プレスリリース

The Cleveland Intrepids ended their Placement Playoffs on a high note. After having their best season in team history and finishing with the 5th seed, the Intrepids were swept out of the playoffs by the Hail To the Capitals by a combined score of 11-1. Coach Gabe Bastrzyk explained, "I guess we just had a hang over. We didn't know what to expect and we didn't execute. The Caps are a great team and we look forward to competing with them next year."
The bleeding didn't stop there. The Intrepids then got swept out of the first round of the placement playoffs, losing to the Storm by a combined score 7-3. "We were tired and we just couldn't get our feet under us," said star LW Marco Begot, who finished the placement playoffs with 1 goal and 3 assists and a miserable -3. Although the series was more competitive then the Playoffs the Intrepids looked tired. Things looked just as grim as the 2nd round of the placement playoffs started. Facing the 8th seed LC International, a team that the Intrepids had owned all regular season, they fell before a sold out home crowd 4-0. "It was bad. It was beyond bad, " Said coach Bastrzyk. Feeling the pressure the coach made a decision to go with backup to sit starting goalie Leon Maas and go with firey "Voldy" Vankovskis, who had limited action during the year. He and the team responded with a 4-3 SO victory. Voldy had 40 saves and put the team on his back. "I just wanted to give our team a chance to win," said the Latvian goalie. Captain Kadeem "Deemers" Garvey scored 2 goals and added an assist, to receive the first star of the game, while Jaromir Nipca and Archibaldo Volti sealed the game ion the shootout, each scoring on International goalie Semyon Kozlovskiy. Voldy was again superb in the shootout, stopping both shot out attempts. Coach Bastrzyk beamed when he spoke of Vankovskis, "Voldy was unreal he won us the game."
In the third and deciding game coach decided to put Leon Maas back in goal. A gutsy decision after Vankovskis performance in game 2. The team responded with a great performance from the teams 2nd line. "We made a few tweaks with the lines. Something I think you might see a little more of next season," said coach Bastrzyk. He was speaking of switching up the lines and putting Finnborg Bergeinsson on the RW and moving all star defensman Geoffrey Bronner to defense. The line responded with a combined 3 goals and 6 assists and a +12 rating. Captain "Deemers" Garvey was happy with the performance. "I think we responded well. After the emotional game two we knew we couldn't have a let down. Those guys came through in the clutch."
Notes: The veterans training camp is under way and the rookie camp will start at the beginning of season 12.
Expect a few tweaks with the lines next year, as LW Alexey Belyaev and the team are having troubles agreeing on a new contract.

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