January 28,
2025
There were 8 games on the NHL dance card this evening, but none quite as
intriguing as today’s feature presentation: the Newcastle Stars vs Millbrook
Stars.
Admittedly, after some high-octane weekend hockey at the Andy Passero
Memorial Tournament, this hockey seemed not as fast paced as we’ve recently
observed. Nonetheless, your Stars rolled up their sleeves, put their hard hats
on, and went to work.
On the power play in the early frame, it was defenceman Colton Harris
who put Millbrook on the board first, with a fine corner pocket bank-shot off a
Newcastle defender. Millbrook pressed for more, but it was Newcastle who found
the equalizer later in the first, and the score was even after one.
Early in the second, Newcastle managed to find mesh to take a 2-1 lead, seizing
the momentum of the game for the time being. This lead, however, lasted for
less than two minutes before Captain Simon Gillespie snapped one home,
balancing the affair at two apiece.
Seconds later, on a two-on-one rush, Gillespie sent a gorgeous pass
across to Elijah Dunlop who emphatically one-timed a frozen rope passed the
Newcastle keeper. Nevertheless, late in the frame, Newcastle struck again,
sending the Stars into the second intermission all squared up.
Putting the team on his back, the Captain scored a highlight reel goal
on an impressive individual effort early in the third to allow Millbrook to
regain the lead. This lead would last for most of the third period, but
Newcastle, showing plenty of resolve, snapped the yo-yo back up, evening the score
at four apiece. Finally, with two minutes left to play, forward Connor Adams
assumed the role of hero, closing the deal off a Lochlan Pherrill feed. Make
the final: 5-4, good guys.
On this blizzardy kind of evening, it was the line of Dunlop-Gillespie-Warrick
who were the brightest of Stars in the night sky. They were in peak form,
moving the puck well, smartly seeing each other on the ice, and generally
pressing the attack deep in Newcastle’s end for much of the game.
Overall, this was a back-and-forth affair and, clearly, not the tidiest
piece of work that Millbrook has put forth – but, as the cliché goes – a win is
a win. And we’ll take it.
Next up, the fellas get a couple of well-earned days off before multiple
practices over the weekend, followed by a re-match against these Newcastle
Stars on Tuesday, February 4, 6:30 pm at the Cavan-Monahan Community Centre.
Join us.
Go Stars Go.
M. Carney