Written by March 17-18, 2023 – Regionals Weekend – Tier III – 2010 Flames.
The 2010 Flames season was over last Sunday. Done. Then a team backed out of Regionals. The Flames were called. The Flames went. They played in the Tier III New England Regionals. After a 2-1 record in pool play, the Flames were the odd team out in a series of tiebreakers. The kids played outstanding team hockey and represented themselves very well. It was a great bonus weekend of hockey to finish the season.
Yes, that is our team. The 2010 Flames winning game one of the 2023 T3 Regionals. Awesome.
It’s Monday again and another weekend of hockey is in the rear view mirror. I wrote last week about the blur of schedule, and the awkward ‘coming down’ I experience from a six month hockey rush. Well, here I am again. I won’t repeat the sentiment from last week. Not in this article at least. But I will likely expand on it when I recap the 2010 Flames 2022-2023 season sometime soon.
So, let’s pick up with the breaking story that put the Flames into Regionals Weekend in the first place.
…Actually, I welcome the break somewhere along the line. But before then, a March snowstorm hits and I look at night time low temps to see if the backyard rink can be resurrected for a skate or two. Then on a Monday at 4:22PM, Coach sends out a message to the team with a “BREAKING NEWS!!!!” Headline. What! What?
*** 4:22 PM, March 13th – Breaking News from the Flames NW12U Network ***
A team from Connecticut backed out of Regionals, and our team was invited to the New England Regional USA Hockey Tournament. Wait! What? Really? That happened? Yup. And the calendar dates are all crunched together again. For now. I’ll take a break later. See you at the rink this weekend.
Next thing we knew, it was a Thursday night at West Side Arena. It was 14U tryouts night, the night before the 2010 Flames were scheduled to open play at Regionals in Middleton, MA against NH T3 Runner-Up, Hanover.
Not only that, there was the unknown that is the parental guidance as it relates to where they think their kids should play. Was this a tryout that would change the 2010 Flames going forward? Was it a practice of sorts for the Flames to get ready to play on Friday night in Mass.? Was it both? I don’t know. I just wanted to sit their among hockey family, friends, and know that our Flames were going in to battle together, with the ones they love to be with.
Tryouts was pretty much a scrimmage of 2009 and 2010 (with a few 2011’s sprinkled in) players trying to fill roster spots that were only known to exist by a select few. And of course by the parental guidance units that knew they were leaving or not really coming over to MRYHA from somewhere else. But I didn’t know who, what, or why, and that’s fine because it’s none of my business. I just love our team. But I love how our team loves each other even more.
It’s Regionals Weekend! That’s awesome! Winning your league happens sometimes. Winning your district might happen, or even winning your state title might happen in your playing career. To get to Regionals, you must get through your state or your conference. That doesn’t happen for most players in any sport. It’s a step or three above the league play that you compete in all season. So ya, it’s pretty special.
Regionals Weekend! What is the facility like? How good with the other teams be? Does our team even have a chance? This is an awesome opportunity for player growth! The unknown.
Well, the facility is nice. The Dunkin’ inside was, well, perfectly New England, and a nice option. The snack bar was great to have right there, too. The prison next door kept its distance. The rinks were a nice place to play, I suppose. Rink 2, where the Flames played their games, was the darkest rink of the entire season. But it was the same for everyone, well, except for people trying to take pictures through glass or netting. But we make do. See here.
Opening faceoff of Regionals Weekend, Friday night. Essex Sports Center, Rink 2.
Honestly, the 2010 Flames were outstanding all weekend. They played 3 games in Pool Play, and earned a 2-1 record. They represented themselves with honor. They covered for a team that backed out and played tremendous hockey. With all of us thinking that the Flames could possibly go 0-3 or maybe win a game or two, the team showed up, played awesome, and finished 2-1.
In the fifth or sixth tiebreaker rule, the 2010 Flames finished 3rd (Three teams were 2-1) in their Pool and did not advance to Sunday’s Semifinals round. But that did nothing to take away from this teams weekend or season for that matter. They were still our 12 year old hockey heroes playing beyond the expectation we place on them.
I always say that it only takes all of you. All you’ve got. Because it’s true. And this weekend just reinforced that further. Every one of you 2010 Flames players played a significant role in the Regionals Weekend success. That, nobody can take away from you. Job well done. Only New Canaan (5-0), Granite State Wild (3-2), and the 2010 Flames (2-1) left the Essex Sports Center with winning records at the end of the weekend. That’s just incredible from our little #2 team with bigger hearts and more explosive pure joy than any team I have ever seen.
Pool play records through Saturday night. Look at our 2010 Flames!!!
12U T3 NE Regionals Weekend Site
Friday, March 17, 2023. Essex Sports Center.
Tier III Regionals Weekend.
Score by period:
Hanover Wild: 00 – 00 – 01 = 01
2010 Flames: 00 – 02 – 00 = 02
Flames goals in order:
- Andy Soucy didn’t win the offensive face-off but the Flames quickly recaptured the puck in the corner. Lucas Ouellette grabbed the puck on the forecheck and slid the puck back to the point. Jaden Booth took a quick shot from the right point. The puck slid to the slot area where Garrett Warren redirected the shot back to the nearside of the net where the goaltender had just come from. The shot was traveling more east-west than on net, and the goalie slid over to where Garrett was set up. The tip was perfect, and the Flames led, 1-0. Even strength goal, Warren from Booth and Ouellette. Beautiful play.
- Just minutes later, Logan McCain picked off a desperate clearing attempt at center ice. The Wild just flipped the puck out of the zone as the Flames were all over the puck. McCain skated right with the puck and got triple-teamed in the corner. The rush ended there but McCain threw the puck to the top of the crease after drawing half of the Hanover population to the corner. The puck bounced through the low slot where Garrett Warren found himself all alone after coming on to the ice in a line change. Warren dusted the puck off, turned to his forehand and lifted a shot into the far side, top corner to net the goal. Even strength goal, Warren from McCain, 2-0, with 3:42 left to play in the 2nd period.
The Wild came out flying to start the 3rd period knowing they had to get back into the game. They did score with 14:05 left in the 3rd. Travis Ingalls made a couple of amazing saves before the puck was pushed into the net. Travis was hurt on the play stayed down for a few minutes. He stayed in the game. After another six minutes of game play, Travis came out with 8:03 left, and Will Rosenbeck reentered the game. Travis had made more saves but he was in pain.
Will picked up where he left off and finished the game allowing no more goals. The 2010 Flames had played tremendous 200-foot hockey and beaten the team they lost to, 1-0, in the State Semifinals. Now they were a surprise guest at Regionals, and they were 1-0.
Special Teams:
2010 Flames: 3 penalties.
Hanover Wild: 1 penalty.
All three goals in the game were scored at even strength.
Logan and Travis enjoy sweet victory! The 2010 Flames win game two, against the Vermont State Champs, 4-3. Coming from down, 2-0 to win. Sensational!
Saturday, March 18, 2023. Essex Sports Center.
Tier III Regionals Weekend.
Score by period:
Northshire Bulldogs (VT): 02 – 01 – 01 = 03
2010 Flames: 01 – 01 – 02 = 04
- Trailing 2-0, the Flames went to work. With Gavin Petrie and Caleb Powers digging for a puck along the boards at center ice for what seemed like the length of a commercial break, the puck was pried free. Andy Soucy was outside the pile like a scavenging hyena and he grabbed the puck and took off toward the net. He got below the circle and backhanded a pass to the slot, toward Garrett Warren. Warren couldn’t handle the pass with a defender on him, but the puck bounced off his stick back to Soucy who had rounded the net and was down low in the left-wing circle. Soucy quickly moved a pass to Logan McCain at the left point. McCain coiled and lifted a wrister toward the net. The Vermont State Champs had their goalie and three defenders between McCain and the net. They all watched as the puck sailed through the air and into the net. One of the Vermont players tipped the puck at waist height. The puck hit the post then hit the underside of the crossbar before nestling into the net. The Flames were down, 2-1 with 29.3 seconds left in the 1st period. Even strength goal, McCain from Soucy and Warren.
- The Flames and Bulldogs had both taken penalties in the 2nd period and also had killed those penalties. Then Andy Soucy went off for tripping, 200 feet from the Flames net. The faceoff was all the way back in the D zone. Shorthanded, the Flames cleared the puck from the slot after the draw. Quickly, the puck moved. Jacob St. Pierre cleared the crease to Garrett Warren. Warren made a pass through the middle that made it through a VT player back over to St. Pierre. Back across the black disc moved to Warren on the wing, and moving. Warren carried to the offensive blue line and dumped a puck toward the net that was knocked down in front, right onto the stick of the hustling Lucas Ouellette for a shot that was saved. Ouellette grabbed the rebound flipped another shot from the low circle that bounced off of the goalie’s pads and back toward the circle. Ouellette, now on his forehand rifled his third shot in the sequence into the net. Shorthanded goal, and the game was tied, 2-2! Even though was contact with the puck by the Bulldogs all of it was incidental. So, the SHG was Ouellette from Warren and St. Pierre. Great follow through to finish the play.
- The game was tied, 2-2 as the 3rd period started. Then the 2010 Flames scored 2:31 into the period to take the lead. On a play that unfolded like it was in slow motion, Logan McCain held the left point while both teams were attempting line changes. The puck trickled back to McCain’s post on a clearing attempt. Logan stepped in and was challenged by VT #17. The two biggest players on the ice leaned on each other as the “Freight Train” chugged into the circle, then the low circle, while holding the puck out to his left, away from the stick checks. As McCain approached the goal line, from a tough angle, he fired. The puck somehow found the inside of the far post for the go-ahead goal. Chase Giampa and Gavin Petrie were right there on the doorstep if that puck had gone anywhere else. Even strength goal, McCain unassisted. 3-2, with 12:29 left to play.
- After a sparkling left pad save by Travis Ingalls at one end of the ice, the Flames scored at the other end. Lucas Ouellette rushed up ice and lost the puck to the defense behind the net. Garrett Warren got away with a textbook trip as he knocked the puck back behind the net. Ouellette was there to grab the puck and put it into the net, tucking it inside the post like one would on a wrap around goal. The Flames led, 4-2 with 10:41 left to play. Ouellette from Warren.
Player #17 for VT, who was awesome, was on a mission after he was tripped and the Flames scored on the play. He scored with 3:53 left to play on a rush through the entire Flames roster it seemed. 4-3. Then he had the game-tying goal on his stick a minute or two later, except that Travis Ingalls had something to say about that. What would’ve, should’ve, could’ve been another goal for #17, was kicked out by a magnificent left pad save on an absolute laser of a shot that hit a stick on the way to the net. Tremendous shot, better save. Lead safe.
VT would end up taking a penalty in the final couple of minutes and that really dulled their effectiveness to tie the game.
Special Teams:
2010 Flames: 3 penalties. 1 shorthanded goal scored.
Northshire Bulldogs: 4 penalties.
Saturday, March 18, 2023. Essex Sports Center.
Tier III Regionals Weekend.
Score by period:
Braintree: 02 – 02 – 00 = 04
2010 Flames: 01 – 00 – 01 = 02
Flames goals in order:
- Caleb Powers rushed up the left wing boards with the puck and got a shot toward the net. Nothing much came of it, and the puck was kicked back to the point. Sean McGee was at the left point, covering the Powers rush. McGee whistled a nice shot through traffic that was saved but left a rebound. Chase Giampa jumped at the chance and put the rebound into the net. Flames led, 1-0. Even strength goal, Giampa from McGee. Just a good hockey play. Braintree would score the next four goals of the game.
- Trailing 4-1, the 2010 Flames kept trying to get back in the game. With a loose puck being battled for in the corner, Jaden Booth pinched down the wall to push the puck below the goal line. Teddy Beal and Ian Kaveney eventually won control of the puck behind the net. Kaveney to Beal, drop pass back to Kaveney. Back across to Beal. Teddy sent a pass through the crease right on to Ian’s stick at the goal mouth. Kaveney scored! Power play goal, Kaveney from Beal and Booth. Flames trailed, 4-2.
Of course, we knew Braintree from Lake Placid. They are a good team. Their speed and physicality make it very difficult to tote the puck up and down the ice without high risk of turnovers or committing penalties. And, both of those things changed the game in a huge way.
Braintree scored two goals in a minute to finish the first period leading 2-1. Both were even strength goals, one on a ill-timed pinch leading to a breakaway and the other on a bouncing shot through traffic.
Then in the second period, Braintree scored a pair of 5-on-3 power play goals that literally took the wind out of the Flames sails for a good 30 minutes. The Flames took FIVE penalties in the second period. They killed three of them.
The fact is this. The Flames got caught in the lug the puck and chase the puck game that has reared its ugliness at times this season. An explosive team that isn’t afraid of contact given and taken has put the Flames in this scenario a few times.
The Flames committed penalties, no doubt about it. They even got away with a few more that weren’t called. Yes, there were several missed calls that could have gone against Braintree. Also, yes, the Flames put themselves in a position where they needed the calls to be evened up in order to get back in the game or to win it. That is not a place a team wants to play from.
It was a tough way to end a tremendous bonus weekend, a Regionals Weekend. Had a few more passes been made to stretch the opponents defense perhaps some more goals would have come, or even some penalties drawn.
Special Teams:
2010 Flames: 9 penalties. 1 power play goal scored. 2 5-on-3 power play goals allowed.
Braintree: 4 penalties. 2 power play goals scored.
Game one, Flames win, 2-1. A great hockey game between two evenly matched teams. Hey kids! You won a game at Regionals! That is fantastic!
Dark rink or not, I took more than 600 game pictures over the 24 hours that we played 3 games. I worked them down to 28, 41, and 16 pictures from the games, respectively. I decided I would take the time to caption each of them. Even though words don’t fully capture the entirety of the moment, I hope that it helps to keep each moment to live a little longer than it did in its single passage of time.
There are a lot of pictures here. Please click on the galleries and each of the pictures. Please enjoy them. I don’t focus on individual players (although I probably should). I focus on the game play and the changing settings I see through the lens. This leaves me short on some players and also subject to blurred pictures that I thought I captured in the moment. I hope there’s something for everyone. It’s a team game, and I love both the team, and the game. Enjoy.
Regionals Weekend – T3 – Essex Sports Center – 2010 Flames vs. Hanover Wild
-
- Ian Kaveney and the Flames squared off against a familiar opponent in Hanover at Regionals Weekend.
-
- Sean McGee hits the corner at top speed and gets a shot on net against Hanover. Regionals 2023.
-
- Teddy Beal rips a shot on net, firing from his off-hand side.
-
- Andy Soucy looks for an opening to shoot or pass while circling the net.
-
- Chase Giampa and the Flames try to crash the net and put a loose puck into the net.
-
- Caleb Powers works behind the net at Regionals Weekend against Hanover, NH.
-
- Jacob St. Pierre gets set up for a nice slap shot from the point.
-
- Teddy steps over and around the defense on a rush toward the net.
-
- Logan McCain takes another shot to the body while Will Rosenbeck readies himself for an approaching puck.
-
- Love these two. Our two-headed goaltending monster. Travis Ingalls comes into the game as Will exits. These two always pick each other up whether they know it or not.
-
- A beautiful play resulting in a goal scored by Garrett Warren. Set up by Jaden Booth and Lucas Ouellette.
-
- If you want to have a great game, it might as well be at Regionals. Then Garrett nets another one, set up by McCain. The Flames are off and running at Regionals.
-
- See here kids, that puck is in the net.
-
- The 2010 Flames react to another goal while the ref signals, good goal.
-
- Just a faceoff at Regionals. With the score, the flag, and our favorite players doing their thing.
-
- Travis gets low, and ready to pounce like a cat. Facing a Wild breakaway chance at Regionals.
-
- I title this work of art, “Misplaced Mouthguard”. Logan and Jacob patrol the crease in a defensive posture.
-
- Where I find the 2010 Flames I find joy. Where I find our flag I find hope, vision, and my favorite colors ‘under God’.
-
- There is a puck hanging there, suspended in the air. Garrett looks on and Lucas charges, with his amazing hockey hair.
-
- Chase cuts inside, trying to get around the D while Teddy follows.
-
- Gavin Petrie works free just long enough to get a shot away against the Hanover Wild.
-
- Jordan Hawkes keeps getting more comfortable in the uncomfortable places on the ice, and he is better for it.
-
- Soucy looks for an open teammate. The ref looks on in utter disbelief.
-
- Chase had a breakaway chance and fired this shot on net. Teddy thought that I should mention something about his karate kick in this caption.
This team. These kids. Who wouldn’t want to play for, with this, group? They show up where they are told to, and exceed our predictions time after time.
Regionals Weekend – T3 – Essex Sports Center – 2010 Flames vs. Northshire Bulldogs (VT)
-
- Looking out from behind the glass. Not just Will’s view, but my view through the glass. As Ron Burgundy put it, “A glass case of emotion”.
-
- Will oversees the operation at the defensive end of the ice. Jacob and Caleb fill their roles.
-
- Will with a spectacular save against one of the best players we faced all season.
-
- The 2010 Flames chat at the first intermission. They trailed, 2-1 at the time, but they would come back.
-
- Gavin looks for an opportunity to spring out of stealth mode and steal the puck.
-
- The puck is in the middle of the fray, the object of so many efforts. The Flames battle as they do.
-
- Soucy faces off against a random adult, I mean #17. Garrett looks uneasy, like maybe he forgot his lines. Not sure.
-
- Lucas loses power to his game controller and stands still for a moment while the glitch is worked out. The ref might be sleep-skating.
-
- There we go. Garrett hitting all the cues, looks for a puck to smack.
-
- Teddy thinks, “Silly Bulldogs. Three of you below the goal line, one of me, they fell for my trap.”
-
- Teddy springs the trap with a backhand pass to the slot where an unseen Ian was open.
-
- This Flames line change is brought to you by Jacob STP on a lovely skate through the offensive zone.
-
- Jordan has one thing on his mind, “I’ll get you! You wascally wabbit! I mean, you rascally puck”. Actually, that’s probably not true at all. My apologies.
-
- Jacob goes big. Looking for the back-scratcher slapper. Meanwhile, Chase just can’t bear to watch.
-
- Sean cuts between two VT players while focusing on a precision backhand move.
-
- Soucy cuts behind the net with speed, daring anyone opposed to stop him. Also, with his ‘make a pass’ frequency on the rise, he and his team are better for it.
-
- Long distance shot. Travis makes a save against a Vermont breakaway behind the defense.
-
- Trailing, 2-1 in the 2nd period. Shorthanded. The Flames don’t give up. Lucas Ouellette ties the game at 2-2! Great effort by the penalty kill.
-
- I might be standing on the ice level, but I am with you all. Flames tie it, 2-2!
-
- Flames Nation celebrates Ouellette’s tying goal. Regionals Weekend had plenty of great moments.
-
- How close is this group? This close. Family.
-
- Caleb was flying through the corner here. I had him ‘unofficially’ clocked at 117MPH. Of course, I had no instrument of recording speed, but it felt right.
-
- Teddy, Chase, and Jordan made it difficult for Northshire to get any kind of a breakout started.
-
- After two periods, all tied up. A new 15-minute game to play in the land of opportunity.
-
- Over my award-winless career I have dared to get behind the scenes for thrill-a-minute stories and photographs. Like this one. In this forgotten corner of Rink 2 I found an old couch, some trash, and a bunch of ice cubes. Oh, but the real gem was Coach Nick inspiring a bunch of kids on the ‘2 team’ to win another game at Regionals.
-
- The 2010 Flames kept getting chances. This one barely missed, but there would be more.
-
- The shot was blocked by traffic and a blur, but this picture was clear enough. Absolutely filthy save on #17! My words and this picture don’t even do it justice.
-
- The official seal of a Flames game-winning goal, Soucy on the floor. There is ice on the floor, but you know what I mean.
-
- Kids, gather round. Have you ever seen a freight train? Of course you have. Anyway, here’s Logan leaving white, green and gold in his wake.
-
- Vermont pushed with all their might for the tie. The Flames repel the attack, as a team.
-
- Travis was brought to his knees by the emotion of the moment. Wait. Nope, he was just doing goalie things. My bad.
-
- Chase sets a screen for Jaden as he launches a shot on goal against Vermont.
-
- Flames Nation go crazy! Your 2010 Flames have won another game at T3 Regionals Weekend.
-
- Let the postgame on ice celebration begin. Go Flames!
-
- These ARE the days! And these are the mates you live and die with in the competition of sport.
-
- No words. Just choked up. The seed of a tear sprouts as I fathom the countless seconds that are surged through in search of their best selves. Together.
-
- Logan breaks free from #17 long enough to get this shot on net from a tough angle.
-
- Jordan covers the point and celebrates. Chase and Gavin were both at the net, and they’ve seen Logan’s shot go in.
-
- Sean and bench best friends go crazy! Jordan and Logan begin the merriment in the corner. Flames lead, 3-2!
Kids, you ARE the story! It’s all about the kids. These kids love playing for each other, and it shows.
Regionals Weekend – T3 – Essex Sports Center – 2010 Flames vs. Braintree, MA
-
- Opening faceoff for game 3 of the Regionals. Flames vs. Braintree. It would be hard to argue that we did not belong there as far as the play on the ice was concerned. What an awesome team effort over a 24 hour span. Well done 2010 Flames. Well done.
-
- I love the 2010 Flames home whites. I love the colors, and that great logo too. But the kids that play behind the logo, for one another, well that’s the most beautiful love.
-
- Caleb carries the puck down low and makes a pass out high.
-
- Lucas Ouellette aka “The Euphor-checker”. Get it? Euphoric. Really? Okay, forget it.
-
- Ian works to the outside and rips a shot on goal down in Middleton, MA on a Saturday night.
-
- Sean tries get around a pair of Braintree defenders en route to the net.
-
- Chase gets a shot up and away at Regionals in Rink 2 at Essex Sports Center.
-
- Will holds his post as play unfolds behind the net.
-
- Jaden and Travis work to keep the puck out of their net.
-
- 2023 Regionals – Ian sprays some shavings as he cuts back while both benches look on.
-
- Cooper Lazzaro quietly goes about his business, using his speed when it suits the situation.
-
- On the comeback trail, Logan makes a pass over to his D partner.
-
- Jacob took the pass and stepped in, looking for a shot on goal.
-
- Jordan flips a pass to the slot against Braintree at Regionals.
-
- The 2010 Flames score on the power play, cutting the deficit to 4-2. It was a real nice play. The boys left it all on the ice.
-
- Ian from Teddy and Jaden on the PPG. The Flames played hard to the final whistle like they always do. With a 2-1 record at Regionals, we didn’t know whether we were in or out of the Semifinals until much later that evening. We were out. This was the last goal of the season.
You can find more 2010 Flames material in these pieces, here. 2010 Manchester Flames.
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.