Once again the first period of hockey was fast and furious. The Blues took a 1 – 0 lead on Tyler Rehm’s goal at 7:56. He was assisted on the goal by Brett Skibba and Stew Bell. At the 11:35 mark, Michigan tied the game and then almost two minutes later the Warriors took a 2 – 1 lead on a goal by Gruse. The Blues struggled with the offense until Ben Kremer scored from the point to tie the game at the 18:03 mark. Mitch Rogge and Ruslan Pedan assisted on Scooter’s goal. Stew Bell dropped the gloves with one of the Warriors, and while it looked like Stew got the best of his opponent, a doctor call went out to stitch up a cut over Bell’s eye. Both players were given a five minute penalty for fighting and two more minutes added for roughing. Stew went to the locker room for the rest of the first period.
Period two started and Stew Bell was back on the bench with a big bandage over his left eye. Give credit to Michigan, they have given the Blues everything they can, but again the Blues have answered the call. The home team had several point blank chances to add goals to their side of the scoreboard, but the Warrior Goalie has done a very good job between the pipes. Nick Townes scored at the 7:33 mark with an assist from Cody Dixon to put the Blues back in the lead 3 – 2. The game sheet at the second intermission gave the Blues a 40 -6 shots on goal advantage through the first two stanzas, and there have been 12 penalties called on both teams. Both teams fought hard throughout the game with another period to go.
Period three was more hard nose hockey. Josef Pontasch scored at 1:31 of the third to make the score 4 – 2. Ethan Nauman and Chris Sitler assisted on the play. It stayed that way until Michigan was able to score at the 19:29 mark to get them back within one. They then pulled their goalie for the sixth attacker, but to no avail as the clock ran down and the game ended with the final score 4 – 3.
The Blues are now 5-0-1 in their last six games, have played good hard nose consistent hockey and are within three games of the .500 mark. The record now stands at 17-20-2 and things are looking up for the Blue and Gold!
Next week the team heads to Chicago for a three game series with the Hitmen. Tune in to FASTHockey for all the action.
