Landon Bears Hockey 5 Bishop J. O’Connell 3 (corrected)

Starting its MAPHL season with a 2-0 record (league 0-0), the Bears faced a Knights (0-1-4 against tough opposition) who had both home and games played advantages. The visitors, wearing their new sharp Brown sweaters, prevailed and from my inexpert opinion, the Bears D was able to frustrate their opponents O everywhere on the Ice Plex rink—Bears 31 SOGs, BJO’C 10. The blue line corps (in numerical order) was stout—Caden Blazer, Eli Smink, Christian Binner, Dash Coffman, Damon Pinko and Zaakir Khan backed by Goalie Jack LiCalsi (8 saves).

The home team got on the scoreboard first with a breakaway and an unstoppable shot at 4:18, Knights 1 Bears 0. Then one of the Arlington school players was called for a 2 minute foul and the Bethesda PP converted–@2:09, Tommy Trowern passed to Caden Blazer for the Bears 1st goal.

END OF 1^ST PERIOD BEARS 1 KNIGHTS 1

Early in the second stanza, the home O scored off of a nice pass at 14:03 Knights 2 Bears 1

Quinn Coughlin started a back-to-back goal streak—1^st on a pass from Caden @ 11:15 and then #23 broke away and beat the BJO’C goalie again @ 9:41. The advantage lasted for 6 minutes when the Knights put a puck into the net at 3:55

END OF 2^ND PERIOD BEARS 3 KNIGHTS 3

The Landon roster is unusually deep. The fourth line Forwards and Defenders are close to the 1,2 and 3 sets of skaters in skill and energy. Most importantly, the discipline of all the Bears in positioning, passing, structure and breakout does not diminish as Coach Parker throws the next groups out the bench doors. That strength was evident in the last 15:00. Landon put 13 SOGs in this segment and held the Knights to 2 in spite of the home team’s desperate efforts.

The positive Bear O results: Sebby Kenarypassed to Arthur Smink who connected with Owen Moore (ist for the freshman) for goal #4 @ 5:39 and then Zaakir fed Quinn Farland and he found Reid Pehrkon for the final goal @ 4:30. The BJO’C level of effort increased but flying Knights resulted in 3 two minute visits to the penalty box.

NEXT GAME 12/5 MOUNT SAINT JOE’s (0-1-5) at Garden Ice House 8pm