Oh, to Be Like Mike!
It was a battle of cuisine’s Wednesday when the boys from Blue Fin’s Bistro skated against Vincents of Raleigh. The Blue Fin’s Bistro is clearly superior, and if you are ever in Wake Forest stop by 3652 Rogers Rd - phone # 562-1118. The food, like the ownership, is fantastic.
The Fin’s scored early in the first period, when Mike ‘Hassel’ Hofmeister blasted a point-range shot. The rebound fluttered about, and Dave ‘GodFather’ Berent swiped at it, and then Bill Rusin finished it off.
But after that, the Fin’s floundered a bit and soon found themselves down 4-1. But the Blue Fin’s soon surfaced for air and came back with a vengeance.
Hofmeister escaped the Vincents defense on a breakaway. He skated to the left and blasted a shot in the lower right corner to make it 4-2.
Following that, Chris Bily skated in the offensive zone with the puck and sent a pin-point pass to Rusin - who easily tipped it in. 4-3.
Then, Mark ‘Stealth’ Ross embarrassed the Vincents net minder on what was intended to be a clearing pass - but as the keeper skated out to clear the puck, it slid by him and went in the net. The score was now tied at 4.
Back and forth the game went - at times the Fins forechecked well and played great defense, then at others they couldn’t clear the puck.
Emerging as their face-off threat, Mike ‘School Teacher’ Englert won the drop many times. Also on offense, Mike Line #2 was centered by Captain Mike McGee with Adam Hoover and Wes ‘Bully’ Gyure. This line played tough - and carried the offense by double shifting almost the entire game.
Leading the team in Goals, Assists, Points, and Witty Retorts - Hofmeister did it again in the 3rd period. He snared the faceoff and tipped it through the legs of a defender. He skated around the defender, grabbed the puck and was on another breakaway. He made a fantastic head fake, freezing the goalie, then moved to his left and scored. For those scoring at home - Hofmeister was 2-for-2 on breakaways. The latest goal tied the game at 5.
Leading the team in PIMS and tied for goals, Pat ‘Hanes’ Hudson scored the sixth goal of the night to give the Fin’s the lead. (6-5)
But alas, the Fin’s ran out of steam at the end. With two late goals (one an empty netter) Vincents prevailed in the end by a score of 8-6. It was an evenly played contest, fair on both sides.
Other notable Fin’s players were goalie Joe ‘Mostly Sane’ Durant - who played a solid game between the pipes and Defensive starts Mike Meehan and Matt Pusateri. Mike voiced his frustrations while Matt tried to put a Vincents player through the ice.
Next on the Blue Fin’s platter are the Renegades - Wed. October 11, at 8:15 pm.