Ice Force Let One Slip Away

For most of this hockey season, the Ice Force has had a myriad of reasons for their subpar record.

Some could say they are reasons, some could say they are excuses. Either way, it is hard to gauge what the real answers are. On the surface, you could sometimes see defeat in the players’ eyes before the drop of the puck.

Maybe it was the pregame speech by Acting Head Coach Jim Paull. Maybe it was the fact there was no junior varsity game to take the energy out of several key players. Maybe the players just finally bought into the concept of playing hard, aggressive hockey.

Whatever it was, the Ice Force almost knocked off perennial powerhouse Arrowhead.

The Ice Force took a one-goal lead late into the third period before Arrowhead rallied with three goals to escape with a 3-1 victory at the Wilson Park Ice Arena.

The better effort didn’t go unnoticed by coach Jim Paull.

“This is what happens when we don’t have a JV game first,” Paull said. “We just have a varsity game and the kids don’t have to play five periods. When we have a night when we just play varsity, we have a better game.”

A better game and better effort was evident from the opening face-off. The Ice Force was aggressive, initiated physical play and did not seem intimidated.

The game was wide open and up and down the ice on every shift. There were few whistles and few prime scoring chances. When the first period came to a close, there was no score, despite the Ice Force being outshot by a 12-3 margin.

The second period started out with more of the same as both teams once again skated up and down the ice with few scoring chances. It almost appeared the first team to score just might win the game. 

It appeared it might happen when Brian Kennedy picked a waist high clearing effort out of mid air between the rings in the Arrowhead zone. Kennedy quickly fired a shot from the slot that was saved by Arrowhead net minder Jake Michael.  However, Michael could not control the rebound before Joe Jensen swooped in and banged the puck into the net giving the Ice Force a 1-0 lead.

Heading into the third period, things looked good.

Then it happened.

Arrowhead’s Brady Vassar picked up the puck in the neutral zone and skated in on goal. Vassar was initially well covered by Ice Force defenceman Rostislav Zvarych. Vassar’s first shot attempt was blocked by Zvarych, but Zvarych could not clear the puck. Vassar got another whack at it, and made no mistake. Vassar’s effort tied the game at one goal apiece.

Ordinarily, this is where one expects the Ice Force to crumble quickly. They say the most important shift in hockey is the one directly following a goal. Past experiences have seen the Ice Force cave in and give up more goals. However, this night proved to be different. The Ice Force continued to play aggressively and initiate physicality. 

The shame of it all is that they were not rewarded for their efforts.

Late in the third period, Arrowhead scored the eventual game winner on a deflection by Will Reiland. Sam Dvorak fired a shot from the right wing point that was deflected by both Brady Vassar and Reiland. Ice Force goaltender Joe Koepp, who was bailed out by the post on four separate occasions in this game, found nothing to bail him out on a double deflection. Koepp showed his frustration after the goal by smashing his stick against the glass.

Arrowhead added another goal late when Colton Sweitzer was left all alone in the slot and buried a one timer to make the final score 3-1.

Afterwards, the Ice Force coaching staff was somewhat melancholy about the game. 

“I told the kids that this team is going to spread them out,” Paull said. “You can’t have everyone chasing the puck. We’ll have guys out of position and leaving guys open all the time. Hockey is a hard game when you try to do everyone’s job. If you only try to do your job it’s an easy game.”

Regarding his team’s newfound aggression and physical play, Paull invoked the ghosts of the 1980 US Olympic hockey team.

“I told the kids in the locker room about 1980 Olympic hockey team. Russia was a much better team, but the U.S. out worked them,” said Paull. “You have the same thing here tonight. This is a much better team as far as manpower and talent, so we have to outwork them. We did that for two periods.”

Unfortunately for the Ice Force, hockey is a three period game.