Dunedin Ice Hockey Association

Game two report: Sharks lead series by two games!

The Sharks started off the game with #9 Richard Sykes poking in a goal past Nick Metzger who was replacing Aaron Bryant for the Jets. James van Leeuwen #4 blasted a shot from the point to lead the Sharks into a 2-0 lead early in the first period. But the Sharks weren’t done yet, Joe Sales #16 came flying down the ice, in true Canadian form he cut hard behind the net with the puck to find his fellow Canadian line mate Ryan Wick # 14, who was forcefully entering the slot area with a sexy back (YA) he received the pass and batted it home to make it a 3-0 lead on the Jets. The Jets had a enough at this point as Bode #12 received a beaut of a pass from line mate Chris Sangster # 16 and snuck it past Toby Schuck, making it 3-1 going into the second period.Late in the second period the Sharks managed to increase their lead by #13 Paavo Huhtinen slipping one in from a pass by #8 Stephen King. The Jets answered with a remarkable give and go combination from Simon Christos #11 to Damien Watson #5, who slammed one home past Toby. The period ended with the Jets down by two, and the sharks looking tried.

Early in the third period Sangster #16 made a break for the net, he entered the zone with tremendous speed and managed to drop pass the puck to Phillip Bennett # 3, who slammed the puck past Toby closing the gap to a 4-3 lead by the Sharks. The Jets had a lucky break, when Toby decided to give us a present and knocked one in for the opposition giving the Jets a 4-4 tie with 3 minutes to go. Feisty Canadian Joe Sales decided to spend his last Kiwi hockey moments in the sin bin, Paavo could see Joes disappointment and decided to join him, when Paavo received a delay of game penalty. It was time to turn on the Jets, as they were on a 5 on 3 power play with 1 min. to go! The Jets gained the zone and were moving the puck around, when there was a slight mix up at the blue line (by slight I mean … big mistake) by the Jet defense, however this mistake was defiantly due to the fact that the ice was not cleaned between periods creating a snow build up. James van Leeuwen #4 crashed through and ended up on a breakaway with 10 seconds remaining. Nick Metzger made an honest attempt but James got lucky and poked it past him giving the Sharks the 5-4 lead with only 3 seconds to go. ( it was a conspiracy between the van Leeuwens as Hans conveniently was busy for the ice clean between the 2nd and 3rd period)

For the record the feisty Canadian Joe Sales was on the ice for the goal!! (He needs all the + he can get) JOE, you will be missed by everyone!!

It was a close game at the end and both teams battled it out considering most of us were recovering from the Erewhon cup weekend. Well done guys and girls!!

By Jenel Bode