The Red River Spartans Premier team defeated the Atlanta Mad Hatters Saturday afternoon by a 4-2 final. Andrew Young picked up the win in net for the Spartans as he stopped 28 shots. Michael Carden took the loss for the Mad Hatters, making 13 saves. Gino Indelicato was the hero for Red River, tallying two goals of which the second being the game-winning goal.
First Period
The first period was off to a physical and fast start. At 3:44 of the first, the Mad Hatters took the lead off of Indy Wright’s second goal of the season. A pass from Sebastian Kaminsky found Wright all alone on the back door, and was easily able to dish a pass over. Wright wasted no time to release a shot that just got by the right-hand glove of Young.
At 15:52 of the first, the Spartans tied the game up at one. Off a missed trip by Indelicato, he came away with the puck and all alone with the goalie. He pulled the puck to his forehand and lifted over the left shoulder of Carden.
Atlanta lead the shot total through one by a 10-5 margin.
Second Period
26 seconds into the period, the Mad Hatters looked to take an early lead as Ryan Hughes sprung down the right-wing wall and fired a shot on Young. Young made the easy save with his glove, forcing a defensive-zone faceoff for his team.
2:21 in, Red River took it’s first lead of the game as a beautiful shot from Brayden Goncalves beat Carden high on the right side. Roman Templeton set him up with a perfectly placed pass from behind the net as he recorded the assist.
With 1:28 to go in the period, the Mad Hatters tied the game. An errant pas by the Spartans’ Jake Kellett was intercepted by Ethan Fredricks. Fredricks skated the puck into the zone and moved it over to Ethan Bellamy, who riffled a shot by the glove hand of Young.
The Spartans had one more chance before the period expired, but could not convert on the play and the buzzer sounded. The seconded ended the same as the first, knotted up, but at two this time. Atlanta held a slight shot advantage of 10-8, and 20-13 up to this point in the game. Atlanta did not convert on it’s only powerplay chance of the period.
Third Period
Early in the third, Red River had a great opportunity as it went on a five-minute powerplay. Off a defensive-zone faceoff, Thomas Durrett gained control of the puck, began his route out of the zone, and caught the stick of Atlanta’s Matthew Jost below the belt. Jost was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for spearing. On the ensuing powerplay, the Spartans were having trouble exiting their own zone and when they did, possession in the offensive zone was not long as they continually turned over the puck, allowing for easy clears.
Just about three minutes into the man advantage at 3:15, the Spartans were finally able to capitalize as a shot from the point by Eoin Ingersoll was deflected in front and into the back of the net by Indelicato. After the goal, Roman Templeton was called for slashing, nullifying the remaining time they had with the man advantage. at 4:48, the Spartans were caught with too many players on the ice, putting them on a short 4-on-3 kill that turned into a 5-on-4 advantage. Needing to grab a goal, Atlanta threw everything on net that they could, hoping one found it’s way into the net. Young was stellar in net, not allowing a goal in and being a big reason Red River were able to kill of the penalty.
Off a penalty call to the Spartans’ Thomas Durrett for cross-checking at 11:04, Red River converted shorthanded as CJ Davidson was all alone on a breakaway and beat Carden low blocker to take a 4-2 lead with 4:36 to go in the game.
Despite being down 5-on-3 at one point in the final four minutes, Red River hung on to secure the win with a 4-2 scoreline. Atlanta outshot Red River 10-4 in the period, totaling a 30-17 shot edge for the game. Red River went 1 for 1 on their powerplay chance for the game while Atlanta was 0-for-4.
