Prompt 1
After the heartbreaking rout by the hall of fame team, the Grizzled Vets were hellbent to get a win and show they were better than their last game. In the first matchup with Team Up-and-Comers, the vets put on a clinic. Several days of backbreaking practices led by former teammate turned assistant coach Gunnar Soderberg had the team locked in to make a statement… and did they ever.

After two periods, they led 5-1, with a pair of goals from Julio Tokolosh and three first-period assists for Los Angeles’ Jimmy Slothface. The Up-and-Comers achieved a total of 3 shots on goal in the third period, as Team Grizzled Vets staked out a 7-1 victory with an impressive 43-18 difference in shots. Mat Smith started the game, but it was Jon St. Ark who was asked to step in and survive the third period rush from the old heads. Tokolosh finished with 5 shots on goal, 2 goals, and an impressive blocked shot off the knee late in the 3rd period to take the air out of the up-and-comers.

While only recording a single goal (a Scarn tally from Wilson and Corey Kennedy) this time, the HAM line of Scarn, Morgan, and Wilson kept the pressure on all game, tiring the younger defenders out. Corey Kennedy was a man on fire, finishing the game with 23:11 TOI, 9 shots on goal, two points, 3 hits, and a +4 rating. Up and down the lineup, the Grizzled Vets played strong team defense with insane pressure. While only on the ice for 16:33, Cassius Darrow played over a minute on the penalty kill and had 2 takeaways (both against Seattle teammates Kermit Murphy and Vaseline Podcalzone) and 4 blocked shots.

Heading into the championship game, the Grizzled Vets look as strong as they ever have. I pity the fools that have the next game.