ARCHIVES

5-26-05

The Samurai Squirrels played their first game of the regular season Tuesday night agaisnt the Stars. The Squirrels are still short Kenny Osteen, Nori Ortiz, and Eric Rose until next week and to make things worse their other two defenseman Chris McArthur and J.J. Wunsch were unable to attend the game (J.J. made it for the third period).

The Stars dominated early going up 7-0 in the first, but Mike Green was able to put in a slap shot from the point to give the Squirrels one goal before closing out the period.

In the second the Squirrels scored first when Dan Danforth put in a one-timer from Jeff Zarrella. The Stars quickly retaliated with another goal. After that the game became a shooting gallery for both teams. Squirrels newcomer Daniel Caldwell picked up his first point of his career when he assisted a goal scored by Jeff Zarrella. But the Stars just answered back with another goal. Dwayne Rutherford picked up his first goal of the season with a wrap around that deflected off the goalie from behind the net. The second period was ended with a score of 9-4.

The third period was was just like the second with each team picking up four goals one after another. Dan Danforth picked up 2 more goals and Rick DeCambre and J.J. Wunsch each got their first of the season. Late in the third the game got a little nasty. Due to the fact that there is only one referee watching the game we do not play off sides and cheap shots go unnoticed and penalties are never called so when Mike Green was hit hard on the boards and almost had his head taken off the Samurai Squirrels took matters in their own hands and returned the favor back to the player that hit him. Then (unlike a real hockey player) he got up and rushed team captain Jeff Zarrella and crosschecked him in the throat after the play was over, when Squirrels goalie Dave Sterling tried to intervene he was crosschecked in his face by the same guy. After every thing was done Jeff Zarrella and the player from the Stars were suspended for one game. The reason for the suspension was because they were the only ones to throw punches (when YMCA director was asked how come they were suspended and not the guys who fought in the game right before them were not suspended he could not give an answer). The game was called with 1:12 left and the Squirrels lost 13-8.

Next week Nori and Eric will be returning and the week after that all roster issues should be fixed with the return of Kenny "the Swed" Osteen and Jeff Zarrella.

5-18-05

The Samurai Squirrels played their first game in the gold league last night in a preseason game against the Angels. It would be a tough game for them playing without Kenny Osteen and two defenseman Nori Ortiz and Eric Rose. With a couple roster changes the Squirrels were ready to play.

The Angels started the scoring early with the first goal minutes into the game. The Squirrels tied it up when Jeff Zarrella and Dan Danforth got a 2 on 1 break and Jeff passed across the middle to Dan who put it in a wide open net. Dan Danforth notched his second just moments later. Chris McArthur scored his first of the night with a shot from the point to put the Squirrels up 3-1. The Angels were able to close the gap back to 1, but Dan Danforth picked up his third of the night to send the Squirrels into the second up 4-2.

In the second the Angels really turned it up scoring 3 times. Mike Green and Dan Danforth each picked up a goal in the second and went into the third up 6-5.

The third period was rough with alot of penalties called and alot hitting. After the Angels tied it up Dan Danforth picked up his fifth goal of the game to put them back up by 1. Joe Rose of the Angels tied back up at 7-7 with his fourth of the night. With the hitting continuing to pick up Dan Danforth and an Angels player where both ejected form the game with 2 minutes left. In the Last two minutes the Angels kept it deep in the Squirrels zone, with a shooting gallery on net Dave Sterling came up huge with one save after another but with 21 seconds left the puck found its way to the back of the net. The Squirrels were not able to tie it up and ended the game down 8-7.

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3-30-05

The Samurai Squirrels have done it! Finishing the season undefeated and winning their first championship in franchise history by beating the Panthers with a score of 7-1. This season the Samurai Squirrels have overcome every situation they were put in. They have been down by 4 in the first period and come back to win 12-5. They have been up 4-1 and only win 6-5, they were down by 1 goal and tied the game with a penalty shot, and have been tied and scored the game winner with only :09 left on the clock.

In the first period of this game the Squirrels came out strong, scoring early when Jeff Zarrella carried the puck around the net and gave a pass to Dan Danforth, who blasted it in from the point. Nori Ortiz put the Squirrels up by two when he deflected in a shot from the side of the net. Still in the first Rick "O'yeah O'yeah" Decambre puts a rebound top shelf to notch one more for the Squirrels. Then to close out the period Jeff Zarrella deflected in a pass from Dan Danforth to make it 4-0 heading into the second.

The second period started with Nori's first of two trips to the sin bin when Nori and Panthers captain Mark Galfond each picked up crosschecking penalties when Nori retaliated to a cheap shot from behind after the play was over. Mike (three way) Green opened the scoring in the second with a wrist shot over the goalies right shoulder. The Panthers called a time-out to regroup with 7:50 left in the period when Jeff Zarrella scored his second of the night.

In the third up 6-0 the Squirrels tried just to run down the clock and end the game. Kenny Osteen scored his first of the night early in the third to go up 7-0. The Squirrels were able to hold off the Panthers until Nori Ortiz carried the puck around the back of the net and collided with his own teammate and the puck fell right on the stick of an unsuspecting Mark Galfond who scored the only goal of the night for the Panthers. After the game team captain Jeff Zarrella was awarded the medal for highest scorer in the league with 18 goals and 11 assists in the regular season . Goaltender Dave Sterling (who only gave up a total of three goals in the playoffs) was awarded most valuable goalie in the league with the lowest goals against average.

3-9-05

The Samurai Squirrels fought to keep there undefeated streak alive with a win Wednesday night against the Lightning. The Lightning scored first keeping the Squirrels tradition of allowing the first goal. A minute and thirty seconds later Dan Danforth tied the game on a solo effort. Using their momentum 55 seconds later Nori Ortiz knocked in a one-timer from Jeff Zarrella to go up by one. At 6:47 left in the period Nori Ortiz gives a pass in the slot to Mike Green who puts the Squirrels up by 2 to close out the first. In the second neither team could get anything passed the goalies until Nori stepped up again and put in another one-timer from Jeff at 12:29 into the period. Down 4-1 The Lightning would not quit with Jimmy McNally posting 2 goals in the last four minutes of the second to start the third 4-3. The Squirrels faced their hardest fought period in franchise history in the third. Thirty seconds into the period McNally puts up his third of the game to make it even. Shortly after, Robert Whitehouse scored his first of the night to put the Lightning up by one. The Squirrels were able to tie it back up again when Mike Green gave a pass through traffic to find Ricky �O�yeah O�yeah� Decambre for an easy goal. A Minute 24 later Dan Danforth gave a pass to Jeff Zarrella who was able to find the back of the net. Off the Face off Kenny Osteen sent it to Jeff who scored his second 24 seconds later. Up by 2 with just under 9 minutes Kenny Osteen gives the Squirrels one more. With 7:46 left the Squirrels could not hold off the Lightning allowing them to score to close the gap to 2. Determined to get back in the game Bob Kelm scored his first to put the Lightning within one. Then with just 1:32 left in the game the Lightning were able to tie it up when Keith Oliveira scored on a rebound. The game was not over yet has the two teams fought hard in the last minute of the game Dan Danforth picked off a pass and carried it in around Jim McNally and put it low glove past the goalie to score with only 9 seconds left in the game and seal the win for the Okeechobee Samurai Squirrels.

2-23-05

Wednesday night�s game put The Samurai Squirrel against MC Blaze. Last time these two teams met it ended in a draw. The Blaze tried to get the early victory by putting up 3 goals in the first 5 minutes of the game. Being in a familiar position and not counting themselves out the Squirrels fought back hard. The Squirrels put up their first when Jeff Zarrella put in a one timer from Kenny Osteen. Shortly after that Nori put one in from the slot to close the gap to one. Kenny assisted Jeff again on a 2 on 1 break to tie the game. Not wanting to end the first in a tie Dan and Nori each notched a goal to close out the first 5-3. The hats were fling in the second has Dan Danforth and Nori Ortiz each picked up a hat trick. Kenny �the Swed� Osteen came up huge in the third scoring two consecutive goals, one of which he scored while he was on the ground. Jeff got his hat trick when he deflected a shot through his legs from Jordan Palmer. Nori Ortiz also notched his fourth to close out the game.

Goalie Dave Sterling came up huge again only letting 2 goals by in the second and third to close out the game with a 12-5 win. Dan Danforth ended the game with 3 goals 2 assists, Nori Ortiz had 4 goals and 1 assists, Jeff Zarrella had 3 goals 3 assist, and Kenny �the Swed� Osteen picked up 2 goals and 4 assists.

2-16-05

The Samurai Squirrel continued their undefeated streak Wednesday with a 6-5 win over the Lightning. The Lightning came out strong in the first attacking the net with everything they had and scoring 3 minutes into the game. Things were not looking good for the squirrels with a goal and two injured players 5 minutes into the game. Goalie Dave Sterling kept the team in the game with his spectacular playing, stopping 12 shots in the first period. Things turned around when Dan Danforth deflected in a shot from �Sheen� to tie the game. The Squirrels finished the first up by 2 when two consecutive goals were scored by Nori Ortiz and Jeff Zarrella. Dan and Kenny each notched another goal early in the second to put the Squirrels up 5-1. Dave had another great period in the second but the Lightning were still able to put up 2 goals to end the second 5-3. The Lightning were determined to come back, scoring early in third to cut the lead to one. Rick �O� yeah� Decambre made a nice play to get the puck to Jeff who put the squirrels back up by two. The Lightning still were not done yet, scoring again with 3:42 left in the period. With just under 2 minutes Mike Green gets called for tripping and the Lightning pull there goalie to make it a five on three. Dave came up huge again with 6 saves in the last minute to keep the Lightning from tying the game.

OCTOBER 27TH,

BIG WIN

Squirrels came out with a big win, Wednesday night with a 7-4 victory over last years defending champions. The game had a rocky start when the Squirrels went down by two goals one minute into the game. The Squirrels rallied a come back when Jeff Zarrella received a pass from Jason Compton in the middle and put the puck between the goalies legs. Kenny Osteen and Jason Compton also scored in the first to go up 3-2. The tension picked up when the Squirrels took the lead. Kenny Osteen served 2 minutes for high-sticking in the second. While short handed Dave Sterling blocked 12 shots from the Blazes power play unit. Jordan Palmer was taken out when a Blaze player elbowed him in the back of the head pushing his face into the rink giving him a cut over his right eye. Jordan answered back to the cheap shot by scoring a goal 2 minutes later in the period.

Starting the third with a 5-2 lead, things looked good for the Samurai Squirrels. The Blaze tried to make a come back after scoring another goal and throwing everything they could on net but goalie Dave Sterling just would not allow it. Zarrella and Voss served matching minor penalties for roughing when Zarrella retaliated to a cheap shot from Voss. Jason Compton and Jordan Palmer each racked up another goal to put the game away.

November 3rd,

ANOTHER HUGE WIN

The Squirrels came out with another huge win Wednesday night against the Panthers putting them in a tie with the Lightning for 1st place. The Squirrels went up by one early when team Captain Jeff Zarrella scored the only goal in the first period. In the second period Jordan Palmer scored two goals to put the Squirrels up 3-0. Late in the period the Panthers answered back with a goal to send it into the third 3-1. The Squirrels tried to hold off the Panthers in third but a goal half way through the period put them within one. The Panthers got a two on one breakaway with three minutes left and scored a deflection goal to tie it up with only two minutes and thirty five seconds left in the game. The Samurai Squirrels went back up by one when Jordan Palmer scored his third goal of the night with a minute fifty seven left in the period. Just seconds later Jeff Zarrella scored his second goal of the night to go up 5-3. The Panthers gave it one last try scoring again with only twenty five seconds remaining in the period. In an attempt to tie the game the Panthers pulled there goalie to get the extra man on the rink. The Panthers won the face off and while carrying it in the zone it was stolen by Jeff Zarrella who sent a pass across the rink to Jordan Palmer who launched the puck all the way down the rink into a wide open net, to score his fourth goal of the night, with only 1 second on the clock and to finish the game with a 6-4 victory over the Panthers.

Next week on Wednesday November 10th at 8:00 p.m. the Squirrels will be squaring off against the Lightning for the first place spot.