Our defenceman Jackson T. had a lot to celebrate as he
turned 16 today which he celebrated with his teammates during a home game
tonight versus Six Nations Blackhawks 1 to the chiming of his own cheering
section of friends and family. Post game
he was greeted to a rendition of Happy birthday as he walked through the arena
lobby.
Tonight was our third consecutive league home game before we set off on a two game road trip where our team will be traveling to Langton followed by Ingersoll. During warm up many of Paris’s supporters were asking who #17 Wolfpack player was, I explained it was Deryk and that he had to wear a different numbered jersey as his regular #10 jersey in black was too small for him.
Throughout the game, my wife repeatedly asked me who #17 player was which I repeated the same response; fortunately, by the third period she had memorized his new number.Our team had a full bench and were missing only two players Josh and Riley McH who are respectively our first and second leading in points players on our team, so these players absence would have a slight impact on our game tonight.
With the commencement of the game, the Blackhawks struck first with a goal with 2:40 minutes remaining in the first period that resulted from a shot straight after a face off in our zone.
Lucas and Fletcher returned a few seconds later with a rush up the ice on Six Nations with a shot that slid through the goalies pads; unfortunately, the goalie had slid out of position and when the puck went through him it went beside and outside the net and not in the net.
To close off the period with 28.9 seconds the Blackhawks surprised our Wolfpack netminder by stuffing in the puck to the side of him, allowing Six Nations to double their lead in the game with a 2-0 score.
To start off the second period the Blackhawks had a hard shot on net that connected with the right post that made a loud ding noise, a noise that a goalie’s mother can especially love and appreciate. Much of the second period was an even display of hockey for both teams but with no goals on either side. At times, our players needed encouragement and reminders; as our Assistant Coach Terry was clearly heard, yelling out to skate!!!
Our third period started off on a good foot or skate (Bob you will appreciate this expression) as our player Lucas skated in the puck to the Blackhawks zone and passed the puck out front our opponents net for Spencer to get a shot on net and with a rebound opportunity Evan took a second shot and netted our team’s first and what would become our one and only goal of the game.
With minutes remaining in the 3rd period Jonah won a face off back which he accidentally landed as a shot on our goalie that he saved, had that gone in on his brother that would have been an awkward family car ride home.
In a final attempt to score and tie up the game, our bench called for Caleb to come to the bench so we can put out a 6th skater to try and score, this last ditch effort offered some good chances but no goal, if anything it offered for a great finish to the game for the spectators.
Post game in the dressing room, team manager Greg Adam offered up a little wager, that if our team was to win our next game, this Wednesday in Langton, against the Midget Leafs that he will personally buy every player dinner at Harveys in Paris after Saturdays upcoming practice. This annual wager started a few years back as a way for Greg to help our team beat his original hometown team in Langton where much of his family still live. Already our boys are up for the challenge, so let’s get a win and better yet let’s help spend Greg’s money, lol.
Go Wolfpack Go!
Kevin Noseworthy