Atom 1 Chinooks tie CNP Thunder in low scoring high energy thriller

Atom 1 Chinooks vs CNP Thunder
C. Davis photos and video

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice 

Pincher Creek's Atom 'A' Chinooks hosted their Crowsnest Pass Thunder counterparts at the MCC arena on Saturday afternoon, February 9.  The last time these two teams met the Thunder dashed the Chinooks' Provincials hopes by surging in the third to ultimately beat the Chinooks 7-3.  The two teams had tied the previous game in that best of two competition.

This time out the Chinooks seemed determined to prove themselves against the Thunder.  The Thunder seemed equally determined.  What ensued was one of the most exciting games of the MCC arena weekend, low scoring but high energy.

This one was as much a battle of the goaltenders as anything else.  On one end, in the Thunder net, Cassidy Little.  On the other, in the Chinooks net, Wesley Krampe.

The two teams played to a draw for most of the first period.  Alex Comeau made a great attempt for the Chinooks, shut down by Little.  Finally, with only 3:34 left in the period, Chinooks #14 Michael Kaupp ushered one home, unassisted.  0-1 Chinooks.  Less than a minute later, 2:37, Thunder #91 Matt Merritt scored, also unassisted, and the score was tied 1-1 at the end of the first period.

Nobody scored in the second period, which was nonetheless a fast-paced back and forth contest between two very well matched teams.

At the 15:50 mark of the third period Jace Lewis scored unassisted for the Thunder, putting them ahead 2-1. The Chinooks answered that one with a goal by #17 Rylan Bruns, a quick thinking rebound that proved you make your own luck, assisted by Michael Kaupp officially, and by all the Chinook forwards in reality, as they hassled the net very well on that one.

2-2.

And that's where it stood at the final buzzer.

Let's talk goalie stats.  How close were these two goalies you ask?  Thanks to Jamie McMullen, I can give you a pretty good idea.

For the Chinooks Wesley Krampe made 31 saves and let in 2 goals, a 94% average.  For the Thunder Cassidy Little made 25 saves and let in 2 goals for a 93% average.

These are unofficial numbers, but still indicative.  Bottom line: two great goalies.

The Atom 'A' Chinooks have two more regular season games scheduled.  The first will be here at home on Saturday, February 16, starting at 1:30 pm when they host Taber.  The next day they travel to Vauxhall.  That game starts at 1:00 pm.