The handshake is a rich historical custom that can be traced back 2,500 years. The tradition is nuanced, with different cultures gaining very different significance from how it is done. An iron grip, a light touch, a linger, a quick release, even left or right hand all has meaning. Sports around the world have adopted the handshake after a competition as an important sign of respect to an opponent, whether in victory or defeat. And the warmth and genuine offer of a hand after a game is considered a measure of an athlete. Last weekend, the Jasper PeeWee Bears had the pleasure of shaking hands with a brand new opponent and a familiar rival in what turned out to be an exciting weekend of hockey.
On Dec. 10, the Wabamun Wildcats rocked up in Jasper. The Bears have never looked this opponent in the eye before, but on first touch they seemed well matched and certainly not overpowering. But before two-thirds of the first period was over, Jasper was down by two and looking gassed. It could have even been worse had the Bears鈥� netminder Donovan Fawcett not come up with some huge stops. With seconds to play in the frame, and a Wildcat in the box, Sebastian Golla stuffed home a Baden Koss rebound for a bit of first period redemption.
The second period passed without any scoring and few shots. Winger Liam Crozier made a nice move on the Wabamun defense to break in all alone from the blue line, but the Wildcat goalie was not in a giving mood. On the Bears鈥� part, D-man Michael Hayashi kept the best rushes Wabamun could offer to the outside.
Hayashi evened the score for the Bears to open the third, and not long after Janelle Tank looked like she would give the Bears their first lead of the game. But again the Wildcat netminder was solid. But with nine minutes to play, a Bears鈥� defensive lapse gave Wabamun a three-on-one and the Wildcats converted. Jasper lacked the grit to come back from that setback, and the Bears would shake hands after the game with an opponent to whom they had just lost 3-2.
On Dec. 11 Jasper faced off against the Whitecourt Wolverines for the third time this season. Jasper got drubbed in the first game, but tied in the second. With a small bench due to illness and festivities, the Bears were not hopeful, but motivated after a less-than-stellar Saturday offering.
However, Sunday鈥檚 game started much like Saturday鈥檚. Whitecourt pulled out to a two-nothing lead halfway through the first period. Rolling just two forward and two defensive shifts created a lot of energy on the Bears鈥� bench. The disciplined cycle of working hard for offensive opportunities, then getting the puck deep and changing seemed to be working. This pattern certainly favoured hard-working forwards like Henri LeClerc who benefits from lots of ice time. Two late period goals from Golla, assisted by wingers Lucas Oeggerli and LeClerc, drew the Bears even after 20 minutes.
The Bears increased the gap in the second period as Oeggerli scored twice, assisted by Golla and LeClerc. Dexter Fawcett and his new defensive partner, Koss, who was picking up blue-line minutes, made it very hard for Whitecourt鈥檚 forwards with fierce play in the corners. Indeed, the Wolverines had no answer to Oeggerli鈥檚 challenge, and the Bears took this two-goal lead to the dressing room.
In the third, it was the other forward line鈥檚 turn to shine. Nash Hilworth buried a pass from his winger, Apollo Hardman, and then Hardman found the back of the net from a tough angle moments later. Now Jasper had a four-goal lead. Whitecourt had 15 minutes to climb back into this game, something they have proven capable of in the past. But in what was perhaps the most efficient period of hockey this team has played, led both by strong offensive zone play by Golla and stifling defence by Ty Crozier, Hayashi, Koss and Dexter, the Wolverines couldn鈥檛 get back in the game. The game ended 6-2 in Jasper鈥檚 favour. Following the game, the Bears had an opportunity to show their respect by shaking hands with a worthy rival who had bested them in the past and could again under different circumstances.
The Bears pick up the action again Dec. 17 and 18 in two home games against Fox Creek. See you in the stands.
John Wilmshurst Special to the 51暗网
