NAHL Springfield Jr. Blues

Tables Turned

January 7, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Springfield Jr. Blues News Release


If you missed last night's game between these two clubs, you missed one of the most exciting games of the season. The Jr. Blues trailed 2 - 0 mid-way through the third period when Kyle Cook finally broke the ice with a goal for the first time in nearly nine periods of hockey. Jordan Johnson tied the score late in the third and the game went to overtime. Neither team was able to score so a shootout followed the extra period. Mitch Rogge put one past the K-Wing Goalie to win it and the Blues moved into a tie for third place with the Coulee Region Chill, who lost in their shootout battle with the Aberdeen Wings. The same two teams met on the ice in the Franklin P. Nelson Center again tonight.

The Jr. Blues Blog (written by yours truly) is up and running. Nally, of Nal-Kil Productions has been posting these articles for a while now, but he's ready to launch it for all concerned. Check it out at www.jrblues.wordpress.com and let us know what you think. Eventually, I will be posting all articles on the Blog and phase out the e-mails. That should save some time getting the articles to you when we are on the road and the bus is ready to go before I am, or in a certain venue about 120 miles south of Springfield that shuts down their internet server before I can get an article sent to everyone. At least we are able to broadcast from the "un-named" location again.

Also, check out the official Jr. Blues web site at www.jrblues.com and take a look at the link to the Jr. Blues Blog. It's a picture of the ol' Big Mouth of the team...me...and if you click on it, it takes you directly to the Blog I've been talking about. These folks are going to drag me kicking and screaming into the Tech Age. We are making improvements every day and hope to get the Coaches Show up and running in the near future. Stay tuned as they say, for the latest updates! It's fun...I think.

The first period went by in a hurry, and both teams were up and down the ice in a hurry. The K-Wings scored on a Power Play at the 9:38 mark on a goal by Hervey, assisted by Beauvais. The Jr. Blues had some great chances, but they were shut out by Kenneth MacLean, the Kalamazoo Goalie. There was more pushing and shoving around the net after the whistle blew to stop the action. No gloves came off during the first stanza, but I couldn't guarantee it won't happen before this game is completed.

I didn't think the speed of the play could get ramped up any more than what it was during the first period, but if anything, it was much quicker. The Blues came out and scored at 48 seconds of the period on Tyler Rehm's goal. He was assisted on the goal by Brent Skibba and Stew Bell. Just three and one half minutes later the Blue and Gold scored their second goal to take the lead 2 - 1. Mitch Rogge scored his first official Jr. Blues Goal since coming to the Blues from Amarillo. Guan Wang and Cody Dixon assisted with that first Rogge goal. The pace remained quick for the entire goal, although no more scoring took place. Gabe Antoni did a great job in goal as he stopped some shots I just don't know how he could get to.

The third period came and went quickly. The K-Wings scored to tie the game with just 10 seconds left in regulation. Just like last night, the overtime period was scoreless and we went to a shootout. Tonight it was all Wings in the shootout as the first three put the puck past Antoni. The only score by the Blues was on Mike Williams wrister. Final score was 3 - 2 Kalamazoo. Congratulations to both teams for a hard fought, entertaining hockey game.

Next week it's Chesterfield, Missouri on Friday night against the St. Louis Bandits, and back to the Nellie against the Bandits on Saturday night.

There was a good crowd in house both nights and the Blue and Gold played well.

Check out the Springfield Jr. Blues Statistics



North American Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2012


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