The Food Town Major Atoms definitely had the jitters before their first AAA game with expectations of the unknown having an effect in the first period. What was it going to be like? The music was blaring in the dressing room but the air was tense with mixed emotions and butterflies churning in their stomachs.
After a shaky first period with the boys watching how well the other team did, a little more than playing the game themselves, in what can only be explained as a first time experience response. The saving grace was the goaltending of Talon Johnsen who limited the score to just 4-0. They settled down quite nicely and started to play a sounder defensive style game while limiting their opponent’s chances and especially the second rebound chances. They generated a little more offensive charge of their own with some better passing plays and some hard nose work in the corners and along the boards. Tyson Hutcheson scored the lone goal of the period when he walked in around the last defenceman after receiving a tape to tape pass from Brandon Stewart and Thomas Brown. He then made a nice fake to his forehand, and then pulled it to his backhand for the roof shot into the top corner. The period was won 1-0.
The third period was back and forth with the goaltending of Matthew Donnelly showing off why we probably have the best two goalies in our division with many outstanding stops, controlling or pouncing on the loose rebounds. This was due to some excellent boxing out by the defence to keep the aggressive Lakers away from the puck and giving Matthew the time he needed. The Lakers ended up capitalizing on a few giveaways in our end and scored twice in the period to make the final score 6-1. The shots on net were 50-13.
There were many positives from the game that the Coaching Staff was happy to see. The boys battled harder in the second and third period, the break-out was working when the passes were on. They were looking before making passes, for the majority there were many quick and well timed line changes. They started picking up offensive players in front of our net and collapsed well when we were in trouble in our end. They are a smart and bright bunch and the astuteness for this level of game has started.
We have a long way to go and a lot of HARD WORK ahead to get to where we want to be but it was a good start and our first step of many on our journey to get there.