WSHL Showcase Game 4
BIGHORNS GO UNDEFEATED IN WSHL SHOWCASE IN DRAMATIC STYLE BY WINNING “THREE TIMES” IN THE SAME GAME
Las Vegas, NV – The Helena Bighorns entered the final day in the WSHL Showcase with one goal in mind, to win the game. What they didn’t know, was that they would have to win it three different times to do it.
Sunday morning in December is usually a day reserved for the excitement of NFL football. What the capacity crowd at the Las Vegas Ice Center didn’t know was that they were about to be treated to a hockey game that rivaled the excitement of a Super Bowl Sunday.
The stage was set. The hype was real and the players were ready. The Helena Bighorns entered the final day of the WSHL Showcase with a 3-0 record. With a win, the Bighorns could boast an undefeated record and unofficial bragging rights of the fast growing on ice rivalry between the WSHL and the America West Division of NORPAC.
The only thing standing in the way of the Bighorns were the Fresno Monsters, or so they thought….
The game started as a blueprint of the other 3 games for Helena, which saw them play with a dominance of puck possession, only to be thwarted by hot goaltending. This time it cam courtesy of Marcus Harbison of Fresno. The Bighorns came out with an aggression that few teams in NORPAC have seen this year. The Big Blue hit and bumped and banged. The move put the ‘Horns in penalty trouble and were forced to kill 7 penalties, including a 5-3. Fresno capitalized on the Bighorn’s brawny play and led 2-1 at halftime.
The second half opened with Helena returning to their speed and puck possession game. The opening 15 minutes of the 2nd half saw Helena control the play and pepper Harbison with a bevy of shots, none of which converted. The attack continued late into the game and it looked like Harbison would be the unlikely hero. That was until Anthony Petruzzelli had other ideas. “Petro” converted on a slide across pass that beat Harbison with just 0:55 left to play in the game to tie the score at two. The teams traded scoring chances in the last minute of play with the highlight being a stellar save made by Helena’s, Kameron Maxwell that sent the game into overtime.
With overtime being played 4 on 4, it looked to favor the Bighorns. That favor last all of 3 seconds when Petruzzelli was called for interference on the opening face-off of overtime, putting the ‘Horns down 4 on 3 for the next 2 minutes. Despite a series of point shots by Fresno, Helena’s Maxwell was able to thwart the attempts and the Bighorns were able to kill off the penalty. The Bighorns had several chances to wrap up the game in overtime but it was Harbison that again came up big for the Monsters. After 55 minutes of play, the game was still tied, which meant this affair would be decided by the shootout.
This is when things got interesting…
Helena was set to shoot first. They did and they scored. Then it was Fresno’s turn. They shot and Maxwell made the save. Helena led the shootout 1-0. The Bighorns sent their next shooter out. They scored. Fresno sent their second shooter onto the ice. Maxwell came up with the save and the Helena bench emptied as they rushed down to celebrate their victory. After a brief celebration, Helena left the ice and headed to the locker room for some much needed rest and time to savor their accomplishment, but something was wrong…..
The Fresno team had still not left their bench. It seems the Fresno bench was contending that the shootout was supposed to be a 5 man shoot-out and not 3. When catching up with Bighorns Assistant Coach, Josh Reis, he had this to say, “The ref came over after overtime and told us that there would be a 3 man shoot-out. I asked him if he was sure as we usually use 5 players. He said he was sure and I though that was that.” As such, the team headed off the ice after clinching what they thought was a victory. Reis added, “The guys were a little surprised, but they handled it well. It was a simple mistake.”
After a few quick minutes, Helena were summoned back to the ice and were told that the shoot-out was indeed to be 5 players. Helena quickly obliged and the shootout continued.
Of course you know how stories go, but I will continue. Helena is to send their 4th shooter to the ice. They do and they miss. Fresno follows. The Monster player converts and the shoot-out is now Helena 2 Fresno 1 after 3 rounds. Round 4 saw both teams miss and this set up a dramatic round 5 of the shoot-out. A Bighorn goal would end it. They shoot, they miss. Now it is all on Fresno. A goal will send it into sudden-victory shoot-out. A miss and the Bighorns will win the game…again!
The Fresno player skates down on the Bighorn goaltender, Maxwell. He dekes and lifts a shot up high which is saved by Maxwell and the Helena bench empties again with players huddling around an excited Maxwell. Helena wins the shoot-out, in dramatic fashion 2-1, or did they……
The referee signaled to the Helena bench that the net was off of its moorings prior to the shooter skating in to take his shot. As a result, the shooter would be given another opportunity. A “re-do?” In a hockey game? In a shoot-out? Hmmmm……
After a few more minutes of getting the Helena players back to their bench, the unthinkable happened. A “re-do” was given. The Fresno player streaked down the ice and made no mistake this time, converting on his shot. After 5 shooters, the score was Helena 2, Fresno 2.
Now the game took an even bigger level of significance. The Sudden victory shoot-out. The first team to score without the other team equaling would be declared the winner. Helena again shot first and missed. Fresno was now in the unlikely position of winning the game. One shot could turn the entire game upside down. Fresno came down and shot, Maxwell made the save. Round 6 was complete and it was still tied at two. Round 7 provided the same level of drama with the same result. Both teams shot and both goalies made saves.
Round 8 began with the Bighorns’ newly acquired forward, Chris Rinaldi taking the shot. Rinaldi made a nice pump fake and ripped the puck past Harbison to take a 3-2 shoot-out lead. Maxwell was now faced with the task he had faced two times earlier in the same game. Make the save, win the game. This time, “Mini-Max” was up to it and the Fresno player missed. Final score, Helena 5, Fresno 4.
With the win, Helena finished the Showcase with a perfect 4-0 record and did it in dramatic fashion…winning “three times” in one game to do it.
Head Coach, Scott Cunningham, while happy for his team’s performance was more complimentary of the host WSHL. “They (WSHL) hosted a great showcase and we are humbled that we were invited to play.” Cunningham added, “They ran a first class weekend and our players and their parents were thankful to be included. I hope we can return as it was a great opportunity for our team to be seen by the colleges against top-knotched talent.”
The Bighorns will now enjoy a holiday break, before return to action on Dec. 31 when they travel to Billing for an American West Division game against the always tough Billings Bulls.
