The boys made the two hour trip up to Fogerty Arena in Blaine this past Saturday afternoon to take on the Minnesota Moose for the fourth time this season. In all four games, the WarHawks were within one or two goals of winning all of them. The team as a whole are 1 goal away from being an 8-1 team. Their time is coming.
The boys came out on fire, to the surprise of no one. This team is vastly better than their record. Recording six shots on net to the Moose’s one and having constant pressure in their offensive zone in the first five minutes of the 1st period. Vaculik went behind his net to retrieve a dump in by the Moose. He chips it high off the glass to get it out of the defensive zone and the puck takes a lucky bounce into the neutral zone. M. Domagala picks it up for a 1 on 2 zone entry. He gets tied up behind the goal line but in comes Elliot Domagala trailing patiently. Domagala to Domagala pass and at a terribly bad angle by the goal line, E. Domagala scores. One rip good guys. Four minutes later the Moose scored two goals within three minutes of each other. One minute later, Aidan Callaghan brings the puck into the zone, cuts to the slot and shoots. The puck rebounds to the near side corner where Holtz grabs it and passes it out to the point. Thelen walks the blue line a few feet and lets it rip. Callaghan, screening the goalie, high steps the shot and turns around to find the puck at his feet. Rips it, besting the Moose tendy blocker side. Moose lead didn’t last too long. Unfortunately, the last minute of the period proved once again to be one of the most dangerous minutes in hockey as the Moose were able to find the back of the net to take the lead for the second time in the 1st period. 2-3 Moose.
The 2nd period was wildly entertaining but not because of high scoring like in the 1st. It was hard nose hockey with very little penalties called. Both teams had multiple odd man rushes, chances in front of the net and near misses. Sam Moen put on a show stopping 13 of the 14 shots, most of which should have gone in. The Moose took a two goal lead eleven minutes into the period with the only goal scored that period. Time to give up, right? Just wait for the 3rd.
3rd period is where the WarHawks have seen most of their success this season and Saturday night was no exception. Although the entire period was exciting hockey, the last four minutes is where most of us were on the edge of their seats. The boys brought the puck into the zone and it ends up on the far side half wall. Callaghan grabs it pulling 3 Moose players in with him. Callaghan throws a backhand pass down to Mackedanz who’s in front of the net. Mackedanz has his back to the goalie, finds the puck and puts it on net. While this is all happening, Carson Wendorff is creeping in from the blue line. And a good thing he did as he found the rebound off of Mackedanz shot and Wedorff scores. Backhand to backhand to backhand, goal. WarHawks are now down by one with three minutes left in the game. Coach Payton takes a timeout with 2:15 left and pulls the goalie. 6 seconds in there’s a mad scramble in front of the net that looked like a player covered the puck but it was blown dead, no penalty shot. The Moose got a chance on the open net but it hits the post. For 2 minutes there were chance after chance including 22 seconds left Wendorff shoots from the top of the slot and hits the crossbar. Even though there were a ton of chances, none crossed the goal line. Sam Moen saw 41 shots, saving 37, with a 90% save percentage.
Boys are back on home ice this Saturday, Nov 1st to take on the Minnesota Wilderness! Get your tickets here:
