Rhinos on the verge of Attack
The unbeaten Batchewana Attack had to work extra time to upend the Kalkaska Rhinos 4-3 in Canadian International Hockey League action from Saturday.
Johan Kling scored at 3:57 of overtime to push Batchewana’s CIHL-best record to 14-0 with the road win at Kalkaska.
Jesse Delavalle, Nate Harris and Cade Nolan also scored for Batchewana.
Thomas Steven had the hat trick, netting all three of Kalkaska’s goals.
Kalkaska coach-general manager Krzysztof Oliwa liked the effort of his Rhinos while disputing the OT winner by the visiting Attack.
“By far it was one of the best games we played so far this year but we came up short in overtime on a goal that I feel should not have been a goal,” noted Oliwa, who said he thought the net was off its moorings before Batchewana’s winning goal was scored.
Still, Oliwa took positives from the OT setback.
“Thomas Steven recorded his first-ever junior hockey hat trick. Thomas just turned 16-years old and has great future ahead of him with his talent and his hockey IQ. And (goalie) Bryan Canter again had an unbelievable game, a simply-amazing performance.”
Batchewana head coach Denny Lambert — who, like Oliwa, played in more than 440 National Hockey League games — chimed in as well.
“Great game by both teams,” said Lambert. “Having said that, I was not happy with our power play. It is an area we will be working on this week in practice.”
PHOTO: Kalkaska Rhinos, on the “Attack” against Batchewana.
I was curious about the disputed OT goal so after watching the video I found a ruling from an NHL game. Not sure if the same rules apply but this was the explanation:
For a goal to be awarded, the goal post must have been displaced by the actions of a defending player, the puck must have been shot (or the player must be in the act of shooting) at the goal prior to the goalpost being displaced, and it must be determined that the puck would have entered the net between the normal position of the goal posts.
Randy: You had mention the Sudbury Royals would be naming their new coach yesterday. Any word?
Fanman,
No word.