“For those about to Rock ...” if you answered “we salute you”
then you’re a fan of AC-DC and you would have enjoyed the ambience at Simcoe’s,
Talbot Gardens, as they were pumping out tunes all night long throughout the
arena speakers during Midget LL4’s game against the Simcoe Warriors.
For a 9pm game start the stands were full and spectators
were grooving to the music and were on the edge of their seats watching this
close game. This arena is a great venue
with full circular, coliseum seating with perfect viewing from every seat in
the house.
As the players were getting ready to hit the ice, both teams were lined up in the tunnel, psyching themselves up, putting on their game face and sizing up their opponents. If they were chirping one another you couldn’t hear it as Bon Scott was drowning out their voices with his.
The Wolfpack, donned in their red jerseys looked fierce, when they hit the ice to a strong warm up, sitting behind the net I can hear and feel the slap shot vibrations off the boards and glass.
Missing from the lineup was Jonah, Josh R. and Josh H. it seemed like every player whose first name starts with a J; fortunately, Jackson on defence and Jaden on forward must have missed that memo and were in Simcoe ready to lace up to take on the Warriors. Both Jaden and Jackson had a number of key roles on some pivotal plays to support our team throughout the course of the game.
Paris had a strong first period against Simcoe, keeping them away from our zone for most of the time, lessening their shooting chances to just 8 shots on net. Our forwards forced their way into the Warriors zone but just came up short to capturing a goal during the first period.
Carrying over the momentum from the first period, Wolfpack struck first with a 3 play goal, that started from Evan to Lucas and Kaleb finishing, claiming the first goal of the game for Paris. Best of all, I had a firsthand, front seat view of this goal as we were sitting directly behind the Simcoe’s netminder.
Incredibly, the very next play Lucas returned to Simcoe’s zone in an effort to gain a second goal, in doing so he got tripped; however, a penalty was called against the Warriors.
Our Wolfpack, now on a powerplay, were not expecting our advantage to backfire on it, as it did with Simcoe earning a shorthanded goal against our team to tie up the game and cut short our celebrations, less than a minute after our initial goal.
Our players brushed off this bad luck and returned to work, earning some great rushes and multiple direct shots on net. Although, some of these shots were fanned over, missed shots; it looked as if some of our players had rubber sticks; fortunately, Simcoe seemed to have the same comical, misfortune on a number of their close plays, as well.
There were some great saves from our goaltender Caleb, just ask #12’s Simcoe Warriors player who was seen tapping Caleb in amazement of his save, at the same time Rick could be heard screaming out, “that’s going in the game article for sure!”
The third period was going to be the deciding factor in this game and both the Wolfpacks and Warriors were driven to score first and capture the lead. As the rock music continued to encourage the players to play and skate hard, both teams pushed ahead, searching for that next, tie breaking goal.
With a roughing call against the Warriors, Paris set up and sent out their power play line to capture a goal; unfortunately, the Warriors sent out their penalty killing line and a second time in this game they scored a shorthanded goal against our team.
What’s that expression ... “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on us,” as our players should have taken notice from Simcoe’s first shorthanded goal and learned by it to prevent another hail mary pass that can’t be called for icing. This type of strategy was easier for the Warriors as the ice dried up and was snow topped that slowed down and held the puck before it can reach the end boards, allowing the Warriors to get a direct shot from out front our net.
With the Warriors in the lead, the music seemed to change from adrenaline filled rock music to John Denver’s slow paced music, it was as if the timekeepers were trying to set the pace of the game and influence the Wolfpack to slow down in an effort to avoid any goal chances.
The Warriors unfazed by the dj carried on and claimed a 3rd and final goal, widening their lead to two goals, before you knew it the disco tune of “Funkytown” was being cranked through the arena sound system, it was as if they were now taunting our team.
Good effort all around to our players for a respectful game.
Congratulations to Spencer Noseworthy for being selected this week’s “Player of the Week.”
Go Wolfpack Go!
Kevin Noseworthy