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Game 11, July 27: Labatt Blue lost to Strychnine 6-5 at Vallco.

Quaker's Corner

[July 28, 2003] Strychnine turned the tables last night on Labatt Blue scoring three unanswered goals in the third period extending their unbeaten streak against the Blue in the summer season. Historically the Blue have owned the final tilt but Strychnine rallied after an extended injury time out just before the end of the second period. Strychnine's second line scored on the opening shift of the third to pull within one goal and they never let up on the pressure until the buzzer sounded.

Media were kept out of the silent Blue locker room while Captain Matt Alfano dissected the game. The defending champions turn surly after each loss only until the beer cooler cracks open and the positive contributions are recalled. Team Labatt welcomed back Big Matt Taylor whose physical presence has been sorely missed in front of the net. Matt logged major minutes in his first game back from a wrist injury and frustrated Strychnine's fleet of foot forwards with strong defensive pressure in front of the Blue's goal. The Blue's new look defensive corps have been anxious to join the offensive attack. Midway through the first, Dave "Jackhammer" Woo-Bloxberg pounded his stick on the ice to call for the puck from down low in the corner. Jackhammer launched his patented blue line laser from the left point which Gary Pagdilao deftly corralled for a nifty back hander to get the Blue on the board. Now skating with confidence, Labatt turned up the pressure. Pagdilao and Erik Ludvigson, both converted D-men with quick trigger fingers, and Farooz Alikhan applied heavy forechecking pressure on the Strychnine defense. Ludvigson converted on a one-timer from out of the right corner to ensure his spot on the ESPN highlight reel.

The midway through the second period the Blue appeared poised to run away with the game. The Quaker was rewarded for his clean living lifestyle with loose change left in the neutral zone and scored the third goal for the blue on an uncontested breakaway. Scott Mirer and Dave Reid continued their hot streaks with dazzling speed down the boards resulting in a 5-3 advantage for Labatt. Though missing veterans Paul Gibson, Mike Lii, and Detective Craig Denton, the short Blue bench showed plenty of gas left in the tank to wrap up the second period. The Vallco ice again played up to its reputation for the "cruelest" game on earth as Erik Ludvigson took a nasty spill in the corner, limping back to the bench just before a Strychnine player left the ice with a nasty laceration on his left wrist resulting in yet another trip for the paramedics to the rundown rink.

The delay seemed to take the life out of Labatt while energizing Strychnine. The visitor picked up their level of play and their stick work, although the men in stripes buried the whistle and let a number of infractions go. As the Vallco ice melted under the summer heat and arena lights, so did the Blue's defensive play. Strychnine sent four men deep to pepper goalie Rick Seis with shots off the breakaway and in close. Seis kept Labatt in the game with several key saves but ultimately couldn't see through the myriad of players positioned in front as Strychnine pulled ahead 6-5 with a shot from the left point.

In their inaugaral season last winter, Labatt spoiled what was to be a Strychnine victory with a last second game tying goal at Vallco. The Blue turned up the offensive pressure with under five minutes to go in the third but the Strychnine net minder kept on his feet and made a number of highlight reel saves to hold on for the win.

Strychnine and the Blue face off for the last time before heading into an anticipated clash in the playoffs on August 31st. No doubt each player has that date circled on the calendar. Until then, the Blue will focus on getting back to basics with their emphasis on defense and timely scoring. Now a seasoned veteran club, team Blue knows the regular season games are tune-ups for show time. With an eye to the fall classic, Captain Matt Alfano noted, "The PHA Championship Trophy at home is getting lonely...he needs a little brother".

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