Jokers Drop Tough Fall Season Opener, 6-5

Jokers of Doom are back for the fall season and came up short in the opener by a score of 6-5. The roster needed an overhaul after the team was unable to secure the return of the Salkins family, John Condit, or speedster Josh Berrelli. Also not returning due to injuries are Kevin LaPrade and defensemen Paul Bellantuono. The team was able to secure the return of Graig Romberg, Phil Elliott, John Deluca, and Jeremy Battye as well as Alix Langlais coming back from an injury. Andy Pettola will also return in the nets but was absent for the opener with backup duties falling to John Deluca.

The Jokers opened against Hockey Balboa and while they were able to strike first in the opening minutes on a goal from ex-Joker Dave Dreschler, the Jokers would fight back with goals by Romberg (power play) and Battye to end the first with a 2-1 lead.

In the second although the shots were even at 11 per team, Balboa would gain the edge scoring 2 goals and taking a 3-2 lead into a frenzied final period of play.

The third period again had 11 shots per team but 6 goals were scored between the two teams. The Jokers would nab the first 2 scores with Battye and Romberg each scoring their second goals of the game, including a wicked snap backhander into the top of the net by Romberg. The momentum would be short lived however as Balboa would click off 3 straight goals over only 1-1/2 minutes starting with a disputed goal. Dreschler’s second goal of the game ricocheted off his upper body and squirted past Deluca. The Jokers argued for a forward motion deflection and the goal should be nullified. The referees conferred and decided the goal was good. Balboa would add two more goals and although Romberg did get the hart trick with his 3rd goal, the Jokers team couldn’t recover and get the tying goal with the extra attacker in the final minute. The Jokers will next tangle with 0-1 Tomahawks on Sunday September 16.