Avalanche boys rally for 6-4 win over West Kings

It took some time to gain momentum, but the Avalanche found their groove when it counted in a recent battle against West Kings.

“Our guys were not prepared for the start of the game,” said Avon View head coach Mark Tye following the game.

“We did not have a good warmup.”

As a result, the boys fell behind 3-0 to the West Kings Wolverines in high school hockey play Dec. 1 in Windsor.

Tye said West Kings played a physical first period and “our guys had to turn it around.”

He added that in the second period, “our team was very physical on the forecheck and we kept the play below their goal line.”

The Wolverines got on the scoreboard after a shot sailed over the Avon View net, took a funny bounce off the boards and came out to where a Wolverines’ player was positioned to the left of Avalanche goaltender Joe MacDonald, who was bested by a backhanded shot that was quickly flipped into the Avalanche net.

The entire game was a physical, hard-hitting contest. The next two Wolverines goals came on a high wrist shots.

The Avalanche played two men short for 38 seconds but West Kings could not take advantage to score a fourth goal, although they made a strong play carrying the puck around the Avalanche net and attempted to backhand it past MacDonald, who had the corner of the net solidly blocked.

The second period was a horse of a different colour as the Avalanche hit the ice and never stopped. This time they were using the body to their advantage.

Avon View missed on their first attempt as Keegan Turnbull carried the puck in nicely and passed it to Hayden Burgess in front, but he was foiled.

West Kings started the period strongly forechecking but faded as the period continued. Sam Miller connected for the Avalanche’s first goal on a shot from the point.

Avon View stayed aggressive and despite West Kings goalie Mac Sawler making two key saves, Zach Eldridge made it a 3-2 game as he moved in close and kept attacking to put the puck home.

The Avalanche’s Turnbull perhaps dealt the hardest hit of the night when he caught Jaxson Allen in front of the Avalanche bench and Nathan Salsman then had another excellent chance with his shot appearing to skid off of Sawler’s shoulder.

Turnbull then tied it for the Avalanche after Ethan Salsman missed twice. Turnbull picked up a loose puck and scored on the third try to tie the game at 3-3.

Matt Benedict then delivered a solid hit to the Wolverines’ Kade Robar and Blake Rogers picked the puck up and, on a great rush after taking a pass from MacDonald in the Avalanche net, scored to put the Avalanche ahead at 4-3. When asked about Rogers’ play, Tye said, “he is big and strong, and he can skate. We are expecting great things from him the remainder of the season.”

The Avalanche were then playing with a two-man advantage for 38 seconds and, despite heavy pressure, did not score until they were only one man up with 30 seconds left in the penalty as Will Caines had it all alone in front of the Wolverines net to make the score 5-3 for Avon View.

With 18:07 to play, goaltender MacDonald was caught without his stick and as the Avalanche were trying to get the puck out of their end, Dan Lord beat Carson Hape down along the right boards and Hape tripped him, which killed the West Kings power play.

The Avalanche kept dominating and it became 6-3 when Lord snapped a shot home. The Wolverines then scored their fourth and final goal before Rogers did a Bobby Orr rush from one end of the rink to another, only to see his wrist shot ring off the left goal post of the Wolverines’ net.

West Kings had another chance to close within a goal with 51 seconds left but could not beat MacDonald even as they were playing with six attackers with their goaltender pulled.

The Avalanche are slated to visit Northeast Kings Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. The next night they’re due to host the Central Kings Gators in Windsor at 7 p.m.