Nov 01, 2022 | Rich McNeil | 203 views
Game #2 - Carmeuse earns a tie on the road vs Delhi
The boys headed down Highway 59 to the Delhi Rockets for their 2nd contest of the season. The boys coming off a rough loss at the hands of Twin Center had to wait a week to redeem themselves, and they did just that with a solid effort and delivered an entertaining game for those on hand to cheer on the Express.
With Alex Stratton making his season debut, and Aaron Lahey and Andrew Power returning from suspension, the boys came out with a plan to put a solid effort in for three periods. Starting in goal was Brandon Plaquet. The teams matched up fairly evenly through most of the first frame, and a beautiful solo effort for Power to get by not one but both Rocket defenders, before unleashing a wrist shot top shelf to give us a lead late in the first. However, this was short lived as Delhi answered with two goals of their own to take the lead into the 2nd period 2-1.
Delhi would extend the lead 3-1, but it did not deter our boys, as they continued to mount positive pressure in the offensive zone, and it would pay off as Noah Muller pulled the Express within one off a quick release on his off wing off a feed from Garret Folkema. The Express would then tie the contest after a blocked shot by Cole McNeil had the puck go airborne and send Reed Skevington in all alone on the Rocket netminder, and he made no mistake by unleashing a wicked wrist shot bar down glove side to tie this affair at 3-3 headed to the final period.
With a fresh ice pad due to a flood, the boys came out a little flat in the third, and Delhi took advantage scoring early to take a one goal lead. McNeil would draw a holding penalty shortly after and only took the Rocket ten seconds into the power play to extend the lead to 5-3. McNeil made up for his trip to the sin bin after taking a hard hit into the boards, by staying on his feet and a little tap pass from Ethan Cuthburt send McNeil in and he was able to roof the puck from a sharp angle to pull us within one. A late penalty for tripping, gave us hope as we were able to pull Plaquet for the extra attacker. With a 6-4 man advantage, the boys got the puck in deep and after several attempts, Cuthbert buried the biscuit behind the Delhi netminder tying this contest at 5-5 with just under twenty-seven seconds to play., with Muller drawing the assist. The Express held the Rocket in the middle of the ice, as the buzzer sounded, and the U-18 Carmeuse Lime squad walked away with a well-earned tie. Looking forward to watching what they deliver on Saturday, as they host their first game of the season versus St. George. All the best on the weekend Express!!