So it begins again, another season in the IIHL Recreational Division and another year of twists and turns approaches. In a new league format this season, the teams are split into two separate divisions, to be sorted later in the season. Saturday’s games from Conference ‘A’ saw the Ice Vixens take on the Hawks ‘B’, and the Blackrock Whalers taking on the Ice Breakers.
Ice Vixens vs. Hawks B
Elaine McCann started her first competitive match with her new team, the Ice Vixens. They started by taking on a strong Hawks B team in Dundalk on Saturday. The Hawks B took the initiative by scoring 3 in the first 5 minutes and never looked back as they were 4-0 up by the end of the first. The Vixens however showed some good positioning; especially defensively as they foiled quite a few chances, which coach Sean Gibson must have been working with them in training. The Vixens goalie, McFarland was left helpless however as the Hawks piled on the pressure, with Hawks defenseman Kuts being flawless at the back and creating chances. The Hawks then turned on the style and finished up by putting 17 goals by the Vixens in the end.
First Star: Kuts (Hawks ‘B’) – Pulled the strings.
Second Star: McFarland (Vixens) – Made some great saves.
Third Star: Hunsdale (Vixens) – Offensive threat.
Final Score Hawks ‘B’, 17 – 0 Ice Vixens
Ice Breakers vs. Whalers
Barry O’Hanrahan brought his familiar boxing gloves to the bench as his Blackrock Whalers took on the Ice Breakers in the second of Saturdays games. This game would turn out to be a more competitive affair. Both teams zipped up and down the ice in a fast game, and the Ice Breakers were the first to fashion some chances, and hit both posts within a minute, with Whalers goalie Bill Arsenault lucky to keep it scoreless. The Ice Breakers then began to push on and broke the deadlock with two well worked goals. Bnocko was the creative force for the Whalers and he created the guts of the chances. He set up what would be the Whalers only goal in the game, dangling past 3 Ice Breakers as Soloman put the puck home to make it 2-1. It remained competitive for the rest of the first period. In the second and third however it was all Ice Breakers, as they ended up putting another 4 past Arsenault in the Whalers net. The Whalers also missed a penalty shot after an Ice Breakers defender lay down on the puck in his own crease, but Bnocko couldn’t convert as he missed the net. Goals from Makaras, Snmcoxioks , Andrasi, Petrov and a brace from Dxibzis put the Ice Breakers on the road to their first victory.
First Star: Dxibzis (Ice Breakers) – Picked up two goals.
Second Star: Petrov (Ice Breakers) – Sealed the game with goal.
Third Star: Bnocko (Whalers) – Creative Influence.
Final Score: Ice Breakers 6 – 1 Whalers ‘B’