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North To Alaska
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Banned Banned ![[Image: 2dvcfag.png]](https://i.imgur.com/2dvcfag.png) (858 Word Count) Montreal headed out of town for a three game road trip. The first stop was near Zarley Zalapski's home country Russia. North to Alaska to play the Anchorage Armada. If you know anything about Alaska you know they breed hockey players like rabbits and take the game very seriously. I remember the days of the Alaska Aces and how great they were in the ECHL. I was living in Vegas at the time, about 14 years ago and they had a healthy rivalry going on for over a decade during that span. So, I knew this game would be a difficult test to say the least. Zalapski was telling me a story how he worked for a fishing processor back in Russia for one summer. He actually stated that they would offload near Dutch Harbor every few weeks when the hull was full. He also let me know that he didn't like the idea of going back to Alaska as those 3 months were the roughest of his life. He reminisced about 12 hours shifts on and 6 hour shifts off. Of course he made it a point to let me know that 6 hours off only translated to about 4 hours sleep maximum because of the way they let you off and woke you up. He was telling me a story about how he went a week without a shower so he could get a few extra moments of shut eye. After the seven days of not bathing his bunk mates demanded that he showered and he decided to go back to regular bathing instead of causing strife with the crew. He felt that he was a long ways away from home and they could make anything look like an accident. He said it was best not to make these guys angry. Since I now have the contract to write for every game of the Militia this season, it is pretty nice to be able to travel with the team and watch every game. I settled into my seat in the press box this time so I could get a better viewpoint. Usually I like to sit behind the shoot twice goal of the Militia but many times I miss the action being so far away when the players are at the other end of the ice. Montreal was just coming off a tough loss, not only by the Knights and the scoreboard but it was one of the most violent games I have seen in my lifetime. I am happy to report that no player was injured during all the shenanigans that ensued in that game. I figured this game would be less physical as both of this teams are highly skilled and like to play a speed game. About a minute and a half into the game both teams had penalties that canceled out on each other and we watched some 4 on 4 hockey. After that the Armada got into a little penalty trouble and at 12:47 of the first period Hans Zucker put the puck across the Armada goal line on the power player to go up by one! He was assisted by Anello and Cadwalader. The Irishman Padraig Sarantez got called for roughing at 17:12 but the Armada were unable to connect on that opportunity. The Russian Connection of the Primary Defense both got into penalty trouble and sent to the box. Oliver Kolzoff for hooking at 4:41 and the rookie Zarley Zalapski was put in the box for the same crime at 10:43 of the second period. Even the rookie Ravyn Tedisko got called for Elbowing at 17:21. I don't know about you but this writer/hockey fan loves to see a good elbowing! The fans were disappointed in the effort of the Armada and the boo birds were in full force as they were unable to score on all three of these power plays. In the third period at 4 minutes and thirty seconds in Ravyn Tedisko made up for her elbowing penalty and put a 12 foot wrister in assisted by Morris and Cadwalader. Griffith Cadwalader is starting to heat up in the assist department chalking this one up as his seventh on the season. Tedisko doesn't see a ton of ice time but this is her third goal of the season and we can't wait to see what happens as she progresses through the ranks. The real star of the game was goaltender Aleksi O'Koivu-Volkov as this was his first shut out of the season. This netminder is the last line of defense for the Primary Defense and is also Russian born. Although the Armada only had 19 shots on goal Aleksi made some very key saves and many positional saves to bring on the doughnut for the team. Perhaps that is donut? Six years of university and I still can't spell. I am looking forward to the next game in Denver as it looks like an easier match up on paper. Although the last time the Militia were in Colorado they laid an egg. |
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