Spiders tie Wingmen ... in shots

Dec. 12, 2009

The Spiders took the SLP ice tonight with a number of changes on the roster. Early Saturday starts aren’t kind to the schedules of adult hockey players. With seven players reported out or late, roster saw the debut of Aaron Bedessem and Carlos Eberhardt in their sub roles. And also too late to suit up in net, star Spider goalkeeper Amber Obermoller skated out at defense for the first time as a Spider. In net as a sub was the former Jets netminder Chad Sanasack. And finally, manning the bench was Jenny Tuttle, wife of Jim, providing much-needed coaching to the Spiders.

Playing against a 3–2 Wingmen team that doesn’t appear to have lost an edge since last season — when they were one of only two teams to beat the Spiders that year — the Spiders would have their work cut out for them if they wanted to turn their 1–4 record around.

Unfortunately, the scoring started early, with a Wingmen marker just 16 seconds after the first puck drop. And often. They’d get another six minutes later, and yet another five-and-a-half minutes later. Finally, with 4:22 remaining, Christian Heitzman banged one past Maloney, assist to Bedessem, to pull within 2. The Wingmen would get it back just under a minute later, to close out the first with a 4–1 lead.

In the second, the refs finally found their whistles, as the not that chippy Wingmen took Aaron “I just draw penalties” Bedessem for a hard ride into the end boards. As usual, the Spider PP was ineffective. And at 11:54, the Wingmen added another to go up 5–1, despite one ref having waved off the goal. The march to the box would continue, as this same officiating crew from two weeks ago that admitted they blew some crucial calls, blew some more calls. The final whistle of the second would be as Bedessem got dragged hard to the boards yet again by the not that chippy Wingmen.

In the third, the ineffective Spiders’ PP was even more ineffective this time, as the Wingmen got a shorthanded goal, the first the Spiders have let in this season. Two minutes later, the Wingmen would get yet another, with the score now sitting at 7–1. The Spiders would finally answer back at 12:34, as Chris Flannery finally made one of his many weaves and dodges of the night find the back of the net.

With the early exit of Bedessem after getting dragged to the boards one, or two, too many times, Baker was moved from the blue line to center. And on his first shift, pressed hard through a stack of Wingmen and found the back of the net, as well as the front of the end boards. He had to be told later the puck actually went in.

With 11 minutes remaining, the Spiders would continue to get chances, though at 7:15 the Wingmen would get their icing on the cake, going up 8–3.

A few more penalties, a few missed calls, a few learning opportunities about where faceoffs should be, and that was it for the game.

Now, on those shots, the Spiders and Wingmen actually tied in shots in this game, at a whopping 32 apiece.

With this latest loss, the Spiders drop to 1–5, the Wingmen improve to 4–2 and jump to fourth place.

Next up, the Spiders meet up with the 0–4–1 Sled Dogs, next Sunday at New Hope, where they hopefully have rectified their freon issues.

Game media

Jim Tuttle, on the opening faceoff, when the score was 0–0, briefly.

Obermoller crosschecks Flannery.

Second-period faceoff with Christian Heitzman, Aaron Bedessem and Carlos Eberhardt.

Clearly just a hook.

The Spider bench, helmed by Jenny Tuttle.

Eric Schlais (88), fires the puck in.

The ref tries to figure out the faceoff placement.

Amber Obermoller (yes, that Amber Obermoller) and Jim Tuttle on a PK faceoff.

For all game photos, see the Spiders Photo Gallery.