The
2012 Maitland Minor Atom Ice Sharks got their season underway this past week
with two exhibition games against heated rivals Quickfeet from Walkerton. Game
1, played in Walkerton on Thursday, April 26th, was a close affair with a tight
checking game as both teams tried to feel each other out, not wanting to make a
crucial mistake. The Ice Sharks were able to control most of the play through
the first two periods, but were unable to garner much "puck" luck,
which allowed Quickfeet to cling to a hard fought 2-1 lead.
After two goals by Quickfeet, the Ice Sharks answered back with a power play goal from Zach Wall. Kaden Eybergen entered the O-zone and found linemate Raymond Horan streaking to the net. Horan fired a shot that was deflected behind the Quickfeet net. A circling Wall picked up the loose puck, skated around the back of the net and drove home the wrap-around for the Ice Sharks first goal of the season at 9:18 of the 2nd frame. After the intermission, Quickfeet came out hard and dominated the play, taking it to the Ice Sharks. Their relentless pursuit of loose pucks was rewarded with two more goals and the Ice Sharks unfortunately came out on the wrong side of a 4-1 game. Strong play did not go unnoticed from the coaching staff as they made it a point to let the team know they liked what they saw in the 1st two periods and knew that this team had the pieces to be a very successful team this spring.
The second part of the home and home exhibition series saw the Ice Sharks serve as hosts, and for the second straight game it was the visiting team that had more jump from the opening faceoff. Quickfeet owned the play and kept the Maitland team hemmed in their own end for lengthy periods in the first. Again it was the Quickfeet team that opened the scoring by burying in the 2nd rebound off starting goalie Max Newsom. Newsom made two great reaction saves, but with no Ice Sharks to help him, the Quickfeet player made sure his third attempt found the back of the net.
Jacob Condy gave the Ice Sharks some much needed jump with 0:20 seconds left in the 1st when he pounded home a third rebound as well. Nolan Regier and Caleb Cribbin each had a chance to score the goal, but it was Condy that made sure the effort wasn’t wasted, giving the team some life.
The second period saw the Ice Sharks defensive fivesome of Kyle Dunn, Eric Gettler, Jared DeWinter, Callan Ferguson and Dakota Coultes turn away rush after rush with their solid defensive play until Quickfeet somehow scored their second goal midway through the 2nd period. On the resulting faceoff, the Ice Sharks put the puck deep in the Quickfeet zone and some great boardwork by Condy resulted in a Quickfeet turnover at their blueline. A pinching Gettler jumped on the loose puck and found Condy down low, who drove to the net showing terrific patience waiting for the goalie to go down and fired a low wrister through the five-hole, tying the game with his second goal of the game.
The third period saw the Ice Sharks earn their 1st lead of the season when Zach Wall made a great decision to put the puck into a quiet corner of the offensive zone for teammate Kaden Eybergen. With all kinds of time and no pressure, Eybergen was able to drive to the front of the net and beat the goaltender with a shot into the far side of the net, causing an eruption from both the home bench and the crowd. The jubilation was short-lived however after an unlucky turnover at the Ice Sharks blue line allowed a Quickfeet opponent to skate in alone on relief goalie Ryan Bell and beat him with a high rocket gloveside, negating the Ice Sharks chance for revenge. The game ended in a 3-3 tie. The Ice Sharks next see action this weekend at the Regional Express Spring Showdown Tourney in Brantford. Go Ice Sharks!!!