Bombers knock off Shamrocks 8-6 to maintain 1st place & undefeated record
By Bomber Hockey Beat Writer
Sure, if you were in the stands at the Wednesday night game between the Bomber Hockey Club and Shamrocks, picking a winner based on a quick glance at the benches would have been easy. On one side, there was only one line of forwards and D with just one sub for each, while on the other, they could barely fit all the guys on the bench. Game over, right?
Well, as we've come to see from the Bombers, you can never count them out, even with just 7 skaters.
Sure, if you were in the stands at the Wednesday night game between the Bomber Hockey Club and Shamrocks, picking a winner based on a quick glance at the benches would have been easy. On one side, there was only one line of forwards and D with just one sub for each, while on the other, they could barely fit all the guys on the bench. Game over, right?
Well, as we've come to see from the Bombers, you can never count them out, even with just 7 skaters.
In what was one of the most exciting AIAHL games this season,
the Bombers managed to keep their cool and come back from a significant hole of
4-1 in the second period. Five different
Bombers combined for a total of 8 goals, each of which came at critical points
in the game.
The game was close throughout the first period but the Shamrocks managed to pull away in the second. Could it have been tired legs on the Bomber bench? Sure, and no one would fault them for it, but the team pulled together with scrappy play and fought for every inch of the ice in the 2nd and 3rd. With goals from the captain, JZ, Jean Eric Hoyer, and DC, the Bombers were able to creep up on the Shamrocks, managing to tie the game at several points in the second and third.
The game was close throughout the first period but the Shamrocks managed to pull away in the second. Could it have been tired legs on the Bomber bench? Sure, and no one would fault them for it, but the team pulled together with scrappy play and fought for every inch of the ice in the 2nd and 3rd. With goals from the captain, JZ, Jean Eric Hoyer, and DC, the Bombers were able to creep up on the Shamrocks, managing to tie the game at several points in the second and third.
The Shamrocks, however, weren’t giving the goals up lightly.
Physical play was dished out with each side volleying hit for hit. But the
turning point in the game came with about 8 minutes left in the third period. Carrying the puck deep into the Shamrocks’
zone, the Bombers were able to get the biscuit out to the point to Lundeen, who
pinched in from the blue line and positioned himself for a great shot from just
outside the circle. Seeing the play develop,
Bomber forward Kappmeier went to the crease to screen the Shamrock goaltender
and give Lundeen’s shot a better chance at finding the back of the net.
“Lundeen’s been on fire as of late, and all our defensemen
have been putting lasers on net from the blue line,” said Kappmeier. “I went to
get in the goalie’s face, but the shot was teed up perfectly for a deflection.
I was able to get my blade on it, and deflect it right over his glove. It was a critical turning point for the guys
as we finally took the lead.”
Kappmeier’s goal put the Bombers up 7-6 and from there, the
organization battened down the hatches against the Shamrock squad who kept
coming.
“Smart hockey,” said Bomber captain and general manager,
Billy Auld. “We knew what we had to do – watch the clock, keep an eye on your
man and get the puck out of our zone.”
With the Bomber
defense clearing the puck out of their zone, Kappmeier saw an opportunity develop for a
breakaway and took off only to be interfered and tripped as he approached
center ice. The right call was made, but not in the eyes of the guilty Shamrock
who was awarded 2 minutes for tripping and a game misconduct for giving the
referees a piece of his well-mannered mind.
An opportunity that was never had in the game up to this
point, the Bombers went on the powerplay with the lead, and increased that by
two with a goal from #27, Jean Eric, who is no stranger on the score sheet.
The Bombers take sole possession of 1st place in
the Federal Division of the AIAHL and face the Shamrocks’ second squad, The
Mulligans on 11/18.
State Electric Power Performers of the Game
1st Star: Kyle Kappmeier 1G (GWG)
2nd Star: Billy Auld 2G / 6A
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