Hockey Rich Found His Way Into This Photo Too

#8 Happy Little Elves (11-5-0-3) at #5 Corlears Hookers (14-4)
Location: Tompkins West, 4:00 PM
All-Time Series: Corlears Hookers lead 3-1
2010 Result: Week 2 – Happy Little Elves 7, Corlears Hookers 4
Game Notes: The Corlears Hookers are no strangers to the BTSH championship game.  This will mark their third trip to the final, following appearances in 2007 and 2008.  However, despite their playoff success throughout the years, the Hookers have yet to hoist the championship trophy.  Nevertheless, the team remains optimistic that it can finally win the big game after its convincing victory against the Butchers in the semifinals.  The Hookers jumped to an early 3-0 lead in that game, effectively ending any realistic hopes of a Butchers’ upset.  After the third goal, the team transitioned to a much more conservative game plan and coasted to a 3-1 victory.  Awaiting the Corlears Hookers in the championship game are the polarizing Happy Little Elves.  Regardless of your opinion of them, no one can deny the Elves’ flair for the dramatic throughout the 2010 playoffs.  In their round of 16 game, a seemingly easy victory turned into a 7-4 nail-biter against the Tuques La Famiglia.  In the quarterfinals, the Elves tied Fresh Kills in the final minute of regulation and prevailed in overtime.  Last week, in the semifinals, the Elves and Sky Fighters battled in the most entertaining game of this postseason, with the Elves advancing to the final via a shootout.  With the Elves making their first appearance in the championship game, do the cardiac “kids” have one more win left in them, or will the Corlears Hookers finally break through?
Keys To The Game For The Corlears Hookers:
1. The Hookers’ offense has revolved around Jason Eitel this postseason, and he now leads all playoff scorers with five goals.  He has scored in all three of his team’s playoff wins and will once again be a focal point in the championship game.  Although he missed the 2008 final to attend the wedding of teammate Dustin “Fake Dutch’s Brother” Olson, he has guaranteed that he will attend Sunday’s game, despite an earlier promise to take Dutch’s niece out trick-or-treating (there’s one for you, Dustin!).
2. Late season addition Tiffany Hagge has been a beast for the Hookers this postseason.  She has logged four playoff goals, including the overtime game-winner against Filthy Gorgeous in the quarterfinals.
3. Albert “Al” Huang is yet to start a game this season, even when the Hookers have been shorthanded.  However, he has been frequently brought into the game as the lone member of the team’s checking line.  His presence on the court has been known to intimidate opponents and has already caused several sleepless nights for Melanie Pessin of the Happy Little Elves, who admits she is afraid of him.  In fact, only co-captain Rich Glanzer scares her more than Huang does.
Keys To The Game For The Happy Little Elves:
1. Although Gil Valdes leads the Elves with three playoff goals, his most heroic moment came in the shootout of last week’s semifinal against the Sky Fighters.  He was the only player for either team to convert his attempt, which helped seal the victory.
2. The Elves Team Defense Initiative has been extremely successful in the team’s last two playoff games, allowing only three goals in nearly 115 minutes of play.  However, this game plan would not be as effective without the stellar play of Shaun deLacy between the pipes.  He put forth his best performance of the season in last week’s semifinal, turning aside numerous quality scoring chances in regulation and overtime, as well as stopping all three Sky Fighter shootout attempts.
3. Pending an Elves victory, an extravagant parade through Long Island has already been planned. Festivities will hit all of the island’s most noted hot spots including the Big Duck, Billy Joel’s birthplace, the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the Front Street strip mall in Hempstead, the Suffolk County police department, Jones Beach, the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant, and Lynbrook’s own Sanibel Chophouse.
Eli’s Pick: Corlears Hookers.  The third time’s the charm.
Derek’s Pick: Happy Little Elves.  I’ve made a lot of pot shots against him through the season, but Glanzer really has done an amazing job leading the Elves to the finals.  Of course, should they pull off the upset, that also means an entire offseason of listening to him gloat.
Watchability: 5 Chadwicks.  Hopefully, this game will be as dramatic as the Elves-Sky Fighters semifinal.