ItDoesntMatter wrote:

ItDoesntMatter wrote:

narva sneaking into the playoffs purely on the back of their weaksauce division will be really funny when they use it to make a run to the cup

sorry did I say this last year? I meant to say it this year. in my defense numbers can be confusing

told y'all #ridethewave

1994 MARCOTTE CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
2 Narva Neptunes vs 4 Abrieden Bucks

The 1994 matchup for the 35th Marcotte Cup featured two teams who couldn't be more different from each other. It seems eerily similar to Abrieden's '82 run which featured a young goaltender carrying his team to the finals, only to meet a stacked team with high expectations.

The Abrieden Bucks enter as the major underdog after a resurgent season and a pair of upsets in the playoffs. The big storyline is the sensational play of rookie goaltender Billy Monday, who took home Best Goalie after a stunning season in the crease. Monday and Jarkko Bergstrom are back to splitting time which helps limit Monday's minutes for a 1-2 punch. Not to be outdone on defense, the much improved play from Byron Schwartz has ignited the roster and helped carry the offense. Schwartz and Gale Muncy form a tough top pair and the defense has solid if not spectacular depth with Johnie Shipley and Jonathon Mras among others. The offense has been a work in progress but has found its stride late in the season and through the playoffs, led by two Swedes in Ric Rundstrom and Joel Eklund. The Bucks moved young Russian forward Josef Tyoma to the wing to allow Eklund to play the pivot and it yielded dividends. The depth can be spotty but a second line of center Eric Dupree flanked by Neal Osborne and Alden Varney and proven to be effective. 3rd line center Alec Gage is a name to keep an eye on. The Bucks are coached by Darren Jefferson who came in from the college ranks in his first gig as a professional. The veteran Trent Everett assists on the bench and has championship experience from his days in Kirkenport.

The Narva Neptunes have a completely different script as a heavily-favored team all season after the splash signing of coveted free agent Bill Bronkowski. The lofty expectations didn't seem to phase them as the Neptunes found their chemistry and a blueprint for winning, landing the #2 seed and a division title. Bronko's former Polish Juniors linemate JoJo Gorka and young power forward Kevin Kozlosky create a formidable top line but Narva also has enviable depth, especially down the middle. Center Alex Kirkland is a former Finals MVP and the bottom six pivots in Mike Mott and Damion Fortt are quite strong. The blue line doesn't feature a true star but is very deep with August Goulet and Johnny Kapua up top with strong support in Romeo Porter and Dick McManus. In the net, Elvis Pepper is the workhorse veteran with longtime journeyman Collin Hawks backing him up. Narva is coached by the legendary Byron Peachey who brings multitudes of experience to the bench. Assisting him is Tom Dobbins.



Game 1: ABR 1 @ NAR 2 (OT) – The opening act of the finals in the Crown City Center was as advertised as both squads looked prepared and focused. Alex Kirkland opened the scoring for Narva and the Bucks answered back with a Rundstrom tally but it was tightly-fought and both Pepper and Monday were on a high level. A backbreaking penalty on Abrieden in OT brought in the power play unit and Bronko bashed home a greasy goal to win it.

Game 2: ABR 0 @ NAR 1 – In another closely-contested affair, both goalies again were standing on their heads in a scoreless game deep into the third period. A gorgeous save by Elvis Pepper on a surefire one-timer from Joel Eklund turned into a 3-1 chance the other way which became a goal by JoJo Gorka to blow the shutout for Monday and earn a victory for Narva and a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3: NAR 0 @ ABR 1 (OT) – Back in Abrieden at Clarenrane Arena the Bucks steeled themselves behind a brilliant shutout from Billy Monday as Byron Schwartz launched a missile from point in OT to bank home a win and get back into the series.

Game 4: NAR 3 @ ABR 0 – Narva responded in kind and saw a pair of goals from Bronkowski hold up a great game from Pepper as the Bucks were stifled and couldn't find much offense. An empty-netter from Mike Mott sealed it.

Game 5: ABR 3 @ NAR 7 – With elimination on the line and the Bucks having a penchant for making comebacks, the Neptunes were determined not to allow that to happen. Narva opened the scoring with back-to-back goals early in the first period from Kirkland and Bronko. A third from Motte put the Bucks in jeopardy but Josef Tyoma found a home for a long snipe to break the goose egg. The Bucks briefly tied it in the second on goals from Eklund and Alec Gage but it was all Narva after that as Bronko posted a hat trick and the tide couldn't be stopped. Bill Bronkowski was awarded Finals MVP as the Narva Neptunes won their third Marcotte Cup and first since 1978.

1994 Marcotte Cup Champions: Narva Neptunes (3)