Squirrels Battle for 2-2 Draw vs. Heineken

After the Squirrels jumped out to an early lead, Heineken Light scored two unanswered before a 3rd period marker from Brent Machado tied the game, allowing the Squirrels to secure a standings point.

Defenseman Don(nie) Marks opened the scoring for the Squirrels after his blast from the point found the top corner of the net. The seeing eye shot came after a nice play down below the goal line and some quality traffic in front by one or more Squirrels forwards. Heineken Light goalie J. Brodnax likely didn’t even see the shot until it was too late.

Heineken Light would answer later in the period with a goal from defenseman D. Deming. After gaining the zone on an end-to-end rush, Deming ripped a slap shot from just inside the blue line, then beat the defense to the juicy rebound and buried it along the ice and underneath goalie Eric Coulson.

The two teams would trade chances throughout the 2nd period. Defenseman Charles Wolstein had a wonderful offensive rush up the ice, beating at least 2 Heineken Light forwards along the boards and feeding a great cross-ice pass inside the offensive zone to a rushing Tony Richelsen. Unfortuantely, “T” could not bury the wrist shot, instead ringing it off the cross bar. The Squirrels were fortunate to get a few quick whistles to stop play as well as avoiding a goal against when a puck that almost squeaked across the goal line was swept out by an alert Donnie Marks.

Heineken Light broke the 1-1 deadlock with a power play goal late in the 2nd period. Playing in his next to last game as a Screaming Squirrel, defenseman Kyle Gassert committed what he he would surely call a boneheaded turnover in between the circles in his own zone while the Squirrels were on the penalty kill. J. Sybenga of Heineken Light corralled the loose puck, put a quick wrist shot on goal, and teammate M. Jenkins slid the rebound past a diving Eric Coulson.

But the Squirrels would not be deflated after giving up a late goal in the period. They came out in the 3rd with determination and created multiple chances by disturbing the Heineken Light breakouts. Machado’s game tying goal came on just such a play. “The Flying Fin” Tero Moberg was forechecking aggressively and was able to get his stick on an attempted breakout pass, deadening the puck in the high circle. Machado was in the right place at the right time, quickly pulled the puck to his forehand, and ripped a low wrister that beat Brodnax along the ice.

All in all, a well played, although sloppy at times, game for the Squirrels who, thankfully for this game, were able to enjoy some post game cold beers. Thanks Rob!! Speaking of Rob, who came out for the pre-game skate to test his injured back, brought the beer for his teammates, but didn’t stick around to see the end of the game, the quote of the night which must be captured for posterity’s sake goes to Donnie Marks. Regarding Rob’s bringing the beer then leaving before the end of the game, Ben Sumner complained, “How would you all like it if I brought beer then left early!?” To which Donnie responded, “That would be f–king awesome!” Good times.