Mar 05, 2020 | Scott Price | 562 views
IceDogs Melt the Blizzard!
The Peewee LL IceDogs were coming off some tough luck losses...the effort was there but not the bounces in recent weeks but this IceDog squad has learned from their mistakes and the losses have toughened them up--a lesson the Huron-Bruce Blizzard learned on Wednesday night in Paisley.
The IceDogs were hungry right from the opening puck drop. Rookie winger Jake F. busted into the Blizzard zone and took a hit to make a play. With the refs arm up for a penalty, Nathan P. grabbed the loose puck and fired a low hard wrister by the Blizzard goalie to make it 1-0 IceDogs. They would hold their lead for the rest of the period, carrying most of the play and giving Coach P. a stiff neck from only looking at one end of the ice.
This Blizzard team wasn't 4-0 in the playoffs for nothing though and they pounced on a break and got a lucky one to knot things up at ones. Ryan P. would try for the tie-breaking goal off a sweet pass from George I. but rifled a backhander over the net. Jake F. wouldn't miss on his next shot though. Calista H. made another great pass after Nathan P. caused a turnover. Jake would elude the big hit this time and fire a low hard one (on the PP no less!) and the IceDogs were up 2-1. Another IceDog PP had Riley J. quarterbacking and he would fire a dart into a crowd that plinko-ed off a few defenders and in. The IceDogs had a 3-1 lead at the flood.
There was an uneasiness in the crowd as this team has been here before--up a couple of goals at the flood, only to see it slip away. But, if you were on the bench, you could tell that wasn't going to happen tonight. The IceDogs had that look in their eye and were determined to bring this one home. You just knew the Blizzard were going to push for the win and came out strong but the IceDogs didn't break. A few near misses (George and Riley hit iron, Ryan tipped a shot that just stayed out) would have put this one to bed. The Blizzard continued to push and would get a seeing eye shot to make it a one goal game. With time winding down, the IceDogs went to work and kept the puck out of their zone to get a well deserved 3-2 win.
Great job IceDogs! The Hound Line of Nathan P-Jake F-Colby L. were tenascious on the puck all night and I bet their sticks are still smoking this morning from all the hard work. Lance-Ryan-Randi-Lynn didn't find the back of the net but they did a lot of little things right to help the team earn the win. George I. filled in admirably on the backend and complimented Riley, Calista and Tyler very well. Nathan A. was solid between the pipes and Dustin V. provided some excellent commentary on the bench! Well done IceDogs! To stand in there and deliver after some hard-luck losses isn't easy but you did it and proved what kind of players and people you are!