Maulers put pressure on the Spartans in Game 1

The Maulers are now in full swing in the Southern Oregon Spartans series and are already showing the Medford crowd their offensive strength and great defensive drive. On Thursday night the boys left Zootown on a long night bus ride to Portland, OR for the first leg of their journey. They arrived safely around 12:45 that night and then on Friday, the team drove the last 4 hours and 18 minutes to the RRRink (Southern Oregon Ice Arena) to face off against the Spartans. Watching the game tonight, I was very impressed with the Maulers' abilities to drive the puck down ice, defend it from oncoming aggressors, and make Southern Oregon fight for the biscuit. The whole team had a very good balance of finesse and power during their shifts and had a tight knit team chemistry throughout the entire game. Also I would like to give a compliment to our veteran tendy Cody Janzen from Wymark, Saskatchewan for his performance tonight. He had some great saves and endured many net crashings from the opposing players.  Even though the final score was 5-3 in favor of the Southern Oregon, everyone in that rink as well as the public watching at home, knew that this is going to be a close and physically demanding series for both sides. The Maulers are in it to win as best as they can.

In the first period, Spartan defenseman #5 Ging Martin got Southern Oregon on the board with a power play goal at 4:17. He had help from Swedish forward Justus Saldeen and fellow defenseman Donnie Nagle IV. Then to end the scoring of the first period, Donnie Nagle IV notched a power play goal as well and lit the lamp for a goal of his own 12 minutes and 38 seconds into the first period. He had help from Ging Martin and Swedish forward #23 Carl Edstrom.

Latvian forward #18 Arturs Buss netted his own Spartans' goal at 8:57. Buss' shorthanded goal was assisted by defenseman Trevor Hillman. Taking matters into his own hands, Maulers veteran Corey Schafer put Missoula up on the board at 10:55. His power play goal was assisted by defenseman Tyler Zandhuisen and rookie sniper Erich Jaeger. At 17:19, Jaeger found the back of the net for his own short handed goal. An apple was given to captain and forward Anders Nord. Jaeger's goal concluded the scoring of the second period.

10 minutes and 31 seconds into the third period, forward #11 Ben Henry brought the Spartans' goal tally up to 4 with assists from Zachary Lovelace and Taylor McConnell. Scoring the last goal for the Maulers, veteran forward Matt Chamberlain lit the lamp at 13:48. Apples were given to rookie forwards Mason Jones and Craig Buford. Carl Edstrom closed the scoring for game 1 as he lit the lamp for Southern Oregon 18 minutes and 37 seconds into the third period. Arturs Buss was given the assist.

In my opinion, I believe the boys will bounce back for Game 2 and really show what they are capable of. I was able to briefly talk with defenseman Joseph Porco about Game 1 and here is what he had to say. I asked how he thought the team played overall against the Spartans and he responded, "I thought we came out pretty flat. We have to play good hockey all 60 minutes." I then asked is there anything he is going to change for the game on the 23rd and he replied, "We just have to be mentally and physically prepared for tomorrow's game." Thank you for your time Joseph and good luck to you as well as all of the boys tomorrow! Game 2 of the match up will be held on the 23rd of November at 7:30 pm PST (8:30 MST) at the Southern Oregon Ice Arena and the last game of the series on the 24th is an Outdoor Classic being played at 1:30 pm PST (2:30 MST.) Unfortunately this will not be broadcasted on FastHockey.com but I will still have a full report on that game for all of you as well so no need to worry! Make sure you don't miss any of the action going on before the Maulers are off on their holiday break!

Pregame Pump Up

Statistics:

PENALTIES:

Period 1:
Southern Oregon Spartans - Zachary Lovelace (Interference) 2 Minutes, 1:06
Missoula Maulers - Erik Hartzell (Checking from Behind) 2 Minutes, 3:54
Missoula Maulers - Tyler Zandhuisen (Interference) 2 Minutes, 10:06
Missoula Maulers - Derek Griffin (Tripping) 2 Minutes, 12:08
Period 2:
Southern Oregon Spartans - Ben Henry (Hooking) 2 Minutes, 6:00
Southern Oregon Spartans - Rob Donovan (Checking from Behind) 2 Minutes, 7:41
Missoula Maulers - Josh Ingram-Rehm (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 10:21
Southern Oregon Spartans - Trevor Hillman (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 10:21
Southern Oregon Spartans - Zachary Lovelace (Cross Checking) 2 Minutes, 10:21
Missoula Maulers - Christian Manning (Grabbing Face Mask) (Major) 5 Minutes, 12:31
Missoula Maulers - Christian Manning (Grabbing Face Mask) (Game Ejection) 10 Minutes, 12:31
Missoula Maulers - Anders Nord (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 12:31
Southern Oregon Spartans - Rob Donovan (Slashing) 2 Minutes, 12:31
Southern Oregon Spartans - Rob Donovan (Spearing) (Major) 5 Minutes, 12:31
Southern Oregon Spartans - Rob Donovan (Spearing) (Game Misconduct) 10 Minutes, 12:31
Southern Oregon Spartans - Cy Jenson (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 12:31
Missoula Maulers - Craig Buford (Tripping) 2 Minutes, 16:07
Period 3:
Missoula Maulers - Anders Nord (Head Contact) 2 Minutes, 0:56
Missoula Maulers - Edward Pollon (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 6:40
Southern Oregon Spartans - Justus Saldeen (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 6:40
Missoula Maulers - Billy Bigham (Interference) 2 Minutes, 7:09
Missoula Maulers - Austin Auzzinnaro (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 8:42
Southern Oregon Spartans - Cy Jenson (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 8:42

SHOTS ON GOAL:

Missoula Maulers - 30 total
Southern Oregon Spartans - 42 total

POWER PLAYS:

Missoula Maulers - 1 for 5
Southern Oregon Spartans - 2 for 6

GOALTENDERS:

#31 Cody Janzen for Missoula Maulers: 60 Minutes played, 42 shots on goal 37 saves

#30 Ian Dvorak for Southern Oregon Spartans: 60 Minutes played, 30 shots on goal 27 saves