Our second game of the regular season yesterday was a nail-biter, as we suspected it would be. We played the Rangers in the leveling tournament, which is basically a pre-season tournament to determine which league each team needs to be in based on their level of play. In the last game against them, we lost 10 to 4, so we knew this one would be a doozy.
Noah was in goal last time we played the Rangers, and it's exciting because they happen to be the team with a few of his former teammates and coached by a former coach and parent from last year. It's always fun to see them and it's nerve-wracking for Noah to be in goal against Titan, his buddy who happens to be one of their top players and a great scorer! He's number nine; you'll see him in a lot of the photos with the red helmet. His sister plays on his team also; she wears a red helmet as well. Another friend from last year, Tommy, also plays for the Rangers.
Not only did we see lots of former teammates on the opposing team, but Noah's coach from last year and his family came. Caleb, Kaylin, Carson and Katrina have become good friends of ours and they came to watch all the kids play each other. They had a hard time cheering for both sides!
Of course, right away it was Noah vs. Titan.
Blocked!
 |
| Here comes Titan again! |
 |
| Good defense! |
With 10:22 to go in the first period, #8 scores on Noah.
Not much after that, #8 scores on him again with 9:50 still to go in the first. Yikes!
The score stayed 0 to 2 for the rest of the first and most of the second period. There was no shortage of action, though! Then, with 5:40 to go in the second, our hotshot player Easton scored on the Rangers.
They answered forty seconds later with a goal by #12, bringing the score to 1-3.
Then Noah started warming up.
As Noah made some awesome saves, his teammate Easton, who is just special to watch, started lighting up the Rangers' goalie, along with another impressive shooter on our team, David.
 |
| Easton is the player in the red shorts |
With 4:01 to play in the 2nd period, Easton scored!
Noah blocked more shots, mostly from Titan.
Oh, and I can't neglect to mention that in the midst of all the stress and excitement, Audrey decides to lose her first tooth!
 |
| I really can't make this stuff up! |
 |
| Another save! |
With 2:05 left in the second, Easton scores again! Game is tied 3-3!
Easton gets the puck again with only two minutes to go in the second but the Rangers commit a penalty of tripping on a breakaway.
Our team got to choose whether to be on a 2-minute power play or take a penalty shot, and that was a no-brainer!
He scores! Mansfield is up 4-3!
Then, with only 47 seconds left in the period, David scores to make it 5-3!
More saves by Noah...
Before we can catch our breath, 27 seconds later, Noah's former teammate Tommy squeaks one in on him to make the score 5-4. Heart palpitations, hello!
THIRD PERIOD!
Right away, Easton scores and Mansfield is leading 6-4!
Sometime later (the stats were inaccurately kept, grrr), I think Easton scored again. Anyway, we were up by three!
With 7:04 to go in the third, Rangers #8 scores on Noah. The score is 7-5.
 |
| A save! |
Only thirty seconds later, #8 gets another one past him, making the score 7-6.
 |
| Coach "Dad" and Coach Slaughter getting animated! |
With 5:15 remaining, Easton scores again for Mansfield and the score is 8-6.
Just at the end of the game, with only 00:29 to go, Titan is rewarded for all his effort with a goal on Noah.
Final: 8-7, Mansfield wins! Noah made 13 saves for a save percentage of 65%.
The Rangers goalie took 18 shots and saved 11 of those.
You can see how evenly matched these teams and goalies are! What an exciting game!
No, they're not fighting--this is how 9- and 10-year-olds celebrate!
 |
| Noah congratulated the opposing goalie and complimented his helmet |
 |
| Noah and his buddy Titan shake hands |
 |
| Noah with Titan's sister, and their dad and coach Bubba reaches to hug Noah |
 |
| Coach Chris and the others after the game |
In a jubilant locker room, Noah was surprised to be awarded the MVP puck from his coaches for this game! So proud of him for playing hard for the whole game and keeping his team in it.
We caught up with Titan and his family after the game. We'll be playing them at least three more times this season! I don't know if my stomach is strong enough for that!
 |
| Former teammates and now good-natured opponents Titan and Noah |
No comments:
Post a Comment