Oct 23, 2021 | Kevin Waddell | 459 views
Icedogs were seeing "Stars" at our home opener.
Your AEMHA U15 rep team opened their season today at home in Paisley vs the Seaforth Stars.
It was March of 2019, when our players last faced an opponent on home ice in an organized minor hockey game. The anticipation was real, the jitters were few, and the players felt ready for anything that would come their way.
It was a truly amazing experience for everyone to see as hockey return to our local rinks.
Randy ran the lads through a quick 15 minute warmup in the parking lot to get the blood flowing.
Down two players, one to injury from an earlier practice and one to "house arrest" (Yes there's a lesson in there) the U15 Rep team took to the ice after the Coaches pep talk and a longer more vocal "College Football Style" pep talk, courtesy of Levi.
The boys came out of the gate fast and aggressive in the 1st period, matching the Stars stride for stride. The shots by the end of the first were in slight favor to Seaforth but fast and constant forechecking by Riley, Owen M, Ryan, George, Chris, Avery and Nick kept Seaforth at bay. Owen W stood his ground between the pipes.
As the second period got underway the, ice began to tilt in Seaforth's favor. Our forecheck became relaxed and shortly after the start of the second period, they beat Owen W with a long hard shot from inside the blue line. Probably one he wanted to have back.
Unable to capitalize on a Seaforth penalty, the striped police assigned a knee penalty to our own Levi. It took just over a minute into the Stars powerplay to beat a partially screened Owen W.
Play carried on and as much as our shortened defense core of Tyler, Spencer, Levi and Lucas tried, the Stars pressured on. With only a couple minutes left in the period, another shot into the busy crease, beat our tender on the short side.
During the flood, we took the time to assess the game so far and with still 15 minutes to go, we urged the lads to bring what they had in the first. Bring the contact back in, remember the forecheck format from the first and lets get at it.
Although not perfect, they bought in and we came close to netting a couple of our own. A few wide shots and a cross bar would have been goals for sure. Chances were many at both ends. We held off the Stars until late in the third where Seaforth got another off an ugly rebound and fight tight in our crease.
Did we leave with heads low? Not at all. This is the beginning of the season and there were a lot of good things happening on and off the ice. They all had fun enjoying this great game again as it is supposed to be played.
Hats off to Cayden for being the stat tracker for the game and offering his input and support for his teammates during the game.
Not a bad start to the season and with a taste for things to come, I know the boys will be ready for tomorrow.