THE Bermuda In-Line Hockey League saw some tough match-ups last weekend.

The first game in the intermediate league saw the Oilers continue their mastery over the high-flying Leafs with a 4-2 victory. The Oilers carried the play for most of the opening period with intense pressure on the Leafs with only great saves by goaltender Tommy Ruck keeping them in the game.

Toby Brooke was particularly effective at forechecking and made a nice pass to Laird Simmons who ripped a hard backhand over Rucks shoulder to open the scoring. Oiler defenceman Jordan Faries made it 2-0 with a nice wrist shot into the far corner after a nice feed from Daniel Perez. The Leafs got on the board to end the first frame with Mikey Daley drilling a shot through Beckett Simmons' legs finishing off a nice passing play from Matthew Betteto. The final frame opened with tough checking from both sides with Adam Weech putting the Oilers ahead for good depositing a hard snap shot into the left hand corner. Weech completed the Oiler scoring knocking in his own rebound off a breakaway. The final Leaf goal came on a great individual effort by Nicholas Hall who leaped over goaltender Simmons to push a rebound into the back of the net. Beckett Simmons continued his streak of masterful goaltending performances.

The second intermediate game had the Senators extend their winning streak to two games defeating the all-girl Canucks 3-2. This game featured some of the toughest fought ball scrambles seen all year. The Senators opened the scoring with Danny Heintzman ripping a hard wrist shot into the far corner of the net. Heintzman also played a strong game on defence continually getting the ball out of harm's way. The Senators extended their lead when Will Gardner tipped in a long screen shot from line-mate Tyson Harvey. The first frame closed with Canucks goaltender Sophia Collis making several acrobatic saves off David Lehman and the other fast-skating Senator forwards.

The Canucks started their comeback early in the final period with Lauren Daly extending her scoring streak to three games after sending a hard low wrist shot into the back of the net. The Daly goal seemed to energise the girls and they carried the action for the remainder of the game with only strong netminding by Senators Ben Williams keeping them at bay. The Canucks finally tied the score when Adrianne Miller slapped in a rebound off a nice passing play between Celine Collis and Lara Hentzel. The game looked fated to a tie game as it drifted into the final minute when Grenville Lines decided the contest drifting in off the wing, faking out a Canucks defender and depositing a hard wrist shot over the shoulder of sprawling Sophia Collis.

The senior Bruins ended up having a high tempo inter-squad game against some of the BIHL coaches group. The Blues ended up with a 6-5 win over the Bruins led by the high-flying line of George Scully and brothers Courtland and Tucker Moore which combined for four of the six Blue goals. Scully netted two with Courtland and Tucker adding one each. Coach Sean Moore playing on the Bruins was the victim of a number of nice passing plays between his sons. Coach Tom MacNeil kept the Bruins in it with a hat-trick, his first of which was an over the shoulder wrist shot after taking a long feed from Tobin Voth in stride. His second and third goals came after some hard work by fellow Coaches Jeff Wiebe and Sean Moore. Jeff Wiebe and Chris West for the Bruins and Jonathan Chapman for the Blues each chipped in nice goals for their respective sides. Despite the high score, there were several outstanding saves made at each end by goaltenders Keo Darrell and Rowan Vickers as both sides focused primarily on offence.

BIHL hockey continues this Saturday starting at 1 p.m. with the Canadians taking on the Oilers and the Leafs battling the Senators.