There's always a different feeling in the arena when the two AAA teams from Winnipeg play against one another. The players on the rosters are more familiar with another than they are with any other team in the league. Standings notwithstanding, games between the Winnipeg ICE and the Winnipeg Avros this season have all been very exciting.
The ICE were coming off of a successful trip to Moncton, which saw them take some huge steps as a team. The players vowed to keep up the energy they played with in New Brunswick, when they faced the Avros at Notre Dame Arena, for the first time this season. The first period played out as everyone expected, as both teams pushed the pace and had scoring chances. The Avros had a few more chances in the first than the ICE did, but Michelle Kerdes stood tall, as the period ended 0-0. At intermission, the ICE were pleased with the first 20 minutes, but unsatisfied that their chances didn't materialize into a goal. The second period went the same way, as the teams battled hard for possession of the puck, with neither team seemingly willing to back down. Midway through the second period, the Avros got the first break of the game, as a point shot deflected off an ICE body and changed direction enough to get past Kerdes in the ICE net. The ICE refused to allow the bad break to ruin a good start, which certainly has been in the case with this team in the past, and they pushed back for the equalizer. Again the Avros outshot the ICE in the second period, and they held a 1-0 lead going into the third. High energy and strong goaltending were two of the reasons for the exciting game so far. Intermission once again brought out a lot of positives and the players and coaches were excited for the third period. The players focused on playing the final 20 minutes as strong as, if not better than, the first two, and seemed confident they could even the score early in the period. The third period began with high hopes for the ICE, as 1 goal would change this game and send everyone on the bench into a frenzy. But, instead of pushing for that tying goal, the ICE spent the third period trying to kill off penalties. As has been the case several times this year, the game ended in heartbreak for the ICE. The very strong Avros powerplay scored twice in the third, leaving a 3-0 score on the board as the final buzzer sounded. Again, the ICE were left wondering what they needed to do to beat their Winnipeg rivals...
As the playoffs approach, the ICE know that these types of games NEED to turn into victories. The team played well enough on this day to beat most teams in this league, but it was not enough this time. It's up to the players to stay the course, to stay strong, and as always, HOLD THE ROPE.
~Coach
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