LANDON’S HOCKEY RECORD REACHES 25-0-1 WITH 8-2 WIN OVER DeMATHA

The fans may have experienced some pre-game jitters facing the DeMatha Stags (WaPo’s #2 team). Sam Anas addressed that anxiety when he blasted a slapshot past the DM  All League goalie EIGHT SECONDS into the game. LANDON 1 DM 0 @14:52 If anyone still apprehensive about the outcome, seconds later, at 13:52, freshman Joe Snively  fed linemate Matt Potolicchio, who buried the puck into the Stags’ goal for a Landon 2 DM 0 lead.

While this flurry of goals may suggest that the #1 Landon’s O was the reason for a victory, that would not be the whole truth.

The Bear D was overwhelming. Goalie Alex Joyce (30 saves for the night) stopped the DM’s vaunted set of forwards. The Stags seemed to think that Alex could not handle the long, hard shot and several of those longshots resulted in the Bears’ hockey/lacrosse goalie’s clearing passes back into the home team’s O zone. The DM strategy shifted to rushing the goal (and goalie), Alex  proved that he was immune to such attempts at physical intimidation.

The Landon forwards contributed to the protection of their nets with back checking and smart play. What was impressive against the typically big Stag team was the Bear aggressive D men. Senior “Fierce Pierce” Minshall [literary license in the spelling] set the standard early with a deft stick check and removing the detritus of Stags from the crease. Fellow senior D Greg Russell, who was able to suit up, but unable to play, provided leadership from the bench. Juniors Connor Meike (2nd team All MAPHL).Nick Malone, Max Greenwald, Mike Anderson andsoph Chris Javens were oppressive in their coverage of the opponents, who expressed their frustrations throughout the game (and the refs even called a few of their displays of disappointment).

The key to great defense is a cadre of players who know their roles, who are constantly aware of the pair’s position and who take smart reactions to the dynamics. That textbook description define this band of Bears tonight!!!

The Landon forwards repeatedly took the puck into the Bear Ozone. At 9:42, Connor Meike scored the Bears’ third goal on a pass from Joe Snively and then at7:30, David Lackner converted passes from Max Greewald and Joe Snively (by this time the Stags must have thought that #15 was omnipresent) to take a 3-0 lead.

END OF 1ST PERIOD LANDON 4 DM 0 [Shots on Goal L10 DM9]

The intermission must have fired up the Stags, because they were flying at the Bear Goal, but Alex Joyce made two awesome saves to continue his “no score zone” approach. This onslaught was squelched at 10:36 when Matt “Cupcake” Opsahl scored on an assist from Isaac Porter to make it Bears 5 Stags 0. The next 9 minutes were spent with each team dealing with powerplays and a couple of simultaneous penalties.

Unable to crack the Joyce line in 5 on 5 and powerplay situations, the Stags resorted to a 6 on 4 advantage to get their first goal. Landon was assessed a penalty with 13.7 and the DM coach pulled his goalie. The faceoff was with the DM 2 player plus and a shot resulted in a score at 9.6.

END OF SECOND PERIOD LANDON 5 DM 1 [SoG L11 DM 9 for this period]

The penalty trend continued in the last 15 minute period, but the home team added to its lead with an even strength goal by Sam Anas with and assist to Connor Meike, Bears 6- Stags 1 @ 13:36.

 DM got its second goal at 7:08 on another powerplay.

Matty ” Ice” Opsahl, having absorbed a fair amount of abuse from the DM D during his visits to the Stag crease, returned the abuse through a positive action, his 2nd goal on a pass/assist from linemate, Sam Anas , Bears 7-Stags 2 @ 5:29. With three minutes left and five goals down, DM’s coach pulled his goalie, Matt Potolicchio demonstrated the futility of that tactic by breaking free of the 6 Stag skaters and scoring, Landon 8 DM 2. The DM goalie got to play the rest of the game and several of his teammates added to their futility with inept efforts to inflame the Bears.

FINAL SCORE LANDON 8 DeMATHA 2

LANDON SCORING

ANAS                         2 goals        2 assists

POTOLICCHIO        2 goals

OPSAHL                   2 goals

SNIVELY                                     2 assists

MEIKE, Connor        1 goal

LACKNER                  1 goal

GREENWALD                              1 assist

ALLMAPHL TEAM

ANAS –1st TEAM (TWO TIME) AND PLAYER OF THE YEAR

POTOLOCCHIO–1st TEAM (one of two juniors on 1st team)

OPSAHL–2ND TEAM (one of three juniors on 2nd team)

Connor MEIKE– 2nd TEAM (one of three juniors on 2nd team)

COACH OF THE YEAR– CHANDLER GAMMILL

They announced an all tournament team, but in the post game pandemonium, none of the names were heard

I believe that a 25 win season may set a Landon record for a team in a season.