The Ingersoll Carmeuse Lime Express Juvenile rep team scored
five goals in the first period then held on to beat the New Hamburg Huskies 6-4
Saturday night in a penalty filled game.
After having six days off to heal their bumps and bruises after the International Silver Stick tournament, the Express took to the ice to play the New Hamburg Huskies. Shortly after the game’s opening faceoff, Carter Franklin would make an outlet pass to Eric Savoie who skated through the neutral zone before dropping a pass to Ethan Hurst whose hard shot would beat the New Hamburg goalie high on the glove side to give the Express a 1-0 lead just 57 seconds into the first period. At 4:05 into the first period, Caleb Schaap would use his skating ability to carry the puck into the Huskies end then feed a perfect pass to Kirk Meek who fired a laser shot past the Huskies goalie to give the Express a 2-0 lead. Just 28 seconds later, Carter Franklin and Eric Savoie would set up Derek Johnson who put in a loose puck laying in front of the Huskies net. At 6:08 of the first, Kyle Rachar would keep the puck in at the New Hamburg blue line and would feed Qwertay Dei whose wrist shot would beat the Huskies goalie on the blocker side. Forty seconds later, Rachar and Dei would click again as Rachar would feed a perfect pass to Dei whose one time slap shot from the point would pick the corner of the net to put Ingersoll up 5-0 before the game was seven minutes old. Just when it appeared the route was on, New Hamburg would score 2 power play goals before the end of the first to make the score 5-2 after an eventful first period.
Similar to the Ingersoll’s last game against Listowel, the temperature of the game heated up in the second period Saturday night against New Hamburg as both teams would take several undisciplined penalties, which is very uncharacteristic for the Express this year. This led to several power play opportunities for both teams. Ingersoll would capitalize with a power play goal when Kirk Meek would put home Caleb Schaap’s rebound after receiving a pass from Qwertay Dei to make the score 6-2 with 11:55 remaining in the second period. New Hamburg would score an even strength goal with 5:55 remaining in the second on a seeing eye screen shot that found the back of the net. In the second period, the Express exhibited strong penalty killing and Ingersoll goalie James Allison would make some key saves during New Hamburg’s power play chances, which at times were two man advantages, to allow the Express to take a 6-3 lead into the third after a rather chippy second period.
The third period did not see much change in the tone of the game as the parade to the penalty box continued. Tensions boiled over with 3:43 left in the third when Kyle Rachar and New Hamburg’s Troy Hemmerich would drop their gloves and engage in a spirited tilt. An unfortunate incident would then ensue as words were exchanged between an Ingersoll fan and the ejected New Hamburg player which led to fans from both teams exchanging some heated words along with some pushing and shoving. Fortunately cooler heads would prevail and the teams would return to hockey. With 1:33 New Hamburg would score to pull within in two, but Ingersoll would shut the door after that to escape with a 6-4 victory.
Overall the game would see 66 minutes in penalties called with 33 being assessed to each team. This shouldn’t overshadow some big nights for the Express on the score sheet. Qwertay Dei (2 goals, 1 assist) and Caleb Schaap (3 assists) both had three point nights. Kirk Meek (2 goals), Ethan Hurst (1 goal, 1 assist), Kyle Rachar (2 assists), Eric Savoie (2 assists) and Carter Franklin (2 assists) would all have two point nights.
The Express will have a week off to prepare for two games next weekend. On Saturday January 19th, the Express will host the surging Cayuga Stars who have won seven of their last eight games. Game time is 8:30 at the Ingersoll District Memorial Arena. On Sunday January 20th, the Express will travel to Tavistock to take on the Titans at 1:20 in what could be a preview of an OMHA playdown series.