Feb 08, 2020 | Scott Price | 634 views
IceDogs Freeze the Lakers!
Twas the night before Hockey Day in Canada and the Atom Rep IceDogs were looking to celebrate the greatest game on Earth with big time effort against a long time rival--the Shallow Lake Lakers. The Lakers had stung the 'Dogs with an OT win last time out so this one mattered!
There was a palpable buzz in the IceDogs room before the game and Trainer D'Elle had the 'Dogs stretched, focused and ready. Coach P took it from there and gave the IceDogs their To-Do List--Pressure, Shoot Hard and Smile.
Right from the opening face-off, the IceDogs had their legs and went to work. Ethan S. had his saddle on and was looking to lead the team with an outstanding effort at both ends of the rink. His wingman, Carter G. and Owen M. almost got the opening goal but the Laker goalie held his ground. Next up, Jesse's line with Brayden and Ian riding shotgun went to work and caused countless turnovers...it wasn't showing on the scoreboard but the IceDogs were on their game and the fans had stiff necks from only looking at one end of the rink. Still, the scoreboard showed double zeros at the end of one.
You just knew the IceDogs were bound to catch a break and in the 2nd period their hard work paid off. Karden C. made a great play at the blue line to keep the puck in the Laker zone. Then, Ethan, looking like Denis Savard, spinning off checks and feeding Carter G. who just missed. Ian M. was all over the rebound and put it home to get the IceDogs up by one. The IceDogs went full throttle after that and Brayden P. would draw a penalty to put the IceDogs on the Hatten Home Hardware Power Play. After being turned aside on an initial rush, Brayden would gain the zone again. This time, a Gretzky curl would fool the Laker D-men and Brayden would feed Jesse with a centring pass that Jesse would rip glove side and it was 2-0 IceDogs. In true Canadian fashion, Owen W. and Aden M. would come all the way from Paisley after a big tournament game win, and play their 2nd game in an hour. Both boys were full marks for their effort and play. Hudson J, Simon J. and Alek F. didn't show on the scoreboard but their rock solid play in the 2nd period (and entire game!) led to the forwards getting chances and it was 2-0 IceDogs after two.
The third period continued to be all IceDogs as they hemmed the Lakers in their zone and didn't give them a sniff of the net. When a Laker did break free from the tight checking IceDogs, Peyton L. calmly turned them aside. Owen M. would rip home a rebound after Brayden and Jesse combined on a down-low play behind the net and that pretty much salted this one away as the IceDogs went wire to wire with a 3-0 win.
There are moments during a hockey season, when you look back, that are turning points. Sometimes its a loss, sometimes it's a big win. The season is far from over and there is a lot of hockey left to play--let's remember how hard we had to play, how much fun it was and the rest while take care of itself!