Day 3 In Vierumaki, Finland- Game #1 Report

After a full first day of training yesterday, including some gym time as well as two 1.5 hour ice sessions focusing on defensive zone coverage, back checking and some power play work, the Ice Blacks got their 2010 tour well and truly underway tonight, playing their first game in Vierumaki against Heinolan Kiekko Red.

The morning started early for the boys with a 6:30am wake up call with Managers Charlie Reid and Ian Challis lovingly knocking on doors up and down the second floor of our Likka Residence. Martin Lee decided to take the guys for a little sightseeing jog through the snow on the warm up jog to the rink for our 7:30 training session. Coach Bonazzo and Coach Kaisser decided it was time to work on some face off alignment and live face off situations. The training went very well with the boys coming away with a clearer picture of the teams systems off set pieces.

After a great breakfast the day was filled up with individual line meetings, plenty of rest time and full team systems meeting as well as a couple more meals featuring some creatively prepared fish dishes.

Finally, after long last, it was game time! Having no idea what to expect from the local team the coaches focused the team on working on playing our team strategies tonight with lots of communication on and off the ice. The key concept of supporting the puck in both ends was established as a goal for the game. We ran three lines the entire games giving everyone lots of ice time and goaltenders Zak Nothling and Rick Parry splitting the game down the middle.

The game started with a furious pace and the Ice Blacks came to grips with the finesse and speed of the Finns. After a few shifts we settled into our rhythm a little better and had a few very strong surges. Stefan Speck opened the scoring at 10:30 into the game off a nice centering feed from Adam Soffer off a line rush up the right wing.

The Finns answered back with a shorthanded goal off a blocked point shot and breakaway catching Nothling moving to his right and not able to get a strong enough push back to his left to close the gap. The end of the first saw the score 2-1 for the Finns.

In the break we talked about putting them under more pressure of the forecheck and out working them in the corners. The message was well received as Ian Wannamaker scored his first Ice Blacks goal off some great work on his part followed up by Mitchell Oak sniping on a blast from the point to give the Ice Blacks back the lead at 3-2.

The second half of the second period was a different story as the boys stopped moving their feet and lacked cohesion in their play taking a few too many penalties and paying the price as Heinolan Kiekko put two power play markers past Rick Parry.

The third saw one more power play goal for the bad guys as the Ice Blacks worked very hard for the full 20 minutes, out playing their opposition but failing to find the twine. Even on a beautiful power play puck movement from right to left to right finishing with a one-time blast from Josh Hay, the Finnish goaltender had the answer.

The game finished with one notable injury to Daniel Nicholls wrist. We’ll have to see how he is by the light of day tomorrow as the team hopes it’s just a sprain. Rest assured he is getting the proper medical treatment as this is being written.

Final Score: Heinolan Keikko Red 5- Ice Blacks 3.

A special note of thank you to our Referee tonight who also works here at Vierumaki as a chef and was kind enough to organize a great homemade pizza feed after the game including a beautiful smoked salmon, capers and feta pizza.

Our next game is in two nights time but the team is looking forward to the sleep in tomorrow and the lakeside sauna tomorrow night with what looks to be a chilly ice plunge to follow.

Jeff Bonazzo

Ice Blacks Head Coach