After a great weekend in The Pas, and a couple wins in the last 3 games, the ICE were excited to face off against their closest rivals...the Winnipeg Avros on Saturday. As usual when the two Winnipeg teams play, Keith Bodley Arena had a few more spectators than usual, and there was a little extra energy in the air. The ICE were confident that they could play 60 minutes of intense hockey, despite being without two of their Ds, Tasia Girden and Ashley Kubic did not dress due to injury. The game began with the Avros getting some early pressure, but the ICE held them off the scoreboard thanks in part to great goaltending by Kathleen Kosior. Eventually the Avros found a way to beat Kosior, but neither team managed to score again in the first period, giving the Avros a 1-0 lead. At intermission the ICE were not pleased with their level of compete, as the Avros held the balance of play in the first period, outshooting the ICE 16-6. The players spoke of patience and looked to pick up the pace and try to even the score early in the second period. Madison Neapew, Elizabeth Carter, and Emily Barber started the second period up front, and they did exactly what the team spoke of in the dressing room, as Barber scored 32 second into the second period to tie the game at 1. The ICE had new-found confidence in this period, but the Avros pressed hard to get the go ahead goal. With 5 minutes left in the second, the Avros impressive powerplay scored on a rush, taking back their 1 goal lead. The second period ended with the Avros up 2-1, despite some very impressive goaltending by Kathleen Kosior. At intermission the team looked back to the last game against the Avros, as that game had the same score after two periods. The ICE knew they couldn't allow this game to get away from them, as it did back in October. The teams started the third period with some back and forth action. The ICE bench sensed a break with a powerplay 4:30 into the period. Unfortunately for the ICE, the Avros proved once again why they are a team to watch in this league by scoring a shorthanded goal to make the score 3-1 and dampen the spirits on the ICE bench. Unlike that game in October, the ICE continued to claw and fight until the final buzzer, eventually hitting the post twice in the last two minutes of the game. The Avros held on for a 3-1 win, leaving the ICE to ponder what went wrong on this day.
A few missed opportunities cost the ICE on Saturday. Couple that with a less intense and lower energy played game for the ICE and it is no wonder they found the Avros tough to beat. But looking on the bright side allows the players to see that their best game on this day could have been enough to push the Avros to the limit and even possibly beat them. The coaches and players spoke of two things lacking from their play, ultimately costing them the game: Urgency and Desperation. The ICE will need to play with those terms in mind, as they face the Pembina Valley Hawks in Holland, MB on Friday night. Get those head's up girls, we'll get them yet!
~Coach
