There are days when scores matter but today was not one of
those days. The only things that had any consequence on this night were effort,
perseverance and fun.
Shorthanded in the locker room and on the ice, the Atom LL3 Huskies put up a valiant effort against the top team in the league. Missing their goalie and two forwards, some of the boys were forced to play unfamiliar positions. Stepping in to take the role between the pipes was Thomas Gallie. He showed his heart very early in the game with a fantastic save on a first minute breakaway. That save would set the tone for the rest of the game as he made several stops that would have made the likes of Martin Brodeur stand and applaud!
Thankfully the rest of the team also stood tall as Thomas’ absence from the blue line meant that forwards had to step into his role on defence. Ethan Troupe, Drew Weinacht and Ben Herrle all showed their versatility by teaming with Matthew Donkers in a defensive role. Each one stepped into their temporary assignment as a defender and helped the team with their constant effort in an unfamiliar position. For his part, Matthew took in stride having a different partner each period and continued to show his defensive prowess by heading off attacking forwards and tying up the opposition when they tried to set up in front of Thomas.
Playing in their usual tandem Jared Vandervelde and Connor Needham showed the comfort level they have with each other. Jared took off on his Bobby Orr styled rushes up the ice, netting one goal in the process! Meanwhile Connor supported those rushes with his view of the rest of the happenings on the ice and took up position where the need arose. When he wasn’t supporting the rush, Connor was pinching at the opposing blue line to keep the puck deeply rooted in the corner of the attacking end for his forwards to dig out and speeding back to disrupt would be odd man rushes heading back into his own end.
In the offensive zone Jonas Jarosz, Colin McBride, Jack Schmelzle and Nathan Ward created themselves and each other several good scoring chances with their hard work. Digging with ferocity the four of them, along with their respective line mates, threw several shots at the goalie only to have their efforts thwarted with some stellar saves. Between Jack's work on the half boards, Nathan digging the puck out from behind the net, Colin stealing pucks and out muscling defenders in the slot and Jonas breaking out of his own zone with an eye for creating offensive opportunities they all deserved to find the back of the net. Their shots thundered off pads and rang off goalposts as they were only inches from netting themselves multiple goals each.
Though the score ended up lopsided in their opponents favour, the attitude of the entire team throughout the game could be summed up in the image of Jack’s giant smile each time anyone would look in his direction on the bench. That smile is the epitome of what this team has been about for the entire season.
The coaches have all voiced their admiration of what these boys have brought to the game of hockey as a team. Always upbeat and positive they have gelled as a group. Keeping each other positive and supporting one another right from the beginning of the year.
Because of that camaraderie, the boys were talking in the dressing room before and after the game about their friends that were missing tonight. They can’t wait for Kai Janzen, Paul Coffey and Thomas Gmach to be back with them and back in the line up. They were obviously missed on the ice but all three were also missed in the horseplay and joking around before and after the game. There is great work that the boys all display during a game but there is something even greater that happens when they’re not in competition. Watching them interact with each other and seeing fourteen giant smiles (unencumbered by mouth guards!) is really what means the most.