2010 Flames at Niagara Showdown SF Game 4 vs. Gilmour

On Sunday afternoon the 2010 Flames played against the Gilmour Gladiators for the second time in less than 20 hours. This was the second Semi-Final game, and the Ramapo Saints had already won the first Semi-Final, 5-1 over the Bowie Bruins. This Flames game would be one of the wildest finishes I have ever seen in my hockey memory.

Game 4 again featured the Flames against the Gilmour (Ohio) Gladiators. This contest would finally end in the 4th overtime period, with the winner playing the Saints for the title. Gilmour scored the winning goal at 2:23pm for a 2-1 decision in four overtimes. I will get to that later.

The Flames took a 1-0 lead in the first period when Gavin Petrie scored from Jordan Hawkes and Brayden Gillies. The shot got through the goaltender and slowly trickled across the goal line. This game featured numerous chances for the Flames to score. Point blank shots. Wide open passes missed in front of open nets. Swings and misses. Foul tips on one-timers. I think just about everyone on the Flames roster had a chance to score from in close during this game. Bounces didn’t go the Flames way, and when they did the Gilmour goaltender was there to make another save.

Sean uses his speed to turn the corner against the defense.

Sean’s shot ramped up the goalie’s stick and was saved by his mask.

Seconds after Will Rosenbeck replaced Travis Ingalls in net for the Flames, midway through the second period, the Gladiators broke in clean on a 2-on-0 breakaway. The Gladiators scored on the play to tie the game at 1-1. The score would stay that way for 43 minutes, or one period, and almost 4 overtime periods of varying lengths. With no goalies in the nets puck possession was quite critical. The Gladiators put a shot wide of the net but were able to retain possession and fired successive shots at the net only to be denied by a kneeling, scrambling Flames forward, Cam Desruisseaux. The Flames did all they could but they could not keep that finally rebound shot out of the net, and Gilmour got the win.

Will was in the game for a few seconds before Gilmour broke in on a clear breakaway. They scored but Will played great in his appearance.

The Flames drew another four penalties against Gilmour in this one, even one in OT, but they could not get a puck to the twine. Both teams played well. Both teams had chances. Both teams played like it was all on the line. It was pretty awesome really. So, when regulation time ended in a tie it was off to overtime in the playoff round. Here’s how the Overtime periods were scheduled once each one of them ended in a 1-1 tie, until the 4th OT. They get a little bit weird.

1st OT: Regular 5 on 5 for four minutes running time.

2nd OT: 4 on 4 for three minutes running time.

3rd OT: 3 on 3 for two minutes running time.

4th OT: 5 on 5 with no goalies for two minutes.

I heard that these rules were created one late night in the Stone Room next door to the rinks. I think the 5th OT would have been 0 on 0 with goalies for one minute running time. The 6th OT was going to be coaches drawing on whiteboards with a panel of judges to determine the winner. Anyway, it was an awesome game from start to finish.

In my mind, the Semi-Final was a continuation of the Flames galvanizing effort the day before, with only the ending being different. This 2010 Flames team is a developmental team of sorts. They are not polished, yet. Their skating and passing can vastly improve, and it will. They are still learning to play together with 3 less players than last season, and 3 new players added this season, and they get better at it every week. The thing that I have loved over the last 2 plus seasons is the effort and the compete level of this group. They don’t know better when it comes to what their chances might be, and that’s a great thing. They just keep coming, shift after shift, no matter who is called on next. As a longtime coach in various sports, and certainly as a parent, I love it. All the kids are getting playing time in all of the moments, high stress, low stress, blowout, power play, shorthanded, etc. I look forward to what comes next with this group.

The Flames circle the wagons to keep the puck out of the net.

The tournament in Niagara Falls was a great tournament, with good competition, tight games, and plenty of excitement. The area was a tremendous place to visit, with more of a destination vacation/tournament type of feel. I think I can say that all of us thoroughly enjoyed our time together up along the Canadian border at one of nature’s coolest places in North America.

Flames scoring:

1) Petrie (2) from Hawkes (1) and Gillies (1).

Travis Ingalls and Will Rosenbeck split time and once again, were excellent in net for the Flames!

Please enjoy some pictures from the action of the Semi-Final game on Sunday. Click on the gallery and then on the individual pictures to get in close.

The Flames had their chances…and I only got some of them on camera.

: Brayden gets a great chance out in the slot.

: Caleb puts a puck on net from the wall.

: Caleb also fired this one from the circle.

: Jacob follows through on a shot against Gilmour.

: Logan carries the puck and gets a shot to the net, with support.

: Soucy has a scoring bid for the Flames in the semi-final.

: Teddy was losing his balance but got a skipper of a shot away.

: Alex steps in from the blue line with a shot for the Flames.

: Gavin gathers the puck and shoots on net for the Flames.

: Teddy tried to one-time this face-off win and was called for tripping when his shot attempt knocked the defender down.

: Brayden carries the puck over the blue line leading the Flames rush up ice.

: Flames win the face-off back to Finley and she makes a quick pass over to her D partner.

: Sometimes things get a little bottled up along the boards.

: The Flames get ready to move the puck, or defend depending on the draw.

: Alex made an initial move to create some open space but Gilmour was pretty good at creating layers to get through.

: Caleb shields the puck from the defender and keeps on moving.

: I hope these players feel as good about this group as I do. It’s not all about wins and losses. Integrity, sportsmanship, effort, and a sense of being a part of something bigger than yourself are valuable at any age.