The Xpertek Hockey News

Xpertek opens OSMHL season with a win
Hendriks paces the attack with goal, two assists

Ottawa – They were dancing in the Fred Barrett Arena parking lot last night, as Xpertek Construction recorded the first win in franchise history on opening night of the 2008-2009 Ottawa Senior Men’s Hockey League season.

The team, formerly known as Carver Communications, handily disposed of the outclassed Shooters by a 5-2 score in a game that may not go into the books as a beauty, but that will at least be remembered as a victory for the newly renamed hockey club.

From start to finish, Xpertek carried the momentum, taking it to the overmatched Shooters with relentless abandon.

Their determination paid off early in the first period when defenseman-turned-forward Adam Hendriks potted the first goal in team history with a dandy wrist shot from the hashmarks that fooled the screened Shooters goaltender.

“Wow, what a thrill,” Hendriks said when interviewed between the benches during a stoppage in play.

“I owe that goal to my education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From where I was standing in the slot, I felt the wind pressure from the arena’s ventilation system blowing at about 4 km an hour from west to east, so I knew that if I angled my shot between 41 and 47 degrees left of where I wanted it to go, the odds were good that it would curve towards the goalie’s five hole and go in, which is exactly what happened.”

In a move that he will surely live to regret, Hendriks failed to retrieve the puck after scoring the history-making goal. Already, hockey historians and memorabilia collectors have said that the item could fetch upwards of six figures should it eventually come up for auction on e-bay.

Hendriks also assisted on a pair of Steve Parker goals. The three-point outing earned him first star honours and gave him an early lead in the Molson Cup standings, awarded at the end of each season to the player having accumulated the most three-star selections.

Fittingly, gritty forward Louis Ryan, who co-owns Xpertek Construction, took the first penalty in team history, earning himself three minutes in the sin bin after the entrepreneur ‘nailed’ an opponent into the boards.

“I wanted to send a message,” Ryan said after the game. “Even if we look like nice guys in our new shirts, Xpertek Construction will not be messed with. And also, for all you construction needs – emergencies, asbestos and general contracting – please call Xpertek at 613.555.3333.”


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THREE STARS

1. Adam Hendriks – Goal, two assists, takes early lead atop league scoring standings
2. Steve Parker – Smooth as silk, sets record for fastest two goals in Xpertek history
3. Louis Ryan – Imposing forward leaves imprint on the game with solid play at both ends of the ice