On Sunday the Ventura Mariners Bantam Killer Bees did something unusual: they hit the road. It's been great playing so
many games at home but they do call this "Travel Hockey". The Bees opponent was the Valencia Express, a team which featured
a pair of kids that played for Sergey last year. There were more than a few friends, enemies, and acquaintances between the
two teams which meant this was more than just a hockey game. It was a matter of pride and bragging rights.
If
there was any doubt that more than two points were at stake they were quickly erased. Both teams came out with a fury. The
first period was action packed with end-to-end chances and big hits. The Mariners got the first good chance when Killian Anderson
weaved his way in and ripped one through the five hole. From the bench it looked like it hit the post and came out, but according
to the "peanut gallery" it was in. Unfortunately, the officials were too far out to make the call. Though the opening frame
would end in a pair of zeros, it was a period of highly entertaining hockey.
In the second, the intensity
would get ratcheted up a notch. Josh Donovan saw to that when he cleaned house in the neutral zone. His devastating hit got
the whole team jacked up. Brad Kriegel and Blake Burlew were fighting like hungry barracudas in the corners, and play in front
of the nets looked like no-holds-barred cage matches. The chances were getting better too. The third line really had it going
on in this game. EJ Frank, whose effort has never been a question, showed that he's been working on his hands. He was taking
passes on the fly, stick-handling through defenders and making great plays to the net. Shawn Wentzel also added to his repertoire
by moving his feet and crashing the crease. He had a glorious chance that saw him one-on-one with goalie, but he just couldn't
finish.
The first line drew first blood on a seemingly innocent play. The boys were pressing, when
Brian Zacchia ended up with the puck in the middle of the circle. The Mariners most lethal sniper recognized that the Express
goalie was leaning too far and ripped a low shot that just found the inside of the far post. It was great to get the lead,
but there was no time to relax. This game was far from over.
The final stretch would be epic. Both
teams traded scoring chances, and found a way to bring even more intensity. Once again, and this is according to the aforementioned
peanut gallery, Killian slipped one under the goalie that hit the back of the net and popped out. And again the officials
didn't see it to make the call. The Express kept pressing and tied things up. Then about mid-period the Yellow Helmets took
the lead. The Mariners didn't panic, the kept coming. Our defense needed to take more chances to help get the equalizer. Zach
Marshall and Patrick Gibson were sneaking into the slot for added attack. Blake and Tom Dobrokhot both went deep into the
offensive zone to outnumber the puck battles.
The second line had been buzzing all day long and I
just knew they were due. Killian fought off two defenders against the boards and got the puck deep in the corner to Tyler
Serianne. Meanwhile, Niko Utash was reading the play and broke to the net at top speed. Tyler made a perfect pass to the cutting
Niko, who in turn chipped the puck over the goalie's shoulder to pull the Mariners even. The next few minutes were tense,
with both teams buckling down and trying not to make a mistake. Would this be another tie for the boys from Simi? Not so fast,
bucko.
We work on things in practice all the time, and then come game day it seems like those lessons
are lost. With about a minute left in the game, the top line decided they would try one of those drills we do week after week.
From deep in our zone, the puck went D to D. Tom put it behind the net to Blake, who skated it around and played it to the
awaiting Brian Z. on the boards. A perfect pass found Conrado Gesauldi flying through the neutral zone. Conrado took it wide
and entered the offensive zone. AJ Zavitz blew past the defenders and got to the net. He got a tape-to-tape pass from Conrado
and wasted no time burying the puck. It was the perfect breakout and the perfect finish. It gives me goose bumps just thinking
about how awesomely they executed that goal. Incidentally, on the score sheet, #9 was credited with the only assist. We don't
have a #9, so I guess we have to thank the great Gordie Howe for the set up.
The Mariners were up
by one, but they still had to close this thing out. Just getting to this point meant goalie Brian Felt had to be in top form.
He battled all game long, make stop after stop. He had 32 saves, but would need one more. The Express pulled their goalie
for the extra attacker. Everyone from both teams were scrambling around trying to make something happen. Through the mass
of bodies, the puck found its way onto the stick of a Valencia player. He was 4 feet away from the goal. Brian F. was
down in the butterfly, but the whole top of the net was open. The crowd held its breath as the shot went high. The whistle
went and our goalie had made the stop. With 1.7 seconds on the clock, The Moose had the game safely nestled in his glove.
What a save! What a game! The Mariners took this one 3-2.
Normally in a game like this, I will complain
that I didn't get to enjoy it because I was too concerned with the mistakes the boys were making. That was not the case on
Sunday. That was one heck of a contest. I saw two teams that played hard and wanted to win. I saw two goalies that stood on
their heads to give their respective teams a chance. Things were chippy and heated without being ugly and dangerous. It was
beautiful. This was real hockey. This was old tyme hockey. Eddie Shore and Dit Clapper would have been proud.
The
Gambler
Before the game I made the boys a deal. I told them if they played three great periods and won convincingly
that I would do dry lands with them all week. They understood this meant some pretty easy off-ice sessions because there are
many things I can't or won't do. It's great that the kids won, but it's even greater that I'm getting off on a technicality.
I do feel like they played well all three periods, but a one goal victory isn't convincing enough. Maybe next boys.
Drawing
The Line
As you know, in my newfound position as assistant coach, I've been trying to steer clear of being critical
of the officiating. I thought it was pretty good. They kept control of the game, yet still let the boys play, and they only
missed two goals. However, there was an incident near the end that should be addressed. My defensmen and I were overwhelmed
by a noxious cloud that caused our eyes to water. Someone had cut the cheese. I can't pin the blame on the boys because those
padded hockey pants are like hepa filters. I did notice the linesman was right near the defensive door, and I'm sure you're
drawing the same conclusion that I did. Biological warfare was outlawed by the Geneva Convention, perhaps SCAHA should adopt
a similar policy.
