Wolfpack just shy of a win, News, Midget LL2, U18, 2017-2018 (Paris Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2017-2018 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Jan 14, 2018 | midget2 | 717 views
Wolfpack just shy of a win
Our Wolfpack took to the ice tonight for our first home game since the holiday break and we welcomed the Port Dover Pirates.  We had only faced this team once before in the first half of the season, at their home ice in Port Dover, where they won a 6-4 game against our Wolfpack.

As our players were ending their warm up, sticks were a flying, correction ... Spencer’s stick was flying, yeah his last slap shot resulted in a breaking of his blade which was seen in the air.  I don’t care what anyone says, that is not a good omen, especially when he had no back up stick.  Fortunately, Abby was nice enough to offer her stick to Spencer for the start of the game.

With the scoreboard sounding, our players circled in for one final pep talk before we started the game and in unison our coaching staff encouraged our players to take as many shots on the net that they can.  During warm up I was watching our opponent’s goalie and noticed he was not fast or sure on his skates, so I suggested to our team to either pull him to one side before putting the puck in the net on the other side or get him to drop down before putting the puck up and over him. 

Wyatt wasted no time and landed a great shot on net that went passed the goalie, who was screened by his own defenceman.  This goal came in just 44 seconds into the game which was unassisted.

Our Wolfpack held on to the lead of the game for only two minutes before the Pirates made a three way play and buried the puck behind Ethan, tieing up the game.  Paris battled hard to find the next pivotal goal; unfortunately, we received two penalties, instead, that opened up our zone to the Pirates who found repeated scoring chances with one squeaking through to offer them the lead in the game.

Before the second period our bench reminded our players that we were only down by one goal and it was an easy feat to regain the lead in this game and urged them to skate harder and work together to get to the net for more shots.  Our forwards drove hard with the puck but many of their chances were cut short including a rush from Calvin who was hooked by 1 player while 2 others held him, it was blatant obvious, in fact, the player who hooked him was seen trying to reel him in while he was calling for a net, in an attempt to stop him.  Ben C. was ambushed by a Pirate player with a thunderous interference call, yet it didn’t shake Ben as he got up ready for the face off and he smiled as his contender was ushered to the penalty box.  Fletcher raced hard and was in tangled with some of the Pirates in a battle over the puck, which he regained for his Wolfpack.  Despite, Spencer carrying a shorter stick, this did not interfere with him playing a strong game and he was responsible for some great forward plays and back checking plays.

For any spectators arriving late to the game for the start of the second or third period they would have been disappointed as all of the scoring took place in the first period and the second and third periods belonged to the goalies as they held out any further goals.

Great effort by our entire team, we will meet up with the Pirates two more times this season so we will have an opportunity to redeem ourselves when we play them at home and in Port Dover next month.