January 12 Game Report

Amanda Sherry was back at the mic to delight on tuesday nite with an anthem that left me wondering how she might sound in a duet with Barry White, but I digress. Thunder delivered a 4-1 rain dance to the IHS team formerly known as the Indians to advance the defending state champ's record to 5-3-1-1. First frame was scoreless with shots even at 5 apiece as Ganti and Cheese took turns blocking shots out to neutral and going on a rush. AC went upstairs, with his soon to be patented short side roofer, to break the seal 3 minutes into the second period. It was recorded as unassisted but I gotta give props to Tyler Mattle who bodied the Eagles puck carrier, riding him like seabiscuit around the back of the net to force the turnover for AC. Jared Tam-Grimshaw flanked Vyper for a big shift with some gritty work along the wall. Then came the Timex "takes a lickin but keeps on tickin" of the game midway through the period when Tyler Mattle got rocked @ center ice with a shot to the head from Eagles captain David York. Before I could get my cell out and dial 911, Mattle was back on his feet and back in the play putting a rebound on net and finishing his shift without missing a beat. This kid eats nails and shards of glass for breakfast. Then with 5 and a half to go in the second, Andrew Cordes netted the equalizer for IHS, assisted by Nick Papas and David York. Mills had a nice block and Grims stepped up to clear the zone but got called for head contact. Speaking of stepping up and head contact, Vypes logged a couple of Harry's on a kill before the break, taking one to the cage (in the faaaaace!) which bent the iron. Shots were 18-12 in IHS favor thru two periods as we went to the break knotted at 1's and one could only imagine what what the speech was going to be like in locker room eight.

Perhaps someone stood up and said "Are you ready to let the dogs out? You know, whoo, whoo-whoo, whoo-whoo. Who let the dogs out?" Well, of course, Thunder was ready, as they emerged from the break and notched 3 unanswered goals. Third line got the start and drew the foul less than a minute in (something they have been doing all season long). Hebberect beat Guida glove side for his first tally of the season, a minute into the man advantage, assisted by Cheese and Simmy. With the go-ahead goal in the bank everyone was laying it on the line to keep it that way. Grimmy blocked a pair and then stepped up on the half wall to keep the Eagles from landing. Hostetter and Briganti were buzzing around pestering IHS with a relentless forecheck. Eagles called a time-out with 2 to go and returned with the extra attacker. Ganti and Hots teamed up to clear the zone, springing McNeil for the empty netter and deal-sealer that made it 3-1 Thunder. Warm up the bus but don't leave just yet, as there would be one more clap of Thunder to salt the wound. Thunder's fourth and final tally was a buzzer-beater by Cheese, assisted by Sherry and Keough, and made possible by Miller, who stepped up at the Eagles blue line to keep the zone with the Gordita Crunch of the game.

First star goes to Steve Hebberect with the winner plus a solid effort in all 3 zones. Second star goes to Brandon Chess-man with a goal and assist for 2pts. Third star goes to Andrew Simonelli who logged 21 saves for his first varsity win between the pipes. All tolled there were 9 different point getters and beaucoup defensive plays to bolster that distribution. Coach Webb commented on the superb display of sacrifice with several players starting to follow in Vyper's footsteps blocking shots. Said Webb, "when players learn from one other, it makes coaching a lot easier". For the past few years Vyper has been a 1-man "Harry" wolf pack blocking shots with everything but the kitchen sink, and then earlier this year his blood-brother Snake starting blocking shots and Vyper's wolf pack grew by 1. At first it was Vyper alone in the wolf pack and then with Snake there were two. Then along came Ganti and Grimmy blocking their share of slovakia and Vyper knew they would also join his harry wolf pack. The 4 of them roaming the rinks in Rochester looking for shots to block with a few screws loose. Who else will say "not up in here" to point blank shooters and join the pack before the season is out? Will it be Cheese or Sherry or Hebs or Mills or someone else?