Saturday afternoon The Storm#1 was host to Shallow Lake Lakers#1 in what turned out to be a great afternoon game. Not sure if it was the snow flying like a winter storm or their hard work in practice but The Storm played a great game as a team.
Right off the faceoff The Storm took to the Lakers end and were digging hard for the puck. The team was looking really good and aggressive for the puck when at 8:23 of the first the puck found the back of the net. Ian was awarded the goal unassisted but it was the great work of the forwards getting the puck to the net and going after it as well as the defensemen holding it in the zone that made the goal happen as the Storm was now up by 1. As the period continued The Storm played really well as a team, keeping the puck in The Lakers zone almost the entire time. If it wasn’t for the great work of The Lakers goalie the score at the end of the period would have been a lot different that just 1-0.
The second period got off to the same start as the first with some great team effort keeping the puck in The Lakers zone right away. The Centermen Ian and Nick were fantastic all over the ice always getting back to help in brief moments of play in our end and hanging back as our defence tried their luck in the opposing zone. The Wingers Lucas, Rhys, Jerri, Brennan and Logan were really working hard in the corners and fighting for position in front of the net as once again those battles are what set the tone for the game. These players had many chances in front of net, but the smooth work of the Lakers goaltender kept them off the scoresheet. Then at almost the halfway mark for the period Austin D. moved in from picking up the puck in the neutral zone and lifted a great wrist shot into the back of the net to but his team up by 2 now. Things were looking good for the Storm as they continued to play great and work hard for the loose pucks on the ice but with 21 seconds to go in the period the Lakers beat Jimmy who had made some pretty nice saves all game with a wicked low corner shot to make the game 2-1 at the end of the second.
The late goal in the second did seem to faze Jimmy as he continued to play a solid game in net making some really fantastic saves to try and keep his team ahead. The Defensemen probably make the biggest difference in this period as they continued to hold the blueline, knock whatever loose pucks in front of Jimmy to the corner after he made a save and working the puck out of our zone up to the forwards. Andy, Austin D, Talan, and Andrew all went for a skate when they had the chance getting some good chances to score and working together as a pair on the blueline but most importantly getting back to break up the Lakers rushes down the ice. Andrew had been looking for a goal all game and finally got one at 2:13 on one of our defensemen jumping into the rush making the game final 3-1.
This was a great game by all players as everyone seems to been getting a lot out of practice and really working hard. Jimmy played a great game in net all game making some solid saves. Talan was awarded the Digger Award for his great defensive work on the blueline, rushing the puck and always getting back to help and then restart the play back up the ice, not to mention his great shot from the blueline, Congrats Talan!!!
Next game is vs Storm#4 in Southampton Dec 12th @5pm