| Cyclones win as Thunder players ejected |
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| Local Content - Local Sports |
| Written by publisher |
| Tuesday, 09 February 2010 16:36 |
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By Paul Grigaitis “It would’ve been easy for them,” Cyclones head coach Blaine Stork said following the game. “We were short lots of bodies tonight with work and illness and injuries. The first period they had the right idea. They skated, but they just fell apart after that.” Only 13 Cyclones suited up for Friday’s game at the Community Arena, out of a roster of over 20. While the Thunder showed up with 17 suited players, they only had a one-man advantage on the bench by the end of the game. Cyclones forward Kody Orr opened the scoring midway through the first and scored both his and his team’s second of the night during a power play in the next period. Exactly three and a half minutes later, Chad Trapp scored the home team’s third goal of the night with a hard wrist shot. Shortly after Trapp’s goal, Ochapowace’s Kirk Cote was served his team’s first game misconduct of the night after checking Mark Johnson of the Cyclones from behind. Trapp then scored his second of the night just two minutes into the ensuing five-minute penalty. The Thunder scored their first of the night while short-handed just a minute later, but Orr popped in another for the home team shortly before the end of the period and just 22 seconds after the Thunder’s Jayden Isaac was given a game misconduct and a checking-to-the-head penalty. In the third period, Johnson scored the Cyclones’ final goal of the night, but not before the Thunder lost another player to a game misconduct and after Thunder staff member Morley Watson was sent to the locker room after also being given a game misconduct and a gross misconduct as well. The Thunder’s bench became vocal following Catlin Big Snake’s expulsion from the game. Referees wouldn’t comment, but Stork explained that a gross misconduct will result in a suspension under Prairie Junior Hockey League rules. “Whether it’s a player, coach or executive, once they get a gross, they’re suspended.” Trapp agreed that a lack of discipline on behalf of the Thunder allowed the Cyclones to earn a victory. “We just had to stay out of the box and play a bit more disciplined I guess, kind of play smarter and get shots on net,” Trapp said. “We just kept our mouths shut and let them take all the stupid penalties.” Watson, listed as the Thunder’s governor on the PJHL’s website, took the time to explain himself following the game. “I thought the officiating wasn’t as good as it could’ve been and it frustrated our players to a point. I mean this is a big game for us. We’re chasing Cypress for the last playoff spot and I just think he got too caught up in the game there and I thought he missed some calls. I mean, we took penalties and maybe we deserved some of them, but they got four power-play goals. That’s the difference in the hockey game. “We never like to say the refereeing isn’t good, but I thought tonight it could’ve been a lot better given that it was a big game for both clubs. The frustration built up and I think sooner or later, as a senior official of our hockey club, I got to stand up for our hockey players,” Watson said. The Cyclones had another home game on Sunday in Fox Valley where they lost 3-2 to the West Central Rage in a game that ended in a shootout. The Cyclones have just three regular season games left. They head to Assiniboia this Friday before they face off against Fort Knox in their final home game of the season at the Community Arena on Sunday. On Monday, they conclude the season with a re-scheduled game in Regina. The Cyclones are in fifth place in the PJHL South Division’s standings.
Cypress Cyclones assistant captain Chad Trapp scored two goals during the local hockey team’s win over the Ochapowace Thunder at the Community Arena on Friday night. Photo by Paul Grigaitis |
