5-4 loss to Burlington a sign of continued improvement for Rocks, News, Minor Atom, 2011-2012 (Hespeler Minor Hockey Association)

This Team is part of the 2011-2012 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Dec 11, 2011 | tonyh | 726 views
5-4 loss to Burlington a sign of continued improvement for Rocks
Mike Costigan --> Team Reporter 

There are games during a season that can be circled as “benchmark” games from a coaches’ perspective and Hespelers visit to Burlington’s Central Arena was that. It would be a test to see if the Shamrocks could compete with an opponent in the upper tier of the Smith Division standings.   From the opening face off it was clear that the Rock’s had some jump, using quick line changes to keep pressure on the Eagles. 

Four minutes into the game, Hespeler opened the scoring sending a message to the second place Eagles that they were going to have to compete hard for a victory. Before you knew it was 2-0 Shamrocks as they continued their spirited play. Burlington got on the score board late in the first period but the relentless Rock’s added a third marker with 8 seconds left in the first.

Burlington pushed back in the second, capitalizing twice on numerous scoring chances to tie the game 3 -3 by periods end. Two more quick goals in the third by the Eagles and it looked like the game might get out of reach but the Rocks responded with a push back of their own. With 5 minutes left in the game the Rocks scored to get within one and a power play opportunity with 2 minutes left came up short leaving the Shamrocks on the short end of the score board…. a 5-4 loss.

In the end, a competitive effort from the improving Shamrocks confirms the direction that the team has taken this season.