Wild Weekend! Tykes Come From Behind to Earn Point vs Millbrook following Hard Fought Loss to Sturgeon!
It was a busy weekend for the Brock Wild as they would
battle in back to back contests versus the Sturgeon Thunder on Saturday and
then the Millbrook Stars on Sunday.
On Saturday the Wild were home against the number 1 ranked Sturgeon Wild.
Given the distance in the standings this could have been a real blowout, but the Wild played one of their best games of the season to keep the game close.
In the first period, the Thunder stormed the Wild zone with a flurry of shots but Blake Brock made several outstanding saves to keep the Thunder off the scoreboard. The Wild defense battled hard to clear out the rebounds and force the puck out of our end as the period would end tied 0-0.
In the 2nd period the Thunder continued to attack and would finally get a few past the Wild’s star net-minder with on the second and third shots as they would mount a 3-0 lead after 2 periods.
Down but not out, the Wild battled hard in the 3rd as Blake Brock continued to make several amazing saves but just could not get the bounces to go our way.
The Thunder would add 4 more before the end of the period as they would hand the Wild a tough 7-0 loss, but the real story in this one was how well the Wild played from start to finish holding the league’s top team scoreless for the 1st period and keeping the score close for most of the game with hard checking and sensational goaltending.
On Sunday the Wild were back at it again this time on the road against the Millbrook Stars. This one was a tight battle as both teams would exchange scoring chances early.
The Stars would strike first on a break late in the 1st period beating Eric Parry in the Wild net on a blast from just inside the hash-marks. The Wild had several nice chances to tie the game but just could not get one past the Stars net-minder who made several beauty saves to keep the score 1-0 after 1 period.
In the 2nd the Wild continued to battle hard on the puck and had several more quality chances but just could not get one past the Stars goalie. The Stars had several nice chances of their own but Eric Parry was solid in net making some nice saves to keep the score close after 2 periods.
In the 3rd the Wild would finally strike with a flurry in front of the Stars net as Camden Slama would get his first career goal. John Malcolm took a nice shot from in close that was stopped by the Stars goalie but Kaiden Smith and Camden Slama would bang away at the puck in front of the net until finally Slama was able to bang one under the pad to tie the game up at 1.
The rest of the period was intense, as both teams would battle back and forth each getting several nice chances. Eric Parry continued to make some nice saves while the Stars goalie continued to rob the Wild forwards.
Late in the game the Stars would score a heartbreaker on a very unlucky bounce that would elude Parry and bounce of the inside of his pad and into the net to give the Stars a late 2-1 lead.
Given how hard the Wild had played to that point the Wild fans and coaches were devastated. But the players were not done yet. With just 10 seconds left on the clock Mason Stewart would make some nice moves to get past the Stars defender and let loose a laser that would cleanly beat the Stars goalie to tie the game at 2-2!
Mason would get one more chance as Karsyn Payne would win the final face-off cleanly allowing Mason to take control and rush the puck into the Stars zone for one last shot. But the Stars goalie made a great save in the final second as the Wild would earn a hard fought come from behind tie!
In both games every player battled hard on the boards and in front of the net to get the puck out of our end and create chances at the other end.
Eric Parry and Blake Brock were both great in goal and also provided solid checking in their games playing out.
Playing center for the first time this season, Camden Slama and Kirsten Payne did a great job winning face-offs and playing great 2 way hockey. Camden would be rewarded with the Ferell player of the game in game 1 as well as the game puck for his first goal in game #2.
The defense of Nathan Giles, Ethan Kirkos, Bradley Pearce and Kael Cresanto were rock solid in both games logging big time minutes and winning crucial battles. Kael Cresanto was rewarded Ferell player of the game in game #2 for his hard work ethic and hussle.
The wingers Borden Davidson, Colin Lynch, Kaiden Smith, Rhys Benge, Mason Stewart and John Malcolm were tenacious with their fore-checking in both games creating several nice scoring opportunities while also playing a gritty game defensively.
Overall a great weekend for the Wild as we continue to improve with each and every game.
Next up is the mighty Woodville Hurricanes on Thursday night in Beaverton. Blake Brock coming off his best performance of the season will be in goal for the Wild.
Let’s go Wild!!