ANN ARBOR– Ashley’s Hopslam fought back from a 0-3 deficit to beat Bearshark! 6-5 in a highly anticipated game. League director Abe Colwell stated at the beginning of the season that he was “interested to see ” how the two teams matched up.
Ashley’s (seen above) found their match-up with Bearshark! to be complicated, but were able to keep holding on for the win Sunday night
He was not disappointed. Bearshark! took complete command of the early first period with three goals– one by Anthony Landon, and two by Anthony Schirripa (who had a hat trick for the night). “It’s like a Tony! Toni! Tone! concert,” said Bearshark!’s spokesman Al B. Sure during the first period. “It feels good!”
Since most players either were not old enough to get the reference or else did not listen to R&B music in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the comment went largely ignored and completely unappreciated. Sure noted that he “wasn’t so sure” anyone even remembered his minor hit in the late 1980s.
Chris Sutton gave cause for concern late in the first period, scoring a short-handed goal. Nate Greenman added another in the final minute of the period to close the gap.
Bearshark’s Schirripa opend the second period with a goal, pushing the lead back to two, but Lauren Lobert and Sutton tied the game up to finish a wild second period.
Bearshark!’s Keith Schultz grabbed the lead one more time to start the third period, but timely goals from Matt Schaefer and Brad Johnson secured the wild win for Ashley’s.
When asked about the exciting nature of the battle, GM Mark Woods simply agreed, “I’m with you.”