IceHawks' goalie Joel Yates makes a big save during the shootout.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

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Ice Hawks Homecoming Ends In Shootout Loss

February 3, 2012       Leave a Comment
By: John Keuvelaar

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Due to the leagues showcase weekend, Christmas break and all-star games, the Ice Hawks had not played at home since early November albeit a game in December. A lot has transpired since then. The coaching staff had been replaced and so has half the roster. The changes have seen an upgrade in play as they tallied 6 wins over that time including 4 of their last 5 games. Thoughts of making the playoffs were clearly on the players' minds as they took on their closest rivals, the Kalkaska Roughnecks.

The Ice Hawks showed their new found talent as they controlled most of the play in the first period. All-star Larry McShane got the Ice Hawks on the board first picking up a loose puck and burying it to make it 1-0. Kalkaska tied the game two minutes later when Matt Elswick fired a rebound past Joel Yates. All-star and Player of the Month Nick Murphy put the Ice Hawks back on top when he put the rebound on his backhand and fired it under the crossbar. It was Murphy again 30 seconds later as he fired a strong wrist show past the screened goaltender making it 3-1 Ice Hawks after one period of play.

The second period saw the Ice Hawks put themselves in a hole thanks to two penalties. Strong defensive play and sharp goaltending by Yates kept the Ice Hawks ahead. Kalkaska would inch one goal closer when Dugan Kelly slipped behind the Tri City defense and found the right corner narrowing the lead to 3-2. After strong offensive pressure by the Ice Hawks, Kalkaska nearly got the equalizer on a breakaway. Yates proved equal to the task as he made a sliding save stacking the pads preserving the 3-2 edge.

The Ice Hawks dominated much of the third period keeping the puck in the Roughneck zone thus keeping any offensive pressure away from their end. Nick Murphy then gave Tri City a two goal lead when he stole the puck from the Kalkaska defense and went in alone hitting the top shelf for a hat trick and a 4-2 lead. Yates continued to be strong between the pipes as he stopped a breakaway and a strong flurry of shot midway through the third period.

Down by two goals, the Roughnecks pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. The strategy paid off as the tallied with 40 seconds to play narrowing the Ice Hawks lead to 4-3. I final offensive push and flurry in front of the net resulted in a Roughneck goal with one second left on the clock. When neither team scored in overtime, the teams went to a shootout.

The Ice Hawks were unable to score on the five man shootout while Kalkaska tallied twice to gain the extra point and more importantly add even more distance between them and the Ice Hawks for the final playoff spot.

Tri City plays 7 of their final 8 games at home with three of the home games being played at the Dow Event Center as part of a Spirit-Ice Hawk doubleheader. Tri City is back in action this Sunday, February 5th at the Bay County Civic Arena as they take on the Motor City Chiefs. Puck drops at noon.

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John Keuvelaar
John Keuvelaar is a college student at Midwest Photography Workshops and Delta College. More from John Keuvelaar

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