The league has met several milestones with play tonight, including 10 series and 25 games. The
weather however stayed out of double digits and remained brisk. It was, however, as
good of a series as the league has played, but it was also as surpising as any series has been.
Here's why:
SURPRISE 1
Tonights first surprise encopasses the goalie situation. Travis Peach was
in net...well that's no surprise...but the fact that he lost all three games in the series is. He actually played exceptionally
well, but had no support from his team who could not seem to score on backup goaltender, Andrew Grotte, who made
his first appearance in goal in a Kelly's age. Grotte, won all three games, guarding the goal and guarding
it well. Commissioner Kelly Grotte was taken by surprise after witnessing Andrew win three games, in fact, the whole
league was taken by surprise. So, Andrew is undefeated thus far in the season in goal. Oh year, and Peach showed up
on time and was ready to go quickly.
SURPRISE 2
Silver has finally turned around and swiftly swept Black, which has not happened this
season. Black has been dominant in the win column this year. Silver was the team last year, but with 3 wins tonight,
they may still have a chance to come back. Obviously, Black and Silver are composed of different players each night,
but still, in the past, one color usually has shown a definite pattern of victory or defeat.
SURPRISE 3
The selected stars of the nights are a surprise in themselves. The league
knows that Sam Martin and Zack Brorby both have talent and heart, but Sam and Zach have been inactivated from the GHL
roster forsome time before appearing tonight and showing the league what they could do.
Aarons Sykes had his best night ever as a GHLer and it wasn't just because he scored 3 goals...he
got after the puck!
What was no surprise was the play and execution of the player we have come to
know as Lars, Brent Larson. The kid had a big night with 5 goals, one of them a game winner, and 2 assists. He
put in a couple of backhanders tonight, backhanders that don't even belong in the GHL, they were pretty, and clutch.
After tonight, Larson will claim the top spot in many statistical categories. Brent is definitely making a move at the
top, as he has moved into the 2 slot.
GHL HISTORY: It was in the winter of 2003, that the Grotte Rink underwent some major changes that started with moving the rink
to the west side of the house. The rink would be bigger, 100x40 ft. and the boards would be 4 ft. high plywood with 8 ft.
boards at the ends to prevent pucks from flying out of the rink. By this time, most of the "regulars" had most of the
hockey equipment and consequently, the puck was changed from the foam puck to the "blue puck" which weighs just a few ounces
less than a standard black puck. The rink also included curvature in the corners which was something new. The
old rink had basically been square. Posts were drilled in at the 4 corners of the rink to hold 4 flood lights.
STAT RECAP: All stats have been updated. Brent Larson has taken over all of the
stat categories previously held by Jake Martin except assists.. For more, check out 08-09 Stat Leaders or 2008-2009 Statistics.
