Spiders drop season opener to the Barons 4-3

Oct. 28, 2018

After an offseason of upheaval the Spiders kicked off the 2018-19 season on Sunday night at Richfield against the Barons.

The Barons took an early lead on a breakaway after two Spider defensemen whiffed on the puck and then doubled the lead midway through the second. Eric Grotbeck got the Spiders on the board minutes later off a nice feed from behind the net courtesy of Spider rookie Mike Saucerman.

Two quick goal slate in the period left the Spiders staring at a 4-1 deficit entering the third. The Spiders had the momentum early in the third period as Justin Stone made the score 4-2. Just a minute later Matt Adlemann got the Spiders within a goal with a shorthanded breakaway off a Barons turnover. Despite some good chances late the Spiders couldn’t get the equalizer, falling 4-3 in the season opener.

Doug Hopperstad, Haley Grotbeck, Kevin Suhsen, and Mike Saucerman made their Spider debuts while Eric Grotbeck, Jason Yancey, and Paul Fitch were skating their first games as official full-time players.

Michael Sklander filled in admirably for injured netminder Brian Dow, saving 27 of 31 shots.

The Spiders return to the ice on Sunday, November 4th to renew their rivalry with the Zephyrs. The rivalry has been dormant since 2012 but who could forget the legendary “Battle of the Park” in which the teams combined for 21 penalties in a 4-4 stalemate.