Pelham #3 v.s. Black Knights
Game 16 Recap
Team Player Star Eric Edwards (Middle)
Smooth Moves Star Spencer Main (Left)
Game Grinder Star Jordan Dekoe (Right)
The Black Knights returned to the tiny dressing rooms in Panther territory for our first matchup with Pelham #3 today. We hit the ice skating and the memories of the last game seem to have been left in the Main Arena. Spencer Main and Connor Wright were paired on D today and the twin towers played like they'd been together forever. Spencer adapted quickly to playing at the back and showed some great vision getting the puck to his partner or up ice to open wings throughout the game. Spencer snagged the Smooth Moves Star today. Connor worked well with his new line mate and they switched the rush several times resulting in some open wingers getting the puck quickly with lots of room to work with. Connor also had a nice controlled rush up ice where he found the twine. Eric Edwards and Grant Sinclair rounded out our blue liners and the chemistry between these two resulted in some nice puck movement as well. Grant made several nice head man passes and also had a couple of nice rushes up ice deep into Pelham's end. Eric was everywhere today jumping into the rush, taking care of business in our end, and some nice clean transition passes to our waiting forwards. Eric grabbed a hold of the Team Player Star today. Landon Gibbs has been hounding to get some time up front and despite his Coaches reservations showed some real promise 'on the rush' rather than trying to 'stop the rush'. Landon had several great chances in front and very nearly converted for a tally on some beautiful passing from Trent Brogan. Trent brought his 'A' game today and continues to look for open men and showed he can back check when he wants to. Trent's passing and hard work deep in our end as well as Pelham's was impressive and this Coach would like to see it continue. Jordan Dekoe was back at it and her new rubbin' is racin' attitude is what her Coaches have been waiting for. Jordan appears to have shed the tenative play and traded it for the aggresive "that's my puck" style...and her Coaches like it...Jordan earned the Game Grinder Star in this one. Sam Desormiers made the trip and didn't waste his Dad's gas as he continues to improve. Sam is in the right spot at the right time and is obviously trying to get another 'butt' goal by occupying the front of the net screening the opposition keeper. Collin VanDongen was up front once again and was out to prove that speed does kill as he blazed into the Panther's end and beat them to the dump in several times to recover the puck and make a nice feed to the slot. Kaden Falardeau and Dylan Elsie both showed great vision heading up ice looking for the open man or rushing it through the neutral zone heading north and south, not east to west, to beat the Pelham defenders wide before they could get set. Desmond 'Dozer' Leavens steam rolled down the boards and still amazes his Coach with the way the puck stays with him amongst tangled legs and sticks as he continues to get the puck through the neutral zone and into enemy territory. Blake Silenzi was not there for decoration today and showed he can win battles in the corners with players his weight times 2...and throw in a little turbo forechecking to boot. Michael Snyder didn't see a lot of action today but did make a high light reel save on a diving stick swat to hold the Panthers to a single tally. Today from a TEAM point of view we played much better...quick line changes, head manning the puck, looking for open players in the slot...both on offence as well as defence and from an overall take care of your position stand point. When we take care of the little things that are in our control the big things will just fall into place. Good thoughts and good effort will bring great results. Well played today.