With a Hockeyville buzz filling the arena, the North Bay Skyhawks and Blind River Beavers gave the over 2200 fans in attendance quite a show Sunday night.
With a Hockeyville buzz filling the arena, the North Bay Skyhawks and Blind River Beavers gave the over 2200 fans in attendance quite a show Sunday night. The Skyhawks built themselves a 5-1 lead only to watch the Beavers cut it to 5-4 before an empty net goal would finally secure a 6-4 victory for the Skyhawks. North Bay came out with a feistiness that was not seen in their last game which helped contribute to their victory in what was a penalty filled affair.
The Beavers, who were playing their second road game in as many nights, would open the scoring at the 10:47 mark of the first period. Ben Cooper was able to slip the puck past Skyhawks goaltender Ian Wilson to give his team a 1-0 lead. The Skyhawks however would not be down for long, as 35 seconds later Dustin Fummerton would let go of a blast from the top of the circle to tie the game 1-1. Neither team would find the net for the rest of the period as the game headed to the intermission. The first period would see a total of eighteen penalties called, a theme which would continue throughout the night.
The second period was a Jekyll and Hyde affair for the Skyhawks. In the first nine minutes of the period the Skyhawks would build themselves a four goal cushion thanks to unrelenting pressure on the Beavers. Michael Cyr, AJ Shiverdecker, Justin Roy, and Fummerton would all tally goals for the Skyhawks as they built a 5-1 lead, and at this point had out shot the Beavers 19-1 in the period.
Cyr, Fummerton, Roy, Shiverdecker, Kyle Radigan, and Travis Bradshaw would all end the night with two points a piece for the Skyhawks.
The Beavers however were not going down without a fight as they would cut the lead to 5-3 before the intermission thanks to goals by Jarret Burton and Dean McMillan.
Once the third period began it looked as though the Skyhawks had refocused as they took the physical game to Blind River once again, yet the Beavers would still find a way to strike. At 16:43 of the third Tyler DeDecker would cut the Skyhawks lead to one as he put the puck past Wilson and a nervous energy would fill the crowd.
DeDecker would finish the night with three points.
Blind River pressed hard late in the game but the Skyhawks were able to hold on as Roy would net his second of the contest into an empty net to cap the 6-4 victory for the Skyhawks. The third period was once again filled with penalties as a total of nineteen infractions were called. Following the game Skyhawks head coach Darren Turcotte refused to comment on the officiating, but he was pleased with the way the team played.
“We had twenty guys out there playing the body,” said Turcotte regarding the physicality shown by his team.
“We aren’t a huge team but if we keep skating and playing the body, coming up with some big hits things will work out for us. We got complacent half way through the second and let them back in the game, but we talked between periods and we came back out in the third and played well. We played well up front, our defense played well and we got good goaltending, you can’t really ask for more.”
The Skyhawks will take to the road next week as they travel to Manitoulin Island on the 21st and Sault Ste. Marie on the 22nd. The next home game for the Skyhawks will be September 23rd when they play host to the Sudbury Jr. Wolves. Face off is scheduled for 7 pm at the Memorial Gardens.
Missing faces
It was confirmed following the game that Kyle Soder, Reilly Miller, Troy Mytinger, and Cole McKnight were no longer with the Skyhawks. No reason was given for their departures.
Fighting not a part of the game?
There were a number of fights which took place in the game Sunday night, and afterwards both teams felt as though it served their team well. Fummerton, the games first start, felt as though the Skyhawks came together during the game.
“Everyone stuck together out there. We all had each others back, and it was good to see,” said Fummerton.
Blind River head coach Todd Stencill felt that his team used the game as a building experience.
“That was the best team builder we’ve had,” said Stencill regarding the way his team stood up for one another.
“Winning the fights, the guys really came together out there. The first road trip of the season is always tough and it was a learning experience for a lot of young guys. They never quit out there tonight and I’m happy with the way we responded. We showed that we are not going to let anyone push us around. I think when fans hear about what happened out there tonight there is going to be 3000 in the stands the next time we come to town. It is always such a great atmosphere in this building. North Bay fans love it when their team is tough.”
Happy with turnout
Adding to what coach Stencill had said about the atmosphere in the arena on Sunday night, coach Turcotte felt as though the fans in attendance really helped the team.
“We had a better crowd out there tonight then last week. The more fans we get the more energy the players have. Hopefully we can keep getting turn outs like this and keep playing the way we did,” said Turcotte.
That sentiment was not lost on the players either as Fummerton expressed the same excitement.
“With Hockeyville in town there was quite a buzz in the arena tonight. Lots of people were out there and all the guys wanted to put on a good performance. It was a good feeling being on the ice.”
