Sorry the game report is so late. Blame Charter for having unreliable internet service. Also, let me apologize in advance
for the briefness of this one. I have a ton of work to do and I have to help my buddy move a stove.
Saturday
the traveling circus side show known as the Ventura Mariners Bantam Killer Bees went back to the 'hood to take on the Bay
Harbor Redwings. After a couple of tough losses in recent weeks, the boys really need to come out and make a statement. They
wasted little time in establishing dominance. JB Lovelace ripped a shot from the point and Luke Tickle, doing his best Tomas
Holmstrom impersonation, got to the front of the net and deflected it in. A few minutes later, Conor Gleason took a nice feed
from Jason Hart and put the team up by a deuce.
The second period was the Brian Zacchia show. The
kid with the best first name on the team reeled off 3 goals in the middle frame, including the eventual game winner. Jason
also scored a sweet goal which put the Mariners up 5-0. In the third, the Redwings got a couple of lucky bounces that ended
up in the net. I think both went in off of Mariner defenders. Jason got his second of the game and the boys won this thing
7-2. It was kind of a weird game (more on that later) but the team got back on the winning track and did it in convincing
fashion.
The defense was great at times. Others, not so much. It was nice to get a Cameron Torres
and Josh Kuchinski back in the lineup. Josh looked good, especially when he got an interference penalty for hitting a kid
with his armpit while winding up for a slap-shot. I swear that kid can't catch a break. Tom Dobrokhot made a brilliant diving
stop. It wasn't a particularly physical affair. The only hit of note came from, (who else?) Patrick Dalton. I was prepared
to rip the officials a new one for the non-call on Blake Burlew, but it turns out he boarded himself. I hope he's okay. We
haven't received the injury report yet.
Offensively, the Mariners were outstanding. They carried
the play from beginning to end. Niko Utash was a monster on the fore-check and created numerous turnovers. Though they didn't
score, Killian Anderson and TJ Samuel put together some wicked chances with NHL caliber passing.
As
I stated earlier, it was a weird game. The Mariners dominated zone possession and imposed their will through all three periods.
They were the better team and there was never any question who would win. Yet, somehow, the Redwings out shot the boys 27-26.
There were a few defensive break-downs that resulted in odd-man rushes. Thankfully, goalie Mark Becica was in top form. He
denied the Bay Harbor shooters with a cool confidence. Time after time the Redwing parents got out of their seats on a break-away,
only to sit back down disappointed. 25 times, the puck was in Mark's glove.
Cone Head
You know I love Gianluca Allen when he plays, but he's
equally entertaining when he backs up as well. During Saturday's game I looked over to the bench and he was wearing an orange
road cone for a hat, on top of his goalie mask. Coach Jere was laughing so hard he had trouble making a line change.
