Last night’s hockey game in Tillsonburg for our Wolfpacks can
only be described as an off night. It
seemed that the Tornadoes 1 had them caught in a trap and it was only in the
third period that our players were able to pry themselves free from the
Tornadoes. Players were being spun
around the ice by our opponents, leaving our team with no control of the puck
and a great sense of disorientation and frustration.
Miraculously, our team, led by our loyal goalkeeper James, managed to hold off the Tornadoes from scoring in the first period; however, in reviewing the game clock with the team, our players were in disbelief in the difference in shots recorded on net for both teams. Tillsonburg outshot our team 12 shots to our only 4 shots on net, so during our first intermission our key message point was to get more shots on net, which they unanimously agreed to do.
Tillsonburg didn’t waste any time in the second period with two fast goals before the 7 minute mark, leaving our bench in shock. This rude awakening for our players seemed to stir them up to take notice and their decision to adjust their ways of playing. Instead of chasing their opponents we urged them to play their positions and cover their respective players, to work more as a team and not individuals. The second period ended with our team behind by only a two goal differential, suggesting to our players that there is still a lot of hockey left in the game to turn the score around.
Before the start of the third period, we cautioned our players about giving up the puck to easy to the other team, as they did countless times earlier in the game in despair by trying to clear the puck out of our zone, only to have it intercepted by the other team. To avoid this from further happening our players learned to hold off from passing until a clear pass was possible and to be stronger on using the boards to rush the puck out of our zone.
Although, the Tornadoes dominated the second period our Wolfpack claimed the third period by showcasing their skating abilities and playing a more controlled game style. Our first goal came after just two minutes into the period as Liam assisted Jack on a goal to put us on the score board to officially record our team as being in the game.
The Tornadoes, witnessing our teams’ improvement, recaptured their first period spirit and claimed a third goal at the ten minute mark in the third period, reclaiming their two goal differential lead. With a no give up attitude our players drudged on and was rewarded with a great 3 way play goal, starting from Spencer to Hayden to Jackson who scored our second goal of our game. With 3 minutes and 22 seconds remaining in the game, our team was hugely optimistic that we can make a claim on the outcome of the game. As our team played on with the hope for a Buzzer Beater, we were quickly disappointed by the now illuminated yellow curfew light signaling the end to our exciting game that had over 2 minutes remaining on the score board for the third period. Since, curfew calls are a regular occurrence in Tillsonburg, it leaves everyone wondering, what is the point of running a 15 minute 3rd period, as they are never successful in completing a full period of time. Resulting in many end to games as being anti-climatic, confusing and dull.
Our next game will be on Sunday, January 29/17 at 7:30pm in Delhi, where I can guarantee this game will be anything but dull, confusing or undramatic.