Colts, Pacers open with 2-2 tie
By Nate Rosenthal
The hockey season got underway at Fitzpatrick arena this week, with a treat for Chicopee fans, a rare season opener between the Pacers and Colts. The cross-town rivals meet twice each season, but not usually in the very first game. The intensity of a first game on the ice was matched by that of the fans in the stands.
The subplots for the game itself featured the Pacers, who went to the postseason and made it to the semifinals and are seeking to take it just a little further this go around; the Colts, who missed out on the postseason, but who are bringing back 17 players with a new coach. As expected, the two teams gave it everything they had in what resulted in a 2-2 tie.
The Colts won the opening faceoff, but the Pacers quickly recovered and took control of the early play, keeping the puck in the Comp zone. Within the first couple of minutes, they were able to put some pressure on Comp goalie Eric Presz, as there top line of Pat Strepka, Nick Tougas and Jon Axton buzzed around the net. Axton and Tougas got off some point blank shots in that first minute, but Presz was more than equal to the task.
Once they were able to clear the zone, the Colts were able to do the same at the other end. Three minutes in Chris Kuenzel broke away from the pack and bore down on Chris Hebert ricocheting a shot of his pads from 10 feet out. Two minutes later, later Tyler Houle did the same from the other side.
Midway through the period each of the teams were hit with penalties, first with Chicopee getting a power play and then shortly after, the Colts assumed the man advantage. Both defenses held up well in these situations. As the first period came to ands end, Chicopee once again went on the power play and had some shots on Presz, but the first period came to a close with both teams scoreless. The shots were relatively even, with the Pacers having a slight edge. And while the Colts stayed with them in terms of score, Presz goaltending was keeping Comp in the game.
It was more of the same in the early going of the second period, with both teams moving up and down the ice. Then with just over 11 minutes to go, Joe St. Jean grabbed the puck along the boards from a Chicopee defender and spotted Kuenzel free just outside the blue line. Kuenzel beat his man and wristed a shot from 6 feet out that Hebert could not handle. Comp took a 1-0 lead. After the score, they seemed invigorated and put a lot of pressure on Hebert, getting a few point blank shots, which the Pacer goalie knocked aside.
Then just as the clock passed the two minute mark, Chicopee took off on a rush with Strepka and Axton leading the way. Axton sent the puck toward the goal from the left circle, and Strepka standing 3 feet in front to the goal was able to deflect it in to tie the game at 1-1. This period, though was dominated by the Colts especially over the final ten minutes.
The Pacers came out of the second period break more aggressive than they had been all night, with Tougas getting a shot on goal right off the face off. But it was the Colts who made good on their first shot before less than a minute had passed. There was a scramble in front of Hebert and Kyle Eckert made good on his shot from the pack. Jacob Derosia and Zak McCullough were credited with assists, while Comp was again had the lead.
But that would not last for long as the Pacers came right back. They quickly got the puck up ice and Tougas spotted Strepka in the circle to Presz left. Strepka let loose with a slap shot from 15 feet out and got past Presz in hurry and just 45 seconds after Comp had taken the lead, the Pacers were even again. There was still more than 13 minutes to go in the game.
Then came barrage of penalties. With 11 minutes to play, Chicopee went on a power, but that advantage lasted less than a minute as a Chicopee player was called for a penalty. A minute later Chicopee was back on the power play for the better part of another minute, but when all was said and done, the game was still deadlocked.
Chicopee took charge in terms of puck control when they went on a power play with just under 5 minutes to go. Tougas and Strepka both had shots kicked away by Presz, Tougas’ shot being a slapper from 20 feet. In the final minute, it was Strepka win two big shots in his bid for a hat trick. But when the horn finally sounded, the game ended in a 2-2 tie. With Chicopee outshooting Comp 45-20, it was a clear indication as to what Eric Presz meant to his team in this game.
