On Saturday, November 25, the Huntsville Otters Aquadome Novice Rep hockey team returned to home ice to take on the Oro Thunder. The last time these closely matched teams met their game ended in a draw. At this rematch the Otters got off to a quick start early in the game with a goal by Braeden Higgs, assisted by Carson Frasier.
The Thunder’s creative and quick Sam M. evened the score for the Thunder on an unassisted goal toward the end of the first period.
The Otters opened the scoring in the second period on a blistering shot by Dylan Bennett, assisted by Sterling Boothby and Warren Neal. Oro’s Callum M. who puts all his effort into every shift, created a few scoring chances and then assisted on a goal by Hudson A. to tie the score again. With less than two minutes to play in the period the Otters took the lead on a goal by Avery Shirtliff, assisted by Bennett.
A few minutes into the third period Bennett scored again, assisted by Logan Sheppard and Carter Quinlan. Sitting on a 4-2 lead the game suddenly turned into an uncharacteristically penalty-filled adventure for the Otters. With two Otters in the penalty box, and half the period remaining, the Thunder pulled their goalie to create a 6-on-3 advantage. Huntsville fans faced dramatic moments as they had to watch just three Otters trying to avoid getting swept away by the red tide of Thunder jerseys rushing over the ice.
Six-on-three play quickly made its way deep into the Otter zone. The Otters managed to get a stick on the puck, and once an Otter gets his paws on his favorite frozen biscuit he only has one thing on his mind: take that treat all the way to the other end of the rink for a shot on goal! As one Otter tried to skate through six Thunder players the arena erupted with thunderous cheering and chanting. The Huntsville fans and coaches called out: “Ice it! Ice it! ICCCCCCCCCCCE!” Everyone in Huntsville heard the roaring chant, except that happy and hungry little Otter with his puck of course!
It’s a sea of red as Otter Carson Frasier reaches for the puck.
Somehow the free-range Otters got away with skating with the puck until a pause in play gave the coaches just enough time to tame their players. The 6-on-3 strategy was a worthwhile try for Oro as it generated some nice scoring chances. Otters goalie, Braeden Woollings, made some incredible glove saves. More importantly, especially in a 6-on-3 situation, he gave up no juicy rebounds either. Woollings kept snagging that puck with his hot glove hand and stopped the play dead.
The Otters managed to find the empty net a couple of times including one goal from the full length of the ice. This helped prove to the Otters that the fans and coaches have the right idea every now and then – icing the puck sometimes really does pay off! Goals came from Frasier and Shirtliff. With three minutes left in the game Bennett scored his hat trick goal, assisted by Sheppard, resulting in a final score of 7-2.
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- Otters defenseman Avery Shirtliff lines up the shot to score on of his two goals in the game.
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- Otters Dylan Bennett scoring one of his hat trick goals.
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- Otter Braeden Higgs had a goal in the game.
On Sunday the Huntsville Otters Aquadome Novice Rep hockey team played another home game, this time against the Muskoka Rock. Otters goalie, Fletcher Elliott, impressed everyone with his quick reflexes, great saves and his second shutout of the season. The Otters netted eight goals including pairs from Frasier and Sheppard. Shirtliff, Quinlan, Bennett and Higgs each contributed goals as well.
While the Otters offense is always hot, and the goalies strong, their defense has improved with each game too. The Otters give up a low number of goals per game thanks to the solid defense coming from Warren Neal, Avery Shirtliff, Taylor Carnduff, Sterling Boothby and Ewan Russell. Team manager Tanya Neal said “We had strong defense on Sunday, probably better than ever.”
This weekend the Huntsville Otters Aquadome Novice Rep team improved their home winning streak to five games and have only one loss on home ice this season. The team aims to keep this streak going at their next home game on December 3, and through the Duke Knox Novice Rep tournament in Huntsville December 8-10. Go Otters!
Thank you to Boyd Otter of Shooting for the Stars for providing this article and photos. For more images from the Huntsville Otters Novice rep team game or for more information, visit the Shooting for the Stars website by clicking here.
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