Five Games To Finish October

October 19-27, 2024 – Five Games To Finish October:

With the 2010 Flames back in NH, they played five games to finish October. They played three home games wrapped around two trips to Berlin, NH. They closed out the month with 2 wins, a loss, and a pair of ties.

 

 

The 2010 Flames were back in school, and on the practice ice again, after their travel tournament to South Carolina. Before long the old rhythm started to formulate. School, up early, evening practices, games on weekends. Some players have started mixing in workouts on and off the ice for their school teams. Fall sports continue as well.

The rhythm included five games to finish October. Five games in NH, no less. In fact, the next four games are scheduled games in NH as well. As the holidays approach, the rhythm will incorporate games in Mass. and RI. It’s hockey season and this is how it goes.

Win. Tie. Win. Tie. Loss.

 

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Game 14 of the season.

Five Games To Finish October:

October 19, 2024.

West Side Arena, Manchester, NH.

Scoring:

• 2010 Flames: 03 – 00 – 01  = 04
• NH Selects: 00 – 01 – 01 = 02

Shots:

• 2010 Flames: 08 – 10 – 15  = 33
• NH Selects: 04 – 06 – 02 = 12

Penalties:

1. Drumm – Roughing.

 

With the win, the Flames earned their fourth win of the season. The Flames played pretty well, and probably could have earned a shutout were it not for a pair of turnovers that the Selects quickly turned into goals. The 2010 Flames were ready to play and took an early 3-0 lead after the opening period.

They continued to pile up shots and scoring chances throughout the remainder of the game but only tallied one more goal. Still, the effort was solid, and the Flames were able to win the game.

The home team scored first when Santitto stole the Selects clearing attempt, keeping the puck in the zone at the blue line. Then, he stepped through a pair of forwards who a second earlier thought they would be on a rush up the ice with the puck. Santitto made a nice move around a defender and was in close to the net. He wasted no time and fired the puck. His shot was true. Even – Santitto unassisted. 1-0.

Later in the opening period, Drumm blocked a shot and started a rush the other way. He lost the puck but he and Destani were racing up the ice and Destani retained the puck. Deen stepped inside a defender with a speedy move. As he was falling to the ice he ripped a forehand shot past the goaltender for a beautiful goal. Even – Destani from Drumm. 2-0.

The Flames scored their third goal in eight minutes to take a commanding, 3-0 lead late in the opening period. They would lead by three goals after one period, with an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal.

Sometimes the simplest of plays leads to great things. Santitto extended his stick out in front of him and poked the puck away from the opponent, keeping the puck in the zone. Soucy was circling and grabbed the gift and sent a quick shot toward the net. Destani got the blade of his stick on Soucy’s shot and the puck deflected inside the nearside post for the goal. Poke. Shot. Tip. Goal. Even – Destani from Soucy and Santitto. 3-0.

Ingalls made a pair of excellent saves in the middle period, one on a clean 2-on-1 break. And another one on a breakaway bid that he patiently turned away. Rosenbeck replaced Ingalls in net. A few shifts later the Flames took a penalty and killed it. Then right after the penalty kill they turned the puck over and the Selects got off a perfect shot for the goal, bar down. 3-1.

With a 3-1 lead in the final period the Flames scored again on a one man play that involved two players. The Selects had the puck. Soucy didn’t care. He skated in and hit the Select player with a clean shoulder check and took the puck away. Then Soucy turned and shot the puck wide of the net. Mooney grabbed the errant shot and unloaded a shot himself. His shot was redirected in front of the net by Soucy. The one man (Soucy) play was assisted by Mooney. Even – Soucy from Mooney. 4-1.

 

 

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Game 15 of the season.

Five Games To Finish October:

October 20, 2024.

Nucar Notre Dame Arena, Berlin, NH.

Scoring:

• 2010 Flames: 01 – 01 – 00  = 02
• Berlin Sabres: 00 – 00 – 02 = 02

Shots:

• 2010 Flames: 14 – 12 – 08  = 34
• Berlin Sabres: 06 – 11 – 14 = 31

Penalties:

1. Soucy – Holding.
2. Soucy – Elbowing.
3. Soucy – Roughing.
4. Mooney – Hooking.
5. Giampa – Trip. PPGA.
6. Warren – Roughing.
7. Powers – Roughing.
8. Giampa – High-Sticking.

 

On their first trip to Berlin, NH the 2010 Flames worked hard to gain a 2-0 advantage over their hosts. They had the lead going into the final period. Then they took the first of their four final period penalties. Berlin scored on the power play to cut the lead to, 2-1.

There were a pair of matching penalties, an attempt by the officials to keep things calm(er). But the fire had been lit. Berlin had only managed 17 shots through two periods, ended up with 14 shots in the final period, to the Flames, 6 shots. Berlin tied the game, 2-2 less than four minutes after their power play goal.

The Flames took another penalty late but killed it. Berlin hit the post with a clean shot from the slot, but it bounced away from the net. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. The Flames were the better team for about half of the game, and Berlin, the other half.

The 2010 Flames scored first. The Flames took a face-off back in the D zone. After the puck drop, the puck was batted around by Petrie and Mooney for a moment or two. Then Soucy said, “enough of this”, and he poked the puck past the defenseman. Soucy was off and flying with the puck, racing up the right side. He cut to his left and angled alone toward the net. With speed he approached, fired, and scored inside the far post. Even – Soucy from Mooney and Petrie. 1-0.

The visitors made the score 2-0 when Booth scored one for all his family and friends from Berlin. First, he broke up a centering pass in the slot back on D. He had the puck and noticed an acre of open ice in front of him, so he took off. In his own game of push and chase he cut inside. He was moving toward the net with Drumm and St. Pierre making a run at the far post and crease.

Booth elected to push a backhand shot on net as his teammates had taken the defense with them for the most part. The puck bounced of the goalie’s pads and hit the end boards. So, Booth just collected his own rebound and tucked the puck inside the post. Still, no defenders were that close. It was  like he had an escort up the ice and even at the side of the net. 2-0. Even – Booth unassisted.

Ingalls (14-14) and Rosenbeck (15-17) combined for 29 saves in the 2-2 tie. Both goaltenders made stellar saves that kept the game from being a win for the home team.

 

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Game 16 of the season.

Five Games To Finish October:

October 26, 2024.

West Side Arena, Manchester, NH.

Scoring:

• 2010 Flames: 01 – 01 – 01  = 03
• NorthStars: 00 – 00 – 02 = 02

Shots:

• 2010 Flames: 08 – 13 – 06  = 27
• NorthStars: 07 – 11 – 16 = 34

Penalties:

1. Ouellette – Elbowing.
2. Soucy – Slashing.
3. Powers – Cross-Checking.
4. Soucy – Holding.

 

The Flames scored in the final minute of the game to rescue a win from a loss, or at least a tie. The 2010 Flames looked completely gassed in the final period. They were outshot, 16-6 in the final period, took a pair of penalties, and were bailed out by Rosenbeck saves (16-18), and St. Pierre’s goal.

Ingalls made 16 saves on 16 shots in the first half of the game. I still marvel at this tandem of goaltenders the Flames enjoy. They are different in size and style. They are probably different in many ways. But they are Flames. They are teammates. And they battle with everything they have.

I know I watch the Flames players closer than I do the others, but even a casual fan would notice how many times Ingalls and Rosenbeck are left exposed on an island to face at least a primary shot all alone. And they make saves all over the place. I am still glad we have this tandem.

Since LiveBarn somehow had no video for basically the one hour the Flames were on the ice for the game, this summary is brief.

Flames score first. All five Flames on the ice touched the puck in succession before Destani tipped a shot from Powers that had been set up by Ouellette. The puck found the back of the net. Even – Destani from Powers and Ouellette. 1-0.

Booth scored for the Flames to make the score, 2-0. This play unfolded like this. Imagine ten pins standing at the end of the bowling alley. Except that five of them are trying to shoot a puck under the metal reset frame above, while shooting the puck over any other fallen pins. Oh, and also, the pins are battling each other and knocking each other down. One set shooting. One set blocking.

Then Booth collects the puck in the high slot and lofts a shot perfectly over the mayhem but under the metal bar, for a goal. It went something like that. Even the goalie was down…in the pile. Even – Booth unassisted. 2-0.

Just when the wheels seemed to be worn completely off, and maybe a two goal lead was becoming a loss. The Flames put one rush and shot together that sealed the deal.

Pushing the puck out of the fray, Soucy had moved the puck ahead to St. Pierre. St. Pierre skated in as only he can. He skates like he’s out for a scenic drive, looking around, but maintaining speed. Somehow his eyes are still on ‘the road’ as well. And he dodges would be obstacles, ogres, monsters, and suspicious shadows.

Anyways, it was one of those rushes up ice. Then as St. Pierre closed the gap to the net, he fired the puck. The puck was not whistling through the air high above the bar and threatening panes of glass. No, it was quick, along the ice. It was center cut. Propelled from a moving skater approaching at an angle with speed. The shot directed to the center, toward a retreating goalie trying to move and be still at the same time. While trying to perfect his angle.

The puck was away. Gliding. Quickly. Too quickly for the goalie. Through the five-hole. With the angles all right, the puck slid into the net. There were 52 seconds left in the game. GWG – Even – St. Pierre from Soucy. 3-2.

 

 

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Game 17 of the season.

Five Games To Finish October:

October 27, 2024.

Nucar Notre Dame Arena, Berlin, NH.

Scoring:

• 2010 Flames: 00 – 02 – 00  = 02
• Berlin Sabres: 02 – 00 – 00 = 02

Shots:

• 2010 Flames: 11 – 14 – 06  = 31
• Berlin Sabres: 10 – 03 – 08 = 21

Penalties:

1. Soucy – Slew Foot. PPGA.
2. Soucy – Misconduct.
3. Drumm – Slashing.
4. Powers – Head Contact.
5. Petrie – Tripping.
6. Warren – Interference.
7. Soucy – Misconduct – Diving or Embellishment

 

For the second consecutive weekend the 2010 Flames were in Berlin, NH for a hockey game. This time though, they had to get through game one and head south to play another game on Sunday evening.

The game did not start well. The Flames had two excellent chances to clear the puck from their own zone but didn’t. Berlin made a pass, and another, for an easy goal down low. Free passing clinic. Then a pair of penalties in a matter of seconds put Berlin on a 5-on-3 advantage. They turned it into a goal in less than a minute. Just like that, the Flames were down, 2-0.

On the other hand, the 2010 Flames largely took control of the game from somewhere in the opening period through the rest of the game. Overcoming a 2-goal deficit against a good team on their home ice is no small task. The Flames did exactly that, and climbed out the hole, earning another 2-2 tie.

The Flames got on the board twice in the second period.

First, the Flames were on the power play. Beal kept the puck in the offensive zone and wrapped the puck around the end boards. St. Pierre secured the puck at the right point and let a shot fly. Mooney was part of the traffic in front of the net. Mooney took St. Pierre’s shot as a pass, and took a wrister from the slot. The shot found the net. PPG – Mooney from St. Pierre and Beal. Down, 2-1.

The Flames pulled even later in the second period. Booth raced in and got to the puck well before it left the zone. He fired a quick shot toward the net from the half wall. Petrie grabbed the shot and expertly flipped a backhand pass to open space in the low slot. As the goalie reacted to the path of the puck, Beal was alone and pulled the puck toward the far side. The goalie was sliding the other way and Beal dumped the puck into the wide open net.

Quick puck movement led to the easy goal. Even – Beal from Petrie and Booth. Tied, 2-2.

The Flames had dominated the second period, and finished strong enough to hold off Berlin rushes for the rest of the way.

 

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Game 18 of the season.

Five Games To Finish October:

October 27, 2024.

West Side Arena, Manchester, NH.

Scoring:

• 2010 Flames: 02 – 01 – 01  = 04
• IHC West (Proulx): 03 – 00 – 02 = 05

Shots:

• 2010 Flames: 13 – 19 – 06  = 38
• IHC West (Proulx): 09 – 06 – 09 = 24

Penalties:

1. Santitto – Tripping. PPGA.
2. Powers – Roughing.
3. Warren – Roughing.
4. Soucy – Tripping.
5. Warren – High-Sticking.
6. Warren – Roughing.
7. Beal – Elbowing.

 

I think that this game will be remembered as the game that started late after a tie in Berlin, and the heat was cranking in the bleachers. Oh, and overcoming a 3-0 deficit to come back and take the lead in the final period, only to give the lead and game away. A 5-4 loss. Better yet, maybe don’t remember it.

The Flames scored a pair of power play goals in the game, and took a 4-3 lead with less than 9 minutes to play in the game. You already know the outcome.

Here are the Flames goals in the game.

First, Soucy won a puck battle at center ice. Then he took off for the offensive zone like the ice was slanted against him, drifting from right to left. He crossed the blue line and dropped a pass for Ouellette along the wall. Ouellette stick-handled toward traffic in the middle of the ice.

This time though, he turned his back on the D and sealed off two defenders behind him. As he turned he dropped a pass to St. Pierre at the left point. St. Pierre opted for a low wrister. The shot was redirected well out in front of the goaltender by Soucy. This allowed the puck to arc up and over the goaltender and into the net. The puck traveled in slow motion so as not to fly over the crossbar. PPG – Soucy from St. Pierre and Ouellette. Down, 3-1.

Then, the 2010 Flames scored another power play goal. This was just a good goal created by quick passes to set up the goal. Santitto stopped the puck at center ice and fed a quick pass out in front of Petrie. Petrie made a beautiful, quick, cross-ice pass to Destani giving him room to operate while forcing the defense to defend both sides of the ice at the same time. Destani cut outside, got by the D, and cut to the net on his forehand. He fired and scored. Great play. Passing helps. PPG – Destani from Petrie and Santitto. Down 3-2.

The Flames tied the game, 3-3 in the second period. Mooney and Petrie were battling for the puck in the corner when the D made a clearing attempt. At the blue line, St. Pierre deftly poked the puck forward before it crossed the blue line. Then he stepped in with the puck to the left wing circle. He sent a back hand pass that somehow got through the defender’s stick which was flat on the ice to block a pass.

Beal may have been surprised that the puck got through too, his one-timer redirection on the doorstep was inches wide of the post. Mooney alertly grabbed the rebound, pulled the puck away from the boards and rifled a shot off the goalie and into the net. On the play, Petrie had slid out high to cover the point as St. Pierre stepped in with the puck. Good play all the way around. Pass, shot, rebound, shot, score. Even – Mooney from Beal and St. Pierre. 3-3.

The Flames take a 4-3 lead in the 3rd period. Mooney and Destani were centering passes and shooting while Beal was in the crease tussling with defenders. The tussle was epic. Destani sent a backhand pass softly to the crease looking for Beal. Beal was in the middle rounds of a battle in front. This took so much time and effort that Destani skated behind the net to the other side and received his own pass.

Destani shot the puck wide though. Mooney grabbed the rebound on the other side, off of the end boards. Mooney fired the puck and it got through the goalie, but the puck had lost its steam. Beal, back on his feet tapped the puck across the goal line. The Flames led 4-3 with 8:32 left to play. Even – Beal from Mooney and Destani.

 

Video from LiveBarn at West Side Arena. I thought it was kind of funny. At one point it looked like Teddy was trying to lift ‘too much snow’ on his shovel.

 

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Mooney’s Moonshots

So this is why I call these Mooney’s Moonshots. Well, the name Mooney, that already gets us headed in the right direction. Then there is this. Moonshot. While ‘moonshot’ originally meant “long shot”, it’s increasingly being used to describe a monumental effort and a lofty goal—in other words, a “giant leap”. Moonshot is also used to describe a towering home run. And home run is a large gain, or popular success.

So ya, I like Mooney’s Moonshots because it stands for all of that.

Thank you for the time you spend to take the pictures and go through them, load them, and then freely share them.

Oct. 19.

Oct. 20.

Oct. 26.

Oct. 27.a.

Oct. 27.b.

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

 

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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.