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posted 12/09/2013 SQUIRT B 3, Cape Cod Canal Sharks 3
By Coach Mike Joy
GALLO ICE ARENA
The Hanover Squirt Bs made a pre-sunrise commute over the Sagamore Bridge today to face the gritty Cape Cod Canal Sharks. The ice was ready when they arrived in the dark for the first game of the day. With an elongated warm-up, the team was ready when the puck dropped. The action was end to end in the first five minutes until
Griffin O’Brien kicked out a long rebound to defenseman
Sean Coughlin. Sean circled his own net and broke down the right wing side. He banked the puck off the boards past the last defender and he was in alone. With a blistering snap shot, Hanover was on the board first and O’Brien tallied his first assist of the year. Just two minutes later, the Sharks capitalized on a loose puck, and tied it up. With three minutes to go, the Sharks were able to sneak another in, and Hanover trailed 2-1 at the end of the period.
The team gathered at the bench to talk about their game plan, and the message was simple. “Focus and win the one on one battles” said head coach
Andy Pevarnek. The team seemed to take his advice, and they came out flying in the second period. On the first shift, center
David Mitchell fed winger
Cam Barron with a pass in the slot and Cam redirected the puck to winger
Ryan Carter who rang one off the post. They continued the onslaught throwing four shots on net until the goaltender was finally able to cover the puck for a whistle. Hanover changed the line with
Sammy Thai centering
Gavin Pevarnek and
Michael Losordo. Thai won the face off to Pevarnek who threw a quick shot on net. Losordo swatted the rebound just wide and the Sharks were headed out of their end. Defenseman
Quinn Brown stepped up at the blue line and kept the puck in their zone. With a quick head fake, Brown stepped into the slot and had one man to beat. He pulled the puck to his backhand and took the defenseman wide. Then he made a quick cut back to his forehand and fired the puck past the frozen goaltender. Just like that, the game was tied 2-2. The chances came for both teams, but both goaltenders stood on their heads making some incredible saves and keeping the fans on their toes. With thirty seconds to go in the period,
Michael DeMayo stole the puck and made a perfect pass to defenseman
Geordy Glykis who ripped a shot high glove side but the Sharks netminder was able to make a stellar glove save to keep the score deadlocked at 2 at the buzzer.
During intermission, Coach
Scott Baldwin reminded the Indians that they had one period left. “You have twelve minutes. You may get three more shifts. Don’t leave anything on the ice. Give it 100%”. Seven minutes later,
Keegan Baldwin heeded his father’s words, won a puck battle in the corner and made a textbook cross-ice pass to left wing
Liam Joy. Joy carried the puck over the blue line, faked a shot and tucked the puck behind the goaltender to take the lead. The bench was on their feet, and the Indians could smell victory. They kept the pressure on, and held the play in the Sharks’ zone until a blocked shot led to a Sharks breakaway. With nobody back, the Sharks forward was all alone and was able to tie the game with just less than two minutes to play. With thirteen seconds left in the game, Sammy Thai was hauled down on a breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot. Sammy showed great poise as he waited for the goalie to commit, carried the puck across the crease and slid the puck into what looked like an open net. The goalie was able to get his pad down at the last second to preserve the tie. The last thirteen seconds ticked away and both teams skated off the ice content with a well-earned tie.
A special thanks to Hanover fans
Stella Glykis and
Matthew DeMayo who braved the cold to cheer on their brothers in a 6:40 AM tilt on the cape. The Indians are now 2-0-1 when they cross the Sagamore this season.
Around the rinks...
12/7/2103
Bantam B 3, Brewins White (h) 0; PeeWee B 2, Plymouth (h) 1; Squirt A 2, Falmouth (h) 4; PeeWee C 4, Plymouth 2;
12/8/2013
Girls U10 2, Duxbury (v) 3; Pee Wee B2 2, WHK (h) 1; PeeWee B 8, Milton (h) 1; Squirt A 7, Franklin #2 (v) 3; Squirt B 3, Cape Cod Canal (h) 3; Mighty Mites Blue 4, Canton 1 14;
