All good things must come to an end, unfortunately.
Including the CGHA team’s winning streak. After winning a club-record four consecutive wins, the team lost 4-0 to the Demons on Saturday, January 10, at the Polar Dome Ice Arena in East Dundee. The CGHA team now stands at 4-3.
Goalie John Adams was solid throughout, stopping about 30 shots, including a flurry during the second period. He was aided by a strong defensive supporting cast of Shane Thompson, Mike Kelly, Michael Ko and defensive-newcomer Laura Moss. Rusty Fleury centered the first line, featuring wingers Austin Baidas and Rex Babiera. Fleury had several scoring chances that were thwarted, including a key second period shot bound for the upper-corner that the Demons’ goalie managed to get a hand on. Baidas also had a solid scoring chance in the second that was stopped inches from the goal line.
Larry Zyks centered the second line, with wingers Ryan Ruskin and Jim Bulawa who was making his season debut. Zyks was aggressive and fiery, as usual, which even led to a first period skirmish that ultimately led to a Demons player receiving two game misconduct penalties. Ruskin was steady on the wing, though he was whistled for a two-minute penalty late in the game. (Several theorized that the always-clean Ruskin was simply seeking a penalty to fill the penalty box void from Chuck Jacobson’s absence. Jacobson was back home in Fort Wayne, Ind., with an infection, though sources have confirmed that he was, in reality, scouting “talent” at a Fort Wayne Komets game.) In addition to Jacobson, the CGHA team was without several other key players, such as defensemen Brian Merlot and Greg Bates, and forwards Terry McDonnell and Andy Rogers who was sliced open from a stick-to-the-face days earlier in a game.
The CGHA-Demons game was tied after the first period, which included many CGHA scoring chances, including a Zyks break-away on the first shift of the game. The Demons scored what proved to be the game-winner about five minutes into the second period. The CGHA team returns to action Saturday, January 17, against the Drillers (2-3). Game time is 9:30 p.m., at the Glenview Ice Center, located at the intersection of Lake and Landwehr Roads.
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
Total
|
|
| CGHA |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Demons |
0
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
Stats
Larry Zyks: 2 penalty minutes
Shane Thompson: 2 penalty minutes
Ryan Ruskin: 2 penalty minutes
Players Dressed
Rusty Fleury
John Adams
Mike Kelly
Michael Ko
Austin Baidas
Rex Babiera
Ryan Ruskin
Laura Moss
Jim Bulawa
Shane Thompson
Larry Zyks