Can two teams with a history of odd games actually have a fun minor hockey game? The answer is yes, and no one could be more pleased than me.
The Brantford 99ers and West London Hawks major midgets, both this year's and last year's versions, have had ridiculous encounters in the past. But not so last night at London's Kinsmen arena.
Fast skating, strategic body contact, nice plays, great saves and clever players capitalizing on mistakes - the game had it all.
Add to that, scoreboard drama. Tied at one, West built a 4-1 lead going into the third. Coming out of the dressing room, Brantford gets some enthusiastic cheering from an over-the-top supporter. Before long, it's 4-2. Then 4-3. Dying minutes, goalie pulled, Brantford controls the play in West's end. West ices the puck. Faceoff won by Brantford, frantic play, crunching check into the boards, buzzer sounds . . . West hangs on for a much-needed two points.
Credit goes to the guys behind the bench for both teams. Their leadership help shepherd the kids into playing the game into the way competitive minor hockey should be. Handshakes by coaches at the end of the game was not lost on the kids and parents.
And to think I joked with a linesman before the game to keep his head up with these two teams.
I guess the book (The Making of Slap Shot) I'm now reading isn't so relevant to this posting after all.
Way to go coaches and players
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