Tacoma Twin Rinks – South Rink – May 3, 2023
Muscle Hamsters vs. Polar Bears 5 – 0
Game Stats: https://stats.ttr.timetoscore.com//oss-scoresheet?game_id=28420&mode=display
Video Link: https://youtu.be/Tqmheqs06TE
Goals at: 06:50, 49:32, 51:59, 59:51, 1:02:57

Game 2 of our series with the Polar Bears saw us continue our domination. The ‘Bears only managed 11 SOG, and Shae handled every one with his usual skill, notching his first shutout! On the opposite end, our defenders all held the zone really well, but particularly Oh Captain, our Captain. A couple trickled past him, but otherwise he built a brick wall at the blue line.

The scoring got started early when Lauen got one of her pair of apples, feeding Quaid in front of the net. But then the ‘Bears kept it close until about 6 minutes into the third, when the flood gates finally opened. Nico got another hat trick, but this time he got a little help from his friends instead of going unassisted.

The improved passing and communication were still on display, and hopefully we keep it up against the Bandits, who are much bigger and much faster than the Polar Bears. It was great to see only a few “passes to nowhere” and even a couple of pretty no-look drop-offs.

Finishing out the scoring, Mason picked a pair of apples, too and Jim (he’s such a fuckin’ beaut) took the long pass from Laurel, dodged the charging goalie and tapped into the empty net to give us a total tally of 5, with the Polar Bears left with a goose egg.

This being an elimination game, emotions were unfortunately running high. No one wants to get swept in their final two games of the season, and certainly not ending up being shut out. What usually is a friendly, fun game between bears and hamsters got a bit testy, with sticks being chopped and more than a little pushing and shoving.

We bore the brunt of the penalties, with Nico going off for cross-checking (because he got caught retaliating for similar treatment). Todd took a spell in the sin bin serving the bench minor for too many players (many of our changes were not particularly graceful), but the real ouch was when the refs banished Quaid to the litter box for the rest of the game halfway through the third for unsportsmanlike conduct. I’m pretty sure this was just the refs trying to get control of a game that was getting “chippy” and we clearly were dominating, so guess who takes the hit?

At the end of the game is where it really fell apart, with the ‘Bears goalie taking offense at the last-second goal, with some deja vu from our game in early April when JR was the target of the swinging goalie stick. When the clock read “0” their goalie headed off the ice, refusing to participate in the traditional handshake line. Words were exchanged with some folks in the stands, then tempers flared on the ice. Overall, a most unfriendly end to what had been a series of friendly games all year.

Things improved significantly in the locker room when Lauren presented us with “sticks” (ice cream drumsticks, a Shoresy reference), and we presented her with Sanguinet (another Shoresy reference. Seriously, if you haven’t watched it, get yourself a free Hulu trial and binge it) for her performance on and off the ice.

So, now it’s on to face the Bandits in the second round! Go Hamsters!