Three close, exciting games typified what has been a close, exciting session for your ARMY OF DARKNESS following their promotion to the CAHL D-South Division.  Since their return to action following the Independence Day hiatus, the A.O.D. have taken four of a possible six points, moving their record to 7-3-0, and solidifying their playoff position heading into the crucial final two games of the regular session.

The Blueshirts stumbled a bit out of the gate on July 11 against FRA at Dispatch Ice Haus, dropping a tough 2-1 decision after outplaying their opponents for the vast majority of the game in a tremendous goaltending duel.  An outstanding performance from Kelly Berry was squandered when porous defending from all five skaters on the ice allowed FRA to get both of their goals on a single shift, enough to top the lone A.O.D. marker.

“It was a tough loss, but it was a good one to learn from,” said rookie sparkplug Rob Mutchler.  “We were the better team for most of the game, then just like that, we were chasing them.  It just goes to show you can’t take a single shift off.  I don’t think we’ll make that mistake again.”

The following Sunday saw the A.O.D. prevail in yet another tough contest.  With Berry out and regular backup Jimmy Ruble unable to make the trip to Dublin, quick thinking alternate captain Brian Gee acquired the services of Ally Curry.  She performed admirably, holding on against the quick-skating FOXES & HOUNDS for a 4-3 shootout victory.

The team won despite going down a man on defense after alternate captain Brad Martin nearly swallowed a puck late in the second period.  A shot from the high slot struck him square in the mouth, tearing a hole in his face just under his lower lip.  This correspondent missed the last moments of the game, as he accompanied the rugged defenseman to the hospital to get the new aperture stitched closed. However, thanks to the point gained with an overtime loss, the FOXES & HOUNDS remained ahead of A.O.D. in the standings, 13 points to 12.

July 25 found the Army back in Dublin for a rematch with the OHIO MAYHEM and it proved to be another hard-fought affair.  Once again it was a low scoring tilt characterized by vacuum-like goaltending by a MAYHEM netminder who simply refused to give up any rebounds.  But A.O.D. goalie Nick Hart was just a little bit better.  Hart, leader of the E-league KNIGHTS but formerly the A.O.D.’s original captain, became the fourth netminder pressed into service this session.  His terrific play between the pipes was enough to make the single goal from Sam Mathosalah stand up until the final seconds, when Chris Bilek potted an empty netter to make the final tally 2-0.

With final playoff seeding yet to be determined, a single point is all that separates the number two seed from the fifth position.  The A.O.D. face tough tests with games against the BENDERS and THE YOKOS, both of whom defeated the boys in blue in their earlier encounters.

“These are the teams we need to beat if we want to go deep in the playoffs,” Captain Jim Stiers explained.  “It’s as simple as that.  There’s not a team in this league that couldn’t beat us, but there’s not a team in this league that we can’t beat, either.  It’s up to us how far we want to go.”

The A.O.D. next take the ice on Sunday August, 1 at 9:10 p.m. at the Chiller Dublin in Dublin, Ohio, against the first place BENDERS, followed by the regular-session closer against THE YOKOS at Chiller Easton in Columbus at 6:15 p.m. on Sunday, August 8.  As always, games are free and open to the public.