The New York Islanders warm up before the Hockeyville game. Photos by Eric Boutilier. The city of North Bay could not have asked for much more from the Hockeyville game they witnessed Monday night.
The New York Islanders warm up before the Hockeyville game. Photos by Eric Boutilier.
The city of North Bay could not have asked for much more from the Hockeyville game they witnessed Monday night. Although the game did not go to a shootout like the Habs Leafs game the night North Bay was announced Hockeyville; fans saw a thrilling overtime affair between the Atlanta Thrashers and New York Islanders. Although some of the big name stars for the teams were not present, two lesser known names stood out from the rest on this night.
The atmosphere was electric from the opening face off, and fans did not have to wait long to cheer the first goal of the night. At the 3:45 mark of the first Freddy Meyer of the Islanders put on a dazzling individual effort to give his team a 1-0 lead. After a delay due to a piece of glass shattering midway through the period, the Thrashers would come out and tie the game less then a minute after play was resumed. Joey Crabb was able to put the puck past Joey MacDonald at 12:19 of the first to make it 1-1 and it would stay that way until the intermission.
The biggest star on the ice, Ilya Kovalchuk, would get his name on the score sheet early in the second. Kovalchuk would send Brett Sterling in alone on a breakaway and the Thrashers found themselves ahead 2-1 5:26 into the period. Former Centennial star Chris Thorburn had a couple of chances in the second period, and also had some words for fellow Northern Ontario tough guy Chris Simon. After the game both players talked about the meeting.
“We fought last year,” said Thorburn about past instances with him and Simon.
“We’ll just say he had the upper hand. We Northern boys are just born that way, always wanting to battle always wanting to win.”
Simon echoed those statements.
“We’re all tough,” said Simon about players who grew up in the North,
“We’re all the same, we all respect each other. What happens on the ice stays on the ice.”
The Thrashers would increase their lead with just under five minutes remaining in the period as Crabb netted his second of the game to give his team a 3-1 lead. The two goal cushion would be short lived however, as 29 seconds later the Matthew Spiller would score to make it a 3-2 game heading into the third.
As the third period started the crowd was still buzzing from the center ice Coach’s Corner session which took place during the intermission. The first scoring chance of the period would come seven minutes in when Richard Park attempted to tie the game but rang his shot off the crossbar. However the Islanders would not quit and just under a minute after the Park shot, Spiller would get his second of the night to tie the game 3-3 and the score would remain that way for the rest of regulation time.
The overtime period did not last long however, as the Thrashers would end it quickly. 1:13 into overtime Garnet Exelby joined the rush and rifled one past MacDonald to give his team the 4-3 victory. Following the game Thorburn talked about being back on the ice here in North Bay.
“I was nervous out there,” said Thorburn about playing at the Memorial Gardens.
“To be honest I don’t remember the last time I was that nervous for a hockey game. It was great to have my parents come down here to watch me. They have seen me play here before but never with an NHL jersey on, it was something they were really proud of.”
Nolan and Simon back up North
Ted Nolan and Chris Simon each took time after the game to talk about their Hockeyville experience. Both individuals have strong Northern Ontario connections, and remember North Bay vividly from their time with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. Nolan even talked about the OHL coming back to North Bay.
“This is what hockey is all about,” said Nolan regarding the game.
“I love the North and it was real good to be back. The fans here are just how I remembered them; they are passionate people that know the game of hockey. This has always been a great hockey town. Hopefully this is the first step in getting a Major Junior hockey team back in this city.”
For Simon, the game was all about the kids and being close to home.
“This was great for the kids,” said Simon regarding the Hockeyville game.
“That is what’s most important for me. As a kid I never got to see a game in person. It makes me really happy to part of this. And this is really the closest I’ve been to playing in my home town so it was really fun. The fans here were great, but I didn’t expect anything less from them”
Simon was also asked about his relationship with his coach. When told he had the same type of personality as Nolan, a smile came across his face.
“If that’s true, then I really appreciate that. I take that as a great compliment. I love this entire organization and I would not want to play anywhere else. I was offered more money as a free agent but I have been treated with nothing but respect here with this team and that means a lot.”
Commissioner happy for the city of North Bay
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was in attendance Monday night and took time to talk about his Hockeyville experience and his time here in North Bay.
“This community epitomizes hockey in this country. The fans in this city are so passionate for the game,” said Bettman.
He would also emphasize how much he enjoyed the game for the simple pleasures of seeing how much the kids were enjoying it.
“You can really feel the energy and excitement; it is the only opportunity to see players like this for some people. Seeing the excitement in the kids is something that is special. It is the reason we agree to do something like this. Hopefully they can take away the fact that they got to watch some of the greatest athletes in the world perform tonight. And from that they will feel much more connected to the game of hockey, and they will have that many more dreams of one day becoming NHL players,” said Bettman.
