Nov 16, 2019 | Scott Price | 285 views
IceDogs Almost Thaw the Blizzard!
The Atom Rep IceDogs were primed and ready to face the top team in their loop, the Huron-Bruce Blizzard. Coming off a hard paced, hard working practice, the IceDogs were out to prove they could play with the big dogs.
The IceDogs came out the gate flying and pressured the Blizzard all over the ice. There was a jump in their step and they were winning races to the puck the entire first period. Some quality chances just didn't go in and Peyton L. was a wall in the first period as the Huron-Bruce squad had some chances to score as well. The first period would end in a scoreless draw.
The second period was a carbon copy of the first...fast skating, (hard-hitting) and the IceDogs continued their pesky style of play. It was clearly frustrating the Blizzard who couldn't get their game going. But good teams find a way and this Blizzard team is good. They might have only had two quality chances to score in the second but the capitalized on both of them and took a 2-0 lead at the 2nd buzzer.
There is absolutely no quit in this IceDog team. They vowed to keep at it, and despite what the scoreboard said, they knew they were playing well. And, the hockey gods did too. After blocking a shot that surely stung, Owen M. found 5th gear and blasted his way into the Blizzard zone. At the end of a shift, he fired a shot from the top of the circle that eluded the Blizzard tendy, and the IceDogs were on the board! The IceDogs were pressing and just missed tying this one up. The Blizzard got a seeing eye goal from the point to get back their 2 goal lead but the line of Jesse-Brayden-Carter got that one back. Working as unit of three, Brayden would chip the puck out of his own zone to Jesse who fed a hard-skating Carter G. Carter's first blast would be stopped but he kept his feet moving and beat the Blizzed defender to the rebound and put it home to get the 'Dogs within one. The IceDogs pressed for the equalizer and had a few chances but the buzzer would eventually sound and the Blizzard would escape with a 3-2 win.
There are wins on the scoreboard and then there are wins in your play and the IceDogs definitely showed that they have what it takes to play with the big boys. They probably played their best team game of the year and the celebration on Carter's goal showed that this team might just have become a "team" as they worked so hard for each other on this night. Let's keep it going IceDogs! We have a lot of great hockey ahead of us!