive game. He can be seen here doing his best Shoresy impression. It’s a bit blurry because of all the steam rising from his legs which got a serious workout.

Our second game of the weekend was a match-up with the Bandits, our first time seeing them in their (rather sinister) all-black jerseys. The first period was dominated by the bandits, played mostly in our defensive end and with only 1 shot on goal. We thought we were going to have to settle in for a long defensive game.

But Shae was channeling his inner Dominic Hasek/Patrick Roy/Martin Brodeur, with plenty of glove saves, but also a couple paddle beauties and a windmill save that even Neo would be proud of. We finished the night with the SOG a whopping 39 – 6 in favor of the Bandits (yes, that’s a real statistic), yet we came out on top with the big numbers up on the scoreboard.

In the third, Seth changed up the lines and put together a “power line” of Mason, Kevin and Quaid which worked beautifully. Mason got us on the board with a sweet wrap-around goal just one minute into the period, and Randy added on the GWG mid-way through. The Bandits were tired, but still put on a tough offensive game, but we (mostly Shae) held strong and polished off the win, our fourth in a row and second in a row against the Bandits.

The improvements in this team over the course of the season cannot be overstated. Of course there are elements that still need a lot of work, but in many areas we are really starting to “click”, and I for one can’t wait to see what we can do in the playoffs. Lets Go Hamsters!