There’s an adage in hockey that when you score a goal in the last minute of a period, your team gains momentum. If it can sustain that momentum at the start of the next period, that usually bodes well.
Unfortunately for the Ice Force, sustaining that momentum proved to be difficult.
A Jake Hardin goal with only two seconds left in the first period had the Ice Force team and their fans dancing for joy. However, a quick goal by Brookfield’s Matt Fosdick, and a subsequent controversial penalty call, led the Ice Force to a dance of death. Brookfield went on to score five times in the second period to win 5-2 at the Ponds of Brookfield.
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The first period was up-and-down with only a few sporadic scoring opportunities for either team. One was in the waning seconds of the period, when Kyle Hoffmann sent a long pass out of his own zone to spring Jake Hardin for a breakaway.
Brookfield goalie Patrick Haumschild was caught off guard, opening up the five-hole, where Hardin tucked away the puck for a 1-0 lead.
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The momentum the Ice Force gained with the late goal all went for naught.
Brookfield’s Matt Fosdick would get the equalizer just over a minute into the second period with a wrap-around goal to tie the score at one.
The demise of the Ice Force began with a controversial penalty call off a goal mouth scramble. Ice Force goalie Joe Koepp appeared to have the puck covered, but the whistle never blew. A Brookfield player’s stick was wedged between Koepp’s legs and he was corkscrewed away from the crease. Another player to a whack at the puck and was crosschecked by the Ice Force’ Kahler Cox. Some pushing and shoving ensued and when all was said and done, only Cox was sent off to the sin bin.
“Every pregame meeting we have with the refs they talk about protecting the goalie,” Ice Force coach John Kennedy said. “I thought we had the puck covered. What I saw was the goalie (Koepp) move and the guy pitchforked him. And he’s a pretty big kid. To move him with his stick….you gotta blow the whistle there or something.”
It didn’t take long for Brookfield to capitalize on the powerplay, as Brandt Rogers was left all alone in the high slot. Rogers’ shot went low to the blocker side, giving the Stars a 2-1 lead.
That goal seemed to demoralize the Ice Force and for the rest of the period they seemed to be in a bit of a fog.
Brookfield would get three more goals in the period - from Carter Jenkins, Matt Fosdick, and Robbie Fosdick - to take a commanding 5-1 lead.
Late in the third period, the Ice Force Triple H line of Hoffman, Hardin, and Hart, scored to make the final score 5-2. Mitch Hart slipped the puck to Jake Hardin in his own zone, and Hardin found Kyle Hoffmann for a breakaway. Too little too late, but a goal that was highlight film worthy nonetheless.
Kennedy said the penalty call affected his team.
“It definitely deflated us,” he said. “I know a couple of the kids were really frustrated after the third goal, the shot from the point. I thought Joe (Koepp) made some great saves, but with the lack of horses it was just too big of a hill to climb.”
The next hill the Ice Force has to climb is the state hockey tournament. They are set to face off against the Waukesha Wings on Tuesday night at the Eble Ice Arena. The puck drops at 7:45 p.m.
Look for a tournament preview on Tuesday morning.
