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Issue 1348 October 23, 2011
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HOT & HEAVY HOCKEY ACTION -- IceHawks' Gary Majak knocks Oiler Jon Stanfield into the bench. (MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar.)

Exciting Hockey Returned to Tri-City

IcehawksIcehawks Fall to Wooster, 9-4

October 23, 2011       Leave a Comment
By: John Keuvelaar

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Saturday night saw the return of the Icehawks to league play. A glitch in the schedule resulted in only three games in the last month and those were a result of a road trip to St. Louis two weeks ago While the significant time off showed early on in their play, they were able to make adjustments between periods as well as on the fly. These adjustments helped make the Icehawks very competitive and entertaining which resulted in a excellent hockey game. Unfortunately for the Icehawks, it didn't lead to a win but their play showed vast improvement from their opening games in mid-September and those wins are soon to be had.

While the Icehawks have been making good use of the lack of games with intensive practices, another hurdle was thrown their way heading into this weekend's games. Suspensions and injuries including a broken hand left the roster shorthanded. To compound the problem, player suspensions of eligibility due to being behind in payments, an unfortunate sign of our economic times left the Icehawks with only six skaters for Friday night's game. Much of that was cleared up for Saturday's game including the adding of a couple players from last year's team giving the Icehawks a full bench for which Coach Wright could utilize. Midway through the second period, the players were meshing and the goals started coming. Unfortunately it was too late as the hole was too deep but it clearly showed good things are coming soon.


Ben Robinson covers the puck as his defense comes in to help.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Zach Bauer drives to the net.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Defenseman Gary Majak brings the puck up ice from behind the net.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Dakota Dore battles for possession of the puck.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Zach Bauer chases down an Oiler.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The game was exciting from the drop of the puck. The Icehawks made good use of the body on the puck handler keeping the Oilers off stride and allowing the Hawks to make strong offensive rushes and scoring chances. Unfortunately most of the Icehawks shots were along the ice allowing the Oiler goaltender, Taylor Kuhn to control the rebounds and thus the Icehawks rebound opportunity. Play changed midway through the period as both teams got into a fast paced up and down game. The faster pace and less checking worked to the Oilers advantage as they slid in for close range shots. Ben Robinson was strong in the nets for the Icehawks but a missed shot bounced off the boards right back in front of the net which Robinson made the initial save but the rebound was jammed in for a 1-0 game. The Oilers would score two more times in the next three minutes as the wingers split the Icehawks defensemen allowing a third skater to move in between the circles for a point blank shot and a 3-0 lead after the first period.

Between period adjustments by the Icehawks paid early dividends in the second period. When Chase Dore kept the puck in the zone from being cleared, he hit Larry McShane with a pass for a quick and importantly high shot. This shot produce a rebound that Nick Murphy buried making it 3-1. The thrill of the goal was short lived as the over aggressive Icehawks got out of position resulting in an open shot at point blank and an Oiler 4-1 lead. Later in the period, an Oiler cross ice pass found Oiler William Blanset at the back door and just that fast it was 5-1 ending the night for Robinson.

That change in goal inspired the Hawks to press on even harder. They picked up their checking with clean hits on the puck handlers. This resulted in renewed energy for the Hawks and caused the Oilers to not skate as freely. The Icehawks attacked the net more with longer higher shots that started producing rebounds they could pounce on. One such shot by Nick Murphy hit the Oiler goalie in the right shoulder which winger Matt Donley jumped on to make it 5-2. Then came the McShane show. The sweet puck handling center drove through the Oiler defense heading right on the netminder. A couple quick movements with the puck and he headed right bringing the goalie with him. As the goalie slid left, McShane slipped it behind him for a crowd raising high fiving goal making it 5-3.

The Oilers finished off the scoring in the second period when heavy pressure around the net resulted in the puck somehow finding a way into the back of the net. While the Icehawks had drawn an even scoring in the period, 3-3, they still entered the intermission down 6-3.

Comeback hopes were quickly dashed to start the final period. With the puck in the corner, a through the crease pass found an unattended Oiler in the backside for a quick one timer and a 7-3 advantage. The Icehawks kept the pressure with several good shots that sailed just wide of a beaten goalie preventing the comeback. Then as luck would have it, Icehawks goalie Jon Strand made several strong saves but a bouncing puck was swatted just under the pads increasing the lead to 8-3. Tri-City responded with a very nifty goal. As Nick Murphy drove down the right side of the zone, he passed across ice to Matt Donley who was streaking down the left side. As the Oiler defense reacted, Donley dropped the puck back to the middle where Larry McShane was following the play and buried the puck narrowing the score to 8-4. But with five minutes to play, the outcome was not in doubt and with a final Oiler powerplay goal, the final was 9-4.

Next weekend, the Icehawks travel to Kalkaska for a three game weekend series. Friday and Saturday's games are at 8:00pm with Sunday's finale at 1pm.


Justin Lacy puts a hit on the Oiler.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Nick Murphy buries the pass from Larry McShane who passed to him from behind the net.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Larry McShane tries to stuff the puck past the goalie.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Nick Murphy makes his power move to the net.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Goalie Jon Strand holds strong as he denies Oiler's Kyle Althen a goal.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Jacob Collins clears the crease of an Oiler.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Oiler Josh Ybarra shrugs off Zach Bauer's check.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Seth Clark moves the puck out and away from a group of Oilers.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

This Oiler just received a Justin Lacy check much to the delight of the Icehawk bench.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Defenseman Henry Patterson gets tough behind the boards.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)


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John Keuvelaar

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

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