Adult hockey league in full swing at Ice Den

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

The adult hockey leagues at the Stumptown Ice Den are heating up as the playoffs draw near. Only two weeks remain in the regular season, and several teams are fighting for a post-season spot.

A league games this past week were intense, according to league commissioner Andy Hergesheimer.

"The A league action this week was by far the best hockey of the season, and perhaps the best league night since its inception four years ago," he said.

In the first game, the Space Invaders defeated the Yetis 5-4 in overtime.

"The Yetis had multiple opportunities to put the game away in the third period, but goalie Josh Steele stood strong between the pipes for the Space Invaders," Hergesheimer said.

Steele stopped 38 total shots, including a furious five-on-three power play as regulation time ended. The three-minute overtime started with the Yetis again pelting Steele with shot after shot. At one point, a diving Jason Rasco prevented a puck from trickling over the line behind the beleaguered netminder, Hergesheimer said.

The Space Invaders finally won the game with two seconds remaining in overtime when Leif Haugen out-hustled the entire Yetis team to a loose puck and caught Yetis goalie Roger Phillips off guard for the game winner, Hergesheimer said.

The second game between the Road Crew and Serranos was another overtime thriller.

"The game ended halfway through overtime on a wicked wrist shot from the slot by Murray Craven," Hergesheimer said.

Craven has played for the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks from 1982-2000. He finished his NHL career with 266 goals and 493 assists for 759 points in 1,071 games. Craven also added 27 goals and 70 points in 118 career playoff games.

"His winning goal Wednes-day night for the Road Crew was easily the crowning achievement of his brilliant career," Hergesheimer said, adding, "Maybe not."

The adult leagues currently have 176 players, both men and women, competing in three levels, A, B and C. Each level has four teams. League games take place on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 8 p.m. to midnight.

The teams compete for two months for a chance to win the Whitefish Cup. Admission to games is free, and the public is encouraged to come and cheer on their favorite local players. After Jan. 1, the league will re-draft teams and start a new season.

In addition to the adult leagues, the Stumptown Ice Den has eight other time-slots during the week for adult drop-in hockey. Call 863-2477 for more information.

Team W L Points

A league

Road Crew 3 1 6

Yetis 2 2* 5

Space Invaders 2 2 4

Serranos 1 3* 3

B league

Snipers 3 1* 7

T-Wolves 3 1 6

Mad Hatters 2 2 4

The Fish 0 4* 1

C league

Leafs 3 1 6

Avalanche 3 1 6

Red Wings 2 2 4

Ice Dogs 0 4 0

* One point for overtime loss

Goalie stats

(C) Ted Turner, Avalanche, 7 goals in 4 games, 1.75 goals/gm.

(C) Bob Ohlson, Leafs, 8 goals in 4 games, 2.00 goals/gm.

(B) Casey Baumgartner, Mad Hatters, 10 goals in 4 games, 2.50 goals/gm.

(B) Josh Geseler, T-Wolves, 11 goals in 4 games, 2.75 goals/gm.

(A) Kevin Kelleher, Yetis, 6 goals in 2 games, 3.00 goals/gm.

(C) Jeremy Tietema, Red Wings, 12 goals in 4 games, 3.00 goals/gm.

(B) Jen Corp, Snipers, 12 goals in 4 games, 3.00 goals/gm.

(C) M.G. Rasco, Ice Dogs, 13 goals in 3 games, 4.33 goals/gm.

(A) Josh Steel, Space Invaders, 20 goals in 4 games, 5.00 goals/gm.

(A) Lou Thompson, Serranos, 21 goals in 4 games, 5.25 goals/gm.

(A) Jim Fleischer, Road Crew, 21 goals in 4 games, 5.25 goals/gm.

(B) Hal Irvine, Fish, 23 goals in 4 games, 5.75 goals/gm.

(A) Roger Phillips, Yetis, 14 goals in 2 games, 7.00 goals/gm.