Princeton Noontime Hockey

2011 Season Ending Game

Orange 9 - Black 8 (Shootout)

(Contributed by Mark Ratliff)

The captains for this year’s season ending game were the enthusiastic Abel Kahn and laid back Michel Sharp.  Both strong players.  Both leaders, albeit with different styles.  The captains had plenty of players to draft this year.  Thirty skaters and two goalies were in the pool.  Mike agreed to lead the Orange team and Abel the Black team.  The Orange team one the coin toss and so received the first pick.  The Black team received the following two picks after which the picks proceeded in a round robin fashion.  Mike used his first picks to build a very strong offense.  Abel’s picks were more balanced between offense and defense.  Would Mike’s skilled forwards win the day or would the balance of the Black team prove more reliable.  We were set to find out on April 16, 2011.

Both captains communicated with their team members prior to game day.  Abel roused the Black team with an inspirational video of the New Zealand rugby team’s pregame ritual war dance.  The Black team showed up ready to play.  They hit the ice 15 minutes before game time, warmed up and began running shooting drills.  Meanwhile, the Orange team had only a few players on the ice.  Were they still in the locker room strategizing?  When high noon arrived it was time to drop the puck.  However, the Orange team was still missing players.  We agreed to allow Orange just a few extra minutes to assemble.  Once all the Orange players were on the ice, the puck was promptly dropped to start the 2011 season ending game.  No one could have expected the exciting game we had in store.

The first period saw penalties, great saves, and great goals.  The game’s first penalty was handed to Ed Muston only five minutes in.  Charlie Hatfield had two shots from the blue line while shorthanded on the penalty kill, but was unable to score on either.  Once out of the penalty box, Ed had a good chance on a shot from the high slot, but Robert Natoli was able to make the save.  On the other end of the ice Ian McNally and Jamal Sabky had chances in front the the crease, but Jeff Schneider showed his ability to make impressive saves.  Back at the other end Abel took a shot from the point and Ed Muston scored on the rebound for the game’s first goal.  Only minutes later, Brooks pokes the puck past a Black defenseman in neutral ice resulting in a breakaway goal.  Half way through the first period the game remained close.  Steve Mayle passed the puck up the left side to Charlie Hatfield who then made a move to the outside around the Orange defenseman and then scored.  Later Henry took a hard shot from the blueline setting Ed up with an excellent chance on the rebound but Robert stood tall in net making the save.  At 15:00 into the period Charlie was called for a tripping penalty.  Orange was unable to generate any significant offensive pressure on the ensuing power play and so Black was able to kill off the penalty.  After exiting the penalty box Charlie was found taking a hard shot from the top of the right face off circle, off the cross bar and in!  That’s where the period ended with Black leading Orange 3 goals to 1.

The second period began with Karsten Hilpert taking a penalty for tripping at 0:30 in.  On the ensuing power play Stephane Marin scored on the rebound off a shot from Mark Lohry at the left point.  Shortly after that David McGady scored another goal for Black putting them up 5 to 1.  At this point it looked like Black was going to give Orange a beating.  Rumor has it Karsten Hilpert exclaimed to his Orange teammates, "If they get one more, we're done for!" Orange had plenty of offensive talent, but only time would tell if they would be able to score some goals. Play remained even for some time after that until finally Brendon Fisher skated up the left side with the puck, passed to the middle finding Brooks who buried the puck in the net.  Shortly after that Brendon would register another assist setting up Karsten for a wristshot from just inside the blueline.  Karsten’s lethal wristshot proved better than the Black goalie closing the scoring gap.  Orange clearly showed new confidence and momentum began to swing their way.  Lars Hedin made a pass behind the goal to Brooks who snuck the puck in on the short side.  Then Jamal cut through the crease and scored another leveling the score at 5 to 5.  Charlie Hatfield and Ed Muston combined on a chance for Black, but Robert was able to make a sprawling save.  Toward the end of the period Abel took a wicked shot from the right face off circle that clanged off the cross bar and ricocheted to the corner.

The third period saw the game’s prettiest goal.  Holding the puck at the left point, Charlie passed down just off the right post to Abel.  Abel showed great patience looking momentarily for the best opportunity.  He passed across the crease to Ed on the backside who stuffed the puck in the net.  Ed once again scored the period’s first goal.  On the other end of the ice Steve Shueh found the puck on his stick in front of the goal and was able to bury it to tie the game again at 6 to 6.  Going the other direction Eric Masson scored for Black on a pass from Steve Mayle.  Then Lars Hedin scored for Orange on a pass from Brooks.  David McGady had a breakaway opportunity, but Jerry Ross was able to use his stick to disrupt him enough to deny a scoring change, though he received a hooking penalty for his trouble.  Black was unable to score on the ensuing power play.  After killing the penalty, Patrick Leger made a nice move in the slot and then scored top shelf giving Orange their first lead of the game.  The captain from Black, Abel Kahn, then had another shot ring off the iron as he hit the post.  Stephane Marin skates across the blue line, looks up, shoots for the top shelf hits the crossbar and scores a tying goal for Black.  Dave Cylinder had the final chance in regulation but just missed on his attempt to stuff the puck in.  Regulation time ends in an 8 to 8 tie!!!

Both team captains suggested that an 8 to 8 tie could be a fitting end to such a close game. But the league commissioner, Mark Ratliff, consulted with the referees and decided that the game should have a winner. The winning team would be determined in a 5 versus 5 five minute overtime period followed by a three round shootout if necessary.

The Orange team stacked the deck with Ian McNally, Jamal Sabky, and Brooks Hallin as the forward line that would play most of the five minutes of overtime.  The Black team prepared to weather the offensive onslaught.  Ian found himself with a chance right off the face off, but Jeff was able to poke the puck away as he approached the goal.  Jamal had a shot go off the crossbar.  Ian had another chance cutting across the middle, but Jeff was again able to make the save.  Despite all of their offensive effort, Orange was unable to score.  The score remained tied at the end of overtime.  Next came the shootout.

With all players nearly exhausted and the ice chewed up from more than three periods of hockey, both teams prepared to send out their shooters.  The sequence went like this:

Black -- Charlie Hatfield, fakes the backhand, scores on the forehand.
Orange -- Lars Hedin, makes move to backhand, saved.
Black -- Steve Mayle, fakes to the backhand, scores on the forehand.
Orange -- Brooks Hallin, fakes to the backhand, scores on the forehand.
Black -- Ed Muston, shoots on the backhand, saved.
Orange -- Ian McNally, scores on the forehand.
Black -- David McGady, hits the post with a forehand shot.
Orange -- Jamal Sabky, dekes the goalie, but then shoots it over the crossbar.
Black -- Eric Masson, shoots wide of the goal.
Orange -- Karsten Hilpert, goalie makes a pad save.
Black -- Stephane Marin, loses control of the puck as he makes a move to the backand.
Orange -- Mike Sharp, scores the game winning goal through the five hole.

After a long, hard fought game, Orange finally emerged victorious!

Awards:

The Most Improved Player Award went to Andrew Tucker.

The Spirit of Noon-Time Award went to Stephane Marin based on his consistent and enthusiastic participation this year.

The MVP for the Season End Game was Brooks Hallin who scored a hat trick and a shoot out goal for the winning team.

Team picture:

The Winning Team with the Noontime Cup:

Team rosters:

Scratches

The following players planned to play in the game, but were unable to due to injury.