Officials ruin close match

The under 12's were on the second week of a five in five week stint. Today we were at our neighbourhood rivals Peterborough who were placed just one below us in the table. As 'A league' status was guaranteed it was time to blood some of the less experienced players.

The first period was very even and started with Matt chasing down the D to force an icing. Macca broke forward well on a couple of occasions and Thomas and Jack dealt with all that was thrown at them. Ryan was called for a Pen and Jordan saved an early attempt, Thomas cleared the only other incursion into the D as the shorthanded spell was seen out. When MK returned to full strength, Thomas found Jonathan and he quickly found Macca but the shot was wide. Garth cleared the next attack and then Brandon and Daniel combined well to sort out the middle. Ryan picked up and touched back to Thomas he put in Emma but her shot was saved. Connor was next on hand to stop an attack but nobody could prevent the next shot from behind the net deflecting off Jordan's skate on 13:38, 0-1. Jordan saved well to prevent an immediate doubling of the lead and the puck was cleared. Matt battled well from behind the net to find Luc and he fired home the equalizer less than a minute later, 1-1. Disappointingly there was still time for an instant Peterborough reply as they scored with no time on the clock, 1-2.

Jordan saved early in the second as the Storm were put under increasing pressure. To their credit they survived well, with Emma clearing to Luc and moments later Thomas doing the same. Daniel battled well to keep an attack going and Brandon got involved again to clear up ice. Ryan made a lovely tackle to stop Potty in their tracks and cleared. Matt picked up a loose puck and skated half the ice before finishing in style, top right, 2-2, just 3:39 in. Macca was then called for Penalty which we didn't believe as he seemed to be the one fouled. MK survived and we thought no more on the incident. Jordan dived on a loose puck but then a lapse let in Peterborough to grab the go-ahead goal just before the buzzer, 2-3. There was still time however for Ashley to battle well on the edge of the blue zone and clear the danger and for Matt to get a Penalty for cross checking.

Just to make matters worse, 30 seconds into the third Macca and Pirate both got two, so now we are 3 on 4. Matt returned and moments later the ref signaled another penalty, Peterborough had the puck so play continued. MK intercepted the pass and the whistle blew. Jordan relaxed and a Potty player fired home. Amazingly the referee allowed the goal claiming he blew the whistle anticipating the game (I've heard it all now) 2-4. From that moment on MK amassed 30 minutes of penalties and Peterborough just 2, you get the picture. Players 10 meters from the incident were called for fouls, whereas Peterborough could do no wrong. Poor Connor was held down on the ice with a stick across his throat and nothing was called. Blatant slashing and cross checking was missed or ignored and when Matt hit a puck away in disgust, the result, 2+10. 

To their credit MK although shorthanded for most of the third period did prevent Peterborough scoring again.

MOM: Thomas

SOG:   Brandon