Game 8 Notes from the Insiderrrrr

After a brief hiatus, we’re back — and surprisingly to some, we’ve still got a series! The Los Banditos lead 5–3 heading into Game 9 next week, with another chance to finally close things out.

Game 8 was a masterclass in resilience from the Spartans. Severely short-staffed, they started the game with just nine skaters and finished with ten, embodying the true Spartan spirit as they battled through adversity and came out on top. Captain Jonathan Heise led by example with a dominant four-goal performance, putting his team on his back when it mattered most. Veteran leaders Paddy and Iano played smart, disciplined hockey on the back end, chipping in offensively when needed, while unsung heroes Ray and Battery Sr. logged heavy minutes on defense, grinding out every shift to help secure the win. In net, superstar goalie Eric D’Amour once again stood tall, delivering a stellar performance to seal the victory.

The Banditos, meanwhile, came out completely flat. A disastrous first period saw them fall behind 4–0 early, leaving UNC visibly rattled. The fiery goaltender even left his crease mid-game to argue with officials over a goal — leaving fans wondering how he escaped without a 10-minute misconduct. League GOAT Kyle’s frustration boiled over as well, snapping a stick against the boards in pure anger. Despite Spen and Dumas trying to spark some offense, the Banditos couldn’t find their rhythm. Between RHand’s errant passes, Catty’s open-net fumble blocked by Battery, and Savy’s 17 toe drags leading to nowhere, it just wasn’t their week.

Still, the Banditos remain heavy favorites heading into Game 9, with a golden opportunity to finally finish the job. But after what the Spartans just pulled off, it’s clear — this series isn’t over until it’s over.

Game 7 Notes from the Insiderrrrr

The Los Banditos put on a clinic in Game 7, shutting out the Spartans 4–0 and moving to within one win of closing out the series.

A short-handed 10-man Spartans squad simply couldn’t handle what the Banditos had cooked up. From puck drop, the Banditos came out blazing. Kevin Dumas led the charge with two goals, while the rest of the offense flowed freely, with helpers coming from all over the lineup — RHand, Savy, Romo, Belfer, and Spen all chipping in to spread the love. The return of Jack Hazan injected a noticeable spark into the team, bringing energy and poise to the blue line. And in net, UNC was unbeatable once again, standing tall and earning a well-deserved shutout.

As for the Spartans… well, what was that? They tried everything, but absolutely nothing clicked. In a desperate attempt to shake things up, they swapped Battery to forward and Rhyser to defense — and, to no one’s surprise, it didn’t work. The absence of star forward DMonty was felt heavily, and if the Spartans want any shot at extending the series, they’ll need to figure out how to coexist without him. The talking point of the week centers around Boulos — does he remember he’s a defenseman? The Spartans will need a major step-up from the polarizing blueliner, who has the rare ability to single-handedly win or lose games depending on which version of him shows up.

Now, all eyes turn to Week 8. The Spartans will need to lay it all on the line to survive another day, while the Banditos will be looking to finally put the nail in the coffin and end this series once and for all.

Game 6 Notes from the Insiderrrrr

The Spartans refused to go quietly in Game 6, clawing back from behind to earn a hard-fought 5–3 win and keep the series alive. With a full lineup for the first time all series—9 forwards and 6 defensemen—every player contributed to the victory in a complete team effort.

The Banditos, short-staffed with just 6 forwards and 4 defensemen, simply ran out of gas. Kyle tried to be Batman, doing everything he could to drag his team back into it, but his Robin, Cattapan, didn’t quite carry his weight this time around. RHand couldn’t buy a goal even if Interac auto-deposited it for him, while UNC once again stood tall in goal, keeping it close despite limited support in front of him.

For the Spartans, captain Jonathan Heise delivered when it mattered most, scoring the eventual game-winner late in the third to lead by example. Mac was a defensive wall, blocking shots and clearing lanes, while Ty absorbed a few backhanders right to the cherries but sacrificed the body like a true warrior. Rhyser sealed the win with an empty-netter, putting the final nail in the coffin and keeping the Spartans’ season alive.

The Spartans have now strung together two straight wins, cutting the Banditos’ series lead to 4–2. Momentum may finally be shifting—and they’ll look to make it three in a row on Monday as they fight to keep their comeback hopes alive.

Game 4 Notes from the Insiderrrrr

It’s the same story, different night. The Los Banditos continued their stranglehold on the series with another convincing win in Game 4, powered by Spen’s two lethal snipes and UNC’s transformation into prime Miikka Kiprusoff, pulling off highlight-reel saves to frustrate the Spartans at every turn.

For the Spartans, positives were hard to find once again. A fired-up Jonathan Heise and Battery finally looked dangerous when they flipped the switch into “try-hard mode,” but their late push wasn’t nearly enough to change the outcome. If only they played angry every shift, maybe the Spartans would actually have a chance at stealing a game.

On the flip side, the Banditos’ back end was rock solid all night. Hazan, Joey, Alves, and Strumdaddy locked things down, proving once again that this group can get it done regardless of who’s in or out of the lineup. At this point, maybe Belfer should just stay in Japan—because it looks like they don’t even need him.

The night’s biggest talking point came off the puck, with Iano and Ryan going toe-to-toe in a heated confrontation. What looked like it could spiral out of control ended in true CDHL fashion, with the two squashing their beef over a Caliente post-game meal. With the Banditos now holding a commanding 4–0 series lead, the Spartans will need to be nothing short of perfect to avoid the sweep.

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Play of the week

As it turns out, your friendly neighbourhood website admin has a slapshot? Get out your magnifying glass and check out the second of Spen’s two clap bombs in the narrowest video ever filmed.

Game 3 Notes from the Insiderrrrr

Even without their captain Yiani, the Los Banditos keep finding ways to win. Game 3 saw them put together a full team effort, cruising to a 7–4 victory and grabbing a commanding 3–0 series lead.

UNC was stellar between the pipes, standing on his head to shut the door when it mattered most. The game also marked the series debut of Yiani’s idol, Adam Strumas, who brought his trademark torta-pounding energy onto the ice and delivered a standout performance. Kevin Dumas, playing his first series game as a non-captain, wasted no time making his mark, scoring twice to help seal the win.

For the Spartans, it was another night of missed opportunities. Despite generating plenty of looks, they refused to pull the trigger, a hesitation that cost them dearly. Monty, however, showed flashes of his old self, burying one from his usual spot in the corner—something he seems destined to do once a game. Could this be the start of his full return? Meanwhile, Battery turned in his strongest showing yet, grinding out a hard-fought effort and finally making his presence felt after a quiet start to the series.

Unfortunately for the Spartans, the night ended on a sour note as captain Jonathan Heise appeared to re-injure his shoulder, potentially sidelining him for an extended stretch. Three games in, the script remains the same: the Banditos keep capitalizing, while the Spartans keep letting chances slip away.

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Play of the week

A relatively quiet week on the spin-o-rama front, Rhys had a beautiful goal early in the game, and probably could’ve (should’ve?) had another one here….

Game 2 Notes from the Insiderrrrr

For the second straight week, the Spartans came out flying, grabbed a comfortable lead, and looked to be in full control. And for the second straight week, it all slipped away.

Despite dominating play for most of the night, the Spartans let go of a two-goal cushion in the third period and watched the Banditos storm back for another 6–4 win.

There were still bright spots for the Spartans. Monty, playing just his second game back, showed signs of returning to form with a pair of assists. Newcomer Robbie David impressed with a two-goal performance, while Ty finally made an appearance in the lineup and looked stellar in his debut this season.

On the Banditos’ side, captain Yiani once again led by example, scoring twice to spark the comeback. Spen quietly put up three points, while the return of Joey—paired with newcomer Jack Hazan—helped stabilize the Banditos’ blue line.

Two games in, it’s a case of déjà vu for the Spartans: strong starts, wasted leads, and a 2–0 series hole. Meanwhile, Los Banditos continue to thrive on resilience, proving once again they’re never out of a game.

PS: Ryan scored a goal that happened to be the winning one.

Game Notes from the Insiderrrrr

The Los Banditos stormed back in Game 1 of the series, erasing a three-goal deficit to beat the Spartans 6–4.

The Spartans, energized under new captain Jonathan Heise, came out firing in the opening frame, building a quick 3–0 lead. But the momentum didn’t last. By the second period, their pace collapsed, their structure broke down, and the Banditos seized control. Led by captain Yiani, Los Banditos weathered the early push and then dominated the final two periods. Despite a depleted blue line and several call-ups in the lineup, the Banditos looked sharper as the game wore on and never let go once they grabbed the lead.

There were plenty of debuts in this one. Marc-Antoine Carrier, Chad Bourdages, and Robbie David all played their first CDHL games, each showing flashes of promise but still clearly adjusting to the league’s pace. Matthew Savoie, who slid on draft day, quickly silenced his doubters with an impressive two-point debut that turned heads.

The Spartans also iced rookie goaltender Eric D’amour, who was peppered with shots all night but stood tall, keeping the score respectable and earning player of the game honors for his side.

On the Banditos’ end, the reunion of Kyle and Catty on a line together paid off, as the duo rekindled some of their past chemistry to spark the offense. And in a classic Banditos move, instead of naming one standout, the team went with the “power of friendship” and gave player of the game to everyone—a corny joke that fit the mood after their comeback win.

With the victory, Los Banditos set the tone early in the nine-game series, while the Spartans will need to regroup quickly after letting this one slip away.

The latest showdown in the CDHL saw the Dawgs and Los Banditos face off in an intense doubleheader, with both teams leaving it all on the ice. After suffering a rough 10-5 loss in Game 1, the Dawgs responded with grit and determination, tightening up defensively and showcasing some highlight-reel goaltending from Chris O’Brien. Their resilience led to back-to-back hard-fought ties (4-4 and 3-3), proving they weren’t going down without a fight.

On the other side, Los Banditos had to dig deep to hold their ground. With goalie Matt Constantakis standing tall between the pipes and a defense willing to sacrifice the body with some crucial blocked shots, they managed to stay in control. Offensively, Brandon Boulos kept his scoring touch alive after a two-goal performance in Game 1, while surprise league points leader Rhys McRae-McKee continued to bring his relentless, high-energy play. However, they were missing their star defenseman Harley Belfer, for the second and third games, reportedly sidelined with serious throat soreness—perhaps a result of one too many glizzys? Regardless, the rivalry is heating up, and with both teams showing flashes of brilliance, the next matchup is sure to be another thriller.

The CDHL Summit Series is here, and the stage is set for an intense nine-game battle between two teams built in very different ways. On one side, the Dawgs, captained by Ben and Battery, have leaned on structure, discipline, and a rock-solid defense. On the other, Los Banditos, led by the Dunne-Fox brothers, are coming in with firepower, speed, and a forward-heavy attack.

But beneath the surface, this series is filled with intriguing storylines.

Battery hates his friends

Rather than sticking with his usual crew, Battery made the controversial choice to let his best friends in the league – Heise, Boulos and Belfer – slide to the opposition side on draft day. It’s a decision that could either prove his commitment to winning or come back to bite him. If the Dawgs struggle, those passed-over players will be eager to remind him of what he left behind. “Honestly it’s fine” exclaimed a seemingly panicked co-captain Battery. “I’d rather make new friends that I’ve never spoken to before over the next 8 weeks. It’s not worth spending $8 to get Harley Belfer. He doesn’t even speak to me anyways. It’s fine. We’ll be fine”.

Brandon Boulos: Tier 3 or Something More?

One of the most polarizing players in the league – on paper, Brandon Boulos is Tier 3 caliber, but many believe that label sells him short. He is certainly one of the most hot/cold players in the league, and that may have hurt his draft stock. Now, he has the perfect opportunity to prove he belongs among the league’s top contributors.

The Dunne-Fox brothers were by all accounts “over the moon with joy” to draft Boulos for a measly $10. “Money well spent”, quipped co-captain of Los Banditos, Paddy Dunne-Fox. “Boulos has been working on his game day-in and day-out ever since going minus-7 with 13 turnovers during a mid February Monday League game. We think his worst days are behind him and he will quiet the critics”.

Will he be a difference-maker in the series, or will the Dawgs expose him as the Tier 3, possibly even Tier 4 player he has been known to play as?

Everyone has a price, for some us of us it was 26$, for others it was 0$. But we were all sold. Armed with just a couple of bristol boards, an extension cord, and a tacky PowerPoint, our founder cooked up a draft full of twists & turns and forced the captains to bluff and bully to build their dream squads.

Check out the full auction results below:

Dawgs (Ben Godfrey & Andrew Anagnostopoulos)

1. Eric Spensieri (20$)
2. Yiani Dafniotis (19$)
3. Adam Strumas (15$)
4. Alex Anagnostopoulos (13$)
5. Jason Alves (7$)
6. Ryan Handfield (7$)
7. Mike Bo (5$)
8. Ty Watt (4$)
9. Mike Browne (3$)
10. Chris Handfield (2$)
11. Tom Mann (2$)
12. Chris Ratcheff (2$)
13. Mike Pao (1$)
14. Chris O’Brien (0$ BLIND BID)

Los Banditos (Joey & Paddy Dunne-Fox)

1. Kyle Armstrong (26$)
2. Jonathan Heise (18$)
3. Rhys McRae-McKee (10$)
4. IANOO (10$)
5. Brandon Boulos (10$)
6. Harley Belfer (8$)
7. Kevin Dumas (8$)
8. Danny Andrzejewski (3$)
9. Matt Roumeliotis (2$)
10. Louis Virgini (1$)
11. Matt Constantakis (1$ BLIND BID)
12. Alex Cattapan (0$)
13. Ray Kingsley (0$)
14. Pat Mallette (0$)