Aylmer’s flame was definitely extinguished today but the DRAGONS were breathing fire that lit up the arena like it was nobody’s business!!
This was the first time the DRAGONS went head-to-head against Aylmer Flames Black. It was in their barn on this cold and wet Sunday night.
With the players dressed and seated, side by side, on the longest bench in the room, coach Bill begins his speech and all the kids are attentive. They get their line up, but not until after they hear some fine words from the coach. They hear they are awesome! They hear they must strive to have fun out there! They hear they can do it! They hear they must work their hardest out there! They hear we are proud of them! They cheer "DRAGONS" and out they head out to the ice!
The parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other various fans have taken their seats. The DRAGONS fly onto the ice to begin their warm up. Very indicative of how the game will play out, the warm up was absolutely in-sync and very disciplined.
The kids shake hands; shake the coaches hands; and line up! The puck drops and the DRAGONS take immediate possession. The DRAGONS' determination is overtly obvious! Coach Bill recently made some serious defensive line up changes and it shows. The puck is in the Flames zone in an instant and in the hands of the DRAGONS who are set up in in perfect position. Unfortunately the perfect moment to take the shot is missed and the Flames take back possession. Normally a defenseman, Danglin’ Daniel Kaiser makes a fantastic attempt to lift a stick and get the puck back; he almost succeeds. The puck makes it’s way back to our end, a shot is taken but Awesome Adam Goor lifts the leather and gloves it. Good try Aylmer, but not good enough. The puck is dropped and the DRAGONS and flames are at it again. Righteous Ryan Hardie gets the puck and tries to get it out of our end but Aylmer keeps it in. Much of the first period is spent in our end and due to Awesome Adam’s wicked good goalie skills, the Flames are only able to net one goal. After numerous shots and many minutes spent in the box of shame by both teams, the DRAGONS are unfortunately down 1-0.
Into the second now and the energy we saw in the first was nothing compared to how the DRAGONS are looking this period. Not sure what coach Bill said but it must have been something because the kids were heatin’ ‘er up. The puck drops and the black circular beast, again, ends up in our end. With lightening speed, Powerful Peyton Morrissey disarms a Flame and takes the puck for a ride. Coast to coast he goes, gets off a shot but it goes just slightly wide. Peyton hustles back to D to protect his home. The puck is picked up by the DRAGONS’ Incredible Ian McIntyre who also rings off a beautiful shot only for it to be saved by the tender. The goalie holds it and the whistle blows. Most of this period is spent with the play going end to end. Two of the DRAGONS spend some time feeling shame but so does a Flame, who also spent 6 minutes in the box in the first. The second period saw the kids expending huge amounts of energy but ends with no goals scored for either team.
Still 1-0 for the bad guys.
As the kids gather around the bench to listen to the wise words of our coaches, the fans are talking. Whispers of, “we got this” and “we’re gonna win this game” can be heard through out the stands. There was something in the air and everyone could smell it. It was DRAGON fire and it was strong. Opening the third and final period of the game, the score sits at 1-0. The fans are experiencing heart palpitations, are sitting on the edge of our seats, pacing erratically and biting their nails. Strangely, the bench staff looks more relaxed. Rather than 10:00 minutes, the clock was bumped to 15:00 this period and we saw nothing but back and forth action for the first 10:00. Whatever was in the air was palpable. The fans felt it, the coaches felt it and so did the DRAGONS. They were lit up! Even though only in our 6th game of the season, the DRAGONS were playing like they had played together for a full season. Complete gelling! Complete comfort. Complete trust. With only 7 minutes left, the fire ignited! The Flames had the puck in our end but our defense ousted them and the puck was picked up by our very own Leland “One L” Killin. He carries it well into Aylmers zone leaving 4 Flames in his dust. Leland makes a pass and it ricochets off a skate. Cool Clint Householder is in perfect position at the blue line and takes the puck on his tape. Clint takes a long look and sees a narrow slit in which he can pass the puck; but he has to do it now. Clint makes the crisp pass and, wouldn’t ya know it….. it lands firmly on the tape of Notorious Nathan who sends a blaster that ends up in the top right corner of the Aylmer net with 6:12 left on the clock. 1-1, but lots of time left. For the next 90 seconds or so, the DRAGONS absolutely own the Flames. Logan “The Lion” Kocus makes an impressive play by denying the puck’s exit from the Flames end. Keeping this puck in their end makes all the difference in the world, but I am not sure Logan realized this. Yet again, the whispers in the stands indicate that they all know this game is far from over! The fans are tense; might this be our first win? With the play being very intense and with desperation on their sleeves, the players are doing everything they can to keep it in Aylmer’s end and get another goal. With no ill-will at all, Ryan “The Rock” Teeple, makes an attempt at keeping the play where we need it and ends up taking a 2 minute trip to the sin bin for hooking. Questionable call indeed but who am I to question the ref? Of course, a face off ensues at the bulbous red dot and the puck gets somehow blasted toward Awesome Adam; but it was tipped, so no icing will be called. With everyone in Aylmer’s end the race is one but only 2 players ensue. It’s Mighty Molly and a 5 foot 2 inch girl from Aylmer. At least 3 strides behind, Molly puts on the jets to be first to the puck…. And she is….. first to the puck! With everyone still hovering in the neutral zone, Molly emerges with the puck while the Aylmer girl is still sitting on the ice behind Awesome Adam’s net. Molly has a look and sees Leland open. Leland sees Molly looking and stays open. She makes the pass right on Leland’s tape and he accepts. Leland looks up, sees Nathan and makes the pass. Don’t forget everyone…. we are short- handed while Ryan feels shame. Nathan is surrounded but takes a hail Mary. The shot is saved but bounces rather far away from the goalie. And who is in position? Terrific Ty Sladek is! With fire in his eye, Ty one times the black glory right into the net at 4:48 left on the clock. 2-1 DRAGONS!!!!!! We are in the lead. You can only imagine the excitement… and relief. Yes, there are 4 minutes left but in the end the DRAGONS win.
First win of the year and well deserved. Way to go DRAGONS!!!!!!!!!!