Friday, January 21st, 2022 Creston 6 Rockets 3
The return match Friday night between the Rockets and ThunderCats started out as a carbon-copy of Thursday night’s game. Just seconds after the initial puck drop at centre-ice, Golden found themselves taking a penalty at the :31 second mark. Despite having pressure from the Cats attack, a solid penalty-kill kept the game scoreless.
Both Levi Hall and Liam Stevens in goal for Golden and Creston respectively, were kept busy in the opening twenty minutes, as both clubs fired shots from seemingly every angle.
As with Thursday’s game as well, Rockets opened the scoring (at the 7:44 mark), when crafty forward Brydon Foster worked his magic with a powerplay goal, setup neatly by rearguards Shawn Setter and Ethan Aebly. Golden stretched the lead to 2-0 midway through the frame when Kade Cochlan and Brydon Foster combined to feed Aidan Balance, and his one-timer hit the back of the twine. However, Creston quickly countered that goal with one of their own, just nine seconds later in a goal-mouth scramble in front of the Rocket’s net.
In the second period, the ThunderCats hit the ice in high gear, hemming Golden in their own end effectively. At the 6:00 mark, Levi Hall came up with a tremendous save on a Creston breakaway opportunity, only to have the Cats find the equalizer just thirty seconds later. A ThunderCat power play goal at 8:31 moved the visitors into the lead at 3-2.
Zac Siudy had a breakaway at 9:55 for the Rockets, utilizing his speed behind the Creston defence but was stymied by Liam Stevens on a good, low shot. At 17:47, Aidan Balance also worked his way into the clear at centre ice, but as he skated in on the Creston goal, the Rockets took a minor penalty behind the play before he could get a shot.
In the final period, the clubs traded goals early, with Creston hitting in a goal-mouth scramble, and Rocket’s Andrew Teare replying after making no mistake when he was left alone at the side of the Creston net.
Midway through the frame, Creston tightened defensively, while adding two unanswered goals enroute to a 6-3 win. ThunderCats outshot Rockets 41-30.
Of note in this contest, Creston’s Blake Anderson was all over the scoresheet, striking for his first two goals of the season, picking up an assist and cooling-off a couple of occasions in the penalty box. As well, goaltender Liam Stevens recorded his first win of the season in the ThunderCat cage.
Rockets have little time to lick their wounds, as tonight they tangle with the Neil Murdoch Division leading Nelson Leafs. Back in mid-October, the Leafs edged the Rockets 3-2 in the Queen City.
