Our Paris Wolfpack Midget LL2 headed out to Waterford Monday
night to meet up with the Wildcats team; however, our team was short on players
to the point where we could of car pooled our entire team in 2 grand
caravans.
Our team’s injury list now included Spencer who incurred a
mild concussion during Sunday night’s game that was described by many as a chippy
game; fortunately, he is expected to return to play in a week.
Realizing we were missing players due to injuries, work schedule and other commitments I called upon our two AP players and was able to get the assistance of Oscar Powles from our Bantam LL 1 team; unfortunately, our other AP player Liam Gaukel was already playing a game this same evening with his own Bantam LL2 team.
Having had the privilege of coaching Oscar, last year, along with many of our players who have played on the same team as him we were relieved to have him help out on our defense line. Upon his return to the bench after his first shift, Rick asked him what he thought about playing with the Midget players and his response, between hardened breaths, was ... it’s fast.
Before the game we were contemplating lines and the coaches put it out to a vote to our players as to how many forwards and defence players we were going to make up. Our players decided on having 3 defence, 6 forwards and Ethan in net. This meant Jackson and Abby moving up from our defence line to play with our forward lines and I felt both players had an extremely good game this included each earning some excellent scoring chances.
As our team headed out to warm up, our coaching staff was staring straight at the opponents tunnel, in hopes of counting off a short players bench; unfortunately, the Wildcats appeared with a full three line team, dashing our hopes of evening out the teams in player numbers.
So what was plan B, you ask, well we instructed our players to take short shifts, not chase the puck and feed each other well orchestrated passes to avoid further skating. In addition, our players were reminded about the calling off icing rule, if you clip the puck off an opponent and/or his/her stick that the referees will wave off an icing call, this, in turn, would allow us to get the puck out of our zone and into their zone safely.
Like many players, Calvin has his own pre-game routine, this includes him skating to our bench and stick handling a puck while reviewing his opponent’s goalies habits, weaknesses and strengths, he now shares what he views to his team mates during our pre-game talk and leading his team in our game cheer. Blocker side, low was the call for this game to aim for in hopes of beating the Wildcats net keeper. This observation and advice turned out to be very good as Calvin ended up earning our team’s only two goals in the game with the first goal being assisted by Ben C.
A quick recap of the game, Wildcats started off strong in the first period by scoring three goals, approximately, in two minute intervals. Our team bounced back in the second period as Ethan closed down all scoring chances and Calvin picked up our first goal of the game with a play by Ben. Entering the third period Shawn, our trainer, jokingly was calling to the timekeepers to adjust the game sheet so that the third period was 5 minutes and not 15 minutes, knowing that our team was already gassed.
In all seriousness our players seemed to withstand the longest period as if they received their second wind or was that the Red Bull kicking in, lol. The Wildcats did manage to score two more times in the third period; however, it was Calvin and his Wolfpack team who would have the last goal of the night with just a minute shy of the buzzer ~ great way to end a game and demonstrate great sportsmanship and never giving up attitude.
It is probably on account of this hard work ethic that explains for some of our injuries, including a few more bumps and bruises attained by Calvin at the end of the game with a upper leg injury and Ethan with a shoulder injury; fortunately, both who will recover with some ice and heat pads.
Outstanding effort to Ethan, Jackson, Owen, Campbell, Ben C., Wyatt, Jack, Abby and Oscar – AP player for a great game against the second ranked team in the league.
Go Wolfpack!