They may be tied for last, but apparently they know how to score.
The two bottom teams in the Oldtimer hockey league met Wednesday at Takhini Arena, producing a 14-goal game as the Klondyke Dental Molars (2-7-2) bit through Edgewater Hotel (2-7-2) for a 9-5 win.
Both teams were short players - actually, there was enough room on the benches to stretch out and take a nap, with the Molars only having one sub and Edgewater two.
Despite that, it was the highest scoring game of the season for the Molars, who are hoping the game is not a sign they should cut half the team.
“We had such a horrific start to the year and even with a full team we haven’t played well,” said Molars centre Wayne Crowe. “We got lucky because they only had one more player than us - we were both shorthanded.
“I think their goalie had a particularly tough game and a lot of our stuff went in.
“We’re pretty happy to get away with this one, I’ll tell you that. We were looking in the dressing room and there were only six of us there, we were like, ‘What’s happening?’”
Besides having room to stretch out on the benches, the lack of subs resulted in some big nights for a couple of the Molars. Crowe topped out with four goals and four assists, while teammate Rick Smith also had eight points with five goals.
“Rick Smith is back and he’s going to be a great part of this game,” said Crowe. “This is only the third time he’s skated, but you can see when you watch the game the puck-sense the guy’s got - and a great shot.”
None of the Molars seemed sure where their missing teammates were. But the lack of players forced the team to make the puck do the work.
“We have to play the whole game together - although you’re tired, you sort of open up the ice for yourself and you start to pass the puck because you’re shorthanded,” said Crowe. “And so your passing game gets better out of necessity.”
Down 4-0 near the end of the first, Edgewater’s Guy Morgan managed to crack the shutout with 19 seconds left on an unassisted goal. From there, Edgewater went goal-for-goal with the Molars with goals from Dave White, Derek Torgerson and two from Alfred Feldman.
“We talked about it at the break and decided to do some more dumping in and some long-break passes, and it seemed to be working,” said Edgewater goalie Rae Davies. “We were getting it in, forechecking, getting pressure on them, and it paid off in the second period.”
Before Wednesday’s game, the Molars’ highest scoring performance was a 6-5 win over the Firth Rangers on October 1.
“That’s what happens when you have the two oldest goalies in net,” said Davies.
In the following game Wednesday night, the Firth Rangers defeated Kilrich 6-2. Leading the charge for the Rangers was Tom Guy with two goals and four points on the night. Rangers Bernie Adilman, Bob Allison, and Carl Burgess each had a goal and an assist
Kilrich’s Bill Bohmer was the only player on his team with a multi-point game, assisting goals by Bruce Williams and Chris McNutt.
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com