January 11,
2025
After 2 impressive road victories, the Stars returned home for a
Saturday matinee against the Brock Wild.
From the puck-drop, it was clear – these Stars came to play. Showing
high-energy, smart passing, and quick shifts, to this writer, the boys carried the
pace of play in the first.
It was right-winger Connor Adams who put the Stars on the board first,
after an excellent offensive zone shift by #88 and his linemates Griffin Larmer
and Lochlan Pherrill. The Wild followed
suit with a fortuitous marker, and the score was even at one apiece after a
period of play.
The elevated pace of play from the Stars continued into the second, as the
Green-and-White sought to regain the advantage. That moment came when
defenceman Liam Carney, capitalizing on the Wild changing lines, sprung
centreman Simon Gillespie in alone via a long tape-to-tape stretch pass.
Gillespie found himself staring down the Wild tender and made no mistake,
burying the go-ahead goal.
Late in the second frame, the Wild once again found the back of the cage,
forcing the squadron to settle for a 2-2 draw heading into the second intermission.
The only “letting their guard down” moment came early in the third, when
the Brock Wild scored 2 quick goals – short handed markers, no less – giving
the Wild their first lead of the game. Despite battling hard to the end, the
Stars were not able to make up the deficit, and the game ended 5-2, with an
empty-net goal sealing the deal.
Overall, this was a tightly contested affair. The Stars looked every bit
the match for Brock, which is an encouraging sign of the boys’ progress over
the last stretch of play.
Next up, your Stars begin “season 2” – a nine-game sequence of games to
determine their seeding going into the play-off eliminations. Their first such
match-up will be against the Durham Crusaders on Saturday, January 18, at 1:30
pm at the Cavan-Monahan Community Centre.
Nobility and dignitaries are sure to be in attendance. See you all at
the rink.
Go Stars Go.
M. Carney