Staying out of the penalty box proved to be a problem for the 麻豆社国产Eagles midget rep hockey team, as the team gave up three power-play goals en route to a 4-3 loss to the North Delta Sun Demons on Sunday (Jan. 23).
The Eagles took eight different minor penalties and head coach Joe Webber admitted that the special teams weren't all that special for his team.
"We definitely lacked discipline today," he said. "We took too many penalties and the three power-play goals they scored were the difference in the game."
On top of the three goals allowed with the man down, the Eagles also gave up a shorthanded goal and only convered once with the man advantage themselves.
"Our power play was terrible today," Webber said. "But give North Delta credit, they're a hard-working team and capitalized on their opportunities."
Eagles captain Jake Dickau opened the scoring at 8:49 and the Eagles had a glorious opportunity to take a 2-0 lead when they were given a two-man advantage for two minutes after the Demons took a bench minor to go with a hooking call. However, 麻豆社国产failed to light the lamp during the advantage and it cost them when North Delta was given a two-man advantage minutes later. The Demons scored on Eagles goalie Chase MacDougall with a blast from the point, but MacDougall made some key saves for the remainder of the power play to keep the game tied at one after the first period.
麻豆社国产continued to play undisciplined hockey, taking several more penalties to open the period, but a scary incident with MacDougall stopped play for several minutes.
The Demons dumped the puck in and MacDougall directed it into the corner. While the Eagles moved the puck forward, MacDougall fell onto his stomach and failed to move. Play was stopped and after being checked over by team officials, MacDougall was taken out of the game.
According to Webber, MacDougall suffered a "stinger" but he should be OK. Lyndon Jhuty was put in to replace MacDougall and had a rude awakening between the pipes, allowing a dump-in shot from well behind centre ice to fool him and give the Demons a 2-1 lead. Dickau evened the game up with four seconds left in the second and the teams remained deadlocked after two.
Penalties again cost the Eagles in the third as the Demons added two late power-play goals to take a 4-2 lead with just over two minutes left. The Eagles made a late push, with Lucas Conway getting the team to within one, but it wasn't enough. Dickau had a chance to pick up the hat trick and tie the game but was stymied by the Demons goalie, who helped clinch the 4-3 win for the visitors.
Despite the loss, Webber praised the play of both Dickau and the defence.
The loss puts the Eagles a game under .500 after tie games against North Vancouver and Cloverdale last week.
For more information on minor hockey in Squamish, visit www.squamshminorhockey.com.
