Sports you see with Gary B . . .

Men’s Lindenwood hockey swept major tournament Lindenwood roller hockey swept the best-of-three Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League (MCRHL) Championship Series with back-toback victories over Bethel University, Tennessee recently at Vetta 70 in St. Peters. The Lions took the opening game over the Wildcats 6-3, then clinched the series with a 6-0 shutout in game two.

In a matchup that featured a similar number of scoring chances for each squad, Bethel scored first at 4:19 of the opening period, but Lindenwood responded with the next three. Clayton Liefeld sounded the horn at 6:47 off a feed from Jack Wedoski. Brycon Johnson then set up Brett Worster at 9:19, followed by a Nathan Durrans goal at 10:26, assisted by Worster. A Lions roughing penalty moments later gave the Wildcats a power play and they capitalized with nine seconds remaining for a 3-2 Lindenwood lead at the first intermission.

Defense was more the rule in the second period, but a Bethel hooking penalty at the seven-minute mark gave the Lions a man-advantage chance. Christian Acosta set up Connor Bradley for the score 34 seconds later. That goal proved to be the only one of the middle frame and Lindenwood led 4-2.

The Lions pulled away in the final period. Liefeld netted his second of the game off a pass from Eric Kurpiewski at the 4:39 mark. Bethel equaled the effort with a power play goal at 7:09, but the Wildcats could not get any closer. Nick DellaMorte sealed it at 9:30 with help from Acosta.

Bethel outshot Lindenwood 29-27, but Jacob Robinson was strong between the pipes, stopping 26 of the 29 shots he faced. Liefeld earned Star No. 1 honors with two goals, Worster was named Star No. 2 with a goal and assist, and Robinson received Star No. 3 recognition with his 26 saves and .897 save percentage.

Game two of the series started just three hours later and the Lions controlled it from the opening face off, quickly jumping to a 5-0 lead in the first period, the final four goals all coming in a two-minute span.

Liefeld netted the first on a pass from DellaMorte at 2:18. The late-period barrage started with a Connor Bradley shot from DellaMorte at 8:58. Worster then lit the lamp on back-to-back shots, the first at 9:36, assisted by Johnson, then with help from Durrans and Sean Maude 32-seconds later. Maude called his own number at 10:39 with another assist from Durrans.

Only one more goal was scored the rest of the game and it came off the blade of Liefeld for his fourth of the series, on a play set up by Kurpiewski and Acosta at 6:23 of the second.

Lindenwood out shot Bethel 38-17 and Marky Hager earned the shutout victory with 17 saves on as many shots faced. Liefeld earned his second Star No. 1 honor with two goals. Worster received Star No. 2 recognition also with two goals and Hager was named Star No. 3 with his 17 saves and shutout in the game.

With the two wins, the Lions improved to 16-1 overall and a perfect 11-0 mark in MCRHL play. Lindenwood will attempt to defend its title at the 23rd National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) Championships April 19-24 at the Rinks – Irvine Inline in Irvine, California.

*On a roll

Gary Baute, aka Gary B, a St. Louis native, maybe educated in business but he lives and breathes sports. As a fan and an athlete, Gary is all sports all the time. He hosted a radio sports program on KFNS, emceed the River City Rascals’ inaugural season and broadcasted for several indoor football teams since 1999.

Recipe: Comfort from the South

INGREDIENTS:

Crust:

3/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cups pecans, crushed

Cream Cheese Layer:

12 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

4 tablespoons heavy cream

Pudding Layer:

3 egg yolks

2 cups whole milk

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup cocoa powder

3 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped Cream Topping:

1 cup heavy whipping cream

4 tablespoons powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract chocolate syrup

1/2 cup chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 350 F.

To make crust: In saucepan, melt butter; add flour, brown sugar and crushed pecans. Stir until combined. Press into 9 1/2-inch deep pie plate. Bake 15-20 minutes until crust begins to brown. Cool completely.

To make cream cheese layer: In medium bowl, mix cream cheese until creamy. Add powdered sugar and heavy cream; mix until smooth. Spread over cooled pecan crust. Refrigerate.

To make pudding layer: In medium bowl, whisk egg yolks. Add milk; whisk until combined. Set aside.

Movie:

By Steve Bryan

Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.

Servings: 8