Dec 18, 2024 | Kevin Waddell | 68 views
Icedogs Avoid the Sting of the Hornets
On a snowy Wednesday night in Paisley, the U13A Icedogs took on the Howick Hornets with a lot shorter bench.
Avelyn, Gabe and Jaxson were missing from the lineup, so the task was going to be challenging against a full bench on the Howick side. With only two lines up front the shifts were going to have to be short.
The first period started off with both teams testing their opponents as they battled for the upper edge early on. Effort was up a few notches from the last game and the Icedogs were there to play.
It was scoreless for the first 4 minutes. Seth H opened the scoring with a blistering worm burner that went right under the Howick tender.
Just a couple minutes later and after some great forechecking, Hunter G fed a pass in front of the net to Mav A. (aka Merv) who tucked it under the goaltender to put the dogs up 2-0.
Howick would get on the board just a minute later on a wrister over Cole F.
The buzzer would sound at the end of the first with the Icedogs up, 2-1
The second period began and about 4 minutes in, Ben H went in hard on the forecheck, came out with the puck and fed it out to Seth H. His shot hit a leg in front of the net and bounced its way into the net.
Howick would come back again 2 minutes later with a goal of their own after a few whacks at a rebound in front of the Icedogs net.
The remainder of the period was scoreless as the clock ticked down, Icedogs with a tight lead, 3-2.
The tiring Icedogs needed a break and headed to the dressing room to await the start of the 3rd period.
It would only take Howick a couple of minutes into the 3rd to tie things up at 3 a piece after a bad bounce off a skate on a clearing attempt.
It was then Cole W, who after several missed attempts earlier in the game, finally broke through the Howick defenders and rifled a shot over the sprawling Howick goalie.
But Howick.... wasn't done. They took advantage of an icing call with just over a minute left in the game and tied up score up at 4 a piece.
Well.... the Icedogs weren't going down without a fight. Howick was kept pinned in their own end by the Icedogs and with only 20 seconds left on the clock, Hunter G put the puck under the sprawling goalie to squeak out the win.
Not everyone was on the score sheet, but everyone stepped up and covered different roles for this gutsy win. There were some tired players leaving the rink tonight as this shortened bench pulled off the win against a tough opponent. A great way to end on a high note as we head into the holiday break.
From the entire U13A team and coaching staff, Happy Holidays to all and a Prosperous New Year.