District Game 3

There is some history between the two teams that would be facing off tonight, as some former FireCats are now Plymouth Stingrays. In addition to that, the teams split their two regular season meetings, with the FireCats getting the best of the Stingrays in their most recent matchup. Drew got a surprise tonight - he started the game at Left Wing, after not playing offense for approximately 12 months! Although he didn't score, he did get some quality scoring chances while presenting an imposing net-front presence.

The game got off to a good start for Novi, as they would score the games opening goal on a tap-in a little over six minutes after the opening faceoff. The two teams went back and forth, trading scoring chances all while making some quality defensive plays. Novi would give up the lead before the period would end, however, as Plymouth scored on a hard slapshot with just over three minutes to play. That would be it for scoring in the opening fifteen minutes, and the game would go to the first intermission tied at one.

Plymouth struck early in the second, taking their first lead with a tap-in goal of their own not even a minute in. Although giving up the lead so early was frustrating to the FireCats, they didn't give up. They would come back to tie things up at two with a slapshot goal of their own with just over three minutes remaining. With just over a minute remaining, Novi would retake the lead with another tip-in, making the score 3-2 as they headed to the second intermission.

Unfortunately for the FireCats, they disappeared in the third period. Plymouth scored early to tie the game up, and retook the lead just 15 seconds after that. That would be it for the FireCats on the scoreboard, as Plymouth would go on to add two more goals. When the final whistle blew, it was Plymouth coming out victorious, with a 6-3 win over the FireCats.

I do have to mention one thing about this contest... one Plymouth player (#15), flattened one of the Novi players with a vicious hit along the boards, causing the FireCats player to bounce his head off the ice. There was no retaliation from Novi for this action, and the refs handed out a simple two minute penalty. As the clock wound down, a FireCats defenseman knocked this same Plymouth player to the ice with what will be a clean hit in a couple month, but remains a penalty now. The Plymouth player did not respond well to taking his own medicine, jumping up to push and swing at the Novi player. He wound up with a 10 minute penalty this time, but it was far too late in the game to matter (less than a minute remained). To make matters worse, the parents cheered his actions, as did the coach. Not what I want to see in a youth hockey game...

Novi FireCats District Game #3 - vs. Plymouth Stingrays
	Drew on the ice for a surprise start at forward.
	Drew playing the puck along the boards.
	Drew watching the puck go across the ice.
	Drew skating across the ice.
	Drew getting off a shot while being ran into.
	Drew trying to get the puck in while playing in close...
	...but having it go just wide of the goal.
	Drew looking back at the net.
	Drew taking a shot to the back in front of the net.
	Drew looking as the buck slides just wide of the goal.
	Drew getting a chance in close...
	...and firing the puck on goal...
	...and bouncing it off the post.
	Drew trying to find the puck in the refs feet.
	Drew battling for the puck.
	Drew looking to make a pass from behind the net.
	Drew looking as the puck finds it's way toward the net.
	Drew on the ice for a faceoff.
	Drew watching one of his shots on goal get kicked aside.
	The final score was 6-3 in favor of the Stingrays, ending the FireCats run in the Districts.
	Drew and his teammates making their way through the post-game handshake line.

Novi FireCats District Game #3 - vs. Plymouth Stingrays

Drew on the ice for a surprise start at forward.

Drew playing the puck along the boards.

Drew watching the puck go across the ice.

Drew skating across the ice.

Drew getting off a shot while being ran into.

Drew trying to get the puck in while playing in close...

...but having it go just wide of the goal.

Drew looking back at the net.

Drew taking a shot to the back in front of the net.

Drew looking as the buck slides just wide of the goal.

Drew getting a chance in close...

...and firing the puck on goal...

...and bouncing it off the post.

Drew trying to find the puck in the refs feet.

Drew battling for the puck.

Drew looking to make a pass from behind the net.

Drew looking as the puck finds it's way toward the net.

Drew on the ice for a faceoff.

Drew watching one of his shots on goal get kicked aside.

The final score was 6-3 in favor of the Stingrays, ending the FireCats run in the Districts.

Drew and his teammates making their way through the post-game handshake line.