Storm Atom
LL#1, Alan’s Fireside Grill, took on the Kincardine Kinucks and the Bruce
Peninsula Northstars over the weekend in a two game home stand at the Plex.
Storm vs Kinucks
Despite this being an exhibition game the Storm knew that there is a big hockey rivalry between the two towns and that they needed to come out strong. So they did, and took to the Kinucks zone right off the bat working hard down low to win the battles for the puck. The play went back and forth for a bit as the game got underway and then the Storm started getting their chances as they started shooting and going to the net. Hunter managed to clean up a couple rebounds in the same shift opening the scoring at 6:22, 6:06 of the period with Jake earning the assists on each goal and the storm where up by 2. Big save Benny was tested early as well but made some great saves with his new pads and goalie skates and covering the puck up when he needed to get his team a whistle. Things where looking great in our end as our defencemen, Andy, Talan, Zac, Josh, Andrew and Ian moved the puck out very well to help with the rush down the ice. The Storm kept shooting and after Talan’s boomer of a shot, Charlie was able to stuff home the rebound earning the goal and Talan the assist and the Storm lead by three. Not long after at 3:21 Wes had a nice Skate and tucked home a beauty unassisted, then at 2:06 of the period Ian fired a shot on net with a rebound just got free from the goalies possession Jake tucked the puck across the line earning another goal and Ian the assist. As you can see the Storm were really working hard and winning battles everywhere on the ice and with 39 seconds left in the period Jake managed another goal just before the clock ran out and the buzzer sounded to signal the end of period one.
The second period got underway and Big Save Benny was tested early but he handled the shots that the Kinucks threw at him with style. The Wingers kept up the fight as Ismail, Hunter, Sabra, Peter, Jack, and Charlie, kept working in all three zones and kept the pressure on the Kinucks players shift after shift as well getting shots off on the Kinucks netminder. The Storm’s centers, Riley, Wes and Jake, kept skating hard and helping out the defence in their end, even clearing a few loose pucks in front of Ben, to helping with the battles in the neutral zone and in the Kinucks zone with plenty of shots on net. The period wound down and no scoring was awarded as both goalies had a great period and the score remained the same as it was after the first.
As the third got underway the Storm kept up the fight never giving up as Jake scored at 13:32 unassisted lifting the puck over the goalies glove hand. Jake once again scored at 9:39 of the period once again off a rebound from Josh’s shot, as Jake earned his 4th goal of the game and Josh the assist. As the game continued some great work by the Storm as all the things that they had done on in practice were working for them on the ice and it was great to see. The defence especially had a great game as they had plenty of shots on net, held the blueline hard and moved the puck out of their end very well. With 5:19 left to go in the game the final goal was scored by Wes putting the puck to the net trying to find his linemate Peter but the puck deflected off the goalies skate and in, Andy earning the assist for the nice pass to Wes on the side wall while keeping the puck in the Kinucks zone.
Great game Team as it was great to see a lot of things we practiced come together in a game. Big Save Benny was awarded the game puck for his shutout performance. The Digger award was passed on to Josh who played a great game all three periods holding the blueline, getting shots through and for the first time we saw him take the puck for a skate end to end, not once, but twice!! Way to go Josh and Ben and great work!!!
Storm vs Northstars
The Storm got to work as soon as the puck dropped and battled to overtake the Northstars zone right away. They got a few shots in but the great pass Peter made to his center Wes in front of the net was the first marker at 8:57 of the game with Wes earning the goal and Peter the assist. The Storm continued their great skating, stickhandling and shooting but most importantly going after the Northstars and battling them when they had the puck. This caused the puck to squirt out to Zac on the point where he fired a shot on net and Wes cleaned up the rebound in front earning the goal, Zac the assist as the Storm lead by two early in the first. As play carried on the Storm where looking very strong, Riley carried the puck out of his zone made a beautiful pass up ice to Jack that sent him in all alone one on one with the Northstars goalie, Jack slid the puck in the net earning the goal and Riley the huge assist for a great pass. The period would continue with great chances and Big Save Benny was living up to his name for sure as the period ended the Storm was up 3-0.
The Second period started great as both teams skated hard and battled hard right away, the Northstars where not giving up and made the Storm really work hard. We some great stickhandling and skating skills from the centers, Wes, Riley and Jake, on the ice. The defense, Andrew, Ian, Talan, Josh, Andy and Zac, were always getting the puck out of our end well and holding the blueline to help create scoring chances and coming back hard to catch the Northstars that managed to get a break up ice on them. The Wingers, Charlie, Jack, Ismail, Hunter, Sabra and Peter went hard to the net with their sticks down and just played an all-out fantastic positional game in their end and their opponents. The most impressive part was the passing and puck possession the Storm displayed by going after the other team and winning the puck back when they lost it. Despite getting many shots on net and following them up looking for the loose rebounds this period belonged to the goalies as neither one allowed any goals and they both looked really hot.
The puck drops and the third is underway with the Northstars chalking up two early in the period at 13:46, 13:05 respectively. This broke Ben’s 5 period shutout streak but he did not seem to worried as his teammates tapped him on the shoulder assuring him they would get them back for him. Not too long after that Wes scored again at 10:19 with Sabra earning the assist on the play. After Zac served a hooking penalty and the player he hooked did it right back to him on a break, he took advantage of the open ice and with a nifty move fired one over the goalies shoulder on the powerplay unassisted. This game carried on and the passing of Riley, Charlie and Jack was very impressive as they continued to control and move the puck very well all game. Then with 37 seconds left Jack scores with Riley and Charlie each earning assists from this wicked teamwork. The final score would stand 6-2 for the Storm earning their second win of the regular season.
Great game Team!!! The Digger Award was handed to Sabra as she skated hard all game going to the net with her stick down looking for a pass, battling the corners and always backchecking hard being the first forward back every time. Congrats Sabra!!!
Next Game is Thursday Night vs Storm#2 in South @ 6:15