Byline: Viking Ice Arena

Pistol Pete made a bold proclamation earlier in the week saying that his North Stars would win game three of the series. This guarantee may live in MNL folk lore much like New York Rangers captain Mark Messier did in 1994 before willing his team to victory and an eventual Stanley Cup. Pistol was asked about the similarities… “Yeah, Mess was a decent hockey player but he is no Pistol (speaking in the third person). I pretty much put my team on my back and those lazy Otto’s just rode my coat tails”. Exactly like Messier did, the Greek Freak tallied a hat trick and was the determining factor in his teams success.

The game was a back and forth affair with plenty of scoring, solid goal tending and maximum effort on display for each squad. “We knew what was on the line” said Tigers GM Jeff Skillman “and we gave it everything we had”. Skillman scored the game tying goal with five minutes to play in regulation and was voted the second star of the game. The Tigers finished their inaugural season one win short of the Stanley Keg finals. “It was a great season for the boys” said Ryan Allen. “Like most great teams we need to learn how to lose before we can win”.

The story book ending of a North Stars Stanley Keg is still intact as they defeated the Tigers 5-4 in overtime Monday night. Led by Pistol Pete Niphoratos who guaranteed victory the North Stars advance to play the Seals next Monday for all the marbles. The match up will feature an “all Otto” finals with the winner being in line to capture the prestigious Stanley Keg but more importantly the Essence of Otto Dickie Award. “It’s only fitting that the best two teams all year play each other for the Keg” said Troy Otto in a post game interview.