Midget Huskies defeat Bow Island twice at home

Midget Huskies vs Bow Island Rebels
Chris Davis photos and video

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek's Midget Huskies hosted the Bow Island Rebels on Friday, November 30 and Saturday, December 1 at the MCC arena.

Friday's game (November 30, 2012)

The Midget Huskies took an early lead during Friday's game when #22 Derek Tarcon scored 58 seconds into the game, assisted by Freddie Bruder and Blair Goodreau. The Huskies continued to press the Rebel's net hard, making it 2-0 at the 11:31 mark when #21 Michael Roy broke loose, bobbing and weaving his way through the Rebels' defence to score unassisted. Bow Island skates well and passes well, befitting their status as the top ranked team in the Spud League, but in this first period the Huskies were one fire, doing all the right things offensively an defensively. After a wild scrum at the Rebels net Huskies #7 Steven Mitchell tipped one in off an effort by Michael Roy with 8 minutes remaining in the period. Roy scored himself with 3:15 left in the period after a carefully thought-out play, assisted by Brett Tarcon and Ryan Sciarra. The Rebels pressed back hard in the declining minutes of the period, with several near misses, finally managing to score with only 12.9 seconds left, to bring it to 4-1 in the Huskies' favour. It must be said that Huskies goalie #35 Braeden Claringbull put in a huge effort, both in this and in the following periods. You couldn't ask for better goaltending.

In the second period the Rebels seemed to be frustrated and the Huskies were beginning to look a bit tired from their all-out exertions in the first period. Bow Island goalie Brendan Patterson made some big saves early in the period. Neither team managed to make much headway against the other. A big breakaway by Rebels' Nik Thomas was shut down by Claringbull. The Huskies offence made sure the Rebels didn't get to play with the puck for long most of the time. However, past the halfway mark the Huskies seemed to be running out of steam, and the Rebels took full advantage, making several good attempts. At the 5:24 mark Huskies Captain #16 Brett Tarcon pulled out the stops, sinking one unassisted and bringing the score to 5-1. I'm starting to wonder if Tarcon ever runs out of steam. Rebels Captain #22 Mike Doeller replied with a goal of his own shortly after that, with only 4:36 remaining in the period, assisted by Nik Thomas and Dorian Bernhardt, making it 5-2 at the buzzer. 

After a first period owned by the Huskies and a second period that was pretty much a draw, the third period largely belonged to the Rebels. They signaled their intent early with a goal at the 18:36 mark by #19 Devon Hurt, assisted by #12 Teryn Dodge. They scored again shortly after that at the 18:36 mark, this time by Dorian Bernhardt, assisted by #8 Ton Lamberts, making it 5-4 and putting a win within their reach. The Rebels were hitting hard and playing harder. The Huskies battled back, and the penalty boxes began to fill up with a definite regularity. A stretch of 3 on 3 play was entertaining to watch. At the 13:27 mark the Huskies made the most of a 2-man advantage and Michael Roy earned himself a hat trick, assisted by Brett Tarcon and Ryan Sciarra. That 3-piece combo is turning out to be hockey gold. 6-4. At the 12:42 mark tempers boiled over enough for the refs to show one Rebels player to the door. The penalty box filled up again, with 4 Rebels and 3 Huskies warming the benches. At the 12:16 mark an unbelievably lucky long shot by Devon Hurt, who was seemingly just trying to clear the puck out of the Rebels end, somehow snuck past Claringbull, a real "where is it" moment that brought the score to 6-5. Despite a big effort by the Rebels to close that one point gap, including pulling their goalie in the last minute, that's where it stood at the buzzer. Huskies #4 Will Thorpe didn't make it to the scoreboard, but he sure demonstrated some great stick work during this game.

Final score: Huskies 6, Rebels 5

Saturday's rematch (December 1, 2012)

The first period of Saturday's game might as well have been labeled "Period 4", because that's exactly how it seemed. Both teams hit the ice at top speed. The Huskies were refreshed, and in top form, dominating the Rebels' base in the early part of the period, putting Rebels goalie #31 Vance Fode under intense pressure. The two teams battled to a draw until Rebels' Dorian Bernhardt scored unassisted at the 8:40 mark. Huskies Captain Brett Tarcon went on a tear, with several near misses, but none of his attempts got past Fode. Then at the 7:02 mark the pressure the Huskies were putting on paid off with a goal by #15 Tristan Doell, assisted by Brett Tarcon. 1-1. The play was increasingly physical. With 3:30 left in the period Doell scored again, this time unassisted. 2-1. Then Huskies #6 Freddie Bruder scored with only 24.1 seconds left in the period, also unassisted, and at the buzzer it was 3-1.

The Rebels came out strong and with determination in the second period. At the 17:45 mark Rebels #19 Devin Hurt scored, assisted by Nicholas Thomas. 3-2. Then at the 14:51 mark Bernhardt scored his second of the game, tying it 3-3, assisted by Captain Brent Voeller. It was to be the last time the Rebels got one on the scoreboard this game. At the 13:03 mark Huskies #9 Blair Goodreau scored, assisted by Tristan Doell. Then at the 8:42 mark Huskies #4 Will Thorpe scored, finally making good on 4 and a half periods of solid attempts. He was assisted by #10 Josh Foster. There was no letup in the pace, and Huskies goalie #33 Lane Kalbhen was called upon to make some big saves, which he quite naturally did. It was getting rougher and rougher out there as the game progressed. With only 20 seconds remaining in the period Captain Brett Tarcon did another one of his beautiful bob-and-weave plays through the opposition, right into the net, to make it 6-3 for the Huskies at the close of the period. 

The third period was full of rough stuff, resulting in a lot of penalties and a game misconduct for one player on each team. Settle down there "Ratty", we don't want to lose you this season. At the 15:17 mark Brett Tarcon unwound a beaut of a slapshot to bring the score to 7-3. More rough stuff ensued. Then a great combo play between #22 Derek Tarcon and Brett Tarcon pushed it to 8-3, with Derek scoring and Brett assisting. Then at the 7:34 mark multiple attempts in rapid succession by multiple Huskies resulted in Derek Tarcon's second goal of the game, assisted by Michael Roy and Jared Koentges. 9-3. With 2:52 remaining in the game #6 Freddie Bruder scored. 10-3. Sealing the deal, with only 2:15 remaining Will Thorpe scored his second of the game, assisted by Koentges.

Final score: 11-3.

Two big wins in a row for the Huskies over the top-ranked Spud League team.

The Midget Huskies are on the road next weekend, scheduled to play Warner on Friday, December 7 (8:15 pm) and Coaldale on Sunday, December 9 (5:00 pm). On Sunday, December 16 they are scheduled to host Cardston at the MCC arena (1:15 pm).

Spud League Midget standings: The top 3
Bow Island is currently in first place in the Spud League standings. They have played 14 regular season games with 9 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. 2 of their losses were against Coaldale and the other 2 against Pincher Creek.  Pincher Creek is currently tied for second place with Coaldale after 9 games, with 8 wins, and 1 loss. That loss was to Coaldale. Likewise, Coaldale's one loss was to Pincher Creek.

Grab some popcorn...