Machine Fail to Take One from Bandits

Published on October 13, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Motor City Metal Jackets News Release


hesterfield, MO - Jordan Bourgonje put the game on ice shorthanded all while finishing the day with two goals and an assist as the St. Louis Bandits knocked off the Motor City Machine 8-3.

After falling 4-0 the night before, the Machine had plenty to play for when the Sunday afternoon matinée began as Zach Hansen got the nod in net. It wouldn't take long for the Bandits to get the scoring started when Brendan Sheehan took a nice feed from Justin Kirchhevel to make it 1-0.

Not being able to score for more than a 137:00 minutes against St. Louis, Marco Ruggeri crashed the net on a rebound from Erick Cinotti off the blade of Jared Williams putting the Machine on the board, 1-1. Ruggeri slid across the mouth of the crease to get the rebound and end the scoring drought.

Things got interesting as the puck fell into the second period as Brooks Bertch found his biscuit with help from Bourgonje putting the Bandits back on top for a short time, 2-1.

When inserted to the line-up the night before, Nick Grams was all over the place making his presence felt by using the body and creating scoring chances for himself and the team making his return a must on Sunday. Grams, who sat the week before, earned every square inch of the puck from Ali Dakroub getting the momentum swung towards the Machine, 2-2.

This, however, was short lived and quickly buried far from the eye, as a crucial shorthand play for Bourgonje on Hansen putting the Bandits ahead for good at 3-2. A scoring frenzy soon followed as five goals were rung up in the final eight minutes of the second, quietly prompting an early exit for Hansen to Joe Rogers.

Rogers, who took the loss the night before, was beaten back door because he could get settled in net and by then the score was 7-2 when horn sounded to end the second stanza.

Motor City would scrap a late goal by Jake Friedman, but it was too late for a rally and the series would be swept by St. Louis, 8-3.

Grams, Ruggeri and Friedman got the goals for Motor City and Greco dished two assisted along with Clinton Bourbonais en route to the sweep. The Machine fall to 3-7 on the young season netting just 17 goals in 10 games and St. Louis skates to 8-1-1 all alone atop the South Division.

The Machine take their struggles on the road to Traverse City on Friday and Saturday night.

The Motor City Machine is in their first season in Michigan as members of the North American Hockey League. The Motor City Machine are formerly the Southern MN Express in which they made the playoffs three straight years and twice into the Robertson Cup finals. The NAHL is the nation's largest Junior A hockey league and is now in its 33rd year of operation. For more information, visit machinehockey.com or call (734) 642-0544.

Machine home games will be played at the Yack Arena in Wyandotte, Mich. All games are broadcast on machinehockey.com and video broadcast through B/2 Network.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



North American Hockey League Stories from October 13, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central