The Reason Why - 2010 Flames - Come Back Win and a Tie

January 28-29, 2023 – 2010 Flames – Saturday the Flames came back from a 2-0 deficit to win, 3-2. Then on Sunday they played a great game, earning a 1-1 tie. The players were great, and afterall, they are the reason why.

I had my coffee and my camera with me on Saturday morning and I was ready to get some great pictures during the game against the Cyclones. Then I discovered that my camera was left ‘on’ and the newly charged battery was dead. Eventually, I remembered that I had a spare battery in my bag. I put the battery in the camera and then realized that I had never taken the SD card out of my laptop. So there was no picture taking down at ice level for me. Naturally, I threw a tantrum, and heaved my equipment in every direction as hard as I could.

Oh wait, now I remember. I just sat in the bleachers and laughed at myself while partially blaming the not-so-late night Comedy Show the night before. Oh well, I got these gems from my phone.

: Travis gets low and reaches out to make a save against the Cyclones. © 1inawesomewonder 2023.

: Caleb Powers rips a shot against the Cyclones. The 2010 Flames would come back and win this game at West Side Arena. © 1inawesomewonder 2023.

: So much to see here. Coach Adam is completely exasperated to find no water bottles. Coach Dave sneaks off with bottles. While the sticks are in a row. Coach Nick is saying something like, “on the one hand…” McGee catches a snooze.

: We have a ‘good goal’. Soucy kicks off the celebration of the game-tying goal.

: Flames win it! A come from behind victory to start the weekend.

: Our coach. Our kids. An embrace. It was a good morning at West Side Arena.

Saturday, January 28, 2023. West Side Arena.
Score by period:
Northern Cyclones : 02 – 00 – 00 = 02
2010 Flames: 01 – 02 – 00 = 03

Flames goals in order:

Neutral zone face-off, Andy Soucy wins it to Logan McCain. McCain cuts to his left, to the outside and heads for the circle. Logan shoots and the goaltender makes a nice save but Soucy was standing on the doorstep waiting for a rebound. The rebound came, and Soucy put the puck into the net. Flames cut the deficit, 2-1. Soucy from McCain.
Jaden Booth fired a puck toward the net while keeping the puck in the zone. The puck flew high, over the net. Jacob St. Pierre was behind the net and he grabbed possession of the puck. Jacob reversed direction and sent a sweet pass out front to Andy Soucy. Soucy fired but the shot was turned away. Then he retrieved his own rebound, given the space to do so, he turned back toward the crease and put another shot on net. The puck bounced on, and then over the goaltender into the net. The score was tied, 2-2. Soucy from St. Pierre and Booth.
Teddy Beal battled for the puck behind the net. The puck squirted toward the corner and Caleb Powers pinched way down the wall to push the puck back behind the net. The puck bounced from Beal to Ian Kaveney who was also below the goal line trying to get something going for the Flames possession. Ian slid the puck to Beal, the bottom line of a nice triangle. From behind the net, Beal found Sean McGee at the top of the triangle, in the slot. McGee fired a quick shot that hit the crossbar on it’s way into the net for the go ahead (game-winning) goal. McGee from Beal and Kaveney, 3-2. Triangles everywhere rejoiced.

Travis Ingalls made a miraculous save at the end of the end of the second period, to keep the 2010 Flames in the lead. Ingalls played the entire game on Saturday and again on Sunday as Will Rosenbeck was recovering from the Vermont Virus.
With the Flames holding a 3-2 lead entering the final period, they kept applying pressure. The Cyclones took three straight penalties in the final period, but the Flames could not add to their lead. The Flames held on, and won the game, 3-2 after allowing the first two goals of the game. It only took everyone on the team to earn the win. As it should be. Our kids. The reason why.

Sunday, January 29, 2023. JFK Coliseum.
Score by period:
Terriers Red: 00 – 00 – 01 = 01
2010 Flames: 00 – 00 – 01 = 01

The Flames definitely had the best scoring chances in this game, but the goal they scored was one of those ones that makes up for other plays that should result in goals.

The 2010 Flames had the puck in the offensive when Caleb Powers tried to get a puck to the net. There were Terriers everywhere and the puck caromed to Jordan Hawkes in the slot. Hawkes spun a backhand toward the net. The puck was headed for the far post and the goalie reacted as such. The puck hit a Terrier defender in the skates and skipped into the net inside the near side post. The Flames led, 1-0 in the 3rd period. Hawkes from Powers.

The goaltenders at opposite ends of the ice played very well. This was a pretty good hockey game with a high compete level right from the opening face-off through until the final whistle.

Here’s a little something to think about. I have seen referees react more to coaches and parents than they ever do to the players themselves, especially in the levels of youth hockey prior to high school years. I have witnessed this before, during, and even after games. The adults throw the longest shadow on these officials. None of the parties are perfect, but there is higher ground on which to trod.

The Reason Why – Part 1

: I was pretending to test my camera for a number of photography terms that I don’t know, and I caught Ian who appeared more ready than I.

: Travis stands tall awaiting the opening face-off with his crease in order.

: Teddy doesn’t always hit what he is aiming for. Or does he?

: See here kids, that line marking the circle is there for a reason. Oh forget it.

: I love Tim Tebow even if he went to Florida. If Tebow were only a goalie coach.

: In an odd-timed procession of sorts, Soucy and Warren transport the puck, with honors.

: In my best Canadian accent, “Hello there! I’m Logan. Logan from Left Point. She’s a good day for hockey, eh.”

: These three Flames huddled together and were still outnumbered.

: Lucas is tall. Lucas makes things look small. That stick is 9 feet long.

: Ian remained focused and on course despite the ‘curves ahead’ sign ahead of him.

: Travis was ready for just about anything in this game against the Terriers.

: Chase curls toward the bench on a line change. Caleb presses forward with the puck.

: You can’t get better at this unless you try. All in. Lucas always jokes, “I can crush that one-timer in two shots.” On the other hand, if he connected on this it might have landed on Maple Street.

: Cooper just minding his business over along the boards while ripping a shot at JFK.

: Another close call for the Flames. This one glances off of the goalie and over the net.

The Reason Why – Part 2

: Okay, I admit it. I love watching Jordan play. Good hockey plays are good hockey plays, well, because that is what the Good Hockey Plays book says.

: Jacob is going awfully fast. Especially if that sign is accurate..

: Typically, most places that a Flames player would shoot there was a Terrier nearby, “Saying, Oh no you don’t!”

: The triangle. The goalie got a piece of this, otherwise Teddy would have fanned on the shot. I mean, he would have scored.

: Logan “The Freight Train” heading for Left Point, Sasaskatoon. Travis notes, “Right on time”.

: The Flames took shots on net from all over the place, and they had numerous scoring chances against the Terriers.

: STP leads the rush for the Flames against the Terriers.

: If I am being honest, and I am, I put this picture in just because of the inside edge. That tiniest sharp line that when leaned upon can literally carve a new direction.

: This shot might go a little high. This is why organ players throughout ice arenas wear helmets.

: Ian stumbled upon a puck in the slot so he wound up and blasted away. Lucas covered up just in case.

: Gavin, never too high, never too low. Just taking things in stride and checking his options with the puck.

: Jordan skates the puck into the offensive zone. He would score the Flames only goal of the game.

: Garrett gets the puck in deep at JFK against the Terriers.

: I don’t know if Travis can see the shooter or not, but he looks ready. Lucas got a piece of the shot and it never reached Travis.

: Travis thinks, “Hey boys, aren’t you supposed to be facing the other way?” Either way, he just snagged the puck and held on.

This coming weekend only features two games. The 2010 Flames travel to the New England Sports Center for a game with the 22-4-2, Minuteman Flames on Saturday. Then, early on Sunday morning, the Flames play the Monarchs at Tri-Town Arena.

You can find more 2010 Flames material in these pieces, here. 2010 Manchester Flames.

Hockey Dad – Time Flies – The Reason Why

One cold winter morning I woke before the light reached my sky. I walked into my son’s room to start the trek to a rink nearby.

The sweet and peaceful look I found still asleep gave me pause. I wondered if this was more for me, but I knew, for him it was.

Hours on the road, cold feet, rinks all over the place, gallons of coffee black. Went by in a flash, and I sit here trying to play it all back.

In the room, the bed is finally made, and the scent of hockey long gone. I look around and wish there was another trek to start before dawn.

Thrills a plenty. Wins, losses, and growth. Decades run away, but I am still here. Foundation laid, prices paid, grown now, I wish he was here.

Just one more kiss goodnight for a restful sleep, early again to rise. He is better than I, with humble pride, I smile, tears run from my eyes.

The current look at my ‘hockey office’. So many hours spent in this space, tracking numbers and capturing season after season. (C) 1inawesomewonder 2023.

The beginning of every article. (C) 1inawesomewonder 2017.

The thoughts and opinions expressed here are those of the individual contributors, mostly mine, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the schools, coaches, players, or characters listed in any of these blog posts. Or, maybe they do, but you would have to ask them directly.

Either way, “It’s a great day for hockey” ~ the late “Badger” Bob Johnson.

“We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we’re too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams.” ~ the late Herb Brooks.

“To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it: If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.” ~ Jim Valvano on how to live life, during his ESPY speech.

“I started writing sports stories 20 years ago. I still do. I write because somewhere, in some game, a kid might be having the time of his or her life. That’s awesome to think about. It’s all about the kids.” ~ Steve Beal Sr.