IJS Hand Fresno Their 1st LOSS!!!
Published: September 8, 2009
The Idaho Junior Steelheads have just completed their toughest weekend to date in Fresno CA this past weekend. The IJS valiantly faced off against the Division #1 team in the Fresno Monsters in their arena filled with 2500+ fans on Friday and Saturday and at their practice arena on Sunday with about 75 fans. The arena on Friday and Saturday was bigger than our Qwest and the fans were amazing…
Friday night the team started off a little slow as they adjusted to the loud fans and the professionally run arena. The 1st period was ended with a 2-0 score with Fresno in the lead. The 2nd period quickly rounded off to a 2-1 game. In the 3rd period the IJS decided that they could take this team and they rallied to a 3-3 game to end regulation play. During the Overtime the teams held each other to no scores so off they went to Shoot Out play! The Fresno monsters won with 4 unanswered shots on goal but IJS were all excited to stay with the Division #1 team and really decided that they could play with these guys and were anxious for Saturday night…
Saturday night brought more fans and it seemed they were louder than ever…This game was played at the mercy of the officials as they really got so over-involved in the game that they actually decided the game with mis-calls and calls that were one sided. IJS started out strong and scored first in the 1st period which ended with a 1-0 IJS leading score. 2nd period brought goals to 3-2 IJS with the officials calling a last minute goal after the time for the period had run down. 3rd period started rough and all were soon tied at 3-3. Again, the officials decided to call an interference call on IJS with 41 seconds remaining so we finished out the game in 5 on 4 play and within the last 4 seconds, because we were short handed, the Monsters scored and won 4-3…we were all stunned.
Sunday brought the team to a different venue and only about 75 fans but, the same officials. The team played with great speed and brought the Fresno Monsters, despite the officials, to a great 2-1 defeat. IJS handed Fresno their first loss in regulation and IJS played great hockey.
All three games with Fresno were decided by one goal or one point in a Shoot Out situation. Officiating really determined the outcome of these games in large part but it was still great hockey and our fans should be very, very proud of the Idaho Junior Steelheads. Check out our web site for upcoming games and times: www.idahojuniorsteelheads.com
JUST DROP THE PUCK
