ANN ARBOR– Ashley’s Aventinus spotted the Goal Diggers four goals and nearly half a game before starting a most unlikely 5-4 comeback win to give the team its seventh straight win and first place in the standings. Brad Johnson shook off the effects of the flu, notching a goal and three assists all in the second period. Said Johnson: “Pretty sure the last time that happened, I was wearing the green and white of the legendary Geardaddies,” a pro-am team from the Kalamazoo Tiddlywinks and Hockey League
Sources confirmed the Geardaddies as a “blast from the past,” whose exploits were indeed legendary. Unconfirmed rumors include projectile vomiting onto opposing goalies, cow-tipping in “like Adrian or some farm place,” and Johnson’s one goal, three assist night against rival team BoyzindaHood, featuring a young Cuba Gooding, Jr. and O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson.
Justin Baier added a second goal, tipping Johnson’s shot from the point. Jeff Meden added two more in less than two minutes to tie the game. Nate Greenman capped off the win seven minutes into the third period.
Phillion posing next to namesake before heading out to chop wood.
Goaltender Jeff Phillion started shaky in the first, but stiffened up by the second period, playing 37 minutes of shutout hockey. An imposing figure at 6’0 and 215lbs, he’s been called “The Mountain,” “The Mountain Man,” and “Mountain Jack” by teammates and fans.
Ever humble, Phillion exhorted teammates between periods to “keep doing whatever it is you’re doing!”
Looking at the stat sheet, it was clear that Aventinus was not committing penalties… not like the Diggers were.
“I wouldn’t say that we won the game so much as they handed it over to us,” said Woods, referring to the Goal Diggers’s 18 penalties totaling 66 minutes, including 3 game misconducts. Scott Bray was also given a misconduct, though he is appealing the call with the league.
“I never threw any punches and was only attempting to protect myself,” said Bray, referring to the “fighting” incident with Diggers defenseman John “Kirby” (or “Kerby’s-Coney-Island-’cause-he-clearly-likes-eating”) Puckett.