December Already - 2010 Flames - 1 In Awesome Wonder

December Already – 2010 Flames

West Side Arena – 2010 Flames vs. Bay State Breakers Hoyle (EHF). Win, 7-1.
West Side Arena – 2010 Flames vs. Henniker Huskies (GSL). Win, 8-2.
West Side Arena – 2010 Flames vs. Boston Jr. Terriers (Red) (EHF). Tie, 4-4.

Can you believe it’s December already? The 2010 Flames kicked off the month of December with three games in 24 hours. All three were home games which was a bonus. Next week they play three games in Rhode Island.

Ahhhh. Yes! A clean sheet of ice. This photo is brought to you by ice enthusiasts everywhere. Got ice?

On Saturday, the Flames didn’t start their first game until 430pm. And the second game finished just after 830pm. Fortunately for the Flames families, the games were both home games.

The 2010 Flames jumped out to a 1-0 on the very first shift of the game. They led, 2-0 after one period and skated to a 7-1 victory. But as this game wore on it dragged. I mean it really dragged. Like sitting three deep at a four-way stop sign that is full of cars and too much indecision.

Ingalls and Rosenbeck played well when called upon. These two combine to give the Flames the most capable goaltending tandem of any team they have played this season.

Flames first goal, on the first shift – Lazzaro broke up a play in his own end and took the puck. He meandered through the opponent while skating all the way in and scoring on a quick forehand shot that beat the goaltender. Lazzaro unassisted. 1-0.
Flames goal – Booth broke the puck out to center ice and then dished a nice pass over to Beal on the wing. Beal entered the zone and got the puck to the front of the net where he and Ouellette were all over the puck. Ouellette put it in the net for a 2-0 lead. Ouellette from Beal and Booth. 2-0. GWG.
Flames go end to end – Powers hit Soucy with a nice outlet pass right at the red line. Soucy made a short pass to Ouellette who was bolting through center ice like he was late for lunch. Ouellette took an inside route to and buried a shot on the fly. Ouellette from Soucy and Powers. 3-0.
Flames goal – St. Pierre sent a shot toward the net that was so wide, we will just call it a pass to the corner. The puck was picked up by Soucy who made a nifty drop pass to Powers at the point. Powers stepped in to the top of the circle that hit the goalie’s blocker and deflected through one of the most popular holes in the world, the five hole. Powers from Soucy and St. Pierre. 4-0.
Flames off the face-off – Giampa won the offensive zone face-off over to Beal. Beal sent the puck to Lazzaro at the point. Lazzaro got a good low shot on goal and Warren was there to jam the rebound home. Warren from Lazzaro and Beal. 5-0.
Flames go 200 feet – Rosenbeck made a save and then blocked a centering attempt with his paddle. The puck slid toward the corner where Hawkes picked it up. Hawkes skated up the right wing, the length of the ice, all while looking for resistance that never came. He skated in and flipped the puck up and over the goalie’s shoulder. It should be noted that Giampa and Petrie were skating in Hawkes’ entourage on the tour up the ice. Hawkes from Rosenbeck. 6-0.
Flames battle for the puck – Beal, Giampa, and Ouellette were all down low and creating havoc for the defense. Eventually, Beal and Giampa worked the puck free along the end boards. Beal to Giampa, back to Beal. Beal tried to center but it was blocked. Beal again, to Giampa at the side of the net where he flipped a shot up and into the net. Giampa from Beal. 7-1.

West Side Arena –

Bay State Breakers Hoyle: 00 – 00 – 01 = 01

(MRYHA) 2010 Flames: 02 – 04 – 01 = 07

2010 Flames Penalties:

Soucy (Roughing)
Soucy (Interference)
Warren (Interference)

The 2010 Flames welcome a younger Flames team off of the ice after a 7-6 victory for the younger Flames. (Video by McGahey Media Productions).

Game two on Saturday, also started quickly for the Flames. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening three minutes of the game. Henniker has some skilled kids with good size as well. They just weren’t able to sustain pressure on the Flames and shift after shift that adds up.

The Flames continue to have forwards cover points while defensemen wander the offensive zone. This is fine every now and again, but on a regular basis it shoots offensive creativity right in the skate boot. Regardless, the Flames had the game in hand, and they played very well as a team from start to finish.

Fortunately, we got home just in time to watch the 3rd period of the Bruins game and then the overtime. Talk about exciting action! Wow! Bruins won at Toronto, in OT with a couple seconds left to play.

Flames get the first one – Soucy won the D zone face-off to Courchaine who played with the puck for awhile along the end boards before moving it to Hawkes. Hawkes, Soucy, and St. Pierre then skated three across all the way up ice. With passes of, Hawkes to Soucy and Soucy to St. Pierre. St. Pierre got to the low circle before shooting the puck on goal. The puck found an opening and slid into the net for the goal. And a Mom screamed with delight. Great play up the ice. St. Pierre from Soucy and Hawkes. 1-0.
Flames goal – The Flames had the puck on a semi-rush, but the play broke down in the corner. Petrie was there and tapped the puck to Lazzaro who more or less centered the puck to Ouellette. Ouellette had some room and he gained the slot for a shot on goal that found the twine. Ouellette from Lazzaro and Petrie. 2-0.
Can’t clear – Henniker made a couple of attempts to clear the puck but the Flames hemmed them in. On the last one, Powers stopped a clear at the blue line and stepped in for a quick tumbler of a shot. The shot skidded past the goaltender for the goal. Powers unassisted. 3-0. GWG.
They all count – This one was kind of odd, but they all count. Beal had the puck at center ice and hit Lazzaro with a pass as he entered the offensive zone. Lazzaro hit Warren with a nice pass. Warren fired and nearly hit the arena organist with a shot high off the glass. Beal had covered Lazzaro’s point and as he went to the net. Lazzaro got the rebound and shot the puck off of the goalie’s pad. Warren followed his original shot and poked the puck between the pads for the goal. Warren from Lazzaro and Beal. 4-0.
Flames fortunate bounce – Santitto got back to break up a scoring chance and banked a nice pass off of the boards to Mooney. Mooney ripped a cross ice pass to the boards at the Flames bench. The puck bounced off the wall and slid through a defenders legs where a circling Ouellette picked it up on the fly. Ouellette skated in along and buried the shot for the goal. Ouellette from the wall, Mooney and Santitto. 5-0.
Beal blocked a shot? – Beal was back on D and blocked a shot down low. Then he retrieved the puck on the end boards and flicked a nice quick pass to Booth with speed. Booth carried and hit Lazzaro with a pass. Lazzaro was already on the move and split the D, going to his forehand for a nice transition goal. Lazzaro from Booth and Beal. 6-0.
Flames goal – The Flames had a rush that looked like it was snuffed out. Mooney and Petrie ended up in the slot with a pair of defenders. The Flames batted the puck into, off of, and around two pairs of defenders skates before the puck right to Powers at the post who pounded the puck into the net. Powers from Mooney and Petrie. 7-1.
2010 Flames finish it with a hat trick – The Flames had the puck and Mooney’s shot was directed into the corner. Powers won the puck battle in the corner and skated with the puck along the end boards, using the ref as a lead blocker. When Powers centered the puck from the end boards behind the net, the puck hit the goalie’s stick and bounced into the net for the goal. Powers unassisted from the back parking lot, for the hattie. 8-2.

West Side Arena –

Henniker Huskies: 00 – 00 – 02 = 02

(MRYHA) 2010 Flames: 03 – 03 – 02 = 08

2010 Flames Penalties:

Mooney (Hooking).
Courchaine (Cross Check).
Courchaine (Hooking).
Ouellette (Roughing).

2nd intermission. The 2010 Flames get to the bench and learn that they are trailing, 3-2 going into the final period. Then, brilliantly, they decide to push the comeback for the final two minutes of the game (TV ratings had been sagging). Well played, Flames. Well played.

Game three of the weekend was on Sunday afternoon. After a grey, rainy, mixed with snow kind of a day, it was nice to see friends at the rink. The 2010 Flames scored first, but that didn’t last long. The Terriers scored goals on their first two power play chances. This clearly gave the Terriers belief in their game, and they skated like a confident team the rest of the game.

The Flames trailed, 2-1, 3-2, and 4-2. The 2010 Flames had shot totals by period, of 14, 16, and 9. And they amassed a 39-19 advantage in shots for the game. But taking 7 penalties and not making passes up the ice really hurt the Flames. They also couldn’t seem to clear their own zone or make a clean breakout. Some of this, of course, was a credit to the Terriers pressure and skating.

In game number 34 of the season, the Flames came from behind in the final two minutes and earned their first tie of the season. Santitto made the save of the year with a diving stop made with his stick on a shot that was not along the ice but in the air while the Flames had pulled Rosenbeck for an extra attacker. Incredible play.

The Flames added a pair of improbable goals in a 71 second span, both coming with an extra attacker on the ice. It was a near miraculous comeback for the Flames. The game ended in a 4-4 tie.

I can’t believe it’s December already, and the 2010 Flames have played 34 games this season.

Flames get the first goal – Beal picked up a loose puck at his own blue line and carried up the wing. He fired a shot that hit the defenseman, but got the puck back. He sent a nice pass to Warren in the slot who got a good shot off. The shot was saved but Beal crashed the net and sent a nice backhand into the net for the goal. Beal from Warren. 1-0.
Flames tie it at 2 – Booth made a nice spinning play to keep the puck in the zone at the blue line. The puck slid to Ouellette who scooped it up and got a great shot away from the circle. The shot found the far side of the net, for the goal. Ouellette from Booth. 2-2.
After the save – After the incredible save by Santitto, Lazzaro snagged a loose puck at center ice and entered the zone before running into resistance. Lazzaro kept the puck alive and slid a shot toward the net as he spun. The shot got beneath goalie and slid into the net with 1:45 left to play. Lazzaro unassisted. 3-4. With extra attacker.
Flames tie it – With the extra attacker on the ice after Lazzaro gained possession of the puck, the Flames made another push to score. Lazzaro had a shot from the point but it bounced well wide. Giampa and Hawkes were fiendish in their pursuit of the rebound with both of them extricating the puck from traffic. The puck was in the low circle near the goal line but towards the corner. Ouellette grabbed the puck and fired. Somehow, the puck beat the goalie on the short side for the tying goal, with 34.3 seconds left to play in the game. Ouellette from Hawkes and Giampa. 4-4. With extra attacker.

West Side Arena –

Boston Jr. Terriers (Red): 01 – 02 – 01 = 04

(MRYHA) 2010 Flames: 01 – 01 – 02 = 04

2010 Flames Penalties:

Soucy (Slashing).
Powers (Hooking).
Powers (Hooking).
Soucy (Slashing).
Giampa (Tripping).
Ouellette (Slashing).
Soucy (Tripping).

Santitto’s save from LiveBarn. 12-03-2023. 5:07pm. West Side Arena.

Countless hours of my life have been spent in the tracking of numbers while loving the sports and players that produce them.

: Strat-O-Matic baseball board with my own notes written on the board. The two Sporting News magazines that I kept from 1977, with my favorite two players, Dr. J and Pistol Pete. Red Sox Yearbook from a trip to Fenway, Fred Lynn’s last season in Boston.

: My brief note sheet tracking the 2010 Flames six goals on Saturday at JFK. My notes were significantly shorter than the game itself.

: The other side of Saturday’s notes. Multiple games, and a practice autograph to make sure a new pen writes the way I like. Plus you never know when one might run into autograph seekers.

: I would ask for the Sporting News Register for hockey, baseball, basketball, and football every year for Christmas. Every box score, every stat, pictures, and countless stories. Those were my favorites.

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.

“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.