NARCH PRO CHAMPS

Alkali Revel

Championship Sunday

          They did it. Two in the last three years. Alkali Revel are your 2019 NARCh East Pro Champions! After finishing the first day of the tournament with a 0-2 record, they knew Saturday had to be lights out. Alkali did just that and scored 10 goals and only allowing 2 against, wrapping up round robin with a 2-2 record. Alkali needed the PAMA Labeda Golden Knights to defeat RinkRat to help them secure the 6th and final seed.

          Great players play great on Sundays. The day kicked of with a tough matchup against PAMA, and the Alkali team dominates winning 4-1.  Zack Lane was solid in net stopping 16 of 17 shots. Spezia and Kile netted 2 each and Cody Kettler picked up two apples himself. Defending champions, Mission Labeda Snipers who were in route for their second straight NARCh chip were up next. The puck didn’t bounce Alkali’s way in the first and Alkali found themselves with a two goal deficit going into half. Needing a big goal, Cody Kettler answered, putting them on the board in the second. Alex Kile scored shortly after on a gorgeous dish from JP Larmoyeux to tie the game 2-2. Overtime finish? No. Spezia with unbelievable speed was able to separate himself from defenders, and put a strong backhand past Jerry Kuhn to make the score 3-2 with 39 seconds left. The Snipers unload shots and Alkali bodies stood strong as they blocked a parade of pucks in the expiring seconds to secure the win over the defending NARCh champions. Zack Lane stood on his head once again, stopping 27 out of 29 shots he faced. Only one more team is stopping them from lifting the NARCh cup; the Mission Bauer Bordercats.

A rematch with a Bordercat team that beat them 6-4 in round robin, a team that was scoring an average of 5.5 goals per game. Alkali, on a 3 game winning streak, rallying back from a 2 goal deficit the game before, and with all the momentum in the world, the Alkali team was prepared. They blasted out of the gates with a goal from Alex Kile on a beauty feed from Spezia. Kile does not stop there, he assists on a nice goal from Arcibal in the slot to make the game 2-0 Alkali. On the following power play Ryan Kish from the Bordercats scores one to make the game 2-1 with a minute left in the first. ZACK LANE WAS DIALED IN ALL SUNDAY, playing huge on a penalty kills and stopping all shots that came his way. Alkali killed a penalty midway through the second half was huge. About 10 seconds after the penalty is killed, Cody “Mr. Clutch” Kettler tallies a third goal to make it 3-1 in favor of Alkali. The final stretch of the game included killing another penalty that for 30 seconds or so, was a 5 on 3. Save after save, shot block after shot block. Alkali boys sold out for the last two minutes of that game to secure their second NARCh Pro Championship in the last three years.

          Alex Kile, Tyler Spezia, and Cody Kettler combined for 13 points in 3 games. GREAT PLAYERS.... I won’t say it again, I think you guys get the point. As the boys celebrated and received the prestigious NARCh Medal, they Sent "The New Guy" out to grab the LORD GOODWIN CUP, Kyle Phelps! Alkali Hockey is back on top of the NARCh world once again!