Beavers Bounce Back Like Bandits In A Barn Burner

Just when you think the Oakville Beaver have what it takes to dominate their division, they fall into a lull that brings back memories of their early season woes and fall behind a far inferior Rust Tech team.  They then seem to give up all hope.  But remember, this is a team that had only hope to keep them going during those dark days.  Down 4-1 with only 7 minutes and 9 seconds to go, the Beavers stormed back with 6, yes that is 6, unanswered goals for a come from behind 7 – 4 win.

Missing some of their hottest players of late, including one of the league leaders in scoring, Poddy,  and hot Beaver rookies Fieldmouse,  Little Nam and Van Wilder, the Beavers reached deep within and found the will to score, and score plenty they did.  With a couple of call ups including Cutie Pie who had been buried in the minors since his free agent departure at the end of the 2006 season and first time Beaver Ninja filling in for Little Nam, the Beavers entertained the packed house with a surprising come from behind win.

The Beavers started out strongly with K-Lo and the Red Rocket bumped up to the first line (no one else was available), controlling the play and out hustling Rust Tech easily.  The Turkish Delight opened the scoring with his 8th goal of the year, assisted by Corsky at 6:28 in the first despite starting the game with only 6 players.  However, a questionable call on the rough and tough Beer Burglar for body checking a minute later allowed Rust Tech to tie the score.  2 minutes later, with the Beavers playing some sloppy team defense and unable to clear the front of the net, Rust Tech went up by a goal with just over a minute left in the first.

Things didn’t start off any better for the Beavers in the second period when Rust Tech scored their third goal, which recovering Beavers’ goalie Smiles surely wished he had back.  The affects of his busted up knee are still evident as he was unable to get his healing knee down to stop a shot from the side of the net.  From that point on, Smiles seemed to be determined to shut Rust Tech down and get into playoff form, and that he did limiting Rust Tech to one more goal from there on.  However, with the Beer Burglar determined to hold on to his team lead in penalty minutes, he took a double minor high sticking penalty, allowing Rust Tech to go up by three on a power play goal with 2:14 to go in the second.

With 8:31 left to play in the third and the game seemingly out of reach, the Beer Burglar determined to send a message to both Rust Tech and the Beavers, took another Rust Tech player down.  Three times charmed, the mentally dense Rust Tech team finally got scared and the rest of Beavers joined the parade and got aggressive.  Burglar however was kicked out of the game, but took one for the team to wake them up.  Ninja who had been displaying some crafty play and stick handling skills all night, scored the Beavers second goal of the game assisted by the Rocket.  “Come on guys, only 2 more to tie it up!” Ninja said.  Corsky thought to himself “Yeah, yeah, you’ve never played with the Beavers.” as he gave the obligatory high five, trying to be polite.  It wasn’t until both teams started skating back to centre ice that the Beaver’s demoralized bench realized they had scored.  A much delayed “Wahoo!” was much appreciated by the scoring line as they went on to score another 32 seconds later.  This time, Ninja was set up by Corsky.

With 4 minutes to go, Corsky craftily used a beautiful screen set up by K-Lo to score the tying goal, assisted by the Turkish Delight.  K-Lo got very scared as Corsky kept bringing the puck in closer to the net before letting a windmill slap shot go.  Less than a minute later, Rat scored his 12th of the year, which proved to be the game winner, on a feed from Ninja.  

The Beavers defense was playing solidly, led by Cutie Pie, who played one of the most solid defensive games in recent Beaver memory.  Pads, Burlgar, Cutie Pie and… oh yeah, Corsky weren’t allowing pucks to get through, and break out plays were looking crisp.  Pads, who had been jumping into the offence all night, started a play leading to Nammer’s 2nd goal in as many games (and his 2nd on the season) with Rat joining in to Pads the lead.

Rat got his third point of the game, tying him for the team lead with Poddy and second in  league scoring with his aggressive back checking.  He stripped the Rust Tech player along the boards in front of the Beaver bench, turned around and skated ¾ the length of the ice (believe it) to score unassisted.  Rat did ring the post loudly early on in the game to keep that streak going as well.

Even the most optimistic of Beavers had to believe this game was out of reach.  A win like this has installed a new sense of confidence and euphoria in the team.  Two team pitchers were consumed at the Thirsty Penguin.  5 games to go and the Beavers are Vegas’ odds on favorites to win it all this year.

Player of the Game:  Rat - 2 goals and an assist for 10 points in his last 4 games to tie team leader Poddy for second in league scoring.

TSN Turning Point:  Ninja scoring the Beavers' second goal with 7:09 left to go "Come on guys, only 2 more to tie it up!”

Game Details


Rust Tech  2 2 0 Total 4
Oakville Beavers  1 0 6 Total 7
Scoring Summary
Period 1
Oakville Beavers - Al Askim (Shane Corcoran) , 6:28

Rust Tech - Mike Preston (powerplay) (Alex Cameriere, Philip Schell) , 8:35

Rust Tech - Mike Preston (Philip Schell) , 10:55

Period 2
Rust Tech - G Wylie (Mike Preston) , 6:12

Rust Tech - Alex Cameriere (powerplay) (unassisted) , 9:46

Period 3
Oakville Beavers - C Nam (scott harper) , 4:51

Oakville Beavers - C Nam (Shane Corcoran) , 5:23

Oakville Beavers - Shane Corcoran (Al Askim) , 5:49

Oakville Beavers - B Adams (C Nam) , 6:42

Oakville Beavers - A Nam (B Adams, Stephen mizgala) , 8:00

Oakville Beavers - B Adams (unassisted) , 11:01

Penalties
Period 1
Oakville Beavers - I Turner - (Body Checking Minor), 2 min , 7:27
Period 2
Oakville Beavers - I Turner - (High Sticking Double Minor), 4 min , 6:50
Rust Tech - Philip Schell - (Hooking Minor), 2 min , 7:10
Period 3
Oakville Beavers - I Turner - (Interference Minor), 2 min , 3:21
Oakville Beavers - Shane Corcoran - (Roughing Minor), 2 min , 8:51
Rust Tech - Alex Cameriere - (Body Checking Minor), 2 min , 8:51
Rust Tech - Vill Pingol - (Interference Minor), 2 min , 10:28

Rosters
Rust Tech Oakville Beavers
Goalies
Name Min Shots Saves
1 D Hylton  36  no shots recorded
Name Min Shots Saves
29 Todd Frith  36  no shots recorded

Players
7 Vill Pingol
10 Matthew Zazinsky
16 Luigi Fantauzzi
17 Philip Schell
30 Mike Preston
31 paul kurtz
44 G Wylie
45 Kevin Prentice
78 Alex Cameriere
91 pete hudson
98 Dino Giambattista

0 Mark Trafford
3 I Turner
6 C Nam
7 B Adams
9 Shane Corcoran
11 scott harper
13 Ken Loucks
17 Stephen mizgala
19 A Nam
25 Al Askim

Other Facts
Referee
DC #14, DH #93

Score Keeper
Adam Silliphant