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| The
Climax after another
win.
Photos courtesy of the
Climax. (Click for larger view) |
Both
Climax Teams Post Wins
Special
to Outsports
There were no leprechauns present at the Coors Light Colorado Climax game on March 17 in Westminster, Colo., but surely something was lending luck to the team. The Climax played the last six minutes of their game against the Dukes with a two-man disadvantage on the ice and escaped with a 6-5 win in the most intense battle of the season.
"It wasn't pretty but we'll take it," said center Rich Kuerston. "Our defense was tested like never before and they saved the game for us."
By the end of the first period the Climax had staked out a three-goal lead on scores by wingers Mik Bryant (Kuerston assisted), Andrew Winsett (unassisted) and Kevin Wytrykusz (center Matt Archer assisted).
The Dukes scored on a penalty shot at :47 of the second period after a referee called Climax defenseman Ed Hindle for deliberately covering the puck.
"It was a lousy call," Hindle said. "I accidentally fell on the puck trying to break up the play. Normally it would be beneath an undefeated first place team to gripe about the referees but this time I think it's entirely justified."
The Dukes added another goal at 4:44 of the second period, but the Climax responded with two goals of their own by Wytrykusz (Stefan Bolton and Archer assisted) and Archer (Bolton assisted) and the period ended with the Climax holding a 5-2 lead.
Fireworks erupted in the third period as the Climax accumulated multiple penalties against a piqued Dukes offense, which pulled within two goals at 3:58.
"Frankly it seemed like the refs were doing everything they could to keep us from winning the game," said Climax center Dave Decker.
Wytrykusz put the Climax ahead 6-3 when he added to his team leading tally of hat tricks with a goal at 4:14. But the Dukes rallied with two goals less than two minutes apart. Then with Hindle and Climax center Glenn Witman in the penalty box the Climax were forced to finish the game short-handed.
Climax goalie TJ Hawk had 10 saves on 15 shots while the Climax put 35 shots on goal.
The victory extended the Climax's winning streak to 19.
Climax Too Holds Lead
Meanwhile, on the same night, the Coors Light Colorado Climax Too did what they often were unable to do all season: rally and hold the lead. The Toonies came back from a 2-1 deficit and skated to a 4-2 triumph over the Master Bladers in Lakewood, Colo.
"This was probably our hardest fought game," said Climax Too center Barry Kisselman. "We really hung in there and attacked the puck and kept the pressure on."
Kisselman's goal at 2:17 of the first period put the Climax Too up 1-0. Defensemen Kevin Hemminger and Ted Aseltine were credited with assists. But the Master Bladers claimed the lead with two goals later in the same period.
Climax Too winger Steve Coppola tied the game on a rebound shot in front of the net at 4:42 of the second period. Aseltine and center Jae Cho got the assists.
Forward Roger Wilson capped the Toonies' scoring with a slap shot from the left wing at 8:18 of the third period.
The Climax and Climax Too are gay teams playing in mainstream leagues. The Climax teams always welcome new members regardless of skill level. Interested parties can visit
www.climaxhockey.org
for more information and send an inquiry to
info@climaxhockey.org.
March 19, 2002
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