Those at the Blue Tongues game today were witness to some exciting and very physical hockey. We do expect games like today when playing the Ice Dogs, as history has shown over the previous 6 seasons. But today’s PIMs stats don’t really give an accurate depiction of how the team played.
- Blue Tongues #96 Dave Upton celebrates after scoring a goal
While the Blue Tongues were busy putting pucks past Jim Herbert of the Ice Dogs, the puppies come-back was to try and fight their way into the game. The game was gritty and we all knew that a fight or 2 were expected, so when things got heated, the game got interesting. First of all was the cheap-shot that Ice Dogs #37 Derek Campbell put on Ben Spillane by way of a hit to the back of the head. Spillane turned to face down Campbell but the refs stepped in and stopped anything from happening. While the refs handed out penalties, the crowd all looked at Campbell in disgust for his display of pure goon hockey. Campbell however was not done for the night.
A bit later in the game Dallas Costanzo put a huge clean check on one of the Ice Dogs. The crowd went crazy, impressed with Dallas’ solid physical play. The Ice Dogs other basher-brother had other plans. Andrew White charged Costanzo, laying him out with what can only be described as a cheap shot made by a player fueled by either stupidity or frustration. Naturally, the Blue Tongues stood up for their star import and 2 individual scuffles broke out.
The third period was a 15 minute giant scuffle… lots of penalties and a lot of aggression on both sides of the ice. Campbell, White and Culligan all tried their best to get under the Blue Tongues skin, and while they get a semi-desired result, the Blue Tongues showed absolutely incredible discipline all game long.
Just as the clock ran down to 0 Derek Campbell once again reared his ugly head, this time opting to display absolutely unprofessional and unsportsmanlike behavour as he ran the Blue Tongues goalie, CJ Anderson. To go after a teams goalie is one of the dirtiest moves in hockey, but to do it pretty much on the final buzzer is simply disgusting. The crowd stared in shock, and had flash-backs of Bryan Lachance 2 seasons back. We had a season with a player like Campbell and regret it ever happened. Why oh why would another team want someone of such low calibre? Campbell was assessed a Game Misconduct that will result in him missing a game.
Amongst all those misconducts, penalties and scuffles though there was a well oiled Blue Tongues team that led with fantastic passing, great shooting and solid team-play. Their defense was awesome and the self-control and discipline was outstanding considering the game being offered by the opposition team.
I want to give a special mention to Blue Tongues coach, Kevin Sands, who kept his team well disciplined during this weekends games. The team is led by the behaviour of the coach, and Sands was solid behind the bench.
I also want to give a huge kudos to CJ Anderson, who picked up his first ever AIHL career shutout with todays 3-0 win. Well done CJ!
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