2010 Flames Play Well in Win over SASA at Jay Peak

On Saturday afternoon the 2010 Flames broke into the win column with a 4-2 win over SASA of St. Albans, VT. The Flames gave a solid effort from start to finish in earning the victory. I must say that the goaltender for SASA played very well and kept his team in the game.

As a result of their win, the Flames ended up as the #3 seed and will be playing in the #3 vs. #4 consolation game this afternoon against Acton-Boxborough.

Here are some pictures and commentary from the win yesterday. Please enjoy!

: Well all have our superstitions and some players take to the ice a little differently than others.

: Opening face-off for game three of the tournament.

: Logan and the Flames on the attack, early, and often.

: During the game, random moments of pairs synchronized skating broke out and both teams showed very well.

: Here Logan attempts the very difficult “Horizontal Running Man” move. Well done.

: Despite taking the ice in the same position, Drew covers a remarkable amount of ice each shift.

: A nice hockey picture with players, coaches, and a mix of colors. Then I wonder what the ref is on to as everyone else is focused in a different direction.

: Austin on the move. He is having an outstanding tournament for the Flames.

: Austin sets up his shot.

: And just like that the Flames are on the board, tied 1-1.

: Theodore sends silent signals to his teammates that suggest he’s in his place and might be open.

: Then Austin gets free for a shot with Jordan ready for a rebound.

: SASA’s goaltender makes a nice blocker save to keep the game tied 1-1 early on.

: Jax rips a shot toward the net while Luke implies. “Eh, not impressed”.

: In grandma’s old kitchen there’s a special place where she keeps the good snacks for the grand-kids. Here Austin demonstrates where that is, in the corner on the top shelf.

: This shot clipped the goalie’s jersey and just sailed wide of the far post.

: Getting free again, Austin was denied on this rush.

: I just like these pictures of players in a row. Note that Drew is in the same position as previous pictures except that someone propped him upright here.

: With a 2-1 lead after one, the Flames huddle for some sage advice on how to proceed.

: A special moment in every hockey players career, their first penalty.

: Youth hockey. Kids from all over scatter and skate in arenas all over the north country, and it’s awesome.

: Then in a splendid choreographed series of movements similar to a dance at a wedding reception, the kids show us they are alright!

: With all the chaos out in front of the net, Kaveney the Magnificent pulls off his famous hidden hockey statue move, with perfection.

: With Drew on his feet to get robbed by the SASA goalie, Logan practices his own form at taking the ice.

: The Flames were able to post 4 goals on the day, but there were so many more chances.

: So many chances.

: Then, as legend has it, midway through the game, the Ghost of Christmas, er uh, the Ghost of Tournaments Past sometimes appears.

: Jax took exception to Luke’s unimpressed commentary on his earlier shot and just to spice things up decided to play a little defense on his teammate. I think they smoothed things out.

: The Flames took a 3-1 lead on this well placed shot from Logan.

: Gavin dazzles and the opposing bench seems quite impressed.

: Jax fires and nobody wants to get in the way.

: Here we have Drew taking the ‘no-look’ face-off. Colby obviously loves this approach.

: In a quick battle of my reach is longer than your reach, Jax wins with perfect form.

: As Travis sneaks away on a ‘walkabout’, Colby and Jax encourage him by saying, “Seriously, Dude, go ahead, we got this.”

: Theodore pilfered a puck back at his own blue line and took off on a scoring chance.

: Somehow this puck didn’t go in the net.

: It’s a game of inches.

: Drew and Theodore anxiously await to pounce on the puck sliding across the goalmouth.

: Remarkably this shot from Drew didn’t cross the goal line.

: This shot from SASA was labeled for the back of the net.

: Then Travis flashed his right pad at the last possible second to make a ridiculous save.

: This save kept the score at 3-1 in favor of the Flames in the 3rd period.

: Ian, aka, Kaveney the Magnificent, tried his patented spinning puck shot with near perfect form. The SASA goaltender was equal to the task though.

: Luke grabs a loose puck and heads for the net.

: Luke got the puck to Austin for a shot when all of the sudden the Great Giant of St. Albans appeared in the crease.

: Moments later Austin gets a shot away with Jordan escorting him.

: The puck came off the end boards right to The Mighty Fin with half a net to shoot at.

: Meanwhile it was standing room only in some sections of the arena, and a free clinic on net front positioning.

: In this captains only free skate The Mighty Fin races up ice.

: Time. Space. An opening to shoot at, but it just wasn’t to be.

: This is where a triangle is better than a straight line. Although it’s a good picture in my opinion.

: After SASA cut the lead to 3-2, Austin leads the rush, and may, or may not have been hooked on the play.

: Austin was able to break free with a pair of captains out front.

: The puck was centered but got through the captains and the scoring chance was gone. Although SASA was called for a hooking penalty.

: Logan gets this shot into the 5-hole, but not through it.

: If you look closely, behind number eight’s left leg, there is the biscuit in the basket.

: The goal gave the Flames a 4-2 lead with less than a minute to play in the game.

: James makes a good defensive stop and gets the puck into the attacking zone while coach refers Logan to the free positioning clinic on the other side of the ice.

: Jordan and the boys kept the pressure on until the final whistle.

: The Flames line up and shake hands with SASA after a well played game. Jax takes this moment to daydream of floating in the lazy river at the water park as soon as possible.