Mott (8-11) hung tough before a four-goal third period opened the game for Ashley’s Ruination (10-7-2) Tuesday night, as the team in red cruised to a 10-5 victory. The win also secures the Ruination’s 10th victory and a winning record for the fifth straight season, no small feat for a team that languished for years in the D-league cellar. “Seems like the league has gotten better,” said center Devin Collingridge.
Mott, once a perennial champion, jumped out to an early 2 goal lead, after goaltender Rusty Barron misplayed a puck, allowing Mott’s #19 to skate around him and drop the puck into the net. Concerns over Barron’s health quickly spread throughout the bench.
Team trainer Mark Woods examined Barron, and determined he was cleared to play. “I asked him if he was okay, and he said ‘yes,'” said Woods. “That usually means a guy is okay to play.”
Steve Pouliot answered back with two goals, and Sean McGrath took the lead with a third goal. Mott responded a minute later, only to have winger Matt Schaeffer answer back within twenty seconds. “It’s a (bleeping) barn burner!” exclaimed defenseman Jason Spence after the first period.
Mott once again tied it up in the second, but Brett Vogel took the lead back for good mid-way through the second. Mott had beaten Ruination previously on the strength of #28, but the Ruination had an answer for him. “(Bleep) him,” said Spence.
“He was cherry-picking quite a bit,” said Collingridge of #28 later in the locker room.
“(Bleep) him,” said forward Justin DiCenso.
“Hey! That’s what I said,” noted Spence.
Ruination finishes the regular season against Black Ops Saturday.