Oct 17, 2012 | dblack | 1243 views
Chapman"s Ice Cream Major Atoms travel to Oakville
On Saturday, Oct. 13th, the Chapman's Ice Cream Major Atoms travelled to Oakville to take on the mighty Rangers. The Rangers are one of the top organizations in the S.C.T.A. and would provide a good measuring stick for our team. Oakville has yet to allow a goal since the season started.
Upon arrival, you could feel the excitment in the air as the Highlanders prepared to take the ice. To help get an idea of the Oakville frame of mind, I strategically placed myself amongst the Oakville parents to watch the game. Prior to the puck drop, I listened as the parents tried to set the over/under for the game. This is a number that they pick that represents the goal differential. Anyone with a few dollars can then gamble on whether the actual number is higher or lower with the winners splitting the pot. One dad thought it should be set at 20. They discussed for a few minutes and finally settled on 12 as the over/under. I sat there slightly bemused but also nervous, this team has had a couple 11-0 wins and a 17-1 win. I confess, I did wonder if they would in fact blow us out.
I should have known better than to doubt the Highlanders. The first period, we were entertained to a fast paced game with end to end action. These same parents were frustrated at how poorly their Oakville team was playing. I wanted to tell them that maybe the Highlanders were playing great. Time after time the Highlanders would force turnovers and obviously had them off their game. The Rangers did manage to sneak one through as the period would end 1-0.
As the second period progressed, the Rangers were starting to carry the play a little more. The Highlanders were keeping them to the outside and Prues(Hanover) made several tremendous saves to keep it close. However, the Rangers would notch 2 more in the second as they seemed to have a set play where they would set up in "Gretzky's Office' behind the net. On a couple of occasions, our defense were caught watching the puck carrier behind the net as another Ranger would set up in the slot. The pass would be centered and before you could blink, it was in the net. The second period would end 3-0 Rangers.
The score would remain 3-0 until deep in the third. By now, the Highlanders were starting to wear down a little, helped by a shortened bench as Coghlin(Owen Sound) went down to injury. The Rangers would score 3 more in 3 minutes late in the third as this one would finish 6-0.
Despite the score, the Highlanders played well and generated many exciting scrambles around the Ranger net. Staying this close to the top team is remarkable. The Highlanders can take the positives from this game and be ready for the rematch when we get another crack at them just before Christmas. I'm sure the Ranger parents won't be as cocky when setting the over/under for this next match.