NAHL Springfield Jr. Blues

Blues Sweep Bandits

Published on January 15, 2012 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Springfield Jr. Blues News Release


Welcome to the frozen tundra of Chesterfield! The Hardee's Iceplex has to be one of the coldest rinks in the North American Hockey League, I do believe. Today it is even colder than usual, or so it seems.

After a 5 - 2 win last night, it seemed like a short turn around as we boarded the bus and left Springfield this morning at 10:00 am. Some of the faces (mine included) were not fully alert yet at that time. Still, the guys look ready to take on the dreaded Bandits on their home rink, the big Olympic size where the Blues have had more success than at home. Topeka swept the Bandits last week in Topeka. It would seem like a birthday/Christmas present to do the same to this Bandit team that has a history of giving the Blues fits. Perhaps the Blue and Gold will accomplish that milestone today. Whether they do or not it will still be cold and we will probably all be numb from it by the final horn that ends the game.

Last night's goal by the Jr. Blues was one of the quickest in history of the team right out of the box. Eleven seconds and two passes off the opening faceoff gave the Blue and Gold a lead they wouldn't relinquish throughout the game. You also had to be happy for Kevin Walters last night. The young man has had a lot of problems against his former team, and was on the verge of being sanctioned by the league for his many minutes of penalties. He has turned it around though and hasn't been assessed a penalty in the last three games. Good job by the young man last night as well, with a goal and an assist he played one of his better games. Like the rest of the Springfield Jr. Blues, there is a lot of talent there.

I felt like singing the old Willie Nelson song, "On the Road Again" when I stepped up on the bus this morning. Fortunately for everyone I refrained. It's a good song for a theme song to go by for the rest of the Blues season as most of the remaining games are on the road. After a weekend off next weekend, Topeka comes to town for a pair of games, and then we hit the road with a three game weekend with Chicago. Today though, it's St. Louis again...

Period one was almost De Javu all over again as the Blues scored on a goal by Chris Sitler at the 1:18 mark with an assist by Cody Kohn. Once again, Gabe Antoni kept the Bandits scoreless through the first making some more spectacular saves on point blank shots. The Blues continue to play with the consistency that has been so often lacking during the first half of the season. Birmingham of the Bandits was assessed a double minor and game ejection for a check from behind late in the period so the Blues will have a man advantage for two minutes to start the second period.

With a couple of interruptions the second period seemed to drag, but the Blues are still in control. A puck was sent airborne and knocked a big pile of rust from the girder to the ice which needed not only squeegee and shovel clean up, but also a mid-period visit by the Zamboni. We had a moment of concern when Gabe Antoni took a puck between his chest protector and neck protector and was laid out on the ice for several minutes. He finally got to his feet and was able to continue, but Blues fans were worried for a few moments. The period saw Stew Bell score a short-handed goal on an assist by Ethan Nauman to make the score 2 - 0 at 4:58 of the period. Then, as time wound down toward the final seconds of the stanza, Chris Sitler scored his second goal of the game with another assist by Ethan Nauman and Josef Pontasch. The Blue and Gold took a 3 - 0 lead into the locker room for the second intermission.

The third period saw the Bandits score their first goal of the game to cut the Blues lead to 3 - 1, but 4 ½ minutes later Mitch Rogge scored with an assist by Cody Kohn (his second assist in the game). Final score in another well-played game by the Blues was 4 - 1.

Next week is an off-week for the league's Prospect's Tourney in Michigan, and the Blues host the Topeka Roadrunners at home in two weeks. This was a great weekend for the guys and we congratulate them on a job well done.

Check out the Springfield Jr. Blues Statistics

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North American Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2012


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