Spiders steal one from the Thunder Chickens

Dec. 29, 2007

The C2 Spiders looked weary against the Thunder Chickens at Aldrich Arena (the fabled home of the Hill Murray hockey team). The Spiders were out hustled throughout most of the game, and as such, Spiders GM and Ownership group issued this message to the team just prior to exiting the arena. “Our high-priced skill players must start to deliver the type of offense and defense we have come to expect, or, we will begin searching the waiver wire. Let us remind you that we don’t have far to look for talent, especially with the upcoming and promising talent of the Spiders D1 team.” The message resonated loud and clear to the Spiders as they headed home for the New Year break.

The Spiders retain sole possession of 3rd place in the C2 West Standings behind the Lakers and Rack Attack. However, the Spiders did not generate the type of offense expected from its powerful three forward lines. Once again in the matchup against the Thunder Chickens, the Spiders defense scored three goals, including the game winner in overtime.

The Spiders started out slowly in the first period, generating only 4 shots on goal compared to the Chickens 8 shots. The lone penalty of the night came at 9:12 of the first period when Spider winger Tim Forcelle was tagged for tripping. The T-Chickens scored the first marker of the game just prior to the penalty. T-Chickens winger Milbrandt was quoted after the game “we had a short bench, we knew we had to score early and often if we were going to stay in this one.”

The second period brought a bit more effort from the Spiders as they produced 9 shots on goal against the T-Chickens 9 shots, but the Spiders quickly went down 2–0 as Milbrandt (#23) put a goal in tallying his second of a three-point night. The Spiders quickly countered with a goal that came from defensemen Chris Stalpes off a feed from center Dave Schliesman; however, at the end of 2 periods still trailed 2–1, and were still getting out-hustled to the puck.

The third period continued to be one for the T-Chickens as they seemed to carry the puck and dominate the possession in the neutral zone. However, the Spiders tied the game at 2–2 on a breakaway goal from Shawn Tromiczak. Shortly after the Spiders goal, the Thunder Chickens scored again and went up 3–2. Midway through the 3rd period, Spiders left winger Lee Martini shot an errant centering pass to Brad Butalla from Gretzky’s office that went off of the back of the T-Chickens net minder and into the net to tie the game back at 3–3. Overtime was looming….and the Chickens were getting tired with only 10 skaters.

As the overtime period started, the Spiders dug down deep to try to finally out skate the Thunder Chickens, and only 17 seconds into the period, that is exactly what Shawn Tromiczak did …. he out skated the Chickens and put in the final tally, Spiders win in OT 4–3.

Shots on goal: Spiders 22, Thunder Chickens 22; tonight’s attendance, 38; next game: January 5 vs. the Spartans. The 10th place Spartans lead the league in penalty minutes with 122 minutes. (Spiders have 44).