Rivalry Lives Up to Expectations; WWGRD Draw the Mighty Drunks

It was the battle everyone had been waiting for since the first puck drop of the season; WWGRD vs. The Mighty Drunks. This was a battle between friends, former teammates, and between the best two jerseys in the league. A game that started with friendly chatter during warm-ups quickly became serious when the silky-haired assistant captain Sean Micelli made his mark on the game. Receiving a pass in the neutral zone, the youngest Micelli brother used his speed to gain the zone before splitting the defenceman. As he was taken down in an act of desperation by the Drunk defenceman, the sliding Micelli was able to direct the puck through the tendy's five hole and give the team the early lead they were looking for.

The Mighty Drunks weren't going to take this laying down however, as they were able to capitalize on some sweet passing to tie the game on the powerplay with all-star defenceman Joshua Covelli in the box for WWGRD. Now it was WWGRD's turn to respond, and they did. After ringing post earlier in the game, Dan DiCarlo was looking to correct his aim and find some twine. He wound up a clapper from the point, with visions of blasting the rubber straight through the tendy, but he came up just short and whiffed on the shot... but this worked out for the best, as Brandon Pancerny corralled the loose puck and pumped a shot passed the unprepared Drunk goalie. WWGRD's lead was restored, and their captain was about to add to it. After taking away a goal from the other team with a save on an empty net, Marc Berthiaume was ready to contribute again, but this time by finding the scoresheet. The WWGRD cappy pressured the Mighty Drunk defender and caused a turnover in the offensive zone. He picked up the puck and found himself in a two on one situation down low, and with the defender taking away the pass he blindly threw a shot at the net and heard it ring off the post and in, echoing through the arena. The lead now stood at 3-1, but would it be enough?

Brian Dubois was making his second appearance of the season for WWGRD and he was looking good early, turning aside a few good chances from the Mighty Drunks. He would come up big once again as he sprawled out to make a save on a breakaway, but had no chance on the rebound as a Mighty Drunk player followed up the play. The Mighty Drunks would keep up the pressure, and would tie the game up on a shot through the legs of a WWGRD player and bar down. Despite some late pressure from WWGRD, the game would end in that final score of 3-3. 1 point going each way, no one overly excited, no one's feelings hurt.

Reports caught up with Brandon Pancerny after the game, who tied himself for the team lead with his 8th gino of the campaign during Thursdays contest. "The team put forward a solid effort, but we've blown a couple of leads lately and we gotta work on holding onto those, especially with the playoffs coming up."

As Pancerny alluded to, the games that matter are about to start. WWGRD takes on the Crooked Sticks on Friday, March 14th at 3pm in the Round of 16. This will be the first test of the playoffs for the boys in blue, who will be in tough without Brent Lozinsky (injury), Sean Micelli and Alexander the Macedonian Menace Djordjevski (fucking shit up in Cancun), and Joshua Covelli (prior commitments). Despite the notable absences, WWGRD will be making no excuses and will come out ready to play Friday. #WeAreWWGRD #AnythingForHockey

MOLSON CANADIAN THREE STARS

MARC BERTHIAUME
#61 - FIRST STAR - 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 1 Save

SEAN MICELLI
#19 - SECOND STAR - 1 Goal, 1 Assist

BRANDON PANCERNY
#9 - THIRD STAR - 1 Goal