GFBB play neck and neck game against the Coyotes
By Graeme Willson
The Grand Forks Border Bruins’ Jan. 22 game at home ice against the Osoyoos Coyotes was a well played perfectly match game. It was so well played, that the results were a coin toss. But as things go, eventually someone grasps the upper edge and this time it was the Coyotes. They won the toss with a score of six to Bruins’ five.
To say the least, both teams played the game equally, which must have been a little agonizing for them. Things played out right up to close to the final third period with a constant back and forth. Each team had an equal amount of time with the puck.
The goals never started until close to the end of first period but the first penalty was called on the Coyotes when the clock read 18:24 against Brett Anderson landing him in the box for two minutes for boarding.
With exactly four minutes passing, the second penalty again for the Coyotes was on Liam Neary, he received two minutes for slashing with the clock stopped at 14:24.
Almost a minute in plays passed when Bruins Dominic Stadnyk was sent to the box for slashing – another two minutes.
Finally, at 9:14 the fans got their first goal when Coyotes Troy Maclise had the puck connect with the net while teammates Aaron Azevedo and Collin Chmelka assisted with that first goal.
There were five more penalties before one more final goal was scored by Bruins Mas Newton and teammates Coleton Dawson and Lincoln lane assisted with the Bruins’ first goal with only 00:59 left to play out.
Receiving penalties in a three-play to the box was Bruins Graham Watkins (holding) and Lucas Robinson (roughing). After the whistle, both receive two minutes at 7:44 with Coyotes Brett Anderson also received two minutes for roughing.
The next penalty went to Coyotes Troy Maclise for roughing, which was immediately followed with the Bruins’ Stadnyk. He sat out almost the rest of the first period after receiving two minutes for delaying the game. The buzzer sounded and the ice cleared as the period ended.
As was the case with first period, the second period started out the same with the Coyotes Cameron Dobransky scoring a goal with assists from his teammates Rainer Glimpela nd Jamie Gallo.
The puck was ping-ponged back and forth before it was the Bruins’ turn for a goal.
Michael Rand scored the goal with assists from Jackson Purvis and Nathan Cory.
The Coyotes Brett Anderson scored his team’s third goal shortly after, with assists from Liam Neary and Brock Anderson.
The Bruins owned the ice for a spell while they scored the next two goals. Purvis scored the third goal and Kyle Dolly scored the fourth goal using a magnificent power play. Assists came from Tucker Brown and Cam McLennon.
Penalties were handed out left and right in the second period. The Bruins received nine penalties and th Coyotes got three. Including an earlier penalty, a total of 13 penalties were handed out in the second period.
After the puck hit the ice for the start of the third period, both teams seemed to have a visible reduction in energy. However, when the clock reached 14:37, the Bruins scored their fifth goal.
The Bruins held onto that one point spread for until almost the end of the third period when out of nowhere the coyotes turned it up a notch and scored the last two goals of this game. The sixth and final goal came just seconds before going into overtime.
Coyotes Aaron Azevedo made the fifth goal with help from Chmelka and Gallo. Colten Braid scored the winning sixth goal with assistance from teammates Tyler Ostrom and Judd Repole.
There was only one penalty in the final period and that was against the Coyotes Brendon Smith receiving two minutes for tripping during the first play of period three.
The Coyotes took the game beating the Bruins 6:5.
