The term 'fire-wagon hockey' first was coined in the 1950s to describe a free-wheeling style of play that came to epitomoze the 1980s, when the Great Gretzky was racking up more than 200 points and his Edmonton Oilers potting more than 400 goals every season. I once attended a game, in Edmonton, between Edmonton and the old Hartford Whalers. Ironically enough, the final score of that game was 8-5 for Edmonton. You almost never see such high-scoring games in the NHL anymore, though they still are not that uncommon in the OHL.
The A-team entered last night's game with the lowest goals against in the league, by a margin, despite a middle-of-the-pack record. Thank our league-best goalie for that flattering statistic. But not even an A goalie could save the A team last night, when defense went the way of the Dodo Bird at both ends. In fact, though the most goals the team had allowed in a game had been 4 prior to last night, and the most total goals by both teams in a game had been 8 (a 4-4 tie), by the end of the first period last night, the Bs led the As by a tally of 4-3. That 4-3 turned 4-4 minutes into the second period. That became 5-4 for the Bs by the end of the second period, which ballooned to 8-5 by the final buzzer. Blame not the goalie, who might have allowed one or two questionable goals in the first period, but who was his usual spectacular self for the remainder of the game. But even an A goalie can't stop grade AAA scoring chances, and the B team had an almost endless supply of those in the third especially, when all thoughts seemed to go to offense. On at least two breakaways, the shooter almost would have had time to stop and eat a sandwich, he was that non-pursued. Incredibly, Kyle stopped one of those two chances.
So enough with the low-lights. On the plus side was extremely energetic play that resulted in three offensive-end takeaways leading to unassisted goals, first by Joshua (when we were short-handed), then by Cal, and finally by Kasey (to temporarily tie the game 4-4). Andrew G. also had a lovely goal to start the A-team's scoring, on nice feeds from Patrick to Mitch to Andrew. And lots of hard work led to a mad scramble in front of the B team net and the A team's final goal, by Tommy, aided by Cal and Kasey. Also very impressive was the play of Patrick and Canaan, a defensive pairing that was on the ice for 3 of the 5 goals the A team scored, yet only one short-handed goal (of the B teams 8) against. And, despite the final tally, two thumbs up also for Kyle in net, who totally righted the ship after the first few minutes and was his usual stellar self until the defense totally let him down in the final period.
THREE STARS:
1. Patrick: 0G, 1A, 1 shot, +3, with two very dangerous rushes.
2. Canaan: 0G, 0A, also +3 and VERY solid on defense.
3. Tommy: 1G, 0A, 1 shot, +2; worked hard all night.
Honorable mention to Kyle, who was fooled on one or two early goals, but then was spectacular; truly, the score could have been MUCH worse without several huge saves he made; also to Andrew for high energy, one goal and eight shots.
Next game is next Sunday, 9:30 PM at Nichols versus Bandits C.
For individual stats, go to https://ballcharts.com/team/?team=banditsmidgethockey&pg=stats
Article by KP White