The phrase “Winter is coming” (originating from the superb George R.R. Martin series A Song of Ice and Fire) could well be used to describe the weather in the Lower Mainland recently. With temperatures dipping down to around zero degrees centigrade, the fear of a deadly frost layer on the Ambleside rink was well warranted. However, to our surprise the rink was clear, bone dry and in pristine condition. As the sun began to peak out from behind the clouds, the air began to warm up a little, and in the end we had an almost ideal day for hockey.

Today would see both some massive blow-outs and some extremely close hard fought games. In fact, today was quite likely the most intense session in recent memory. Having a plentitude of subs (at least one on each team for the duration) certainly contributed to the energy level. Aside from a couple anomalous games, the goaltending was very solid at both ends today, with Sam matching Dom's typically exceptional play in most games. Also of note today, with his snuffbox finally feeling good enough to play, Rocco Gretzmaldi would make his long anticipated return.

After a blowout victory by Andy-Tony-Shay-Rob-Sam over JBo-Ollie-Bernie-Rocco-Dom, Marcus arrived and was added to the losing team. Team Dom would get redemption taking the next game in sudden death OT, but Team Sam would come storming back to take the next game 5-0, earning Samsung a well deserved shutout and the series victory.

Next, Tony-Bernie-Marcus-Shay-JBo-Dom would find some great chemistry and blowout Rob-Andy-Rocco-Ollie-Sam in a 5-0 win. With Beener leaving, the teams were changed again and one final series was played. After going down 5-3 in the first game Team Ollie-Tony-JBo-Bernie-Dom would lay it all on the line in the next game coming back to tie it 4-4. Team Marcus-Andy-Rob-Shay-Sam's relentless pressure was too much to overcome however, and they would take it in OT. As the teams were quite even one more game was played, a game that would last almost an hour, a real grindfest that would feature spectacular goaltending on both ends. Team Sam would persevere once again winning 5-3.

Another great hockey session in the books. See y'all next long weekend... weather depending of course.

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Thanks, Bernie! With Andy never getting the chance to sub in during Game 6, the opportunity was there for Rob and Marcus to catch up. As a result, Andy and Rob tie for first star at 19 points each (6G-13A for AS, 9G-10A for RH) with Marcus, who missed Game 1, at 9G-8A. Today also marks the day that Andrew joins the ultra-elite of players who have averaged 3.00 PPG over their entire careers; he joins Pat Elischer, Robert Rogers, Dallas Sinclair, Kyle Grenier, and Dustin Marchischuk. He is the first to do it with more assists than goals. The goaltending battle was also incredibly tight. Each goalie got a shutout, and at the end of the day were separated by a single thousandth; Sam edging Dom .833-.832. Dom, however, had far more saves, 144-105.

Game Scores:
Andrew Tony Shaylin Rob Sam def. Jordan Oliver Bernie Vincent Dom 5-1
Jordan Bernie Oliver Vincent Marcus Dom def. Shaylin Rob Tony Andrew Sam 5-4
Rob Tony Andrew Sam def. Jordan Bernie Oliver Vincent Marcus Dom 5-0
Tony Bernie Marcus Shaylin Jordan Dom def. Rob Andrew Vincent Oliver Sam 5-0
Shaylin Rob Andrew Marcus Sam def. Oliver Tony Jordan Bernie Dom 5-3
Marcus Rob Shaylin Sam def. Oliver Bernie Jordan Tony Dom 5-4
Marcus Andrew Rob Shaylin Sam def. Oliver Bernie Jordan Tony Dom 5-3

Elo Ratings

Andrew Smart 2243 (+8)
Rob Hajdu 2058 (+18)
Marcus Keighron 2046 (+8)
Tony Hajdu 1999 (-2)
Oliver Koth-Kappus 1865 (-50)
Jordan Barlow 1845 (+7)
Shaylin Trotman 1706 (+3)
Bernie Koth-Kappus 1597 (+17)
Vincent Garcia 1571 (-22)

Season Stats: Rob needs just one point for 300 on the year, which would make him the third player to do so this year... The fourth-place race is tightening up with Tony leading Marcus 274-269... Bernie becomes the seventh player with 200 points this year and trails Lee for sixth, 219-207, with Barlow just one point behind Bernie... Dom needs one point for 100... While Andrew all but has the goal scoring title wrapped up, the race for second is tight: Tony 161; Marcus 154; Oliver 146; Rob 139.... Jordan needs seven goals for 100... Andrew needs ten assists for 300... Tony passes Bernie for fourth in assists, 115-114; Marcus leads Jordan for sixth, 116-113... Marcus drops behind Lee and Dom to seventh in shooting percentage... Dom passes the 2,500 save mark... Dom leads the circuit with seven shutouts this year; Sam is third with three.

SDF/GDF: Andrew opens up his lead over second-place Graeme while Marcus jumps up two spots to third and the Hajdus swap ninth and tenth... Almost nothing changes on the GDF, with everyone still in the same positions. Alex remains number one for a 16th straight ranking and 32st overall.

All-Time Records, Awards and Honours
All-Time Session Scoring Milestones & Streaks
All-Time Session Goaltending Milestones & Streaks

On the All-Time Front: Bernie is just seven points behind Seamus for fourth all-time in points... Rob passes Joern for 12th... Andrew and Jordan become the 14th and 15th players with 700 points; Tony is 23 away... Oliver needs three goals for 1,000... Tony is seven goals behind Mitch for 12th... Andrew is one goal behind Joern for 15th... Jordan becomes the 18th player with 300 goals... Bernie needs ten assists for 900... Jordan becomes the 14th player with 400 assists; Andrew is seven away... Tony becomes the 17th player with 300 assists... Oliver is three points behind Stefan from becoming the all-time leading scorer in VRH... Andrew is two shots behind Joern for 14th... Jordan falls behind Jason Leung to fifth in shooting percentage... Dom becomes the first goalie with 7,000 saves... Sam is 72 saves behind Lorne for 12th... Bernie becomes the second player to play 1,300 games... Sam becomes the 15th player to play 400 games; Andrew enters the top 25... A true sign of the times: Dom passes Stefan for third in all-time VRH games with 497... Dom passes Bron for second in shutouts with 17 and is one behind Alex for the all-time lead; Sam has four... Another sign of the times: Andrew passes pat Elischer for ninth in three-star points with 405; he is five behind K.J. for eighth... As mentioned above, Andrew now sits at an even 3.00 PPG all-time, tied for fifth with Dustin Marchischuk... Jordan becomes the sixth player to score 700 points in VRH... Marcus has eight straight 15-pointers... Rob ties Jordan for eighth in ten-assisters with 16 and enters the top ten in 15-pointers with 26... Dom passes Seamus for the all-time lead in .810s with 31 and has three straight .830 sessions... Dom is one .830 behind Alex for the all-time lead with 21... Sam posts his third career .830 and his 15th 80-saver... Sam has eight straight 80-savers and Dom has back-to-back 80-savers... Dom becomes the first player with 40 90-savers... Sam has three straight 90-savers... Dom passes Alex for the lead in 120-savers with 21 and 130-savers with 18... Andrew plays his 15th straight session; Dom his 12th... Andrew’s 526 points this year is now the fifth-highest single-season total ever. His 290 assists rank fourth, as do his 1,277 shots on goal... Dom becomes the only goalie with multiple 2,500-save seasons... Sam’s 120 games goaltended rank as the fifth-highest single-season total ever. Dom’s 230 goalie star points tie with Seamus’ mark from last year as the third-highest season total ever.