Sunday 20th
June 2010
Game 2 of the weekend had the potential to be a thriller. The
Admirals were stung by Saturdays defeat and determined to avenge
the loss in front of their loyal home fans. The lineups for both
teams remained the same for this game, with the Thunder not wanting
to change a winning combination and the Admirals coaching staff
giving their players an opportunity to redeem themselves.The
outcome proved to be exciting with both teams playing at high pace
and wanting to dominate the other. The first period ended in
neither team scoring, although both goaltenders had a very busy
time between the pipes, pulling off some incredible saves to deny
the other teams attack. End of 1st Period 0:0
The second period followed on at the same pace with end-to-end
attacks, keeping the enthusiastic crowd enthralled. The Admirals
finally opened the scoring with Garrett Russell scoring a fantastic
goal just 1 minute before the end of the period, assists going to
Jouni Kivela and Braedyn Durbin, giving the home team the lead
going into the period break. End of 2nd Period 1:0 to
the Admirals.
The third period proved to be an absolute thriller, with Thunders
Stephen Vlok scoring an equalizer 3 minutes in, assisted by Paris
Heyd and Duncan Sykes. Both teams lifted their pace in an effort to
win the game and the Admirals finally managed to take the lead with
Garrett Russell taking his second goal of the night assisted by
Jeremy Chai and Travis McMasters, making it 2-1. Almost immediately
the Thunders Martin Millerioux replied with the equalizer assisted
by Stephen Vlok and Simon Christos, to make it 2-2, then scored
again just 30 seconds later with a goal by Quentin Pepy assisted by
Duncan Sykes and Damien Watson, to take a 2-3 lead. The Admirals
were determined, and in the last minute pulled the goalie, Luke
Christie, to get an extra attacking player on to try to get the
equalizer and send the game to overtime. The Admirals Blake Jackson
scored a sensational goal with just 12 seconds remaining on the
clock with the assists going to Travis McMasters and Jouni Kivela.
End of 3rd Period tied at 3:3.
The regular time expired and the game then went into 5 minutes
overtime to try and get a winner. With normal overtime rules, both
teams reduced to 4 players. The play lifted another notch, with
both teams having chances, but unable to score a winner. End of
overtime 3:3
With no change to the score, the game went to a penalty shootout to
determine the winner. The first two Thunder shooters scored, and
the second and third Admirals players scored, so at the end of the
regular penalty shootout the teams still couldnt be separated. The
penalty shootout moved on to sudden death until a winner was found.
Thunders Paris Heyd stepped up for the first shot and put the puck
past Admirals goaltender Christie, then all the pressure was on the
Admirals player to equalize. Unfortunately for the home team and
supporters the shot did not find the goal, so the Thunder came away
with the victory in what was the closest of games. Overall though,
this was a high quality game of hockey played by two teams who gave
their all, and the crowd could go away happy they had witnessed a
fantastic spectacle.
Final result 4:3 to Thunder
Shots on Goal Admirals 33 : Thunder 42
Penalty Minutes Admirals 14 : Thunder 10
