The Blackbirds had been routed in their last two outings.  On this day, with just nine skaters, they lacked the manpower for two full shifts.  Moments before the first drop of the puck, heaping Thanksgiving leftovers, since turned treasonous and on the brink of a public uprising, gagged and doubled over Blackbird veteran and team leader, Eero Eronen.  Just 14 seconds into this first playoff game, Whitebird center, Theo Espagnol (10), uncontested, had just slapped in his first shot of the day on a slick pass from forward, Brandon Liu.  Barely more than a minute later, Brandon and Theo traded places on the stat sheet and the Whitebirds, without breaking a sweat, were up 2-0.  Could it get any worse for Coach John Rich and his charges?

With sharp passing and skating, The Whitebirds continued to get the better of the ensuing action, but had no more to show on the scoreboard for all their dominance on the ice.  With 7 minutes remaining in the period, the puck disappeared in a flurry of bodies and sticks around the Whitebird crease that ended in a goal for probing Blackbird forward, Julius Antilla (36), with assists from crease-crashing forwards Chris Gargano (15) and Sasha Rich (21).  

With just 1:45 remaining in the period and a man down, the forechecking Espagnol - Liu tandem struck, yet, again as Theo intercepted an askant Blackbird clearing pass and whipped a cross-creaser to Brandon, who made short work from the doorstep.  The period, marked by a show of teamwork, passing, and hustle from both squads, ended in a 3-1 Whitebird lead.

Blackbird Coach, John Rich, used every moment of the intermission to implore his team to "clear the puck" and to call for "more motion," "more puck movement" and "more shots!"  But, a mere 30 seconds into period 2, things worsened for the Blackbirds.  With some nifty skating, Whitebird forward/defenseman, Brad Larson (95), cleared the puck from his defensive zone and found himself and teammate, Theo Espagnol, in a high-speed 2 on 1 against Blackbird goalie, Hubert Nunes.  As they converged on the crease, the duo, testing Nunes' patience threshold, cooly pin-balled the puck back and forth across the goal front until Brad exploited the upper void left by the lunging Nunes, and cinched the nylon for a 4-1 Whitebird lead.  The Whitebirds looked bold and unbeatable.

At 17:10 of the period, though, Blackbird Forward, Julius Antilla, scored again - this time with a high pinger from the lower left face-off circle - after chasing down a long clearing pass from defenseman, William Melin (74).  Perhaps not a turning point, but certainly a much-needed boost and a sign - if only to themselves - that the Blackbirds had not relinquished all hope and effort.

The Blackbirds' play took on renewed intensity, but U10 Select goalie, Myles Ma, turned back one hectic charge after another with highlight reel saves and scrambles in a tense man down situation.  Finally, at 5:50, and after having being repeatedly denied by Myles, Eero Eronen, since shifted by Coach Rich to the forward position, found the high opposite corner of the goal on a behind-the-net pass from forward Julius Antilla.  A minute later, Julius and Eero copied their prior efforts to the same end.  The Whitebirds had clawed back to tie the score at four.  

As the 2nd period ended and his Whitebirds flocked before him, Coach Lijim Lau spoke in disbelieving tones:  "They are outplaying us!  They are outfighting us for the puck!  Guys, we must win every puck battle!  And, keep passing!"  Assistant Coach, Benny Keden,  added, succinctly:  "Don't wait for it to happen.  Be aggressive.  Make it happen!"

The 3rd period began and the Whitebirds took their flying orders in earnest, but Blackbird goalie Hubert Nunes kept strict order, denying each and all, and left no scraps for the opportunistic.  On the offensive end, the sick one - Eero Eronen - played with unequaled fervor and his teammates followed cue.  At 11:10, and as bodies lay sprawled around the crease, Eero snagged a pass from forward Patrick Koppitz (2) and sent it out to the upper slot, where a salivating William Melin lay alone in wait.  William  blasted a high shot above the fallen mass to put the Blackbirds up 5-4.

At the 8:30 mark, Eero grabbed an errant shot and, from behind the Whitebird goal, played cat and mouse with goalie and defenders alike as he created the space he needed to squeeze a pass through to forward Julius Antilla, who punched home his third goal of the day and gave the Blackbirds breathing room at 6-4.

After more than 5 minutes of intense action between the teams, Chris Cargano, with assists from Eero Eronen and Patrick Koppitz,  tapped a puck through the crease scrum to further the Blackbird lead to 7-4.  The Whitebirds, tired and seemingly broken, though, continued the fight.  At 2:05, Whitebird defenseman, Carson Nisbeth (22) with a long, in-stride tape to tape clearing pass, set up streaking forward, Viggo Keden (19), for a fast break.  With diminishing clock and just a defender to beat, Viggo carved his way to the lower faceoff circle and wristed the puck half way up and just inside the left upright.  7-5, Blackbirds.

With 1 minute remaining, William Melin authoritatively hammered the final nail with his patented slap shot - the circumstances and result being no different from the last.  Assist to Chris Gargano and Eero Eronen.  

Facing a tough opponent and a growing mound of adversity, the Blackbirds showed uncommon pluck and perseverance to overcome and notch an 8-5 game victory and a 1-0 playoff lead. 

What a weekend for the U15 Team!!  Historically our success in the capital city has been mixed at best.  Beijing teams have always gotten the upper hand.  However this weekend ended with a very different result.

Going into the 4 game test, the team was prepared for a tough go.  With a short bench due to some key players out of the lineup, the Thunderbirds top team needed to rely on team work and determination.

The first game saw our team battle the Pioneers A squad, a very capable, professionally coached team.  It didn't take long for our players to feel the heat as the tough checking Pioneers begins their attack deep into our zone. 

Our Thunderbirds were up to the challenge.  Gaining control of the middle ice our squad attacked in waves breaking the Pioneers defense and getting on the scoreboard. The relentless attack put the Pioneers on the heels.  As the score mounted, the Pioneers lost confidence and the victory was ours.  The final score was 6-1.

The second contest against the Pioneer B team was not as straight forward.  Our Thunderbirds entered the game with a "can't lose" attitude.  This over confidence translated into a scrambling and often desperate style of play.  Thunderbirds goaltender Quinn Mast, responded to his teams misstep by putting on a fabulous display of goaltending, keeping the Pioneers off the scoreboard. 

The Thunderbirds final realized the error of their ways and went back to the style of hockey that allowed them to win the first game.  With 3 unanswered goals in the 3rd period our team was able to add another victory to the list.

Sunday games promised to be much more of a challenge with the Pioneers wanting to get revenge for Saturdays outing.  Pioneer A team came out on fire and forced the play in our zone.  Thunderbird defense lead by Elliott Nunes and our new defense player Ardrienne Yu shutdown the attacking Pioneers, never allowing shots from the slot. 

The forwards took up the charge and took control of the Pioneers zone repeatedly peppering their net.  The Pioneer goalie was equal to the challenge and the score remained 0-0 into the second period. 

The determined Pioneer A team came out in the second with just as much drive forcing more stellar defense play from all the Thunderbirds.  The Thunderbirds were just as persistent and stuck to their system no matter how hard the Pioneers pressed them.  The result was the first goal of the game followed by an empty net goal late in the third. 

With solid confidence in their system the Thunderbirds met their last challenge in the Pioneer B team.  The Pioneers came out wanting to make up for the first game loss.  The Thunderbirds did not make the same mistake as the first game.  They played a steady even game both on offense and defense, keeping the Pioneers on the boards and out of the slot the entire game.  With only one misstep in our zone costing a goal our team came out on top 9-1. 

A great ending to a brilliant weekend

Reeling from a physical 5-3 defeat on Songjiang ice just a week ago, Blackbird Coach John Rich's charges arrived at MBA with scowls and stiffened upper lips.  

The stage was set, but for the better part of the 1st period, neither team could establish prolonged dominance.  Then, 7:20 into the game, and after multiple denials by Blackbird goalie, Hubert Nunes (1), Whitebird defenseman, Luca Bauer (10), from his defensive blue line, spotted center, Theo Espagnol (11).  Luca threaded a pass between two lunging blackbird defenders; in stride, Theo received the puck and unleashed a whizzing wrister from the mid-slot.  1-0, Whitebirds.  

With just 30 seconds remaining in the period, Whitebird forward, William Sjostrom (7) took a smart pass from fellow forward and countryman, Viggo Keden (19), and punched in goal number two.  End of period.  Whitebirds 2-0. 

Just 10 seconds into period 2, Blackbird defenseman, Eero Eronen (5), powered his way through the slot and found upper nylon with a nifty backhander from just below the right faceoff circle.  Assist from forward, Julius Antilla (36).  2-1, Whitebirds.

Both teams became energized by Eronen's goal and the game's pace quickened to a fury.  Thanks to relentless back-checking by Viggo Keden and Theo Espagnol, and physical Whitebird defenseman - notably, Luca Bauer, Sutton Shelly (6), and Chris Lau (12) - who made rubble of any Blackbird forays into their zone, the Whitebirds got the better of the ensuing action.  8:40 into the period, Whitebird forward, Theo Espagnol, intercepted an outbound pass in the slot and fired in his second high wrister to give his squad a 3-1 lead.  

At 11:30 of the 2nd period, Whitebird forward, William Sjostrom, reaped the bounty of his own forecheck by stealing a pass and backhanding in a thigh-high shot off of his own rebound.  

Facing a 4-1 deficit and the clock ticking past the game's mid-point, the Blackbirds fought back furiously.  But, Coach Lijim Lau's Whitebirds gave as good as they got - and then some.  In a nervous showdown that could have tipped the momentum back into the Blackbird's favor, Whitebird goalie, Herman Thalen (81), slammed the door on Blackbird defenseman, Eero Eronen's, dizzying breakaway deke.  

Moments later, Blackbird center, David Sanabria (13), took an errant Whitebird shot to his neck and, for a long minute, lay motionless on the ice.  David recovered and exited the ice under his own power, only to later be rewarded for his show of resilience by a boarding from an overzealous Whitebird defenseman.  The period ended in a flurry of attempts on both goals, with each goalie making several highlight-reel saves.

Just 40 seconds into the 3rd period, Whitebird center, Theo Espagnol, tapped in the last of three shots on goal, to give his team a 5-1 lead.  Assist to defenseman, Chris Lau.  One minute and 20 seconds later, Whitebird forward, Brad Larson (95), lifted in a rebound after his first shot ricocheted off of Blackbird goalie, Hubert Nunes', thigh pad.

12:55 into the final period, Blackbird forward, Julius Antilla capitalized with only seconds left on a power play and netted his second goal of the day on an assist from fellow forward, Christopher Gargano (3).

Theo Espagnol and his Whitebirds were not done, however.  With 55 seconds remaining in the game and racing from his own blue line deep into the slot, Theo, unassisted, added goal number four to his tally for the day.  And, with 5 seconds remaining, a hustling Viggo Keden dashed a puck between Hubert Nunes' legs and added an exclamation point to the Whitebird's 8-2 victory and 2-1 series lead.

 Our U12 and U15 players will be headed to Beijing November 10 & 11 for a hockey exchange with local
Beijing hockey rivals. 

Wish them safe travels, sportmanlike play and many goals ! 

Let's Go Thunderbirds!