Dec 02, 2017 | GeoffRead | 213 views
With Coach Price Out with "the Flu" KnightHawks Rally Together for 7-2 Win
With Coach Adam Steele already unavailable because of work commitments, the KnightHawks were suddenly caught short on the bench when Coach D'Wayne Price mysteriously came down with the flu this morning, thus requiring trainer Chris Askew to man the door while Coach D'Wayne was otherwise occupied. But undeterred by Coach D'Wayne's green pallor and intestinal discomfort, the KnightHawks soldiered on and prevailed 7-2 over Oakridge #33 with one of their best team games of the season.
Centreman James Nielsen began what turned out to be a big game for him well, scoring in the first minute of the game off a nice feed from Owen Askew. Oakdridge then knotted the game at a goal a piece a couple of minutes later but Aiden Hayes then danced up the right side of the ice and took a hard wrister from the top of the face-off circle that eluded the Oakridge 'tender. With that goal the KnightHawks never looked back and dominated play and the scoreboard for the rest of the game.
The second period may well have been the KnightHawks' best of the season. They dominated the entire 10 minutes and gave up just one weak shot from the outside while peppering the Oakridge net with shots. Particularly encouraging was the fact the KnightHawks were winning most of the battles for the puck. Everyone was engaged. Many moments stood out that demonstrated the KnightHawks' effort. Paul Steele outmuscled several Oakridge players for the puck at the blueline; Troy Price dug the puck out along the boards; Zoe Read caused multiple turnovers with her determined forechecking; Sam Schafer outworked his Oakridge counterparts in the neutral zone and advanced the puck to Nielsen; Kaelan Walsh crashed the boards hard as he cleared the puck out of the KnightHawks' zone; Brandon Miles hustled back on defence and then reversed the play to break out up the right side; Anderson Watt rushed back to break up a two on one; Kayden Keating made some good stops and allowed no rebounds or deflected the puck into the safety of the corner; Connor Devlin made several smart passes at both ends of the ice; but the player who best exemplified the KnightHawks' effort was probably player of the game Gregory Nicolis who not only won most of his one on one battles but also flashed his considerable speed, repeatedly out-hustling Oakridge players to get to the puck first and move it smartly up the wall or to a forward in the middle. Nicolis even uncharacteristically rushed the puck effectively a couple of times.
Nicolis also initiated one of the prettiest plays of the game. The KnightHawks had been dominating play but the score remained close at 3-1. Suddenly, Nicolis stopped a clearing attempt near the middle of the ice. Rather than firing the puck blindly into the legs of the oncoming Oakridge winger, Nicolis smartly threw a hard pass to Nielsen at the edge of the left face-off circle. Nielsen then made a pretty pass to Askew in the middle and the power winger fired the puck home.
The KnightHawks' third goal was another highlight reel play as Nielsen streaked up his off-wing on the right side and then threw a hard backhand cross through the hash marks. Hard-luck winger Jack Peterkin, who had 4-5 other good chances to score in the game but kept finding ways to miss the net, one-timed a hard slapper in the bottom left-hand corner of the net before the helpless Oakridge goalie could get across to block the shot.
The KnightHawks entered the third period dominating the game on the ice and in command with a 4-1 lead. But they didn't take their foot off the gas showing the killer instinct good teams need as Nielsen potted two more goals with nice assists from Read, Hayes, and Peterkin. Oakridge's big rangy #14 then got loose for the second time in the game and scored on a hard wrist shot to the top corner before Nielsen put the final nail in Oakridge's coffin with a nice solo effort and deke with six minutes to go. Nielsen's offensive totals on the night were gaudy, as he potted 4 goals and added two pretty assists.
The third also witnessed the game's funniest play when Miles tried to double back from the left side to get to his corner in the KnightHawks' end. Scrambling to get into position Miles ran into the back of Keating's net and did a face plant sprawled across the twine. But there was no harm done as Devlin covered for Miles on the play in the corner.
Even accounting for Nielsen's offensive exploits, this was a great team win. Everyone played well. Everyone worked hard. And the KnightHawks were rewarded with some freshly baked cookies from Jen Nielsen after the game. The cookies and the win were enjoyed by all. Well, maybe not all. Nielsen offered a terse, "No comment" when asked for her reaction to the news Coach D'Wayne had simply tossed his cookies.
Go KnightHawks go!