The 2009 NZIHL Skate of Origin was so close 60 minute of ice
hockey and a 3-man Shoot Out still came up with no decision. After
regulation time both teams were knotted on 5 goals apiece. It
wasn't until the seventh shooter for the Easton North Stars,
Charlie Huber, finally broke through that the celebrations and
bragging rights for the North Island as holders of the inaugural
Glass Family Shield could begin.
The game began with a bang, as within the two-minute mark,
Braden Lee from Queenstown slotted home a nifty pass from Paris
Heyd out of the corner into the slot passed North Island starting
goalie, Zak Nothling. The play began on a solid rush by Lee up the
wing and great support play from centre Dale Harrop.
The lead was short lived as the North Island answered back with
a couple shifts with Hamilton's best ice hockey played Brett Spiers
netting a Charlie Huber pass past South Island starter and NZIHL
Finals MVP Justin Findlay of Christchurch.
A few minutes later Jordan Challis of Auckland busted in on the
right wing seeming to slam the puck over Findlay an into the top
shelf only to be denied the tally by the officials. This unrecorded
snipe would serve as food for the fire for the Northerners for the
rest of the game.
The first period ended locked up at one with Joshua Hay of the
North Island playing a great game, looking dangerous every time a
pass was made in his direction.� For the Bauer South Stars the line
of Simon Glass, Adam Soffer and Loren Nowland kept continued
pressure of the Northern defensemen.
The second period saw a new pair of goaltenders enter the game
with Stephen Reid taking the crease for the South Islanders and
Andre Dowman pulling pipe duty for the North.
The south came out ahead after the second frame with goals going
to Queenstowners Jamie Moore-Carter and Ryan O'Keefe, followed by
Adam Soffer getting a very deserved goal overpowering Dowman with a
5-hole rip.
This spurred the Northern boys into action with Josh Hay finally
netting one on a break with less than three minutes to play in the
frame. Jordan Challis made a great on-side pass up the middle of
the ice, freezing the d-men to a streaking KC Ball who made no
mistake with a nifty forehand move less than 30 seconds later to
close the gap to within one after two periods of play.
The Southerners pulled ahead on a great conversion by Heyd off
another strong move by Lee just before the midway mark of the third
putting just one passed Whangarei's Rick Parry in goal for the
North. This brought the intensity of the game to a boil as the
North Islanders came back with a must win attitude in the last ten
minutes.
Andrew Hay scored his first goal of the season in timely fashion
with a well-placed wrister from the top of the face off circle
passed Michael Parsons between the pipes for the South. A last
second, goalie-pulled goal-mouth scramble in front of Parsons
resulted in miraculous goal credited to Ice Blacks Captain, Corey
Down playing out of Paraparaumu. The goal sent the fans into a
frenzy knowing extra time would be needed to separate these two
great New Zealand teams.
Finally after the seventh North Island shooter, Huber scored the
North Stars could pour on the ice and celebrate in style. Both
Parry and Parsons put up walls in their respective goals.
NZIHF Past President Graeme Glass and SIHL Patron,Ben Glass
presented the Easton North Stars with the Glass Shield for
2009, in a touching ceremony to honor the contribution of the Glass
Family as builders in New Zealand Ice Hockey with three generations
of hockey players in the family.
Game MVP Honors went to Braden Lee for the South Stars in front
of the 200 strong crowd at Paradice Botany.
Easton North Stars 6- Bauer South Stars 5
(SO)
North Goals- Brett Speirs, Josh hay, KC Ball, Andrew Hay, Corey
Down, Charlie Huber
North Assists- Huber (3), Robert Chamberlain, Speirs, Jordan
Chllis, Richard Idoine
South Goals- Braden Lee, Jamie Moore-Carter, Ryan O'Keefe, Adam
Soffer, Paris Heyd
South Assists- Heyd (2), Dale Harrop (2), Ryan Ruddle, Steven
Vlok, Simon Glass, Lee, Daniel Nicholls
The winner will earn the right to
hoist the Glass Shield. The stunning gold and wood shield
is named after the Glass Family of the South Island with three
generations of contributors and builders of the sport within New
Zealand. Ben Glass is a founding member of the NZIHF and Patron of
the SIHL. Graeme Glass is the Past President of the NZIHF and
recently inducted Life Member. And of course, recent Ice Blacks
Captain, Simon Glass.
Ben Glass chasing John van de Griend of
International (Chch) in the Erewhon Cup Final played at Opawa (
Albury) in 1959. Ben is playing for Opawa.
