This year’s incarnation of the Jasper PeeWee Bears is a very interesting, multi-headed hydra.
While there is a lot of variation in speed, skill and scoring ability throughout the lineup, the sum of the parts is greater than the whole, such that when any single element is missing from the team, there are other players that step in to fill the role.
Last weekend, in a tilt against the team from Swan Hills, Jasper was missing two key blueliners, but with a bit of shuffling, coaches Geno Tassoni and John Polard were able to ice an odd-looking, but ultimately effective offensive and defensive force.
In the opening period, as players adjusted to their new roles, play was tentative, bordering on sleepy. Jasper’s defense, anchored by Josh Howes and Aidan Deagle, welcomed smooth skating Dana Angebrandt on the back line, who when partnered with Jacob Bartziokas kept the Bears’ zone clean and made goaltender Kelan Polard’s job easy.
Jasper’s forwards got away a few shots, but couldn’t convert. The score was zero apiece after 20 minutes.
In the second period, Jasper’s two centres, Matteo Tassoni and Sebastian Golla, started to gel with the rotation of three winger pairings. In fact, Golla and Tassoni combined on Jasper’s first goal during a shift change when Tassoni picked up a pass from Golla and confidently sunk the shot just two minutes in.
Golla again assisted on the second goal, taking a slapper on net, creating a rebound that Dylan Dekker hammered in. Baden Koss picked up Jasper’s third goal, finishing off a nice three-way play from linemates Tassoni and Adrian Torres, while Dekker kept the ball rolling with his second goal of the game, finishing a two pass effort from Liam Crozier and Jacob Bartziokas.
Crozier had his strongest outing of the season on Saturday, contributing to Jasper’s offensive creativity and standing strong on the puck along the boards.
Tassoni rounded out the second period with two quick goals, less than two minutes apart—the first was a shortie and the second was a converted pass from Crozier in the neutral zone.
After 40 minutes, the score was 6–0.
In the third, with the score well in hand, coach Tassoni adjusted his lines further, giving Dekker a centre role and moving Matteo to the wing. Swan Hills also made some adjustments, amping up its game, and forcing Bears’ netminder Polard to make a spectacular save 1:30 into the final frame, preserving his 40 minute shutout.
Offensive zone puck cycling is a strength of this team, and even with a six-goal lead, pinning the opposition in their own end is a developmental skill at this level.
Eight minutes into the third, Angebrandt picked up the puck at the point and fired a slap shot on net. The Swan Hills goalie made the save, but Torres, who was lurking in the blue paint, picked up the rebound and put the puck in the back of the net.
Seven nothing for Jasper.
A couple of minutes later, a defensive breakdown in front of the Bears’ net spoiled Polard’s shutout bid, as Swan Hills was able to pick up a loose puck and poke it home. With the game winding down, hard-working Lucas Oeggerli picked up the game’s final goal, capping the score at 8–1 in favour of the Bears.
Next Saturday the Bears face off against Slave Lake at 3:30 p.m. in the Jasper Arena.
See you in the stands.
