The Norfolk Mallards Newsletter #11
Published 2/5/2024
It’s been a whacky past two weeks for Mallards Nation. Here’s an update:
1/27 Away Game at Hudson Valley
After losing in overtime against the Vipers at their home opener, the Mallards were hungry for revenge as they drove to Poughkeepsie to shut down the snakes on their home ice. This game was a chippy one with both teams being sent to the penalty box a combined total of 17 times. This provided ample power play opportunities and both squads took full advantage with the first Mallards’ Matt Guertin striking burying the first goal of the game on the man advantage early in the first and the Vipers’ Kyle Canny and Max Henry striking back to tie it and take the lead in the second. Right as the Vipers thought they could take their foot off the gas and head into the second intermission with a lead, Nick Scilliano tied the game with, you guessed it, a power play goal with only 11 seconds left on the clock. After an early third period goal by Hayden Kearney, the Mallards decided to turn up the heat with a second goal from Hayden Kearney and two empty netters from Nick Scilliano and Captain Brad McGovern.
What would have been a 6-2 victory for the Mallards has been ruled a 1-1 tie due to inconsistencies between our published and playing roster. We worked with the league and the Vipers to find a fair solution to this issue and that conversation ended with each team receiving a point in the standings.
2/3 Home Game vs. Hudson Valley
The strangeness between the Mallards and Vipers did not end at McCann Arena. This past Saturday, the Mallards were on fire and playing at the top of their game. Josh Hogue led the charge putting up a 4 point performance alongside resident goal scorer Matt “the Mountain” Guertin burying two goals. It was 6-3 with a little under 12 minutes left in regulation when a mid-ice collision caused the blue line fabric to come through the ice. After plenty of repair attempts, the game was called off due to unsafe ice conditions. The remainder of the game will be resumed before next week’s matchup against Hudson Valley in Poughkeepsie. The clock will start with 12 minutes with the Mallards up 6-3.
2/4 Home Game vs. Boston Gold Kings
The Boston Gold Kings and their fans drove down to Randolph for a Sunday night matchup. The Kings of Watertown stand on top of the East Division and were determined to not only beat the Mallards on the ice, but in the stands as well. There was an electric atmosphere at Zapustas Arena right from the start as Kevin Messom’s opening goal for the Mallards was immediately matched by two from Tony DiCostanzo and Jarrod Fitzpatrick of the Gold Kings. After a Gold Kings insurance goal in the second, the Mallards took in all the energy of being down two and Gold Kings fans chanting in their home barn, and released it all on the ice. Norfolk fought as hard as they ever fought to come back in that third period. There was a brief moment of hope after an unassisted goal by Derek Britner bringing the deficit down to one, but it was crushed when Matt Baldino of the Gold Kings tallied the team’s fourth goal of the night to seal the deal. With this 4-2 loss, the Mallards remain on the bottom of the East Division standings with an unbridled determination to climb their way to the top. Remember: it’s still early.
Be sure to find us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and now TikTok! For now, onto Hudson Valley on Saturday and Holyoke on Sunday! #flymallardsfly