Grimsby vs. Welland (12/17)

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Grimsby All-Star Logistics Peach Kings vs. Welland Herbal Magic Tigers (Major Atom A)

“D”-lightful performance…

Highlight reels are filled each night with examples of breathtaking goals and acrobatic saves, which frequently decide the outcome of games.  Great defensive play, on the other hand, while it decides at least an equal number of outcomes as the above two, just doesn’t seem to get the recognition it deserves much of the time.  Monday’s game between the Grimsby All-Star Logistics Peach Kings and Welland Herbal MagicTigers put on display some of the best defensive efffort you will find anywhere.  The rearguards from both teams were so solid that there were not a lot of times when spectacular recoveries needed to be attempted.  The blue-liners did an excellent job of being aggressive as the opposing forwards approached the offensive zone, taking away their time and space and preventing them from setting up as many good scoring opportunities as normal, in addition to getting in the way of numerous shots on net, thus keeping the shots on goal totals below levels normally seen.  When the original defender was beaten on a play, more often than not, support was immediately available from his defensive partner to help them clear the puck from the zone and start the play off in the other direction.  For the record, Welland had the edge in shots taken during the game by a 26-25 margin.

The Welland Herbal Magic Tigers would open the scoring on their first shot of the game, after a terrific combination of passes, when #15 Nicholas Fitzgerald put one past Grimsby net-minder #30, from #17 Jeremy Riso and #9 Parker Woods at 1:21 for a 1-0 Tigers’ advantage.

Grimsby would tie the game, with 1:01 remaining in the opening period, thanks to a power-play goal from #6, who beat Welland’s #30 Michael Mayes on a wrap-around.

Welland would respond with a power-play tally of their own, at 8:18 of the second, with #8 Nicholas Sacco delivering on helpers from #19 Dalton Kanyo and #5 Sean Thompson.  #6 Devin Ferri had a great scoring opportunity in close at 11:42 of the period by could not net the insurance marker for the Tigers, thanks to an impressive stop from the Grimsby guardian of the twine.

Energized by this great save, #11 of the Peach Kings would march down the ice on the ensuing play and pull his team back into a tie with the Tigers at 12:01.

While the defense was still impressive in the third, the offenses were able to create more and more great scoring chances giving the goaltenders at each end their opportunities to shine as well.  #9 Woods fed #17 Riso with a beautiful cross-ice pass deep in the offensive zone, in a near-certain goal-attempt, but #30 of the visitors vacuumed up the re-direct with his left glove hand for the save of the game.

Riso released a high shot at 5:21 of the third that the Grimsby keeper managed to trap into his chest, thwarting the Tigers once again from assuming the lead of the game.  Not to be outdone, #30 Michael Mayes at the other end would block Grimsby’s #7 blast from point-blank range with his left pad, preventing a goal with eight minutes remaining.  This sprung #19 Kanyo into the other direction where he was once again shattered by an incredible stop.

#17 Riso and #15 Fitzgerald nearly combined for the game-winning goal with six minutes left to play, but the puck slid through the crease, missing the right post by mere inches.  After another threatening play from Welland forty-five seconds later, it would be Grimsby who would net the go-ahead goal.  The goal would come at 10:03 of the final period, and despite a late Tigers charge with #19 Kanyo tipping one narrowly astray in the final minute of play, it would be enough to bring down the Tigers in the 3-2 final.  Each team was successful on 1-of-2 power-play chances in the game.

The Tigers, now 16-4-0 in Niagara District Major Atom A action this season, head to Grimsby on Tuesday night for the rematch between these same two teams before traveling to Fort Erie on Wednesday evening to face the Meteors.

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Filed under 2007-08 Herbal Magic Major Atom A Tigers, Sports Writing/Commentary

Tags: 2007-08 Herbal Magic Major Atom A Tigers, Grimsby Peach Kings, Sports Writing/Commentary