16U Game 3

After Drew and his 14UA Jr. Everblades teammates played their game this morning, Drew and I went to breakfast with one of his teammates. While we were eating we got a message from the 16U coach asking if Drew would be interested in playing with that team in their third game in the Winter Classic Tournament, which would be taking place at 2:15pm this afternoon. We checked with his head coach, who gave the OK, so back to the rink we went with one extra game on our calendar.

We weren't sure what to expect at this level, with much bigger kids on the ice, but Drew seemed to hold his own just fine. The Atlanta Phoenix team dominated the time of possession and shots on goal in the first period, but the Everblades only found themselves down a single goal thanks to a Phoenix wrist shot that beat the Blades goalie late in the period.

Things got out of hand for the Everblades in the second period, as they were once again dominated by the Phoenix team. Shots were a lopsided 16-2, and the Everblades would give up 5 goals in the period without much of a fight.

The Everblades got on the board early in the third, keeping the game from being a shutout, thanks in small part to an goal set up by Drew and his new teammates. Unfortunately that would be the only highlight for the Everblades, as the Atlanta team would add on three more goals before time expired, handing the U16 players a 9-1 defeat.

16U Florida Jr. Everblades - Winter Classic Tournament Game #3 - at Atlanta Phoenix
	Drew looking back at the puck.
	Drew doing his best to battle in front of the Phoenix net.
	Drew skating with the puck...
	...and getting by an Atlanta player.
	Drew racing down the ice with the puck...
	...and closing in on the goal...
	...but just losing control.
	Drew getting off a pass across the ice to a teammate.
	Drew watching as the puck rolls towards the blue line.
	Drew and his temporary 16U Jr. Everblades teammates in the post game handshake line.

16U Florida Jr. Everblades - Winter Classic Tournament Game #3 - at Atlanta Phoenix

Drew looking back at the puck.

Drew doing his best to battle in front of the Phoenix net.

Drew skating with the puck...

...and getting by an Atlanta player.

Drew racing down the ice with the puck...

...and closing in on the goal...

...but just losing control.

Drew getting off a pass across the ice to a teammate.

Drew watching as the puck rolls towards the blue line.

Drew and his temporary 16U Jr. Everblades teammates in the post game handshake line.