When you watch 9 and 10 year-old kids play youth ice hockey in a tournament miles from anywhere, how exciting can it be? I mean half of these kids have been playing hockey or even skating for less than 3 seasons. But there we were, parents, kids, players from various teams, coaches, representing all ages and sizes, each edging closer to the glass just to see how this game would finish.
On Saturday afternoon the 2010 Flames broke into the win column with a 4-2 win over SASA of St. Albans, VT. The Flames gave a solid effort from start to finish in earning the victory. I must say that the goaltender for SASA played very well and kept his team in the game.
Last night at the Ice Haus, the Flames trailed nearly the entire game before taking a 3-2 lead with 6:28 to play. Then Andover scored a pair of goals just 19 seconds apart to take the lead with just 1:25 left in the game.
After waltzing into the winter wonderland called Jay Peak yesterday afternoon and evening, the 2010 Flames were ready to open the tournament this morning. The Flames played a very good team from Wilbraham / Twin Meadows, Massachusetts.
For their third game of the weekend, the Flames traveled to Keene. The ride was a nice one on a frosty fall morning following an extra hour of sleep. Keene jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 1st period. The score remained the same until the 3rd period when Flames penalties and the structured play of Keene opened things up. Keene won the game 6-0.
In what turned out to be a very good defensive battle, the Flames dropped a tough one at West Side Arena on Saturday night. The Flames gave up the game-winning goal with 1:11 to play in the game just after a Hanover power-play had ended. The final score was 2-1. Both teams contested every inch of the ice.
The Manchester Flames played Providence at JFK Coliseum and were able to secure a 6-4 victory. Both teams skated well. Both goaltenders were athletic in net and played well. It was a good game from start to finish.