Third Game v Highland, Part 5

There are just a few more photos from the game against Highland, which kept the Spartans in the running for the district championship.

Dylan looks over his shoulder.

There's got to be a caption here. I can't think. Someone come up with one. Please. Something with a French accent.

Late in the game, Jacob took a backhand shot at the goal.

The puck having gotten past the Highland offense, the Spartans led by Andrew were on their way back down the ice.

Lots of handshakes all around, and some smiles on the Richfield teams faces.

Thrid Game v Highland, Part 4

Here are five photos of various players moving the puck.

For a defenseman, Matthew gets into the zone with a lot of shots on goal.

One of Andrew's many shots.

Here's one of the Highland players trying to squeeze on past nearly the entire Richfield team. Is that his grandmother who can hardly stand the suspense?

Jacob getting ready.

Another one of Andrew's many shots.

Third Game v Highland, Part 3

Sometimes, everything falls into place just the way it's supposed to, almost as if you practiced it that way. This next set of photographs shows one of the best plays we've seen from the Spartans all season.

We couldn't know that it was the start of a fine play when Andrew S. started the puck down the ice.

He soon passed it to Gavin on the left side of the zone...

...who quickly returned it to Andrew, who was approaching the goal in the middle. That's Andrew in the lower left corner. Andrew fired an excellent shot just below the crossbar, high into the net.

Gavin and Andrew met behind the goal, where the smaller Gavin had no trouble lifting Andrew in celebration.

Nice goal, Andrew, and nice assist, Gavin.

Third Game v Highland, Part 2

Everyone pitched in, even if the glory goes to a few.

Max D. didn't just fly. He took several shots as well.

Marco and Jacob tried to psych out the opponents with some interesting leg work.

Henri was indomitable in the corners.

Jacob didn't allow himself to be distracted.

Andy P. made a save.

Third Game v Highland, Part 1

What's the old saying? "He who laughs last, laughs best." After losing twice to Highland by narrow margins during the regular season, the Richfield Spartans beat them 3-0 in the first game of the district playoffs. Highland is a strong team, but luck wasn't with them. Several good shots were deflected by our netminders, and a few loose pucks in the crease wandered out of scoring position before they could be shepherded into the goal.

Richfield offense was playing exceptionally well.

Here's Jacob with a shot.

Jackson with a save.

Gavin did a lot of tremendous skating, puck handling, passing and shooting...

...and Max D. wowed us all with his impression of Harry Potter playing quidditch.

Gavin scored first, giving the Spartans the edge they never lost.

Second Game v Highland, Part 4

Another few individual photos.

Andrew S. passing the puck.

Henri playing offense.

Dylan has the puck, and the ref, who knows what comes next from officiating at one of our earlier games, is trying to get some momentum. I'm not sure he's fast enough to keep up with Dylan when he's on one of his breakaways.

Unfortunately, the final score was simply not in our favor. Max B. scored our only goal, and I unfortunately missed it. (Sorry, Max.) Our team played well; maybe not as well as they're capable of playing, but well nonetheless. We had a few other chances to score. But their goalie was good, and we just didn't get any breaks. There's always another game, as Coach McCoy told me when I interviewed him. Look forward to seeing you all at the rink!

Second Game v Highland, Part 3

Another group of photos:

Max K. and Jackson during a quiet moment.

Jackson makes a save...

...and (from the same sequence but about three frames later) Hunter gets the rebound.

Max B. got mugged here, but held his own and got the puck out of the corner.

Second Game v Highland, Part 2

Here are five photos of Andy P. making five different saves. If you click on the photos and look carefully, you can see the puck in four of them.


I don't believe this was a goal for Highland.





Really terrific job, Andy.

Second Game v Highland, Part 1

Our second game against Highland had some similarities with the first, including the final outcome. Here are some single photo highlights:

Dylan against the wall, gets ready to fire the puck past an opponent.

Here's Jackson about to make a save. Both Jackson and our other goaltender, Andy P., played terrific games.

Marco crossing the blue line.

Max D. moving past an opponent.

Hunter playing defense.

Game v Highland Central Capitals, Part 3

OK, OK, I can't resist a third post showing some more of the defense and offense in the game. This first one is a shot of more than half of the people on the ice. That's seven players and one referee.

And it didn't result in a goal for Highland.

Here's Garrett with a shot or a pass, I can't remember which.

Hunter wrestled his way past a number of defenders and went on to make several shots.

That's all for this first league game. Sorry I don't have a shot of Gavin (I think it was) scoring our one goal. Looking forward to next weekend.

Game v Highland Central Capitals, Part 2

Here's another sequence to demonstrate how close this game really was. This time Jackson was goalie.

He jumped up to stop the puck and it hit his face. After it hit him, it bounced--down--off the crossbar.

Then it was a game of "where's the puck."

"Rats. There it is."

"Better jump on it."

At this point, the Highland team and referee realized where it was, too. It was a really good attempt on Jackson's part.