|
|
..FROM
THE DESK OF MIKE HAYAKAWA..
With Mark Mitchell and Kevin Tompkins being ejected from the game after incurring head checking penalties and Mark Menonte and Jimmy Ball still out with injuries, the Waxers were forced to juggle their lineup. And with the score tied at 2-2 late in the contest, James Regan stepped to the front for the Waxers by scoring the eventual game-winning goal with just 1:45 remaining in regulation time. "We said afterwards that it was another first-place hockey club giving another first-place effort," said Waxers head coach Russ Herrington. "We could have easily gotten frustrated because we weren't finishing our plays and their goalie (Craig Nielson) stood on his head. But we didn't panic." "To stay in first place you need different guys to step up and make plays and (Tuesday) we got goals from two different forwards and a defenceman."
Returning from the injured list, Jason Young staked the Waxers to a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes. After the Axemen tied the game, Albert Ferrante restored the Waxers' lead through 40 minutes. Dan Leclair handled 27 of 29 shots directed his way and was praised by Herrington for his effort. "Dan's been struggling lately. We spoke to him during practice and before the game and told him he had to be more calm and poised and to play his position. The guys rallied around him." Herrington also credited his club's penalty-killing units, which killed off eight infractions including a two-man disadvantage late in the second period. "It was a perfect team effort," he said of the win. Now 16-7-0-0, the Waxers will host the Axemen Friday at Centennial Arena at 8 p.m.
|
