SnapD win streak on Road to the Finals

2016 Swansea Hockey Association Finals
SnapD vs Fullerton Productions.

It was Kieran's first taste of organized hockey.  Glad it wasn't like the last 2 years when temperatures reached -39 Deg C (that's -38 Deg F!).  Cold is cold, and at those temps. You better love to play hockey.  And even I don't love it that much.  But some kids don't care what it's like outside, as long as they can play, they will.  Those kids are passionate and tough!


We had a couple of games in the -17 deg C ball park.   At those cold evenings you'll need hand warmers, foot warmers, and fleece lined everything.

This league is so awesome for kids that just want to play for the fun of it and have some healthy competition.  The kids were of all skill levels.  And it only runs for 2.5 months which is perfect.  Not too long and not too short.  They play two 21 minute periods for the games.  And there is a mercy rule that they don't keep track of the goals after one team is up by 5 goals.  It's for fun, not for demoralizing the kids.

His team was great, the coaches, the kids and the parents were fantastic.  No one here expects their kids to make it to the NHL, but they all want their kids to enjoy the great game of hockey.  And when you play hard and do your best and show improvement, you even get to wear the Golden Jersey of Awesomeness.  Which is so cool.

The road to the playoffs was about facing some tough competition.
Everything changes in the playoffs.  Every game counts and you can tell in how the games were played.

Their first game against a team they had never lost to, had come down to the last minute with SnapD up 1 - 0.  Strictly Bulk pulled their goalie and had a couple of time outs to get organized.  It was playoff hockey.

Their next game was against their arch nemesis The Pie Commission.  A team they had never beaten. They came close in one game, so I think the kids knew they had it in them.

This was one stressful game.  Up by 1 with less than 90 seconds to go.  The SnapD defence was working well.  SnapD player Alex C. had a breakaway to put the game out of reach, but the puck got away from him and couldn't capitalize. But from that breakaway Pie Comm made a rush and potted a late goal sent this game to OT.  I was worried the kids would feel the game was slipping away.

OT was stressful.  But the kids kept the puck in their zone and less than 2 mins in a scramble in front of their net led to Alex getting a second chance at redemption and put it in the back of Pie Comm's net.  Beating them for the first time and sending SnapD into the Finals!  What a huge win for the kids!

This was a winding road of improvement for both of these teams. These were two evenly matched teams.  The very first game SnapD played against Fullerton Production played went down to the wire.  And this finals game was no different.

This game was scoreless for the first period and much of the second.  With some great scoring chances for both sides.  I thought the kids were playing really well.  Defence and Offence. But hard shot from bad angle put FProd up by 1.

And with the clock winding down and a late penalty on FProd, SnapD pulled their goalie, but their defence was too good and the boys couldn't get the puck close their net for any sort of scoring chance.  It was a great game, with lots of action at both ends.  It was too bad one team had lose.  And you could see it on the faces of the Team SnapD kids in the change room.  But they should be proud of their season!

We'll be back next YEAR!