Mar 04, 2015 | Todd McIver | 1361 views
Pure Heart and Determination Net the Win
Knowing their backs were against the wall, Team Blue had one thing in mind... win. Before the game the boys were in great spirits in the room and seemed fired up! The coaches had the feeling this game would be different.
When the game began, London took the puck into the Blue end and moved the puck around well. Blue didn't panic but a quick shot through traffic fooled the Blue tender and Purple was up 1-0. The majority of the period however, belonged to Blue! A solid back-end moved the puck smartly and quickly to the forwards who were able to sustain some pressure in the London end. The only offence Purple created, including a breakaway were turned away by the Team Blue net minder and the period would end with a 1-0 deficit. Although we were behind, every member of this team felt we had the momentum and advantage.
Between periods, never give up was the quick message to the players. They didn't! Off the face-off Blue took the puck deep into the Purple end and had some glorious scoring chances! Although the London tender was equal to the task, the momentum still seemed to be in Blue's favour. An unlucky bounce in the London end resulted in the Purple team marching the puck down to the Blue zone. A few missed opportunities to clear the puck and one move too many inside the blue line resulted in the puck staying in our end a little too long. After a shot was stopped and directed to the corner, a London player threw the puck out front where, after two whacks, it found its way across the line. 2-0 London. The fact remained that the advantage was still ours in terms of puck possession and aggressive play. Not to be outdone, and true to what this team has embodied all year, Blue would answer back with a goal of their own only 30 seconds later to deflate the growing egos of their opponents. A slick pass, a strong inside move at the top of the circle, and a smart shot! Booya! Never quit. The next few minutes would again be mainly Blue. Relentless pressure on the puck and a few more scoring chances would be turned as aide by the Purple goalie but as London began to scramble it would be Blue who would notch the next marker. A smart pinch and very physical play at the London blue line created havoc for the opponent. A pass, a battle won, and a full on attack at the crease netted the equalizer. It was a new game! The period was not over and on a seemingly harmless rush by a London player that started behind his own net, London would pot the go-ahead goal when the skater weaved his away through the Blue forwards then split the Blue D and slipped the puck behind Team Blue's goalie. A fantastic effort by this player and many missed opportunities to stop him would result in the period ending with Blue down a goal. Never quit.
This was it. What was left in the Team Blue tank? Would we rise to the occasion or fold up like recent games? Each player knew the correct answer this time. Did we deserve to be down a goal at this point. I don't thinks so. Did we control most of the play of the first two periods? I think so. Are we giving up? Absolutely not!! This was our game in OUR HOUSE. The third began and it was all Blue. Chance after chance, and shift after shift Blue kept coming. Five minutes into the period, Blue would once again draw even when some incredibly hard work and battling at the Purple blue line resulted in the puck popping loose and a Blue forward knocking it home! Tie game with minutes to go. Whose House? Our House! With the momentum strongly in our favour, Blue kept bringing it! In a stroke of fate (some may say it was well deserved!), while Blue was on a line change, a Blue forward took the puck across the London line and although he was hooked, pulled down, and mauled, managed to throw a shot in the direction of the Purple net which banked off a Purple defender and found the back of the net!!! 4-3 for the good guys! Only minutes to go and the barn was silent. Tension was high and the coaches felt faint! But wait! Who was that masked man cheering for Blue? Superfan Snipe was in the house which gave everyone the confidence to get it done! The boys then knew this game was theirs. Some more relentless pressure on London and the game was ours! Never quit.
The difference between this game and the other two was that at no point did this team slow down. At no point did this team take their feet off the gas pedal. At no point did anyone doubt their ability to play as a team and get the job done. This is what it takes and it makes us proud to watch it happen! Next up, a game in London on Saturday. It doesn't matter where the game is. Whenever Blue steps on the ice, it is OUR HOUSE!!!