The Heartland Red Liners fought their way through the falling snow to meet up with The Whalers in a “pre-season” game. With help from two Liners staffers as fill-in refs, both teams put on an exciting and back-n-forth game with the Liners eventually coming out on top.
Four minutes would lapse into the first period before the first score of the game. Sammy “Preppy” C. picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, skating around a Whaler, and skated at the Whaler net. He drew their goalie wide and fire a perfect wrist shot into the upper corner of the net. The Whalers would tie it up in the closing minutes on a power play caused by Chris “The Doctor” S’s crosschecking penalty.
The second period went back and forth as both teams tried throwing pucks at each other until midway through the session. Matty “The Monster” S received a neutral zone pass from Preppy and skated into the offensive zone. He lasered a on-the-ice shot through the five hole of the unsuspecting Whaler netminder for the Liners’ second goal. With three minutes left in the period, the Whalers would again tie up the score off a 2-on-1 breakaway following be a hard shot at the Liners’ goalie, the Music Man. He made the initial stop but the puck trickled just past the goal line. The Liners grabbed the lead back on a turnover by the Whalers at their blue line. Preppy picked up the puck and skated just past the far post and floated the puck just over the outstretched goalie pad. But the Whalers again managed to tie it up in the final seconds on a two-on-one rush. The Doctor skated back to hit the stick of the shooter but couldn’t knock the puck out. It arced just inside the far goal post.
The showdown continued into the third period and was decided halfway through the session. Preppy again charged the Whaler net on breakaway but couldn’t dish it off to Kryan Ryan. The puck was cleared to a waiting Sweet Nils who popped a smooth wrist shot into the open net. The Whalers attempted a comeback with several charges on the Liners’ net. In the final minute, the Liners killed a 6-4 after the Baron drew a crosschecking penalty.
While the official status of the game is in question, the outcome was clear. It was the Heartland Red Liners’ first win. It was another step in the long road to building a competitive beginner level team. Team management is excited about the interest in the team from players and fans. They hope to build on the momentum in future games. Next game is on Monday, Jan 14th at 10:30pm vs the Blades of Steel.