W

Jan. 15, 2024

The Spiders got the first W of the calendar year, coming back to beat the Kan Jammers 5–2, a team the Spiders have never played in their 20 years in the league.

The Spiders dug out of a two-goal hole in the partially zamboni’d Richfield 2 ice, starting just under four minutes remaining in the second. In the third, it was all special teams, as the Richfield penalty box gate got a significant workout, as did scorekeeper Ryan Zollman’s PIM counter.

In the third period, the Kan Jammers turned into Kan’t Jammers, as they lost their cool but found the penalty box, resulting in three Spider power play goals, punctuated by a 3-on-5 shorthanded breakaway by Grotbeck.

Those three PPGs ties the Spider record for most power play goals in a game, previously set March 10, 2012, vs. the Fighting Saints, and tied Nov. 12, 2016, vs. the Scarlet Rebellion.

Sub goalie Chris Newberry made 25 saves, while the Spiders put 42 shots on the Jammers, while they’re goalie got one “shot.”

Final score: Spiders 5, Kan Jammers 2.

The win, the Spiders first in over a month, brings the record up to 3–6–1 at the halfway point of the winter season.

Next up, the schedule turns over, and it’s the Fighting Loons again, who have gone 8–0–2 since the 4–4 Spiders/Loons tie opening night, incidentally, with Chris Newberry as their sub goalie!

Puck drop is a finally reasonable 7 p.m. on Saturday night, at Breck.