Mar 04, 2016 | maiken | 1392 views
The End of the Trail
Playing some great hockey under some interesting conditions is what the Dogs do well! Last game in Listowel and the Dogs played until the final buzzer. However, that buzzer was too soon and the Dogs go home with a 4 to 3 loss.
Our last encounter with Listowel was not a pleasant one. However, there was no way that the IceDogs were going to roll over and play dead with this touchy and feely team. This was a team that was not shy about using their sticks for more than puck contact. The first period didn't have many shots on their goalie, but Clayton made their goalie pay attention at 5:45 with a fine chance created by some hard work. It was the first of only three shots in this period on their goalie at the 5:34 mark. The score remained tied at zip. But first penalty of the game went to the IceDogs for too many men of the ice and Jason T served it. During this man advantage, Listowel would get on the scoreboard first with only 5.6 left in the period.
This deficit would be corrected early in the second, from a pass from Jason T to Mason, who made a hugely inspiration run that at 12:17, tied it up. Listowel started to get a little too excited and gave the IceDogs their first man advantage of the game but no damage was done. After they served that one, they returned to the box of shame again and Mitch V pulled out some of his fancy skatework, Brad tried a blueline flick and Josh kept frustrating Listowel from clearing the zone. Despite of all this, the score was still 1 to 1. Chayse got run over by a solid looking forward and there was another chance for the Dogs. Jason R gave their goalie a blueline rocket, but their goalie covers a lot of net! Still no second goal. Both teams were fired up! At 4:56, both teams would send one to the box for head contacts, which, after Jason R's last contact with this team, was a little concerning. Listowel put huge pressure on Lawson, and Meuser but no puck would make it into our net! Score still 1 to 1.
After the flooding, both teams returned with the objective to win this game. IceDogs struck first, with a some hard work by Brock and Mitch F to get the puck into their end and for Jason T to finish it at 13:57. At 12:34. the other team tied it up with a forceful rush. Listowel started to increase their physical game and there may be a Dog or two with some bruises to back that up. But a crosscheck sent them back to the glass box at 11:11. However, the IceDogs are not very good with an extra skater of their own on the ice and no shots hit their goalie. Next goal was Listowel's but 21 seconds later, Mason and Brandon set up Chayse to make it 3 to 3 at 4:07. Now....remember the first penalty that IceDogs received for too many men on the ice? After an exciting rush to our end, Mitch F was knocked down by an excitable Listowel player who then, feeling a bit lonely, decided to snuggle up with Mitch on the ice. This caused a bit of a kerfluffle, since Mitch was not interested in this extra attention. So...all the skaters on the ice skated over to their area to check it. Then the Listowel coach let his next line on the ice to skate over to take a look too. So there were ten Listowel skaters and 5 Dogs (not counting the goalies) on the ice. This caused the parents on both side to be a bit excitable. So when the refs finally broke up the hugging, and sent some Listowel players back, they dropped the puck with SIX Listowel players still on the ice. But no call for too many. Brock tried to take advantage of the confusion and had a fantastic "almost". However, Listowel came back up the ice and made it 4 to 3. Lawson played another one of his awesome games, facing 37 shots. In the final minute, Brandon made a great run, but it was not rewarded and the clock ran out. Dogs were one goal shy. Final 4 to 3.
The IceDogs will be facing their greatest game challenge next Sunday. It is the game against the parents. Not all the parents....just the ones with skating abilities. (However, I believe non-skating parents can make the kids run a gauntlet if we desire, before the whistle, to give those on the ice a fighting chance!) We hope all can make it. Banquet tickets will be there too, although all skaters should have theirs already.
Thank you for a great season, Bantam Reps! I know all the parents and fans will agree: It has been a honour to cheer for you.