Scrimmage v Eagan, Part 6

These are the last photos from the game against Eagan. Here's short sequence of Matthew winning a faceoff.



Great job, Matthew.

Let's end the Eagan series on a high note. Here's a shot that Eric put in the net.

Three defenders couldn't stop the shot...

Way to go, Eric!

Scrimmage v Eagan, Part 5

More single photo highlights:

Garrett stick handling toward the goal.

Dylan takes a shot.

Matthew looking for his chance.

Gavin celebrates a goal with help from Andrew S. and Dylan.

Finally, the ref notifies the puzzled boys just before the game that "without my cheaters I have to hold the newspaper this far away..."

There's one more post from the Eagan game coming.

Scrimmage v Eagan, Part 4

Here are some single photo highlights from the game against Eagan on December 30.

Gavin waits for a pass in front of the Eagan goal.

An exceptional shot of Marco as he skates to the puck.

Jacob celebrating a goal, with Max B. close behind.

Eric on his way down the ice.

Max K. takes a shot.

Scrimmage v Eagan, Part 3

Here's more defensive action from the Spartans. This time, Jackson makes a save.

Here comes the shot, but Jackson is ready...

...if you look closely, you'll see the puck right in front of his body.

Now Gavin is blocking the view...

..but there's the puck bouncing off the other side. Nice save, Jackson.

Scrimmage v Eagan, Part 2

Happy 2009 to all! Before we get started with the new year, there's a lot of photos from the old year left to review. Let's get back to the game against Eagan, one of the most exciting contests we've had all year. The Eagan team skated fast and passed with accuracy.

When your opponents are able to move the puck, you spend relatively more time in front of your own net. There was a lot of great defense played by the Spartan team.

Max B. defended goal with great success a couple of times.

He wasn't alone, as Henri, Wyatt and others helped Jackson (goaltending) keep the opponents at bay.

Here's another sequence showing Max B.'s quick moves as he bats the puck out of the crease:




Great job, Max.

Scrimmage v Eagan, Part 1

Last night we scrimmaged against Eagan, a fast skating team that knows how to pass. They may have played a better game than we did. Certainly,through most of the game up until about 3 minutes before it ended the score of 4-2 in Eagan's favor would tell that story.

But the Spartans came fighting back. With 3 minutes left to go, Coach Jake McCoy waved goaltender Andy P. back to the bench. Six skaters on the ice could change the momentum. After a few tense moments, during which it looked at least once like Eagan would have a breakaway and goal on an open net, the Spartans scored. After sending Andy P. back to tend goal, the game resumed. But the tide had turned for the Eagan team, and we scored again. And here's the final score:



There will be a few posts with photo hightlights, but not until late this afternoon at the earliest. I hope to get at least one done before the scrimmage tonight. See you at the rink!

Addendum: it turns out the description above is not quite accurate. Coach McCoy did pull goaltender Andy P. off the ice with three minutes left to play, but it was the fourth and tying goal that was scored, not the third. At least, that's the way many of the other spectators remembered it.