Our
Paris LL4 Wolfpack returned to the ice last night for a home game versus our
hometown LL3 rivals, this game comes after an 18 day absence period since our
last game that concluded the first half of our season.
Although,
our team had ice practice during this holiday break, this time in between games
caused for some rust to form on our players that they need to wear off and let’s
be honest, the countless turkey dinners, holiday baking and gaming time, didn’t
help their cause.
To make this game even more testing for our players, it was a late 9:30pm scheduled start making for many players tired from a long day. The only positive point to this late start game was that all of our players were able to make the game, as our players day jobs hours will have ended hours earlier. The only players that appreciated this hour of play were the nocturnal types. Unfortunately, reviewing our upcoming schedule most of our games and practices will be at this same or even later time, so our boys will have to get used to this regular, new witching hour.
The only player who was unable to be on the rink was our recently injured Jonah H who is expected to be out of the lineup for weeks to come. However, even he couldn’t stay away from this B division debut game against our other hometown team and was seen in the stands cheering on his team mates. His absence was definately noticed and many were missing seeing his white trademark gauntlets that normally support our team with the endless assists and goals that he had attained over the first half of the season.
The coaches made a great decision in filling Jonah’s centreman spot on the second line with Josh Racette his new replacement, who normally plays defence but he quickly demonstrated his ability and influence in filling this void on this line to the reassurance of his linemates Lucas and Fletcher.
During warm up many of our players were adjusting to new equipment and sticks that they received from Christmas perhaps Old St. Nick left them under their tree, including Josh H who was sporting a new clear full viser, so he can get a clearer view of the action and puck on the ice. It was also easier for friends and family to point him out in the lineup, especially on this game, as the arena was packed full of high school classmates who came out in droves to cheer on both teams, as many knew players on each of the teams.
One paricular spectator was very vocal and cheerful and was clearly heard yelling, ‘that was my brother’ after LL3 scored a goal during the game to the delight but mostly embarassment of her friends, that was quickly followed by an odd silence from that section.
The only further ackward moment of the game, came when 6 or more of the LL3 players left the bench and headed off the ice to their dressing room, leaving many pondering what was going on. The natural reason was they were sent back to the dressing room to get their mouthguards; however, I couldn’t give up the opportunity to joke that they were leaving for a costume change as they are part of Disney on Ice to the delight and later disappointment of some of the young siblings, who were in ear shot of me. Yes it is for this and other similar reasons why I received coal in my stocking for the holidays, lol.
With the start of the game both teams waivered back and forth in the first period with no scoring results; in fact, our team had the best defensive period with only allowing 5 shots on our net in the opening period. Plus our entire defence line were instrumental in keeping the puck in our opponents zone not just in the first period but throughout the game, outstanding effort goes out to Jackson, Riley McLelland, Cameron Hussey and Deryk Rosebrugh for putting some great shots from the point. In addition, some strong rushes from Jackson and Deryk that inched our team closer to LL3’s net to make for some solid scoring attempts.
Since, the last time we played this LL3 team, Connor Calliauw was a new player for this team who recently was acquired from Paris Midget Rep team in Paris. This new player was a long term, rep level, strong player, so even before starting the game in reviewing the game sheet we knew this addition to their team was going to make a huge impact to LL3’s game. Our predictions were correct as he went on in the game to earn 3 points on 4 goals for LL3, including a goal and two direct assists. Normally, a defenceman, in previous years, his instincts caused our team grief by stopping many of our rushes and quick back checking habits. This new acquisition will serve his new found team well and offer them better results in the second half of the season for sure.
Into the second period our players began to loose their grip on LL3 and allowed them to enter our zone and were not able to resist them from tripling their shots on our net to 14, costing our team a 2 goal set back. Even with a power play awarded to our team, we still struggled to make a scoring play and ended the period with a two goal gap.
Our team forged ahead in the third period to come back to tie up the game and we were provided another power play opportunity; unfortunately, this backfired badly on our team as LL3 team scored back to back goals with 18 seconds apart from each other. This further inflated their lead in the game by 4-0; however, I have to commend our players for not backing down and not resorting to playing dirty and acquiring penalties, in fact, they completed this game with not a single penalty being given to our team. I hope this becomes our team and players’ new years resolution to stay out of the penalty box and to focus more on playing a clean game, it will definately offer us a better outcome on games to come.
Patience, hard work and team work paid off in the mid-point of the third period as Jackson, passed the puck up to Josh Hicks and Evan was there to knock in a rebound to find LL4’s first goal of the game. Less than a minute later Lucas seeing defenceman Cameron open at the point, passed the puck to him and in response Cameron made a perfect wrist shot that went through a traffic of players and found the back of the net to score our second goal of the game. A great first goal of the season for Cameron. Suddenly our opponents lead was cut in half and with just shy of 5 minutes still remaining in the game our coaching staff and players were thinking that we still had time in this game to make a comeback.
Although, our team continued to play with much heart and head in the final moments of the game they fell short of any more goals; however, they were successful in reducing LL3’s shot chances to just 9 in the third period and cutting short any more goals. Although, this included a late shot that Caleb was seen grimacing from after blocking it, he was still visibly sore leaving the arena; fortunately, our next game is in 5 days so hopefully he will be better by then, otherwise Spencer and Lucas will have to draw straws with whomever pulling the short straw to be suiting up for net.
Overall good job by all of our players, despite losing out on this last game and curbing our 2 game winning streak from the tail end of our first half of the season, I know that our team has much more luck to come and longer winning streaks to come in the near future.
Congratulations to Evan Shipp for earning this week’s ‘Player of the Week.’
Go Wolfpack Go!
Kevin Noseworthy