The Verspeeten Cartage Peewee Local League Express
team opened their season Tuesday with a 4-3 loss to the Langton Leafs #1
team. The boys were pumped for their
first game and looked sharp and ready to go in their new red jerseys.
The boys got off to a rough start, perhaps a little nervous in their opener, surrendering a goal less than 2 minutes into the game as a Langton player picked up a loose puck in the slot and deposited a hard shot behind goaltender Hayden White. The boys settled down and started to take control as the first period wore on but were unable to tie the score before the end of the first period.
Early in the second period Keagan Clifford broke free outside the Verspeeten blue line and dipsy doodled his way past a couple Leafs defenders before sliding one past the Langton netminder to even the score. Langton would regain their one goal lead late in the second and carry a 2-1 lead into the third period despite Verspeeten outshooting and outchancing their opponents.
The trucker boys were stuck in neutral early in the third as they gave up a couple quick goals to fall behind 4-1. The Express mounted a comeback finally capitalizing on their opportunities as Parker Huitema picked up a puck in the neutral zone leading to a breakaway goal with a hard shot just under the crossbar. Emmitt Robinson and Cameron Holland picked up assists on the play. The boys continued to press but couldn’t get another one past the Leafs’ goalie until Clifford squeaked one by with 2 seconds remaining in the game. The boys never gave up and fought hard until the end.
Despite the 4-3 loss, the Verspeeten trucker boys had a positive outing and look to carry that momentum into next week when they travel to Delhi and host Langton #2.