Landon Hockey 7 Mount Saint Joe’s 1

The Bears skate off the rust of not playing together as a full team for a week with a convincing win over MAPHL rival Gaels. The home team is now 15-0.

The Landon hockey team met a tough, fast MSJ team seven days after a major victory on 1/12. They had a game on 1/14, but injuries and conflicts resulted in fielding a makeshift Bears’ team, Holidays and snow also compounded the rust. Tonight they faced a Gaels’ team that was energized and ready to play.

For much of the 1st period, the two teams played up and down the ice hockey, but sloppy play kept the shot totals to 10 for eaqch team over these 15 minutes. With 5 minutes remaining, passes from Johnny Cobb and Graham Shue  put Christian Meikein a position to bury the puck–Landon 1 MSJ 0

The second period started inauspiciously for the Bears; the referees sent one of the home skaters into the penalty box for 120 seconds. Though short-handed, several shots required the MSJ goalie to make exceptional saves to prevent scores, Alex Joyce also came up big with a couple of awesome glove saves to keep the Gaels off the scoreboard. Soon after the Bears were even strength, Matt Potolicchioscored an awesome goal (upper corner) with an assist from line mate Teddy Wellington, L2, MSJ 0 at 7:18. Two minutes later,Sam Anas scored with help from Nick Malone, L3 MSJ 0 at 5:50.

The Gaels were able to get one into the Joyce protected nets at 2:10, L3 MSJ 1.Soon thereafter, the potential existed for a major momentum shift when the Bears were called for a penalty. Instead, aggressive forechecking by the Bears resulted in a breakout from the Gaels O zone with Matt Opsahlfeeding Sam Anas for a wicked short handed goal, the 2nd period ended Landon 4 MSJ 1

All that Bear pressure– speedy skating, incredible passing and a defense which smothered every Gael move toward the L goal–  broke down the visitors with Landon scoring three goals over the last 15 minutes. Poto from Wellington and Mike Anderson @ 12:36; Poto from Wellington@ 6:38; and Connor Meike from Joe Snively @ 1:41. 

The Bear D were dominant throughout—Anderson not only scored but was strong on his skates; Max Greenwald took the puck away from the visitors many times and moved the puck up with fast movement and even more effective passes; the Gaels avoided Nick Malone because he was a force in the D end; the size of Pearce Minshall established a NO Gaels  area around the L goal: and Connor Meike consistently precluded the opponents from getting a good look at the L goal.

The Huns come from the North (NJ) to enter the Bears’ Den on 1/21 at 4:40pm