Grand Final time for the B Grade and A Grade Inline Hockey competition at Blackwood Recreation Centre, South Australia on 13/06/2025. Playing in the first game, the B Grade game was the team that had dominated the ladder for some time, the Rockstars against the Hornets. The A Grade Grand Final would be between the Crocs and the Vipers.
B Grade Grand Final – Rockstars 5 def. Hornets 3
The Rockstars would be without the services of Isaac Miller and Max Coleman and would have to fend off the much experienced Adam Weber. In goals for the Rockstars was Chris Jose, and for the Hornets, Michelle Pasman.
Andrew Weger would put the Rockstars on the board, unassisted, with just over a minute played “to set the tone”. Mark Peacock’s tripping penalty at 5:19 gave the Rockstars another opportunity with the player advantage but there was no change in the score. Shots on goal for the period saw Rockstars take 5 and the Hornets take 7.
The 2nd period started with Seth Anspach scoring the Rockstars 2nd goal only a minute in again, also unassisted. Hornets Angus Johns would peg one back at 6:25, with assists coming from Mark Peacock and Adam Weber. With just over a minute remaining Jordan Kutsche sprung into action skating hard down the bench side to beat Mark Peacock and releasing a shot to score his first goal, unassisted, and put the Rockstars up 3-1. Shots on goal for the period saw the Hornets again dominate with 11 shots to the Rockstars frugal 5 shots.
The 3rd quarter was tight with neither team able to find a way past the excellent goal tending and defensive play. Hornets Angus Johns had received a roughing penalty at 6:06, and Rockstars Shanon Prum a hooking minor. Shots on goal had the Rockstars come out on top with 9, to the Hornets 5.
With just over 2mins played in the 4th period, Hornets Adam Weber smacked a loose puck that had bounced off goaltender Chris Jose in for the Hornets 2nd goal (assists Peacock and Johns) and now we had a game on our hands. However a minute later, Jordan Kutsche would squeak the puck past goaltender Michelle Pasman for his 2nd goal of the game and restore the buffer the Rockstars needed. Two mins later and the deficit was back to one goal as Hornets Tim Wilson scored their 3rd goal (assist Johns). Jordan Kutsche released another side-on shot from the left side this time to score his hat trick goal and give the Rockstars a 5-3 lead with 4:39 remaining in the game. Hornets Chris Vivian’s slashing penalty a few seconds later did not help their cause and the Rockstars hung on for a well-deserved win and the championship. Shame their was no MVP award given for the game (a tad biased, but reckon Jordan Kutsche would have been in for a shot). Final shots on goal for the period saw Hornets edge out the Rockstars 8-6.
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A Grade Grand Final – Crocs 7 def. Vipers 6
In the “Big” game, fresh from his B Grade Grand Final win, Seth Anspach would be goals for the Crocs, and for the Vipers it would be Scott Elliot. Crocs Brad Chenoweth would open the scoring at 7:48 (assists Benny Gebert and Sam Bennett). Vipers Steve Best wouldn’t have a bar of it and scored the next 2 goals to put the Vipers up 2-1 at the first break. Assists came from Gavin Best for the first, and Sean Wilson-Kelleher and Bodie Henderson for the 2nd goal which was shorthanded as Nicholas Pedder was taking a tripping minor penalty). Shots on goal saw the Crocs take it 11-9.
The 2nd period had Steve Best score the Vipers 3rd goal early (assists Gavin Best and Sean W-K). Crocs Benny Gebert would reduce the margin back to 1 goal at 8:23 (assist Jeff Pellerin). The Crocs again would win the shot count, 7 to 5 shots.
The 3rd period was even until Vipers Bodie Henderson was called for slashing but it went unanswered by the Crocs. Steve Best would score first again (assist Gavin Best) to put the Vipers up by 2 goals. Crocs Chenoweth would reduce it back to one a bit over a minute later (assists Jordan Geyer and Gebert). Steve Best got annoyed with the quick comeback so did one of his own and scored again! Assists came from Sean W-K and Gavin Best). Deep into the period Crocs Geyer would set up the last period for a classic to put the Crocs down by one goal (assist came from Julie Schultz). Shots on goals saw the Crocs dominate 10-6.
A bit under 3mins into the final period and Rohan Bilberry had the Crocs at 5-all now (assists Pellerin and James Williams). Crocs Sam Bennett headed the penalty box at 5:53 for tripping. At 4:17 it swung in favour of the Vipers as Henderson scored their 6th goal on the powerplay (assists Gavin Best and Sean W-K). But the Crocs had saved their best for last and would score 2 unanswered goals (Jordan Geyer, unassisted, and Chenoweth from a Daniel Strawbridge assist) to claim the A Grade crown! Shots on goal were Crocs 34, to the Vipers 27. Steve Best had scored 5 of the Vipers 6 goals.
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