Turkey Dinners Take Toll on Atom LL Team, News, Atom LL, U11, 2012-2013 (Arran-Elderslie Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2012-2013 season, which is not set as the current season.
News Article
News Article Image
Jan 02, 2013 | rswigger | 729 views
Turkey Dinners Take Toll on Atom LL Team
One Christmas, two Christmas, Three Christmas, four, 
This turkey meal, that turkey meal, more more more.


Coach Todd knew Christmas would be good...maybe a little too good.  So, with a lay-off as long as a winter hibernation, he planned a little extra gift for the boys...an exhibition tilt with Hanover.  And while there were a few moments worth celebrating in this first game of the new year, perhaps there was more holiday hangover than highlight reel for the Dogs on this night.

It was a scrambled affair for much of the game, which probably benefited Arran-Elderslie most, as it prevented Hanover from developing any momentum.   There was no scoring in the first, and for most of the period, no great chances on either side.  Not much play-making developed even though there was only 1 whistle in the entire period.

In the second Hanover looked to emerge from their frustrations when they scored at the 7:00 minute mark, but our boys managed to score the equalizer just two minutes later.  Baden popped home a rebound after both Rocco and Dylan were stopped.  Surprisingly, this was not a shot in the arm for the home team, as Hanover play Scrooge with their second in the dying seconds of the period, and carry the lead to a 3-1 defeat over what looked like the Arran-Elderslie Under-Dogs.  

Mostly our guys looked tired.  But on occasion, they looked a little confused, and seemed a bit disoriented in terms of position.  Both the second and third goals scored by Hanover went through a crowd of Ice Dog bodies making it hard for Bradley to keep us in the game.  Wingers were sometimes caught wandering, forwards tried carrying the puck out of the defensive zone, and passing...well, passing seemed like a nearly forgotten concept, hazed over by fluffy mash-potato clouds raining gravy.  But, to be fair, with 4 players out of the lineup, it might have been one of those nights where the legs got a little heavy, and filling in on an unfamiliar line caused a bit of confusion.

Yes, in all, it was a night to forget...  But soon the reality of school routines will return, and the boys can put that one behind them. There are two upcoming ice times to put a New Year's resolution into practice, and then we have a two-game weekend followed by our first tournament.  That should shake off the last effects of all those gingerbread cookies!

Congratulations Rhys for winning the game puck tonight!