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DC Everest downs Antigo with two Penalty Shots

By Bill Berg, 02/15/13, 5:45AM CST

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Cole Halligan cashes in on both attempts

They say that the penalty shot is the most exciting play in hockey, maybe in all of sports. Cole Halligan of the DC Everest Evergreens got to experience the excitement twice on Thursday night, and led the Evergreens to an emotional 4-3 triple-overtime victory over the visiting Antigo Red Robins at Greenheck Fieldhouse in Schofield.

What started out as a tight, low-scoring game got all kinds of crazy at the end of the third period. The first period was scoreless, with the Robins controlling play early in the frame, and the Evergreens dominating the latter half.

Zach Fleischman put the Robins ahead early in the second period when he fired a shot from just inside the blue line that hit off an Evergreen stick and skipped over goalie Andy Mahler's shoulder. The lead would hold until late in the period when Dylan Gusman knotted it up with a shot from in close after a Robin turnover behind their own net.

The score remained tied until 12:56 of the third, when Everest grabbed their first lead of the night, scoring on a Nate Bruns shot from outside and through traffic. With less than a minute and a half to play, Antigo pulled Schmidt for an extra attacker. Matt Wolter fired a pass from the left point to the right face-off circle and Fleischman hammered it into the back of the net to tie the game with just 1:14 to play in regulation.

What looked like an overtime affair changed dramatically when Danny Will scored to put Antigo back on top with just 29 ticks left on the clock. The Evergreens took a time out and planned their attack. Mahler stayed on the bench in favor of an extra attacker.

The Evergreens worked the puck into the Robins' zone and got it to the front of the net, where things got a bit crazy. With the puck bouncing around and Schmidt out of position, Fleischman backed into the net, dislodging it from it's place. Since most of the action was in front of the net, and Fleischman was alone on the side, the officials determined that he intentionally knocked the net off its pegs. With just 2 seconds left on the clock. No big deal, with just two ticks left, the Robins still felt fairly secure. But the normal delay of game penalty has an interesting twist when the game is within two minutes of the end.

The ruling:

Section 10: Delaying the game:
Artical 3. No player shall deliberately displace a cage.
Penalty: Minor. If it occurred with less than two minutes remaining in regulation or anytime during overtime, Penalty Shot.

So Everest senior Cole Halligan was called on to keep the Evergreens season, and his high school hockey career going. He came in hard on Schmidt, moved to his backhand, then back to the forehand to tuck the puck under Schmidt and tie the score at 3 apiece.

An initial 8 minute overtime settled nothing, so they flooded the ice and put 17:00 up on the clock. That also proved uneventful, so they did it again.

By this time, the players were looking a little fatigued, and the Robins were especially having trouble with their line changes, getting a new skater on the ice when a tired one came off. The Evergreens got a quick break late in the third overtime when Chris Babiarz caught a long pass as Antigo was changing defensemen. As he was going by a flat-footed Jackson Charlesworth, the defender reached out and pulled him down. An obvious penalty. But did it warrant another penalty shot, as the Evergreen players were lobbying for? The officials got together to discuss the situation.

Section 40: Tripping
Artical 3. No player shall foul from behind an opponent who is in control of the puck in the offending player's defensive zone when there are no defending players except the goalkeeper between the attacker and the defending team's goal, thus preventing a reasonable scoring opportunity.
Penalty: Penalty Shot

Upon careful consideration, a two minute minor penalty was assessed. Babiarz was not in control of the puck at the time he was hauled down, nor was he in the Robins defensive zone. He had just crossed the red line. He also wasn't fouled from behind, as Charlesworth grabbed him on the way by. A sigh of relief emanated from the Antigo side.

The Robins relief was short-lived. Everest again got the puck to the front of the Antigo net, and in the mad scramble that ensued a Robin skater not wearing goalie pads covered the puck in the crease. That is not allowed.

Section 14: Falling on or diving for the puck
Artical 1. No player other than the goalkeeper shall pick up, throw, cover or trap the puck with his hands or body.
Penalty: Minor. If in the crease of the defending team, Penalty Shot.

 Once again Halligan was called upon. And again he delivered. This time he came in fast and fired a quick wrist shot between Schmidt's legs as the goalie was backing up. Needless to say, the crowd went wild.

Total Saves:
Schmidt: 17 – 4 – 13 – (18) = 52
Mahler: 7 – 8 – 6 – (24) = 45

 

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