For our second game of the year, the DRAGONS made the trek to St. Mary’s hoping to get their first win of the year. The convoy of Dorchestrian vehicles headed up Cobble Hills Road and arrived at the Pyramid Arena at 11:30 am.
The players, still in the early stages of their comradery, started dressing in anticipation of the big game. At 12:10, Coach Bill hushes the noisy banter and begins his pre-game talk. Once complete, the players are ready and pumped.
The puck drops at 12:25 and the fans were finally getting the excitement they had paid good money to watch! The first five minutes of the first period went along with both teams trying to figure each other out; back and forth with equality. There were a few shots for both teams with our very own Charles “The Wall” Williams making some excellent saves. At 4:53 the Rock lit up the score. 1-0 for the Rock. The DRAGONS were not pleased and spent most of the rest of the first in the Rock’s end. With only seconds left on the clock, the DRAGONS made their move. Our talented defense fires the puck out of our end with a perfect pass to #17, crafty Clint Householder, who accepts the pass right on the tape. Clint carries the puck into their end and looks up, sees Notorious Nathan Dowhaniuk and makes the pass. Nathan one times a killer shot and it enters the net top cheese…. Mega top cheese! 1-1 game.
Onto the second and the game continues. The fans are on the edge of their seats excited for more high quality Minor Hockey action. With the score tied at 1, the players get more aggressive and the penalties start-a-flying….. for the Rock only though as the DRAGONS seem to be slightly more strategic when it comes to any rough play. The DRAGONS were all over the Rock and dominated the first four minutes of the period. Unfortunately, the Rock got a hold of the puck, headed right for our net and took a shot. 2-1 game. No further goal action for now, but #12, Brave Brendan, takes a nasty check and draws a penalty with 2:53 left in the second. The DRAGONS, happy for the power play, were unable to take advantage of the opportunity and at 00:53 the play is equal again; 5 on 5 hockey. Feeling a bit defeated, the DRAGONS pump it up a bit in the end of the second. In an amazing passing frenzy, the DRAGONS tie it up at the end of the second. Nathan gets the puck from our skilled defenseman, Ryan "The Rock" Hardie, and carries it to mid ice. He fires a beautiful hard pass to the tape of Brave Brendan Johnston. Brendan accepts the pass with confidence and makes some moves. He looks up and sees Incredible Ian skating at full speed toward the net. The pass gets made and Ian now has the sacred black disc. There are 3 Rock players in front of Ian but that doesn’t stop him. With only 20 seconds left in the second, Ian dangles his way through the crowd, makes his way to the net and buries the disc into the top right corner. Surprisingly the goalie’s water bottle did not fly off the top of the net! The buzzer sounds and the game is tied at 2.
The players get a short breather and Coach Bill does some pre-period coaching. The buzzer sounds and the players line up for the third and last period of this game. Early in the third, the DRAGONS got another power play opportunity. With the puck in her eye, Might Molly skates like the wind toward the left corner of the Rock’s end where the cherished black frozen circle rests. As she passes the blue line, Molly combusts into a human windmill after taking an unlawful hit from one of the Rock’s 200 pounder players. She lands with an audible thud onto the ice but gets right up. Although suffering an incredible headache, she continues. The 200 pounder obviously experiences 2 regretful minutes in the box of shame. Sadly, the DRAGONS are not able to take advantage of the power play. Despite the barrage of great plays by the DRAGONS this period, they are unable to get another goal. St. Mary's scored 2 more this period and the game ended with a score of 4-2 for the bad guys.
If this is only the second game of the season, I am scared for the other teams out there who will experience playing this team after they have a little practice under their belt! Fear the DRAGONS!