WarHawks had their home opener Friday night and the place was packed as they took on their division rival the Alexandria Blizzard. Almost 600 fans in attendance which is even more impressive when you realize that Willmar high school had their homecoming the same night. As the crowd filtered into the barn, the anticipation built. You could literally feel the excitement in the air. WarHawks hockey was back!
First period was about to start and the home crowd was so loud you couldn’t hear the refs whistle before puck drop. Alexandria is a big, physical team and they showcased that throughout the first period. Body first, puck second. After the first 5 minutes things seemed to settle down and both teams had chances. Almost 10 minutes into the first, the WarHawks dumped the puck into the offensive zone. Wanka was able to hurry up the Blizzard defenseman who tried to get the puck out of the zone using the glass. Wendorff held the blue line, getting the puck to Callaghan and he passed to Wanka at the top of the circle. Boys had a 2 v 1, Wanka with the puck and E. Domagala on the far side face off dot. Wanka cuts to the middle forcing the defenseman to lay down trying to prevent a pass. Wanka passes and Elliot Domagala one times it for his first goal of the season! 1 rip good guys. 3 minutes later, the Blizzard tied it up on a power play and that was the last goal scored until the 3rd period.
2nd period was filled with chances for both teams. Each team had 3 penalties totalling 6 in the period.
4 minutes into the 3rd period the Blizzard go on a power play and capitalize giving them their first lead of the game. Unfortunately, the boys weren’t able to answer back even though they out shot the Blizzard and had 3 power plays in the 3rd.
Saturday morning rolled around and the boys started to come in for team stretch. It was quiet in the arena before they left to go to play the Blizzard in their home barn. Focused, determined and a wanting of revenge. 1st period started and the boys came out buzzing. Very similar period to the night before in the 2nd. Many chances for both teams and they both split the 6 total penalties throughout the period.
2nd period seemed to be on repeat of the past period, a few penalties and multiple chances. 16 minutes in, the Blizzard were able to score first with a wrap around. With 47 seconds left in the period they had a back door tap in due to a Blizzard player laying on a WarHawk defenseman away from the play. Not to worry, Gabe Adams wasn’t going to leave the period without having a say about things. The Blizzard tried to make a centering pass into the slot in our defensive zone. Thankfully there was a stick lift and Adams passed it up to Mackedanz up by the blue line. Jaiken brought the puck into the neutral zone and passed it back to Adams before getting hit. Adams put on the brakes at the top of the near side circle and shot, besting the Blizzard tendy to bring the boys within one.
3rd period brought a lot of the same with so many chances but no puck luck for the good guys. With 35 seconds left in the game, the Blizzard scored an empty netter making the score 1-3.
Boys are back on home ice this Friday to enact some revenge for our season opener against the Minnesota Moose!
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