As per Jason Hart's request, I didn't write a report last week for the Express game. He also suggested I refrain this
week, but I can't let down the legion of fans that obsess over this website.
Sunday, for the
billionth time this season, the Ventura Mariners Bantam Killer Bees went down to Escondido to take on the Sand Diego Jr. Gulls.
The outcome of this game had no bearing on the Mariners in terms of play-off positioning and the boys certainly played like
it was meaningless. The first face-off resulted in a Gulls goal, as did the second. Okay, let's try the second line. Boom
and boom. The Gulls got two more. Well, maybe the third line will do better. They actually did, only surrendering one score.
Down 5-0 with only four minutes of clock burned, Coach Sergey took a time out to setting things down.
The
boys took a few shifts without giving up a goal, but still couldn't get a shot on goal. They had a few shots near goal, but
I'm not sure that's an actual stat. About mid-way through the first period, one of the Gulls gave Killian Anderson a shot
in the chops. Killian completely snapped. He wrestled the kid to the ice and beat him senseless. Unlike in the NHL, this fight
didn't do anything to change the momentum or rally the troops. San Diego scored another 3 goals giving them an 8-0 lead after
one period.
Conor Gleason got the Mariners on the board early in the second. I missed it, but I bet
it went something like this: He stole the puck, faked out four guys, then beat the fifth with his speed. He threw a head fake
on the goalie to get him to drop, then ripped it over the glove. At least the Gulls shut-out bid was done. The Mariners showed
some signs of life, getting a few chances and somewhat slowing down their opponent.
The third period
was the Mariners most prolific of the game. Conor got his second goal when he crashed the net and banged in a rebound. Later,
TJ Samuel got one when he took a perfect pass from Patrick Dalton and blasted it right through the goalie. That was it. The
Mariners lost 14-3. Based on the urgency with which they played, it was a predictable outcome.
Goalie
Gianluca Allen was kind of up and down in this game. I don't know how much responsibility he has in the loss, because of the
complete defensive breakdown in front of him. He did have some pretty amazing stops, including a beauty of a glove save. He
let 14 in so his GAA took a hit, but he faced 1000 shots so his save percentage is out of this world.
The
biggest problem was that most of the kids were shying away from any kind of physical play. Patrick, of course, was in the
middle of everything and Josh Kuchinski was just looking for an excuse to unload. Blake Burlew was also playing with an attitude,
but that was it. The rest of the boys were content to give a one-handed poke at the puck. Nobody was finishing their checks.
They made it too easy for the Gulls, and were content to take the ass-whoopin'.
You guys know I always
try to find something positive, even from a game like this. I thought long and hard, and this is what I came up with: The
Mariners, for the first time in a long time, scored more than one goal in a game and we finally figured out a way to get Killian
out of the locker room quickly.
The Incredible
Shrinking Roster
As most of you know, the Killer Bees will be heading into the play-offs with
out their captain. Josh has to have surgery to repair his knee. We wish him all of the best and hope he has a speedy recovery.
The team is going to miss his intensity and leadership.
