Thorold Blackhawks #1 v.s. Black Knights
Team Player Michael Snyder (Middle)
Smooth Moves Kaden Falardeau (Left)
Game Grinder Jordan Dekoe (Right)
The first road game of the season for the Black Knights saw us traveling to Thorold for our first match up against the Blackhawks #1 this season. After a delay due to some zamboni trouble we got off to a good start against a fast squad from Thorold. Michael Snyder was in good form and saw lots of rubber directed his way throughout the game. Michael stood firm between the irons and turned all but 4 away as he kept us close and gave us a chance. Michael earned the Team Player Star today for his hard work. Kaden Falardeau was back after missing our last game and played like a man possessed up and down the rink backchecking and forcing the play in the offensive zone. Kaden was given the Smooth Moves Star today for some sweet backchecking. Jordan Dekoe continues to improve in her first year and showed she can mix it up along the boards with some good old fashioned hard work getting to the puck. Jordan's impressive effort today saw her receive the Game Grinder Star. MacKenzie Covey had a great game patrolling the wing scooping up loose pucks and winning foot races to the puck in our end to help out our defense. Samuel Desormiers got some good looks at the net today as well as solid defensive zone work along the boards clearing loose pucks out of harms way. Desmond Leavens had a rough go of it as he sacrificed his body time and time again showing the grit that this Coach likes to see battling some large forwards from the Thorold squad for loose pucks in the neutral zone. The defensive pair of Grant Sinclair and Landon Pringle had a solid outing and kept the Thorold forwards outside and away from the front of the net for most of the game. Trent Brogan used his size and strength to carry the puck through the neutral zone and into enemy territory on several occassions against some tough Thorold D. Dylan Elsie used some fancy stick work to keep the opposition guessing, working the puck deep in the offensive zone creating numerous chances to score. Spencer Main had another great game and is leading by example, back checking and putting in the effort on every shift that we need to be successful this season. Blake Silenzi demonstrated once again his 'size doesn't matter' attitude as he took on all comers along the boards and fought through some hard backchecking to create some great chances around the Thorold goalie. Collin VanDongen turned it up a notch and scooted around the ice flashing his speed picking up pucks dumped into our end and clearing them quickly creating some good turn around pressure for our forwards. Our veteran pair of defense Eric Edwards and Connor Wright stood firm against the Thorold offensive tide deflecting shots and players to the outside and keeping the house clean. Eric jumped into the rush on several occassions and Connor made some good heads up breakout passes. This was a good effort despite the score and except for some small mistakes and a little TEAM lapse for a couple of minutes we were right in this game. We are doing more things right and improving every game. Everyone needs to make sure they're 'in it' for 3 periods and we'll get rewarded for our hard work. Good job.