Spiders net 6–2 win over Wolf Pack at New Hope

Dec. 7, 2008

Winter has finally set in here in the Northland, and the New Hope ice was up to standard, giving the Spiders’ offense a chance to get a workout. And work out they did, outshooting the Wolf Pack 32–19, including a 14–3 first frame.

The scoring also spread around this week, starting off with an early goal by center Chris Flannery, unassisted, at 10:56 of the first period. Then, on one of many Wolf Pack odd-number rushes, a collapsing Chris Flannery blocked a pass, sent the puck to the half boards, retrieved by defenseman Jeremy Litton, who hit a board pass up to a breaking right wing Ryan Herman, who had the patience of a saint and beat the goalie, putting the Spiders up 2–0 to finish out the first.

Into the second, the Wolf Pack’s center and captain Mike Hofer muscled his way through a hook and flipped the puck past Spider netminder Amber Obermoller.

The Spiders answered back just over a minute later, with what was to be the game-winner by center Chris Pettengill, on assist from left wing Rob Droullard and defenseman Luke Baker.

At 2:42, the Spiders’ fans in the New Hope bleachers had to rub their eyes, as they couldn’t believe that they were seeing the Paul LaCosse of seasons’ past, getting tied up in the Spiders’ zone with a Wolf Pack winger. Following an exchange of words and up-and-coming peacekeeper envoy Rob Droullard defusing the situation, the Spiders’ PK unit went to work.

Apparently forgetting the Spiders were on the PK, the two up players, Chris Flannery and Mike Armel pressed the power-play unit back into the corner, getting a couple offensive chances. And on the second chance, a minute into the power play, a feed from Flannery to a waiting Armel in the slot found daylight, and Armel got a shorthanded marker, and seemingly putting the game out of reach for the Wolf Pack at 4–1.

But, just 20 seconds after LaCosse exited his home away from home, the Wolf Pack’s Hofer made yet another break, and again, muscled his way through two Spiders’ defensemen who offered a hook, a poke check and a pick, all to no avail. The puck hit off Obermoller’s stick and found the back of the net, and cut the Spiders’ lead to 2.

Following a faceoff win by Flannery, he set up in the high slot, and with a second left on the clock for the second period, a perfect pass from defenseman Paul LaCosse was one-timed by Flannery into the goal. Second assist to Armel and the Spiders were back with a three-goal margin to finish out the second.

The third saw a couple Wolf Pack penalties, and, at 9:22 remaining, following a non-called hook and slash on Pettengill, there followed a non-penalty synchronized dance number by Chris Pettengill and a willing Wolf Pack partner. If only the Obermoller media crew could’ve got that on video!

The icing on the holiday cake came at 6:25 remaining, with a rush by defenseman Brian Armagost, assists to Pettengill and center Aaron Bedessem.

Final score: 6–2.

The Spiders continue their undefeated season, improving to 5–0–2 and maintaining the lock on first place in D1 East. The Wolf Pack sit at 2–5.

Next up for the Spiders, the 2–3–1 Stars, who always put on a solid puck-possession display, in a Monday night matchup on Dec. 15 at Wakota. Lifetime record against the Stars: 0–6, though there were a couple close ones last season.