Feb 06, 2017 | dosmond | 610 views
Six Nations (2) @ Unifor 3264 (2)
The Bantam LL Unifor 3264 team spotted the opposition another lead tonight and were forced to play catch up after going down 2-0 to the visiting Six Nations Blackhawks.
The early part of the game saw the Unifor 3264 squad doing a lot of stick checking as a result of not skating. This allowed the Blackhawks a couple of opportunities eventually cashing in 2:48 into the opening period. The visitors forced a turnover in the neutral zone and sent in their forward on a partial breakaway. The back check by defense man Colin Van Dyk wasn't enough as the Blackhawk forward fought him off and slid a backhand shot low blocker side past goalie Dawson Sharpe.
The Unifor 3264 squad then went on the power play. They weren't able to generate any offense as they Blackhawks aggressive forechecking kept the home side in their own end for most of the power play. Shortly after the penalty was over, the visitors kept up the pressure and a great play by Unifor defense man Lucas White to keep the puck out of his own net and force a face off kept the score at 1-0.
The turning point of the game came in the second period when short handed Unifor 3264 Center Tanner George applied a great fore check forcing the visitors to haul him down leading to four on four for almost 1:45. George's hustle seemed to spark the home side as they started to get their skating legs and keep the pressure in the Blackhawks end.
An unfortunate pinch at the visitor's blue line off an offensive zone faceoff lead to a breakaway for Six Nations. The forward made no mistake as he beat Sharpe top shelf on the glove side to give the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead.
The goal didn't deter the home side as they maintained pressure and hustle continuing to keep the visitors in their own end. Two minutes later the pressure paid off as Liam Carson found a loose puck in a goal mouth scramble and found the back of the Blackhawk net to cut the lead to 2-1 heading into the third period.
Both teams generated a couple of scoring chances in the third with the best chance going to the visitors who managed to beat Sharpe but the shot found the post, went through the crease and out the other side. Finally the home side would break through with 4:37 left in the game. After a save by Sharpe, a scramble in front for the loose puck saw Van Dyk find the puck and send it out of the Unifor zone. The puck was kept in by the Blackhawks but Unifor winger Kieghan Osmond won a puck battle and slid a nice back hand pass out of the zone to George who was streaking down the right wing. George entered the Six Nations zone and let a low slap shot go from the top of the faceoff circle that beat the Blackhawks goalie under the pad tying the score at 2-2. Two minutes later the game would be called due to time.
Strong games were turned in by Liam Carson, Colin Van Dyk, Lucas White, Tanner George, Brydon Johnson, Evan Wade, and Kieghan Osmond.
The team is in action again Thursday night when they travel to Langton to take on the Leafs at 7:00 pm.
"WHEN YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING TO PROVE, THERE'S NOTHING GREATER THAN A CHALLENGE." - Terry Bradshaw.