| Thanks to his father's poor planning, Drew was late joining his 
			Riverview Ice Sharks game against the River Ridge Mustangs today at 
			the Clearwater Ice Arena. When the schedule was initially released, 
			this game had a 6:30pm start time, so that what was entered into the 
			family calendar. With that time in mind, we made plans during the 
			early afternoon to visit a smash house and have a late lunch at Anna 
			Maria Oyster Bar in Bradenton. We had just finished dinner when Drew 
			got a call from one of his coaches asking where he was. It was at 
			that time that it sunk in that good 'ole dad had messed up and we 
			were going to be late in arriving to the game. Thank goodness the 
			game started even later than scheduled, and we were able to get Drew 
			onto the ice just after the second period started. With all that 
			said, I don't have anything to add about the opening fifteen 
			minutes, aside from the fact that the score was 2-1 in favor of the 
			River Ridge side. They would widen their lead just over a minute 
			into the second period, on a shot that was flipped up and over the 
			Ice Sharks goaltender, making it a 3-1 game. Despite being late to 
			the game, Drew would get the Sharks back on the board a minute later 
			on a wrap-around goal, closing the gap to 3-2 in his first shift on 
			the ice. With nine and a half to play River Ridge would reclaim a 
			two-goal advantage on a wrist shot that slid in just under the 
			crossbar. With a little over six minutes left in the period, the 
			Riverview team would close the gap thanks to a beautiful pass 
			through the crease that would be tapped in for a goal and a 4-3 
			score. Two and a half minutes later the Ice Sharks would tie the 
			game once again, this time by gathering in a rebound and shooting it 
			up and over the River Ridge goaltender. With a little less than two 
			minutes to play in the middle period, Drew would score his second 
			goal of the game when he knocked in a rebound, giving Riverview 
			their second lead of the game. The 5-4 score would stand until the 
			end of the period. With a little less than two minutes elapsed in the third period, 
			Riverview took a tripping penalty that would cost them. Just eight 
			seconds into the man advantage a River Ridge forward fired home a 
			wrister from just outside the right circle, knotting the score at 
			5-5. River Ridge would take a too-many men on the ice penalty with 
			5:27 left on the clock, then a minute later they were called for 
			hooking, give the Riverview players a 5 on 3 advantage for a full 
			minute. They used most of that time before finally retaking the lead 
			on a wrist shot that made it through the five-hole. Forty-five 
			seconds after taking the lead once again, the Ice Sharks gave 
			themselves a two-goal advantage for the first time today, flipping 
			the puck up and over the River Ridge goaltender after corralling a 
			rebound in front of the net. River Ridge closed the gap to a single 
			goal with just over 90 seconds to play as they themselves pounced on 
			a rebound and tapped it home, making it a 7-6 game. River Ridge 
			would get called for roughing with just under a minute to play, and 
			that essentially ended their chance at a comeback. The Ice Sharks 
			would survive to take the come from behind victory! Maybe Drew 
			should skip every first period from now on! |