A's Sweep Series with 'Bellies

Submitted by League Reporter, Jen Mutas

Tuesday night at Queens Park would be the third and final time the A's and 'Bellies would meet in the regular season, and if the first two games were any indication, this would be a game riddled with emotion and physicality.

Just like the last game I witnessed between these two teams, the match started with a vigilant and suspicious tone, as both squads tried to get a feel for how the other would play. Ben McIntosh and Corbyn Tao would get the A’s ahead on just five shots, and Mark Negrin would make sure the ‘Bellies would at least get on the board in the first with his power play goal with five minutes to go. After twenty minutes the A's found themselves with a two goal lead after scoring late in the period, and heading into the second frame with some fuel to add to the fire.

Tyler Digby would start his assault in the middle period scoring a regular strength and power play marker, and Kevin Crowley would get help from both Mydske brothers to bring the ‘Bellies up to four goals. Not that they had to be reminded, but it is Coquitlam they were playing; and with six goals in the second including two from Robert Church, the A's would cushion their lead again now leading New West by five goals. With just over two minutes to go in the second, 'Bellie captain Curtis Dickson would (at least from where I was sitting) clearly score, with the ball bouncing right back out of the net. With no whistle from the referees who obviously didn’t see the goal, the A’s were able to generate a fast break and score while the New West players were trying to backpedal. This took a lot of wind out of New West’s sails, and the only people more upset than the players and the bench, were their loyal fans in the crowd.

Making sure the refs saw this period with clarity, the ‘Bellies would jump out in the third and throw three goals past Chris Seidel in just under a minute from Digby, Negrin, and TJ Cowx. Hands down goal of the game honors goes to Kevin Crowley who scored New West’s fourth goal in the third period; cycling to the net Crowley picked up Digby’s rebound off a shot on goal and threw the ball over his shoulder and behind his back for one of the smoothest, well executed behind the back goals I’ve seen in quite some time. The combination of finesse, skill, and timing just added to New West’s drive to catch up, and another goal from Matt MacGrotty would put them within one of the A’s. With tight end-to-end action from both teams including a couple of posts and more than a couple rough hits along the way, Matt Beers and Curtis Dickson would start a fight that would almost result in a bench clearing brawl. While everyone seemed to pair up who was on their shift with forty seconds left in the game, there were way more than six ‘Bellies jerseys on the floor. Some Coquitlam players jumped off their bench followed by a few from New West, but they were quickly ordered back by both coaches and let the guys left on the floor handle their business. When the dust settled and all the penalties were sorted there was still time on the clock for New West to get the tying goal, and tie they did. Digby would get a feed from Dickson with just 7.9 seconds left on the clock and send Queen's Park Arena into a frenzy to tie the game at 10 goals each.

After a quick two minute break, the ten minutes of overtime would begin with the penalty boxes still crammed with players. Ben McIntosh would complete his hat trick on the night, giving the A’s the go ahead goal with six minutes left to play. Shortly after it was Travis Cornwall who would have a great defensive move to intercept a ball from New West, and turn it around for an unassisted goal to move the A’s up two goals in the game. The ‘Bellies would get a great effort from Jordan Catton who would register his first point on the night in OT with his unassisted goal; getting double teamed on the shooting circle and checked down hard still managing to bounce the ball off the floor and past the Coquitlam keeper.

Even with their intense and rewarding effort at the end of the third, unfortunately for New West it would remain a one goal game until the final whistle. In a game that was filled with controversy both on and off the floor, the talk in the stands circled around the missed call on goal in the second period by Dickson; many people feeling that one goal could have swayed the momentum of the game, and definitely changed the outcome.