Jan 17, 2024 | Rori Urbshott | 285 views
First loss is always the hardest
On Monday January 15, your U13 Reps played host to the Walkerton Capitals and for this 2023/2024 season it took till this game for this group to be handed their first loss to one of the top tier 1 teams in the second half of regular season pool play.
Icedogs knew this game would be a tough challenge but with a good skating practice the Saturday before your U13 came out of the gate in the Tara barn keeping things tied at one after one with Sam F tying things up on the power play assisted by Connor H with just 9 secs left to go in period one.
Second period your Icedogs found themselves in some penalty trouble and the capitals managed to put 4 more up on the board, leaving your Icedogs down by 4 after 2 periods.
To start the third it was your Icedogs out skating the Caps for the majority of the 3rd playing most of the period in the offensive zone, but Capitals goalie was exceptional between the pipes. Walkerton was able to sneak one more in making it 6-1. With only 1:03 left coaches thought a time out, pull the goalie to give them 6 on 5 would be worth a try and your Icedogs had one job to do, which was "2 on the puck at all times" and these kids that they did but couldn't get one by Caps tender finishing the game with a 6-1 final.
Even though it wasn't the outcome we had hoped for this crew didn't give up or get down on themselves, they played every shift with grit and determination. This second half will be tough but it will be a great experience to play some fast, action packed hockey against some tough competitors.
Now looking ahead for these U13s we are packing our bags and heading down to Forest for the International Silver Stick Finals.