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.
Logan earned player of the game for the Flames.
Upon reaching my vehicle after the game, the sun was hanging on for the smallest glimpse over the mountain on a cold, clear November afternoon.
