"The score got up
there and we got away from our game plan, it was an ugly finish."
said Head Coach Doug Slipacoff after the 5 - 3 win at home Saturday
night over the Wheatley Sharks in Great Lakes Jr. C hockey.
The Flags were up 5
- 0 after scoring a single in the first, two in the second and two
more in the third before Wheatley scored two quick goals at 11:18
and 12:02 and finished with a power play goal at 19:48.
#23 Ben Morrison
led in the win scoring two goals and earning an assist for a three
point night. Cameron Rannie, Jacob Reeves and Alec Segers each
scored on round out the scoring.
Scoring for
Wheatley were Nick Tavolier-Essec, Justin Pinsonneault and Mitchel
Prudence.
"I thought we had a
good first 40 minutes, but the 3rd period left a lot to be desired.
Discipline got away from us and we got a little sloppy in our system
and lost our composure." said Slipacoff "That's not the
way we want to finish a game but 2 points is 2 points and we’ll take
a home win."
Up to the third
period Mooretown had taken 2 penalties, one in the first and one in
the second and Wheatley was given just one in the second, a two
minute penalty for goalie interference.
At 15:58 a major scuffle broke out in Mooretown's end that included
a roughing call on netminder Brandon Johnson and four players
sitting in the box.
"I think Brandon’s
is one of the best goalie in the league and you’ll see more teams
try and get in his crease. He’s got to learn to keep a cool head
it’s only going to get worse if he retaliates when they skate
through his crease."
"Credit to them (Wheatley), we tell our
guys to go hard to the net the same thing, so they executed their
game plan and it worked in the 3rd period, thankfully we
were better in the first two period."
Johnson who is
currently ranked 3rd in the league earned the win with 24 saves.
With the win the
Flags moved up to fourth spot in the standings race with a record of
8-5. At this time last year the Flags were 4-8.
"Considering 10 new
players in the line up, I’d say that’s a pretty nice start for the
guys to be up above 500." Slipacoff said then added,
"So far it’s two
steps ahead, one step back. We are looking for consistency on a
nightly basis and the guys are starting to come along. They are
getting better at the D Zone and on our forward check but the big
thing is staying even keel not get to high and not get too low."
"Discipline wasn’t
a strong suit of this team last year and that’s a big emphasis for
our coaching staff." Slipacoff said "For us it starts off the
ice. Showing up on time for games and practices and doing warm
up properly and just being mentally prepared to play."
The Flags are back
in action tonight (Sunday) on the road travelling to Blenheim. To
stay in 4th spot the Flags must win as the Blades are one point
behind the Flags with a record of 7-5-1.
