Puck Opens with Draw

The 2012/2013 version of JV Puck opened at home against the Littleton Tigers. Despite low numbers of willing and able bodies, the Pucksters are counting on several returning veterans in key roles to lead the charge this winter. After a season away from the rink Grif Dickson returns to join David Howe and Bob Congdon on the blue line protecting returning tender Will Corman. Upfront returning skaters Peter Rhinelander, Jamie Thorndike and Peter Nam bring multiple years of experience while Michael Borghi  and Skyler Colerado Mansfeld lace them up for a second season. New blood will come from Tanner Coffin, Kei Nawa, Ben Altshuler, Charlie Patton, Liam Cashel, Peter White, JP Neenan, JJ Kim and Jonathan Briggs.

After a week of whipping the team into shape the Pucksters skated into their only contest before break. As expected the visitors had the better of the early play as Puck strived to find their game legs. Slowly but steadily as the first stanza played on the Pucksters started to put it together. The Green Line of Borghi, Jamie and PRho used their experience and had the best chances of the period. Corman held the fort when called upon. As the Red Line of K, Tanner and PNam tried to find their groove the hybrid Yellow Line of Skyler, Liam and Peter White held the visitors off the board. Puck was able to strike for the initial tally of the season as PRho converted a feed from Jamie. The Puck momentum was short lived as a defensive lapse resulted in the biscuit ending up behind Corman. All in all not bad as the period ended 1-1.

Period two saw the visitors with the better of the play early. Puck held them off but the numerous trips to the penalty box finally caught up with the Pucksters. As the legs became heavy and fatigued the visitors put Puck down for the first time all season. To the teams credit they dug deep and stayed even as the frame waned. As the Pucksters got better applying the forecheck they were rewarded for their hustle as Tanner separated a Tiger defender from the puck. K jumped on the loose disk and fed PNam for a one timer from the slot for the tying marker. Again we were still in it 2-2 after 2.

The third period saw more penalties and gasps for air. Both teams had their chances but the defense came through on each end. Puck took a major penalty to end the game and had to play the final 4 minutes down a man. The preseason conditioning paid off and as the final horn blared Puck may have stolen a hard earned tie as it headed off to break.