9th Week – Fall 2025 SSBHL Top Players of the Week: THIS IS IT!

Good afternoon, SSBHL community!

It was great to finally get back outside under perfect conditions — sunny skies, crisp air, and not a dark cloud in sight! Week 9 brought some beautiful hockey weather and even better matchups, with teams battling hard to secure their playoff spots. With just one week remaining, every shift mattered, and the intensity was through the roof.

Also, a quick reminder — our year-end award ballots were sent out this week via email by Sir Steve Wilde. If you haven’t submitted your votes yet, please do so as soon as possible so we can tally the results and prepare the hardware for our winners! 🏆

Now, let’s jump into the Week 9 recap!

🏒 Game Results

Stone Hands vs. Stick Figures
Final: 9–2 Stick Figures
Keeping their momentum rolling after last week’s win over the Spiders, the Stick Figures showed no signs of slowing down — this time dominating the second-place Stone Hands. The Sticks wasted no time, with Captain Jeff Beattie opening the scoring early and setting the tone. From there, the game tilted completely in their favor.

The Stick Figures’ relentless pace and high-tempo play were overwhelming, leaving the Stone Hands stuck in their zone and unable to find answers. Their transitions from defense to offense were lightning-fast, creating constant pressure. The final buzzer sounded at 9–2, a statement win that launched the Stick Figures into third place.

From 0–3–1 to now 4–4–1, the Sticks have completely flipped the script. Once written off, they’re now one of the league’s hottest teams heading into the final week — a true turnaround story.

Hooligans vs. Spiders
Final: 5–2 Spiders
This was a massive game for both squads fighting for the last playoff spot. The Hooligans needed a win to keep their season alive, while the Spiders were desperate to protect their hold on fourth place.

The Hooligans came out firing, with Pat Sullivan striking first as a flex player. Moments later, Pedro extended the lead with a slick wrist shot off a nice setup from his defense. But the Spiders responded, cutting the lead in half with a rebound goal from Ryan Gurly, who buried it five-hole after following up his own shot.

The score held steady until the third period when the Spiders erupted for four unanswered goals to take control and never look back. The 5–2 win kept them in fourth place and, unfortunately, ended the Hooligans’ playoff hopes.

Smokey Joes vs. Mustangs
Final: 10–0 Mustangs
From start to finish, the Mustangs delivered a masterclass in complete team hockey. They looked every bit like a championship-caliber team — fluid, disciplined, and absolutely dominant.

The Mustangs suffocated Smokey Joe’s offense, applying pressure on both ends of the rink. Between relentless backchecking from their forwards and strong positional play from the defense, the Joes had nowhere to go. The Mustangs stormed out to a 4–0 first-period lead, kept it steady in the second, and exploded for six more goals in the third to seal the deal at 10–0.

It was a statement win that locked them into first place for the season. The Joes, meanwhile, slipped to fifth and will need a big Week 10 win — and some help — to sneak into the playoffs.

🔥 Offensive Attackers

#1 Offensive Player of the Week – Jeff Beattie (Stick Figures Captain)
Jeff’s first season as captain has been a tale of two halves. After starting the year 0–3–1, his team has found its rhythm, climbing into third place with a renewed sense of confidence. Jeff led the charge last Sunday, putting up four goals and two assists in a dominant performance.

He was everywhere — scoring, backchecking, and leading vocally on the bench. His composure and leadership brought out the best in his teammates. League administrator and Joes defenseman Matt Hocking said it best after watching the game:

“The Stick Figures look scary right now. They’ve found a playstyle that just outpaces everyone.”

With one week to go, Beattie’s crew will look to lock down that playoff spot and carry their surge into the postseason.

#2 Offensive Player of the Week – Thomas Schindler (Stick Figures)
Jeff wasn’t the only Stick Figure lighting it up — linemate Thomas Schindler put on a playmaking clinic. Schindler racked up five assists and a goal, threading passes through impossible lanes all game long.

His vision was elite, finding teammates in tight spaces and keeping the offense flowing from start to finish. Thomas played with intensity from the opening faceoff to the final whistle, finishing with six points and proving to be a critical piece of the Sticks’ late-season success.

#3 Offensive Player of the Week – Joe “J-Mac” MacKenzie (Mustangs Captain)
Everyone knows the name J-Mac, and he continues to live up to it. In his first season as a captain, he’s been electric, and Week 9 was no exception — tallying four goals and two assists for a six-point performance.

J-Mac even added a shorthanded goal, flipping momentum during what could have been a Smokey Joes powerplay boost. His leadership and consistent offensive firepower have guided the Mustangs to a near-perfect 8-0-1 record. They’ll look to finish the regular season strong against the only team to blemish their record earlier in the year.

🛡️ Defensive Gurus

#1 Defensive Player of the Week – Tim “Tito” Burke (Mustangs)
“Tito” was a force last Sunday, shutting down the Smokey Joes’ usually high-octane offense. In a historic first, the Joes were held scoreless — thanks in large part to Tito’s airtight defensive play.

His positioning, composure, and leadership have been vital to the Mustangs’ success all season. Whether he’s blocking shots, breaking up rushes, or sustaining offensive zone pressure, Tito has been the heartbeat of the Mustangs’ defense — a model of consistency and grit.

#2 Defensive Player of the Week – Matt Leary (Spiders Captain)
There’s a reason Matt Leary is always in the Defensive Player conversation. Few players make opponents feel more trapped or frustrated than Leary. He was at his best again last Sunday, sacrificing his body with blocked shots, making diving plays to hold the zone, and positioning himself perfectly to disrupt dangerous chances.

Leary’s leadership and defensive IQ make him a nightmare to play against. With one Prince Cup already under his belt as captain, he’ll be pushing to guide the Spiders back into playoff contention — but they’ll need a win this Sunday to hold that final spot.

#3 Defensive Player of the Week – Cam MacKenzie (Stick Figures)
Cam brought energy, skill, and defensive awareness in a standout performance against the Stone Hands. He was quick, decisive, and active on both ends of the rink.

Cam jumped up from the blue line to score twice — first with a booming shot off a feed from Schindler, then by following up his own rebound to bury another. Beyond the scoring, Cam was solid defensively, using smart positioning and timely stickwork to keep plays alive and shut down attacks. He’s clearly found his stride within the Stick Figures system and will look to carry that momentum into Week 10’s crucial matchup.

🥅 Tremendous Tending

#1 Goalie of the Week – Dan Harding (Mustangs)
After a shaky outing the week before, Harding responded in the best way possible — with perfection. He stopped all 38 shots he faced to earn the first shutout of the season, posting a perfect 1.000 save percentage.

The performance was a testament to both Harding’s composure and the Mustangs’ defensive structure. The team cleared rebounds, limited high-danger looks, and gave their goalie clean sightlines. It was a textbook example of team defense and goaltending working in unison — the kind of effort that sets a playoff tone.

#2 Goalie of the Week – Brad “Stone Wall” Wall (Stick Figures)
True to his nickname, Brad Wall was an absolute wall in net. Facing 36 shots from the second-place Stone Hands, he stopped 34 of them for a stellar .944 save percentage — one of his best performances of the season.

Wall has been having a career year, boasting a GAA of 4.75 and multiple games over .900 in save percentage. His calm presence and ability to read developing plays have given his team the confidence to play their aggressive style, knowing he’s there as their final line of defense.

#3 Goalie of the Week – Nick Bonofiglio (Spiders)
Big Nick was a key reason the Spiders secured a vital win over the Hooligans. He turned aside 21 of 23 shots for a strong .913 save percentage, making clutch saves to preserve the lead.

When Bonofiglio is locked in, he’s one of the toughest goaltenders to beat. His size, angle play, and positioning make scoring look impossible at times. He’ll miss this coming week due to prior commitments, so the Spiders will need a flex goalie — but expect the team to rally in his absence as they fight to clinch that final playoff spot.

📊 Standings (After Week 9)

🗓️ Upcoming Games – October 26, 2025

9:00 AM – Stone Hands at Mustangs (Key Matchup: Gianni vs. Connolly)
10:30 AM – Smokey Joes at Hooligans (Key Matchup: Swan vs. B-Mac)
12:00 PM – Stick Figures at Spiders (Key Matchup: Holleran vs. Nick P)

Some massive games ahead — especially with playoff positions on the line. It’s going to be an exciting finish to the regular season!

Thank you all for another great week of hockey!

– Dan H