Reno Pond Hockey played the Grrrowlers for their second game of the RIAL Summer 2024 E-League. The game took place on Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 at 10:15 PM. The game was at Reno Ice.
Reno Pond Hockey was coming off of a 3-4 Shootout loss to Satan’s Gatekeepers. Reno Pond Hockey had a record of 0-0-1 going into the game. They were in fourth place. The Grrrowlers were coming off of a 5-1 loss to Pure Luck. The Grrrowlers were in fifth place with a record of 0-1-0 heading into the game.
The all-time record between Reno Pond Hockey and the Grrrowlers was 7-0-0 heading into the game. Reno Pond Hockey had scored 32 goals against the Grrrowlers all time. Reno Pond Hockey had allowed 13 goals against the Grrrowlers all time. During the RIAL Summer 2023 D-League season, the record was 2-0-0. Reno Pond Hockey scored 15 goals and allowed 5. These two teams last played on July 3rd, 2023. Reno Pond Hockey won that game 7-2.
Halfway through the second period, Reno Pond Hockey took a a tripping penalty. It was against #28 (C) Zac Seidemann. It was his second penalty of the season. With over a minute and a half left on the penalty kill, #77 Shawn Scorpiniti scored to give Reno Pond Hockey the lead. The Grrrowlers tried to clear the puck out of their own zone while under pressure. A quick pass from behind their own net went to the opposite side wall where Scorpiniti picked up the puck. The Grrrowlers scrambled to backcheck. Scorpiniti took a shot from along the lards that found the back of the net. #25 Ethan Crisp was credited with an assist but I don’t think he touched the puck after the Grrrowlers gained control of the puck.
With under a minute still left on the Grrrowlers powerplay, they scored to tie the game. A shot from the blue line lead to a rebound and the tying goal. The first period ended with the score tied at 1-1.
With twelve minutes left in the second period, #37 Andy McCooey scored to give Reno Pond Hockey the lead. The puck was dumped into the Grrrowlers zone. The Grrrowlers would control the puck in the oposite side corner. An outlet pass through the middle of the ice was intercepted by McCooey. He had a clear lane to the net where he went top shelf to score.
With nine minutes left in the second period, #28 (C) Zac Seidemann scored to give Reno Pond Hockey a two goal lead. The puck was kept in the Grrrowlers zone at the blue line and sent towards the net by #37 Andy McCooey. It was intended as a pass to Seidemann but went right over his stick where #85 Christos Papachristos shot the puck. Papachristos one timer went behind the net. It popped out in front of the net where Seidemann was able to get it and score. The score was 3-1 Reno Pond Hockey going into the third period.
With twelve minutes left in the third period, the Grrrowlers scored to bring the lead back to one goal. After a faceoff the Grrrowlers cleared the puck into the neutral zone. #77 Shawn Scorpiniti controlled the puck in the neutral zone. His attempt to dump the puck was blocked. The blocked shot created a two man breakaway for the Grrowlers. They were able to score. With just under five minutes left in the game, the Grrrowlers tied the game. They were able to score on another breakaway. With three minutes left in the game, #38 (C) Zac Seidemann scored his second goal of the game to give Reno Pond Hockey the lead. #29 Erich Schulz stopped the Grrrowlers attack when he forced the puck loose in the neutral zone. Seidemann was able to get the puck and get around the Grrrowlers defender to go one on one with the other Grrrowlers defender. His pass towards the middle missed #35 Ethan Crisp. #26 Kevin Sawyer recovered the puck an put it back towards the net. Crisp would get the puck near the net. Crisp passed it to the other side of the net to Seidemann who scored. On the league website #26 Kevin Sawyer was not credited with an assist. #29 Erich Schulz and #35 Ethan Crisp were credited with the assists. The final score was 4-3 Reno Pond Hockey.
Reno Pond Hockey had majority of the time with the puck. They had a lot of chances. They just were not finding the back of the net with those chances. The Grrrowlers stayed int he game thanks to their goalie. He made some key saves. Reno Pond Hockey made poor defensive decisions that lead to all three of the Grrrowlers goals. Towards the end of the game the Grrrowlers were trying to pull their goalie. He was half way to the bench when the Grrrowlers lost the puck in the neutral zone which lead to a Reno Pond Hockey two mad breakaway. The goalie did get back in time to save the goal. The Grrrowlers called a timeout but did not get a chance to pull their goalie. They failed to get the puck out of their own zone for the rest of the game. In the final seconds of the game they would get a penalty which sealed them being unable to generate further offense. Reno Pond Hockey was able to pull through in the end thanks to a two goal performance from their captain. The Grrrowlers were struggling to get the puck through the neutral zone. This is Reno Pond Hockeys first win in a long time. This game breaks their twenty six game losing streak that went across multiple seasons and leagues. Reno Pond Hockey had gone almost a full year without a win prior to this game.
The first goal of this game was scored by #77 Shawn Scorpiniti. His goal was assisted by #25 Ethan Crisp. The second goal of the game was scored by Andy McCooey. His goal was unassisted. The third goal was scored by #28 (C) Zac Seidemann. His goal was assisted by #32 Greg Scott and #85 Christos Papachristos. The game winning fourth goal was scored by #28 (C) Zac Seidemann. His goal was assisted by #25 Ethan Crisp and #29 Erich Schulz.
Goals – #77 Shawn Scorpiniti, #37 Andy McCooey, #28 (C) Zac Seidemann
Assists – #25 Ethan Crisp (2), #32 Greg Scott, #85 Christos Papachristos, #29 Erich Schulz
Penalties – #28 Zac Seidemann
*all stats are provided by the league website and may not be 100% accurate
Reno Pond Hockey is currently in third place. They are one of three teams without a loss in regulation so far this season. Reno Pond Hockey is currently the second most penalized team in the league.
Reno Pond Hockey will take on the Holy Pucks for game three of the RIAL Summer 2024 E-League Regular season. That game will be on Tuesday, June 18th, 2024. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:15 PM. That game will be at Reno Ice.
Zac Electrifly 
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