2010 Flames: Not All Ties Are Created Equal

It was only a few days ago, but it seems like it’s been a week or more since I was at JFK Coliseum for the Flames game against the Shamrocks. But, apparently the 2010 Flames tied the game against the Shamrocks. Then they tied the Crimson. Then they improved on a five-goal loss last week by tying Plymouth this week, before dropping a 5-3 affair to the Greater Boston Vipers.

The 2010 Flames had a couple of tough practices during the week to get them geared up for the stretch run of the season. Well, it worked in the sense that the Flames played at a much better level all weekend. Hopefully, they can build on that and take their game up a notch higher this coming weekend.

First, at the friendly confines of JFK Coliseum the Flames played the pesky North Shore Shamrocks on Saturday morning. The Shamrocks scored first on a possession that the Flames had a chance to end by clearing the zone. They didn’t get the puck out of the zone, and the Shamrocks took a 1-0 lead. A few minutes later, the combination of Logan McCain, Jordan Hawkes, Teddy Beal, and Cam Desruisseaux worked relentlessly to put a goal on the board. McCain fired into the traffic, Beal and Hawkes had touches on the rebound before Desruisseaux put the puck in the net. The score was tied, 1-1 after one period.

Early in the second period, the Flames took a tripping penalty and the Shamrocks scored almost immediately. Then, the Shamrocks scored another goal a minute later on a really nice redirection of a shot at the side of the net. The Flames trailed, 3-1. Travis Ingalls made some huge saves in this stretch to keep things from getting any worse. The Flames went on the power play themselves, and they scored to cut the lead to 3-2. Alex Panitz threw a turnaround shot toward the net and Cam Desruisseaux knocked it back to Jacob Casimiro who ripped a shot into the net.

Will Rosenbeck came into the game and made an immediate impact, making a great save against a 3-on-1 break. Then he had a pair of saves on back to back breakaway bids. The Flames always seem to welcome Will to the game by letting the opponent skate in a few times to get him warmed up. The Flames were down, 3-2 after two periods.

The Flames had power play opportunities throughout the final period but they could not get the tying goal. With about 1:45 left in the 3rd, the Flames pulled Will from the net for the extra attacker. With 30.9 seconds left in the game, Andy Soucy put the puck in the net and if I had to guess, I would give assists to Casimiro and Desruisseaux. There were a lot of players in a small area but Soucy found the net. The game ended in a 3-3 tie. Great comeback! Great effort from the entire team!

This is a preview of Jen’s work. (Jen Webber Photography)

In game two of Saturday the Flames played host to the Crimson over at West Side Arena. Somehow, Travis Ingalls made a save on a 3-on-0 break to keep the game scoreless early in the game. The Flames scored first, on the power play. Logan McCain scored from the left point after intercepting a clearing attempt. The first period ended with the Flames leading, 1-0. After a few penalties and a goalie change in the second period, the Crimson tied the game, 1-1 on a 3-on-1 break. The second period ended with the score still tied at 1-1.

I had to leave to go cover Goffstown hockey after two periods. The third period ended with the score knotted at 1-1. So, the Flames had earned a pair of ties against two good teams on Saturday.

: Logan loads for a shot that turned out to be the only goal of the game for the Flames.

: Beal-Desruisseaux-Petrie set each other up for a shot on goal against the Crimson.

: Round two, Beal fires away but is denied by a right pad save.

: Logan leans into the coiling that becomes a wrist shot at West Side.

: Classic. Casimiro lets a shot fly from the right-wing.

: McGee tests the 5-hole, but it’s closed. Also, I wondered if Weebles still wobble but don’t fall down.

: Coach Dunn tries to lighten the mood with a pregame joke. Coach Nick thinks, “Oh no, not this one again”. At the other end, Garrett tells Pear Tree, “Yes! I love this one!”

: Pretty cool center ice logo. Someday we will all wish that there was another opening face-off to find our seats for.

: Now, this guy wondered, “How is it that I ended up standing in everyone’s way?” Then he checked his phone…

: …and he smiled, “Oh yes! My inspiration from Jay Peak, circa, November 2019.” Day dreaming.

: Travis is pretty sure that Logan will take care of this one (he did). Also, “Does anyone see that kid to my left?”

: When I use one of the six adjectives that I know to describe a save in the group chat during games, this is what they look like in real life.

: Cam sings softly to himself, “I’m Cam Desruisseaux, and it’s up the ice I go. C’mon Brayden, it’s time to gidde-up, let’s go…” From his upcoming single, StickHandling Blues.

: Where there is a Will, there is a way. Even if you have to look through the Mighty Fin and spraying snow.

We are so very blessed. These two have been nothing short of awesome all season. Great job 31 and 00. Also, the Crimson show respect and have half a dozen less coaches on their bench than Berlin.

Sunday morning it was time for a return trip to Plymouth to play the undefeated Plymouth Jr. Panthers. The Flames were hammered in Plymouth one week earlier, 6-1. Well, it was a new week and the Flames were a different team. The visitors scored on the power play when Alex Panitz chipped a puck ahead to Logan McCain all the way back in the defensive zone. Logan “The Freight Train” McCain hit the rails with the puck and made his way to the front of the net despite attempts to hold up the train. McCain lifted a shot into the net once he made the full trip, end to end. The Flames led, 1-0.

: Alex made a short pass to Logan way back in the defensive end. Essentially loading freight on the train for a cross country run.

: Of course, the Freight Train just did its’ job and delivered the freight at the appointed destination.

: Here is the delivery. Kids, we should be so lucky because trains don’t run in the Northeast like they used to.

: Free lesson to kids ages 10 to 17. Score on an end to end rush, and then, astonishingly, act like you’ve been there before. It was an awesome play, and we all know it. We don’t need a half-ice celly on a goal in the first period. Maybe an OT winner, but not here. Well played 91.

Travis Ingalls gave up the tying goal right at the half way of the game, right before Will Rosenbeck entered. The goal was a clean breakaway against one of the better skaters in the entire league, after the Flames defense got caught at their own blue line. It was a tough break for Ingalls and the team. The second and third period’s both ended with the score tied, 1-1. This was just a good hockey game with both teams playing good hockey and with a healthy respect for each other’s game. In a show that the kids often know how to manage things better than we do, the Plymouth team stood and high-fived the Flames as they left the ice after the game. That, is a pretty cool sportsmanship gesture.

: For some reason, I still love this scene. Be a tough player to play against, but be a good sport and respect the fact that you’re not the only one out there.

: So much here. Coach Soucy works on his juggling routine. Travis chuckles as he asks Coach Dunn, “Remember that time you yelled, TWO ON THE PUCK!?!? Haha”. Meanwhile Coach Nick talks about his days in the wild west at Bowling Green State. “…then I pulled the Colt from my holster…”

: In an ill-timed but good natured prank, the Flames defense gave this clean breakaway as a parting gift to Travis. Thankfully, Travie Baby took it all in stride.

: Brayden and Jacob set out on a skate through the center ice region of Hanaway. Brayden wonders, “Is it just me, or does anyone else wish they could be as ‘Cool as Cas'”?

: I had 3 pictures of this save but they hurt to look at from a “lack of even a shred of flexibility” standpoint. I had to walk away, take some acetaminophen and come back to this. You might understand.

: PSA – Kids, don’t stand too close to the tracks when the train is running. There is always the chance of collateral damage.

: As it turns out, Plymouth is a pretty great place to take pictures of hockey games. Plus Curling Sheets, which is similar to three sheets to the wind.

: The chances of scoring a goal improves by 93.6% when you possess the puck. The chances of possessing the puck increase by 64.9% when you win the face-off. Steven Wright said the 43.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

: Coach Dunn checks his stopwatch to see if Speedy McGee is worthy of the nickname. Yup, he is.

: McGee was going so fast that he almost forgot to put the shot on net, but he did.

: The save was made, but the puck was loose, and right near the post, and almost in the net. Then it wasn’t.

Late Sunday afternoon I was covering Goffstown hockey again, when the Flames traveled to Revere for a game with the Greater Boston Vipers. The Flames lost the game, 5-3. I didn’t see any of it, but I am sure it was a great game.

This weekend will seem like a couple of days off when the Flames only play once on Saturday, at 9:40am against the Crimson West club at West Side Arena. Then the 2010 Flames travel to Ristuccia Arena to play the Shamrocks at 8am on Sunday morning. Should be a good one.

Backing up for a minute, we had a special guest join us at JFK Coliseum on Saturday morning. Jen Webber from Jen Webber Photography, and a friend of Goffstown Hockey, came to take pictures of our 2010 Flames team. Jen is awesome and so very talented. I am so grateful that she was willing to give up her time on a Saturday to come take pictures of our 11-year olds. Our team parents passed the hat as they say to give Jen at least a meager attempt at covering some time and expenses for her efforts. Thank you Jen.

Before we get to Jen’s work, I took these in case Jen held her pictures for a bigger ransom. That, and I forgot to put the memory card back into my camera so it was up to my phone. Then once I saw that Jen was in the building, I retired.

: The 2010 Flames playing at JFK Coliseum on a Saturday morning. I love the windows, the natural light, and reflections on the ice. (1inawesomewonder Photography)