Springfield Duke's hockey team thankful for OT win

By Phil Eastman

Springfield’s favorite men’s hockey team, Duke’s Tavern, took the ice on Thanksgiving Eve, one of the biggest nights of the year to play a game. Duke’s was taking on a team that was quickly rising to the top of its rivalry list, The Blue Rhino Ten’s.

Just two weeks before, Blue Rhino ended up taking down Duke’s in an old fashioned shootout, 8-7 in overtime. Victory was on the mind of the Duke’s players as they were making the effort to go into the Holiday weekend with their thirst for revenge quenched.

The goal in the first period was to keep the game high paced. Blue Rhino, a much slower team, has the ability to bring the game speed down to their level, and then strike with a few quick goals.

Duke’s was playing up tempo though early on. After a few back and forth rushes for each squad, it was Rob Scales who broke the scoreless tie in the first period. Scales was punched home the goal after a scrum in front of the net, really solidifying himself as the strongest force in front of the net in the entire league.

The first period came to an end with the score 1-0 Duke’s Tavern.

There must have been some adjustments made on the Blue Rhino side of the ice during intermission because in the second period they came out and slowed the pace down to the crawling pace that they like to play, and they capitalized on it.

They banged home two quick goals, turning the score around on our hometown boys, 2-1, but that score didn’t last long. Von Mondevergine rushed the puck up the ice along the left side. He was able to make a move around the opposing defensemen, sliding it across to his line mate Adam “The Goon” Porche.

The Goon slammed home the biscuit to tie the game 2-2. But, from then on out, every time Duke’s scored, those pesky Blue Rhino Ten’s would poke home another to go on top. They did just that to cap off the period, and headed into the third period up 3-2.

Duke’s, however, has found its character so far this year as a team who does not give up. Thanksgiving Eve was no different. Ryan Cell had some pressure in the offensive zone and hit Anthony Scales, who was cutting in from the point, with a crisp pass. Scales made the goalkeeper look like a turkey, and tied the game at 3-3.

After falling behind again, the fish oil hot Duke’s power play went to work. Mike Cassidy took the slap shot that ended up slipping through the arm of the keeper, to once again tie it up.

With about seven minutes to go in the game, Blue Rhino knocked home the go ahead goal to make it 5-4 on a crippling goal for Duke’s.

It was gut check time for the boys in green, and they didn’t disappoint. After a well-called time out, they worked the puck around in the offensive zone, got it back to Cell who fired a shot from the point. It hit the back of the net with six seconds to go in the game, ripping the roof off of the rink, and sending it to overtime.

The extra frame has not treated Duke’s Tavern well so far this year, but that changed last week. They peppered the Blue Rhino goalie with shots, and with 2:34 left to go in overtime, Bill Scheier rushed the puck up, dancing through the defense. He fired a shot on goal that went wide. It was then that Jeff Moore, “The J-Mo Show”, scored from behind the net to give Duke’s the 6-5 win. An exclamation point to another great comeback for the local tavern.

Two Thumbs Up: Offensive Defensemen - Four of the six goals scored came from defensemen, or in Ryan Cell’s case, a forward playing defense.

Two Thumbs Down: Iceworks Rink - Knowing that this was one of the most popular nights of the year for hockey, the Aston rink scheduled the game at 10:45 p.m., which in turn, hurt the chances of Duke’s loyal fans to make the trip. Duke’s of course won despite the setback.