skip navigation

Saints get late goal to edge Team SEaL

By Michael Trzinski, 02/02/13, 10:45PM CST

Share

Jaxon Brown not 'running on empty' with game-winner


The contest between visiting Chequamegon/Phillips and Regis/McDonell/Bloomer promised to be an interesting Game of the Week.

The two teams matched up well, with both having some very talented skaters and two top-notch netminders on the ice for the afternoon matinee at Eau Claire Hobbs Ice Arena.

They didn't disappoint.

RMB scored once in the second and again in the third to take a hard-fought 2-1 decision over visiting Team SEaL. (Team SEaL is an acronym for Screaming Eagles and Loggers, a combination of the nicknames for Chequamegon and Phillips.)

The first period was scoreless but had plenty of action on both ends of the ice. Each team had a power play chance in the first six minutes, and Team SEaL almost drew first blood while playing short-handed.

One of the penalty killers got off a shot from close range, but RMB senior goalie Sam Nelson made a nice glove save to thwart the effort.

With just over three minutes left in the period, RMB defenseman Ryan Liddell rang a shot from the point off the right post for a near miss, and then with less than a minute remaining, a delayed penalty on C/P gave the Saints a chance to pull Nelson for an extra skater. Nolan Rodriguez's hard shot from the point clipped the top of the crossbar before the guests touched the puck for a stoppage of play.

Team SEaL would take two penalties near the end of the first to give RMB a 5-on-3 chance , but the hosts were unable to convert in the period and would have 1:27 of a two-man advantage in the second.

Shots were 8-6 in favor of RMB in the first.

It only took seven seconds for RMB to get on the board in the middle period.

Freshman Phil Erickson grabbed a pass below the left circle and somehow snuck the puck between the body and glove hand of Team SEaL goalie Kristen Pechacek to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Victor Bourget and Matt Pulver earned assists on the power play goal.

WiPH Game Summaries

RMB had a couple of good chances go by the wayside when on the 5-on-4 portion of the previous power play, Erickson's shot from almost the same spot hit off the crossbar and bounced down just wide of the net. Then about three minutes later, Pulver broke free down the middle, but a centering pass trickled off his stick before he could get a shot off.

Team SEaL had a couple man-advantages in the middle of the period, and almost tied the game, but Chad Schnautz's shot from the point caromed wide off the right post and out of harms' way.

The next trip down the ice would prove more profitable for Chequamegon/Phillips.

Halfway through the power play, Sam Lehman scored to make it 1-1, with assists to Pierce Pluemer and Josh Lemke at 11:35.

That's how the period ended, with shots 12-6 in favor of Team SEaL.

The third period featured some spirited play, with bodies flying everywhere and each of the goalies covered by an avalanche of players on separate occasions.

Near the midpoint of the period, RMB had 34 seconds of 5-on-3 but failed to score, and then went back to work on the regular power play as the C/P player came out of the box.

With time winding down on the man-advantage, Erickson was working down low and spotted Jaxon Brown on the back doorstep. One pass and one shot later, the puck was in the net over a scrambling Pechacek and RMB held a 2-1 lead with just under eight minutes left to play. Pulver also received an assist on the play.

A couple minutes later, Pechacek ended up under a couple players, and some 'pleasantries' were exchanged amongst other team members. A moment later, one player from each squad was in his team's respective penalty box for matching roughs.

Team SEaL took a penalty with 2:16 left, and coach Dennis Lemke called a time-out to discuss strategy, which included removal of the netmidner for an extra skater, which in this case would make it 5-on-5.

Pechacek was able to come off with just under a minute remaining, and then Nelson make a stretching glove save seconds later to kill a scoring threat.

The horn sounded on the 2-1 RMB victory. The home team held a 7-5 shot edge in the period.

Nelson stopped 22 shots for RMB while earning the win. Pechacek was also very solid in making 19 saves for Team SEaL.