Bullfrogs Win Fight-Marred Game, 13-7

There is no love lost between the San Diego Barracudas and the Bullfrogs. That was evident Sunday night.

In a fight-marred Roller Hockey International game, the Bullfrogs leaped to a 10-goal lead and then beat up the Barracudas, 13-7, in front of an announced crowd of 9,554.

A total of 119 minutes in penalties were whistled. Four players, three Barracudas and one Bullfrog, were ejected, with San Diego recording 70 minutes in penalties.

Of course, the Pacific Division-leading Bullfrogs (10-0-1) have been beating up the Barracudas (4-6) all season, and that might explain why San Diego was so aggressive from the first faceoff.

By some quirk in the RHI schedule, this was the third time the teams have played in the last 11 days.

The Bullfrogs have won all three, outscoring San Diego, 31-21. They play again Aug. 11 in San Diego. That probably won’t be soon enough for the Barracudas.

“Anaheim is a strong team, but when their tough guys go after our young college guys, then fine,” said Barracuda Coach Steve Martinson. “If they want to play like that, then the next time we come here, there’s going to be people going down.”

The Barracudas, who came close to beating the Bullfrogs on June 29 (9-8, in San Diego), skated the first three quarters Sunday like a team that had other things in mind than roller hockey. In all, the Bullfrogs outshot San Diego, 64-32.

The fisticuffs overshadowed a four-goal, one-assist performance by the Bullfrogs’ Rick Judson and another hat trick--a team-record fifth of the season--by Todd Wetzel.

Judson has been a quiet factor in the Bullfrogs’ fast start.

“He’s very good away from the puck, very intelligent,” Bullfrog Coach Grant Sonier said. “He’s what every team needs, he’s our silent sleeper. He’s very solid.”

Indeed, during a two-goal outburst in the second quarter, that was the case.

With the Bullfrogs leading, 3-1, and 4:10 remaining in the second quarter, Judson scored his first goal on a fluke. When he cut across the crease he was tripped and went down.

But he kept the puck in sight, and after it ricocheted off the skate of San Diego’s Dan Elsener, Judson reached out and tapped it back into the net while on his side near the goal line.

With fourteen seconds left in the first half, Judson struck again, taking a rebound shot off the back of the boards and stuffing it past San Diego goalie Frank Ouellette.

The Bullfrogs went on to score six times in the third quarter and the rout was on.