RPD Claims Pro Title
The 2013 TORHS2Hot4Ice Pro Series proved itself as one of the best Pro Divisions in the history of our sport. 17 teams started on Tuesday evening, all with the same goal....claim the Gold Medal and $10,000 check as the top Pro Roller Hockey team out there.
After the round robin 3 teams sat undefeated, Tour Mudcats, Alkali RPD, and Alkali FTB. We had some amazing quarter-final games, the most exciting was the Pama Cyclones upsetting (yes I know, that doesn't sound right) Alkali FTB 4-2. Itan Chavira would score the final 3 goals of the game to propel his team from down 2-1 to the victory. In other QF action the Mudcats would take care of the Alkali Asylum in a tight matchup, Mission Labeda Snipers handled the Mission Bauer Bordercats 8-4, and RPD would take out Mission Bauer Next Gen 8-4 to lock a spot up in the Semi-Finals.
In the next round, RPD was dominant against the Snipers and the Mudcats were able to pull out a victory 4-3 with Pama having multiple scoring opportunities with the clock running down to set up our Championship game.
The first half of the final was all RPD as they controlled the play and entered the intermission up 3-1. After a 15 minute intermission however, Chad Seibel changed the game plan up, the Mudcats came out playing much more physical, and cut the lead to 3-2 with about 5 minutes left. A late power play opportunity for the Mudcats sent the game to OT as Casey Escarscenga put a puck short side to tie the game with just 24 seconds left. In OT, Travis Noe tripped up JP Beilsten coming around the net to send the Mudcats back to the PP in what many thought would be another championship for the 'Cats. RPD had other things in mind though. After Pat Lee won the race to a loose puck, Kyle Novack broke loose along the left side boards and caught a perfect pass from Lee to go in on a breakaway. Novack would capitalize on his chance beating Brett Leggatt low on the glove side to capture the Pro title and $10,000 for Alkali RPD.
The win would complete the "National Sweep" for RPD as they also claimed the Winter Cup Pro Division at Joe Dumars' Fieldhouse this January.
We'd like to thank all the teams for competing this year, and we can only imagine what the Pro Series has in store for 2014 in..........