Norfolk Mallards Newsletter #12
Published 2/15/2024
This weekend, the Mallards lost twice against two different opponents. What some may consider a devastating blow to confidence, is considered a learning opportunity for Coach Rick LeBlanc. LeBlanc has been hammering in the message that “we can only control how we play, react to situations, and how we handle ourselves in the future.” With that mindset, the boys in green dust themselves off and set their sights for Watertown. On February 17th at 7 o’clock, the puck will drop on the second Gold Kings and Mallards matchup of the season.
Norfolk Mallards @ Hudson Valley Vipers
The first order of business on Saturday February 10th was finishing the game from February 3rd that was called off with 12 minutes left in regulation due to unsafe ice conditions. With the Mallards restarting the game with a 6-3 lead, the Vipers came out hot, looking to steal the two points from under us. The ducks held on and secured their first win of the regular season with a final score of 7-5. From there it was a battle of endurance. With the scheduled game being played right after the remainder of the restart game, the victor would be the team that could keep up with 72 minutes of play. The first period was a back and forth battle between the two teams, each scoring twice. With Brett Jackson and Nick Sheapard putting the Vipers ahead 4-2 in the second, the Mallards spent the third period playing catch up. That game of catch up was hard fought thanks to goals by Brad McGovern and Josh Hogue, but the Vipers were able to net an insurance goal to seal the deal 5-4 on home ice.
Norfolk Mallards @ Holyoke Papermen
Jonathon “JB” O’Donnell made his first start in net against the Papermen on Sunday. Mallards fans have seen JB as a defenseman this whole season so they may be surprised at this switch, but the team wasn’t. In the Mallards’ infancy, players recruited their friend JB because of his goalie background, however at the time we had one too many netminders. JB is a versatile player with a high hockey IQ and could easily make the switch to defenseman. However, we gave him a shot in between the pipes on Sunday and we were not disappointed as he saved 42 out of 46 shots. After being pulled in the third, JB was replaced by Josh Callender who unfortunately couldn’t stay long. Only a couple shots into his time in the crease, Josh was injured after being fell on during a skirmish in front of the net. Mike Boccuzzi stepped in to finish the game.
The wildly impressive Papermen took advantage of the chaos and ended up pulling out an 8-2 win. Mallards goals scored by Captain Brad McGovern and Gavin Alves.
League-Wide Summary
The River Monsters Empire has Fallen
The Pittsburgh River Monsters, the only undefeated team in the Union Hockey League going into Week 5, lost two games straight on February 3rd and 4th to the Sun Prairie Killer Bees. The casual observer would not be able to tell that Sun Prairie started their season with three bye weeks as they have won all of their first four games. Going into the weekend series against the Killer Bees, Pittsburgh thought their dynamo offense would even out Sun Prairie’s +8 goal differential headed into their game. They were wrong. The Killer Bees bested the River Monster 9-7 on Saturday and 5-3 on Sunday. With a 8-5 win against the Soo Nordiques on February 10th, the Killer Bees crown themselves the new undefeated royalty in the West Division.
The Toledo Mobsters and Flint Apollos Make Their UHL Debut
The title says it all. The Toledo Mobsters played their first Union Hockey League game this past weekend in Niagara Falls. Although they lost to the Buffalos 8-1, the Toledo fanbase may be the most enthusiastic bunch in the league. Post after post on social media boasts hundreds of comments from fans grateful that they are represented in this historic inaugural season. However, Mobster fans will have to wait until February 25th to see the action in their home barn.
Additionally, the Motor City Generals have regrouped and rebranded into the Flint Apollos. Similar to Toledo, the Apollos fanbase is ecstatic about this new team and hopeful the they can bring home a W against the Soo Nordiques this weekend.
The Boston Gold Kings: The Powerhouse of the East
The Boston Gold Kings expanded their success after a 7-4 win against the Nighthawks. Goalie Mike Cowell and assistant captains Christian Faggas and Matt Baldino have been leading the charge on the scoresheet and are ready to take on the rest of the season. They move to 5-1 and are battling at the top of the East Division with Niagara Falls. The Mallards don’t even pay attention to this moving into their weekend matchup as they recognize it’s still early and they can find a way to crack the foundation in the Boston powerhouse.
