ANN ARBOR– Ron Coleman scored two goals while pressed into duty as a winger Wednesday night en route to Ashley’s Aventinus beating arch-rival Leafs 5-3 in a game refs called “intense.”
“I prefer playing defense,” said Coleman nervously before the game. However, with only nine skaters, Coleman stepped up with a nice backhand shot in the second period to tie the game. He added another late in the period to give Aventinus the lead, which the team held onto despite a flurry of activity, including two third period penalties from Leaf Tom Nesbitt, known around the league as “whiskers” for either his prominent white mustache or for “whisking” opposing skaters off their feet.
Chris Boulter, Jen Perry, and Ginny Klinesteker each had two assists, while defenseman Mark Woods added two goals– including a power play goal in the third. “I think that’s the first time I’ve scored on that goalie (Robert Slagle),” noted Woods. Greenman added the empty net goal to ensure the win.
“I’ve lost plenty of games to ‘Flopsie’ (Slagle) where I thought I was going to cry,” said goaltender Rusty Barron, later stating that the win felt great, but that “this was not a fun game.”
The team was quick to deflect praise, opting instead to slump over in exhaustion. “This is the most humble team I’ve ever played with,” said defenseman Brad Johnson (assist). Boulter, however, admitted to hooting and cheering “louder” than usual after the buzzer. “I told Daryl (Coleman) to start yelling and he said, ‘I can’t do it,'” noted Boulter. “I told him we don’t get paid for this, so I’m happy to do it for free!”