LANDON HOCKEY 7 GONZAGA 2

LANDON HOCKEY 7 GONZAGA 2

The Purple Eagles were the MAPHL coaches poll preseason #1 and still hold the WaPo #1 rating. The 2019-2020 schedule is filled with inexplicable results and some of those anomalies could be attributed to players honoring their travel team obligations over their schools.

The undefeated, unranked Bears played with tremendous enthusiasm, controlled aggression, smart structures and quickness. Their spirits were boosted by a mass of Brothers encouraging every play by their team. To add to the energy, the visitors were buoyed by their sharp new gold sweaters.

The game began with the Landon skaters showing more speed and physicality. That resulted in 1 v. 1 opportunities almost all of which were won by the Bears. The first ursine success was an end-to-end rush by WILL LAWRENCE. He stole the puck in his D zone, accelerated by the Purple D and broke into his O zone to score @ 9:07.

The scoreboard went to 2-0 @7:55 when Coby Sherensky and Tommy Kenary earned helpers on Jordan Dinesman. A potential momentum change was thwarted when two Purple Eagles had two great opportunities only to see Max Weinstein (total of 28 saves) eradicate their expected goals.

The PK unit was able to stymie the Gonzaga College High School extra man offense for two consecutive advantages.

The I Street Team was found to have violated the rules twice (one a 5-minute infraction) and the Gold Sweaters deposited to goals behind their opponent’s netminder. Will looked like he was tracing a play on the ice twice—both starting with a caused turnover, then a sprint down the length of the rink and finally TWO GOALs 1^st@ 2:57 and then again @ 1:34. The knowledgeable Bear boys recognized Will’s completion of a hat trick all in the first 15:00.

The Bears appetite had not been fully satiated. Ethan Goldman moved the puck to Jacob Hookman-Vassa who made a beautiful cross ice pass and Matt Brille who transferred the puck into the net for Landon’s 5^th goal @1:00

END OF FIRST VERSE: BEARS 5 PURPLE EAGLES 0

Landon SOGs 15 and Saves by Max 5

The next period was anti-climactic. The referees saw violations against the visitors creating a plus one for the GCHS team for almost 4 minutes. The Bear D and forwards frustrated their opponents throughout that time.

A breakaway by a Purple Eagle resulted in a goal at 3:35.

TIME FROM 15:01 TO 30:00 BEARS 5 EAGLES 1

Landon SOGs 10 and Saves by Max 6

The visitors scored first when Jacob when he cranked one from the point @ 7:37

The home team earned its second score at 8:04.

There was a scrum in front of the Landon goal. The referees perceived that two Bears were the perpetrators, sentencing one for 2 minutes and another for five. The black and white jerseys’ judgment meant that the visitors would have to finish the game 3 on 5 for 120 seconds and then 180 seconds with a 4 v. 5 disadvantage,

Incongruously, that burden so late in the game did not faze the Bears and Jacob nailed a short-handed goal @ 0:06.

THE FINAL SCORE BEARS 7 EAGLES 2

Landon SOGs 8 and Saves by Max 11

TOTALS SOGs 33 SAVES 22

NEXT WEEK’S THREE GAMES