Ghostriders Rise Up

Last night was the first night of the playoffs with Creston Thundercats coming over to face the Fernie Ghostriders for the first game in the best of seven series. The score of 4 to 2 at the final buzzer, in the Ghostriders favor, in no way reflected the power and control the Ghostriders displayed over the course of the three fast paced periods. More accurately, the score reflected the prowess of the Creston goalie’s quickness and ability to dive on the puck when needed.

The first period closed zip zip with the Ghostriders taking shot after shot on Waters in the Creston goal and being foiled on each shot. The few shots taken on Smith in the opposite goal were easily blocked.

In the second period, fouls pulled two Fernie skaters and with a five the three advantage on the ice, Creston scored two goals in quick succession. With their players back on the ice, Fernie rebounded with three goals in three minutes, recovering the lead.

The fourth goal in the final period was simply a security blanket to keep the Creston boys at bay.

All in all, watching the two teams play was an exercise in opposite tactics. The Ghostrider players rarely held the puck long, preferring to pass and finesse the opposite team. In one on one, the Ghost riders invariably feinted and pulled the puck from out of nowhere to pass the Creston skater. On the other hand the Creston players seemed individually stronger and more likely to skate the length of the rink without passing. As a result the Fernie boys had shot after shot, while the Creston boys often ended up checked, puck and all into the boards. Fernie played a game of shared puck possession and control. It paid off.

As I watched, I thought of Sunday pond hockey. One team a group of friends who just happened to wander by, meeting up with a practiced team of neighborhood kids. The visiting friends get creamed. The Fernie shots on goal must have been eight to ten for every Creston shot on goal. If Waters has a fragile ego, he’ll feel abused after last night.

The second game of the series is tonight at 7:30 at the Memorial Ice Rink. The game is pure hockey. For the love of hockey. It’s great. About as pure as you can find outside of those Sunday afternoon match-ups on ponds scattered around the country.

Take it in.