Dec 30, 2019 | Scott Price | 751 views
IceDogs Win in Last Game of 2019!
The PeeWee LL IceDog Teams were meeting in T-Town on Monday night and looking to end 2019 on a high note. Both squads have been playing good hockey lately and it was looking like it could be an epic match-up. Both teams didn't disappoint.
Maybe it was the Tara air, maybe it was losing some close games lately but the PeeWee #2 team played one of their games of the year. Right from the opening puck drop, they were skating and checking hard. It wasn't a smooth game by any means but creating chances from turnovers, the IceDogs were full marks for their effort. If not for the solid goaltending by Owen W., this one might have been 1 or 2 - 0 early. Dustin V. was making his first start in a few games and also had to be sharp to keep the game at zeroes at the first intermission.
The second period was a mirror image of the first, with Coach Julie's squad hustling all over the ice. Ryan "Doug Gilmour" P. would try the behind the net spinarama play only to be twarted by the left pad of Owen W. That same left pad would deny Lance G. a goal a few seconds later but the dynamic duo finally got one a few minutes later. Randi-Lynn J (with cousin Colt watching from the crowd!) would win a battle inside the IceDog zone and send Ryan P breaking down the left side. His shot would ricochet off the glass to a waiting Lance who would rip home the games opening goal and the IceDogs were off and running. Some more close calls almost netted the twine but the IceDogs would have to settle for a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
Coach Julie made another game saving move by having the team sit on the bench during the flood. But the IceDogs knew the other squad wasn't to be taking lightly and they would come out for the third on a mission. With the ice still fresh, Dustin would make a big save on Kaiden C. but Lucas S. would bury an opportunistic rebound to knot things up at one. The goal definitely put Coach Julie's squad on their heels a bit but they weathered the storm and play evened out as time ticked off the clock. With less than a minute to play, Colby L. would win a battle at his blue line and get the puck out. George I. would read the play and pounce on the loose puck and work it deep. A harmless looking shot on the net seemed to have eyes as it bounced around and George would pounce and bury the puck with 16 seconds left to give the home team a 2-1 lead. Coach Kevin's team didn't quit until the final buzzer and had a good chance to tie it but Dustin turned it aside.
It was a tremendous effort by both teams and it was probably Coach Julie's team's game of the year so far as they hustled and earned a couple of bounces that haven't been going their way recently. I think all the IceDog fans would agree that every single player gave it their all--Dustin, Nathan A., Calista, Riley, Tyler, Bryson, Ryan, Lance, Randi-Lynn, Colby, Nathan P and George--you bring that effort and determination to every game and practice and you will not be a fun team to play against come playoff time!
Happy New Year IceDog fans!!!!