The ’96 Chiefs took on the struggling LJK Green team. The Green Knights(1-6-0) are winless in their last 3 games and are currently ranked 50th Provincially (out of 54 teams). The Chiefs were looking forward to coming off a tough loss to the Sun County Panthers.
The Chiefs scored early on a beautiful topshelf goal by Captain Brook Hiddink #8, assisted by call-up Travis Konecny #7 from the ’97 Chiefs, and Sam Vokes #44. The hungry Green Knights jumped on a turnover behind the Chief net to tie the game 10 minutes later. The second period saw a goal scored by Austin Malchesky #66, on a feed from Keaton McIntrye #13 and Austin Carter #20. The never-say-die Greenies tied the game with 3 minutes left before the flood after a flurry of saves by goalie Dan Black #1 at the side of the crease, only to have the forward bank the puck off the back of the goaltender and into the net.
The LJK Green knights came out swiftly after the break and rushed towards the Chief goal. After the initial save, the Green forward threw the puck blindly out front which glanced off a backchecking Chief forward and into our own net. The Chiefs were down 3-2. Three minutes later the Green Knights had a goal disallowed as the net was clearly off its moorings. The Chief bench took this opportunity to change goaltenders and spark the team out of their early period funk. The move worked as AP Travis Konecny #7 scored to tie the game on a pass from Brook Hiddink #8 and Keaton McIntyre #13. Finally, the Chief Captain Brook Hiddink #8 broke free on the penalty kill with 53 seconds left in the game and scored an unassisted, short-handed marker(his 2nd goal of the game). The Chiefs win an exciting game 4-3 and goaltender Coleman McDonald #35 earns the win. The ’96 Chiefs currently sit tied with 4 other teams for second place in the West Alliance Division.