Game 5

Well, we had an interesting start to today's game. Earlier in the day Samantha had a soccer game in Clarkston, which left us enough time to leave her game to get to Drew's hockey game. Well, we worked this plan to perfection, leaving Sam's game, grabbing a bite to eat, and making the drive to the arena. We ran into a slight snag in our plan when we drove 45 minutes north - to the wrong arena! We quickly climbed back into the car and made the drive south to the proper arena, making Drew get his gear on in the car. We arrived to the rink just in time, managing to get Drew into the locker room to finish putting on his skates and other last minute gear just in time for him to skate across the rink and join his teammates on the bench before the games opening faceoff.

On to the game... this contest was a rematch of the Storm's last game (non-tournament) against the 05 USA Patriots. The last time they played each other the Patriots dominated with a 7-2 victory, leading 4-0 before the Storm finally got on the board. Today's game was a lot closer, with the Storm even grabbing the lead by scoring the games opening goal. They couldn't hold the lead over the entire period, however, and they went into intermission tied at a goal apiece. The Patriots got on the board early in the second, taking the lead. The Storm had an answer though, knotting things up at 2-2. Before the period ended, the Knights ended up finding the back of the net for their third goal, giving them a 3-2 lead into the last intermission. Though the final period was played pretty evenly, it was beginning to look as though this wasn't going to be the Storm's day. They didn't give up and kept battling for every chance they got. Finally they caught the break that they needed and took advantage of a breakaway, scoring a goal to tie things back up. That would be the end of the scoring, with the teams tying 3-3. What a difference a little bit of confidence makes in a team!

Drew had a pretty interesting game today, getting into a lot of scraps with the opposing team. I usually don't call out players from the other team, but #17 on the Patriots deserved to be called out. Drew, being larger than most of the kids he faces, tends to get picked on by the little kids when he is on the ice with them. Today was no difference, as they kept leaning on him, hitting him, etc. Drew finally had enough, and starting to push back. He did take one penalty, serving his two minutes in the box, and probably could have had a couple of others. The referee even talked to the Storm coach in an effort to get Drew to back off, but the coach correctly pointed out that it wasn't a one sided affair. While I don't want to see Drew cross any lines when he is on the ice, I was glad to see him stand up for himself. Now, back to #17. This kid egged on all kinds of altercations when on the ice, and then during the handshake line punched multiple kids in the stomach, Drew included, instead of giving them a fist bump, as is the usual tactic with the kids gloves on. While I can handle the aggressiveness on the ice, that behavior is uncalled for...

'05 Lapeer Storm Game 5 - at 05 USA Patriots
	Drew reaching out to block a shot by a Patriot player.
	Drew reaching for the puck.
	Drew skating down the wing looking to get off a shot.
	Drew battling for the puck along the boards (notice #17 giving him a shot in the back?).
	Drew skating down the ice with the puck.
	Drew with control of the puck along the boards.
	Drew trying to get to the puck with an opposing player in the way.
	Drew lined up during a faceoff.
	Drew on the bench.
	Drew lined up during another faceoff.
	Drew in the penalty box after taking a slashing call.
	Drew racing down the ice with a Patriot player approaching.
	Drew waiting for the puck to squirt free in front of the net.
	Drew playing the puck along the boards.
	Drew lined up for a faceoff...
	...and battling for the puck.
	Drew clearing the puck out of the zone.
	Drew and his teammates listening to their coaches during the second intermission.
	Drew trying to get to the puck with opposing players closing in.
	Drew holding off a Patriots player along the boards.
	The final score was a 3-3 tie between the Storm and Patriots.
	Drew and his teammates going through the postgame handshake line.

'05 Lapeer Storm Game 5 - at 05 USA Patriots

Drew reaching out to block a shot by a Patriot player.

Drew reaching for the puck.

Drew skating down the wing looking to get off a shot.

Drew battling for the puck along the boards (notice #17 giving him a shot in the back?).

Drew skating down the ice with the puck.

Drew with control of the puck along the boards.

Drew trying to get to the puck with an opposing player in the way.

Drew lined up during a faceoff.

Drew on the bench.

Drew lined up during another faceoff.

Drew in the penalty box after taking a slashing call.

Drew racing down the ice with a Patriot player approaching.

Drew waiting for the puck to squirt free in front of the net.

Drew playing the puck along the boards.

Drew lined up for a faceoff...

...and battling for the puck.

Drew clearing the puck out of the zone.

Drew and his teammates listening to their coaches during the second intermission.

Drew trying to get to the puck with opposing players closing in.

Drew holding off a Patriots player along the boards.

The final score was a 3-3 tie between the Storm and Patriots.

Drew and his teammates going through the postgame handshake line.