Mar 05, 2024 | Scott Price | 495 views
Lessons Learned in Loss to Mount Forest
There are games on the schedule you circle--games you know will be a measuring stick...and on Sunday, the U15 IceDogs had one of those games.
It was a battle of two top teams...and Mount Forest has had the IceDogs number over the years. Opportunistic scoring and red-hot goaltending seems to be their recipe for success...and such was the case on Sunday.
The IceDogs found themselves in penalty trouble early and the Rams capitalized with an early goal. Another long distance shot eluded Peyton in the net, and the IceDogs trailed 2-0 before the game was 5 minutes old. Not long after, Owen M. would make a terrific block at the blue-line and his shot on net would rebound to Ethan S. for the IceDogs first goal of the game. After 1 period of play, it was Rams 2 and the IceDogs 1.
Jake F. would burn the Rams for the game tying goal, depositing a Karden C. rebound to knot things at 2. The IceDogs had some momentum now and Jesse P. would get the IceDogs fans out of their seats (after a nifty play to spring him loose by Brayden P and Owen W.) with a rush and rip job and the IceDogs had the lead. With time winding down in the 2nd, the IceDogs had to kill yet another penalty. This time, Brayden P and Ethan would work together to gain the Ram's zone with Ethan potting the 4th IceDog goal off Brayden's rebound. The IceDog had made a game of it and then some, now leading 4-2.
Perhaps the 2nd intermission came at a bad time but the IceDogs seems to lose their mojo. An early unfortunate goal by the Rams got them within 1. And had the IceDogs on their heels. A shorthanded marker by the Rams knotted things at 4 and then a late goal (with 2:22 left) put the Rams in the lead for good. An empty netter would finish this one off.
There are lessons learned in a long season and the IceDogs will need to put that one behind them...they have two more big games coming up to prove they belong with the big boys....if you could have seen the look on their faces after the game, I wouldn't bet against them. This is a determined bunch who is willing to do whatever it takes.
Next up, a trip to Hensel to tangle with the Mid-Huron Huskies--Wednesday at 7:30.