The Storm#1, Allan's Fireside Grill, traveled up the Peninsula
to Wiarton Saturday night to face off against The Northstars #2. This is the
second time these two teams have matched up and everyone was expecting a great
game tonight, and was it ever.
The game starts with the opening faceoff at center ice, the Storm where quick to gain the Northstars zone had a few chances and back out the puck came down in front of Ben. The storm were trying to get the puck out but it was held by the opponents at the blue line and a huge shot found its way past the crowd and in the back of the net at 8:28 or the period. As usual the Storm never gave up and fought back hard for their teammates and took control in the Northstars end again, managed a few chances but with no luck. Ben continued to make some great saves for us and found the rebound and covered them up for a stoppage in play. The wingers Ismail, Smiley, Peter, Jake, Hunter, and Jack were battling hard to win the puck and for position in front of the net. Our defensemen Andrew, Josh, Andy, Zac, and Talan were tough as well having to battle real hard in their own end and along the blue line in the opposite end. All this great work paid off as Wes light the goal judge’s lamp to tie the game with 2:48 remaining in the period with Andrew and Smiley earning assists with their never give up attitude on the play. The buzzer would sound to end the period and the score would stand at one a piece.
With the late goal in the first period the Storm was a brewing on the ice, and the play went back and forth in both teams’ zones with everyone getting shots on net but Ben kept his team in it with some great stops and positional play in net. The centers Riley, Nick, and Wes where flying all over the ice skating with the puck and making great plays and battling everywhere to support their team mates. Wes and Jake were making great plays with each other and Smiley going to the net hard but could not score on the Northstars goalkeeper. Hunter, Andrew and Josh were blocking shots for Ben, Jack was all over the place and always the first forward back on the back check every time. Andy and Ian where true warriors on the blue line as they did everything they could to hold it, even if they fell they never gave up on the play. Talan and Zac displayed their great shots and skating with the puck, as Ismail and Peter kept looking for the rebounds and Riley and Nick showed us what great stickhandlers they are. Then at 3:61 of the second Riley scored a beauty from the slot as he put it “getting the monkey off my back” while Ismail and Ian earned assists on the play. The period ended with the Storm up 2-1.
As the third period got underway the Northstars had plenty of battle left in them and scored two goals early in the third to put them up by one. However Ben did not seem fazed but this as he knew his team would come back if he continued to work hard and focus in net. Then at 5:27 with some great work Wes tied it up with Jake and Jack earning assist with some really great work in the Northstars end. This hard work continued and 13 seconds later Wes scored again to put his team in the lead by one with Smiley and Talan earning the assists and Coach Richard threw his hat on the ice in celebration of Wes’ Hat Trick. With the period winding down the Northstars kept coming and the storm kept battling and working hard but with 2:45 left in the game they tied it up. The game would end in a four all tie as both teams played a great tonight.
The Digger Award was passed onto Jack after the game as he was all over the ice working very hard every shift trying his best out there, honorable mentions to players that played great as well where Andrew, Josh. Great game team and congrats to Jack as you deserved the Digger Award for a great game.
Busy weekend coming up with two games
Saturday vs Kinardine Kanucks 1pm at the Plex
Sunday rematch with the Northstars #2 at 1:45 at the Plex