WarHawks had back to back home games this season and took on the #1 team and #4 team in the West division. If you’re a hockey fan, there’s nothing better than bonus hockey when you go to a game. If you made it to both home games this past weekend, you were in for a treat. Both games went into overtime. Yes, the boys took the Lumberjacks to OT. Something their fans and coaches were not particularly happy about. In fact, the WarHawks were ahead literally almost the entire game by one goal. And Saturday night was no different.
Friday night, Granite City came to the Civic Center. The last time the two teams went toe to toe, Nov 26th, it was very physical with multiple penalties and literal blood on the ice. Even though the teams change from season to season, they really don’t like each other. And for the first time ever (probably not but maybe), the Jacks had zero penalties against them. Something that has never happened when they play the WarHawks.
1st period and as you’d expect, very physical back and forth game. This season, neither team gets a big lead in the 1st and Friday night was no different. It took thirteen minutes before the first goal. After an icing by the Lumberjacks, the faceoff was on the near side dot. Hogan wins the faceoff and Amon one times it. The puck ends up in the far corner and Amon gains possession again. Spinning around, he gives the puck to Jett Wheeler who cuts towards the slot and back hands it, hitting the tendy’s shoulder bouncing up and over. 1 rip good guys.
2nd period the boys got a penalty for holding and killed off 45 seconds until a shot from the near side top of the circle. Brumm makes the initial save but the puck ends up behind him. He turns and puts his glove on it. A Jacks player hacked away at Brumm’s glove and it was called a goal. Hard to believe since Brumm not only had it covered, he got up with the puck in his glove. Questionable, yes. Counted as a goal anyways, yes. The game is tied. Seven minutes later, the Jacks make a near side zone entry. Logan Woods steals the puck and brings it through the neutral zone and makes a zone entry, throwing the puck on net. M. Jackson gets the puck behind the net and passes it to Woods who is alone on the far post, goal! The WarHawks are back on top and remain there until 32 seconds left in the 3rd.
3rd period the WarHawks were once again the only team with penalties called against. The WarHawks are one of the best penalty killers in the league and they kill the two penalties against and we play on. With just 32 seconds left, the Jacks are able to sneak one past Brumm on a 5 v 6 with their goalie pulled. Gut wrenching especially since the WarHawks were ahead for 38 minutes of the game. OT lasted 1:18 with the Jacks scoring off a rebound. Brumm saw 47 shots, saving 44 with a 94% save percentage.
Saturday night was windy and snowy here in Willmar. The Toros made the long trip to the Civic Center. Both teams come into the game with very similar records, Until now, the WarHawks have bested the Toros. Not one of those games was easy. There are no easy games in the West. Saturday night was no different. Unlike Friday’s game, both teams got penalties and multiple goals.
1st period it took a little over 8 minutes for the first goal when the Toros were able to get on the board first. With 3:19 left in the 1st, Elliot Domagala brings the puck into the zone by the near side boards. Domagala passes to Callaghan who skates it to the slot and backhands it towards the net. On a rebound off the right leg pad, Domagala lifts it over the pad and ties it up. The Toros score in the last, very dangerous, minute left in the period. They are back on top, 1-2.
A little over 4 minutes into the 2nd period, Brown gains possession by the near side blue line. Brown passes to Carson Wendorff who makes an unbelievable backwards pass between the legs to Callaghan. Callaghan brings the puck low by the far side circle and passes back to Wendorff who ties it up again. Just 3 minutes later, the Toros are able to score to gain the lead again. Not to worry, Toby Holtz decided he wanted to get on the score sheet. With 4:30 left in the period, Adams makes a long stretch pass into the neutral zone to Wanka who makes a zone entry and cuts to the near side of the slot. Wanka shoots hitting the leg pad of the Toros tendy, unaware that Holtz is crashing the net. Here we go again, game is tied up. Not sure how it would work, but it sure would be nice if there was no such thing as the first or last minute of a period in hockey. Yup, you guessed it. The Toros were able to score with just 19 seconds left in the period.
3rd period saw a penalty against the Toros (nice to see the other team in the box unlike the previous game) and a penalty against the boys. Both got killed off. That is until the Toros go on a penalty kill again. In a deja vu moment, Callaghan brings the puck into the zone by the near side boards. He cuts to the slot and (you guessed it) back hands it to Logan Woods who’s there and gets a backdoor goal just like in the 1st period. The game ends tied, bonus hockey incoming!
OT starts and for almost all of the 4 minutes of play, the WarHawks have possession of the puck. One slip and the Toros get a 2 v 1 zone entry. The Toros shoot, hitting the post and another questionable goal was called. Regardless, the goal was counted and the boys gain 2 points for the weekend. Moen saw 43 shots, saving 38 with a 88% save percentage.
Every point counts in the West.
The WarHawks are back on home ice this Wednesday, Dec 10th to take on the the Wilderness! Multiple different ticket options here:
