Last weekend the Jasper Midget Bearcats faced off twice against the Ponoka Wolves in a two-game showdown that were two sides of the same coin. Saturday’s game was what could only be described as an undisciplined gong-show. While Sunday’s much anticipated re-gong was the furthest thing from it. As my good friend and Bantam coach, Geno Tassoni observed in the stands on Sunday afternoon, it was a heck of a ball game. I reminded him that there was no ball involved, but he had a point. While both games were memorable, game one was a looney bird and the other was a royalty to behold.Â
Before we were 10 minutes into Saturday night’s entertainment, the guy on the clock was already trying to figure out how to enter, and then cancel, multiple penalties on both sides. And the scorekeeper had burned through a pen. Bearcat defenseman Ty Bangle, who was on fire all weekend, buried a pass from Elvis Gorontzky-Slack and Brendan Auger to put Jasper up by one on what was likely a power-play goal. Ponoka equalized a few minutes later, short-handed, finding a crack in Bearcat netminder Jake Melanson’s otherwise solid performance. The first frame ended knotted at one.
The second period started slowly with the first, and only goal, coming at the halfway mark when Jack Hilworth picked up a stretch pass from Melanson at the Ponoka blueline, and fired a shot past the Wolves’ goalkeeper. It was probably a power play goal. The penalty action had long begun by then with a Ponoka boarding minor, seven minutes in, and by the end of the frame, 20 sins had been recorded and were being atoned for on both sides. There was standing room only in the penalty boxes. When the Zamboni hit the ice for the second intermission it was Jasper two, Ponoka one.
Ponoka won the third frame, despite a pair of goals by Bearcat forward, Tegan Barker. The Wolves scored three, likely all coming on power plays, although this was tough to tell. Tally up another dozen penalties served by both sides, and what you are left with is a four all tie. Nothing resolved. I’ll give the outstanding player award to Bearcat D-man, Matthew Park for keeping his nose clean and picking up an assist.
At some point Sunday morning, the same coin was tossed in the air and this time it came up heads. In the rematch, yes there were penalties, but nowhere near the 40 racked up the night before. The play was end-to-end, the goaltending at both ends was outstanding, and the restraint shown by players on both teams was remarkable and to be applauded. Despite my harping on the coin toss, I credit the coaches from both sides who I suspect read the riot-act in the dressing room.
Kolby Read opened the scoring for the Bearcats 11 minutes into the first period, with Bangel and Gorontzky-Slack picking up assists. Then for 45 minutes of play fans in the stands were treated to a back-and-forth game with a combination of skilled play-making, some big, but clean hits, and a shared, 28-shot, shutout performance by Jasper’s starting netminder Severin Golla and Melanson to whom Golla handed the torch half way through the game. Standouts for the Bearcats were Jayden McDonald, who showed poise in the defensive end, and Liam Fengler-Wood, who was tenacious on the forecheck. Barker sealed the deal with 24 seconds to play with an empty-net goal giving Jasper their second outright victory of the season. Final score, Jasper two, Ponoka zero.
With a 2-2-1 record, the Bearcats will take a break from league play and host their annual tournament this weekend at the Jasper Arena. Games kick-off Friday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. and wind up Sunday afternoon at 1:15 p.m. I hope to see you in the stands.
John Wilmshurst special to the 51°µÍø
