Oh Canada! Hamilton Wins 3:2 in Shoot Out!

Chicago Wolves played markedly improved hockey against the Hamilton Bulldogs and were rewarded for their efforts by taking it to a shoot out and pocketing a point for the weekend. Giving the Wolves 74 points or tying them for 4th place with Rockford and 2 points out of second. Rockford has three more games to play on the schedule than the Wolves against the Aeros, Peoria, Iowa and San Antonio all teams which are contenders or would love to play spoiler. The Wolves have a comparably easier schedule playing Milwaukee 3 times Peoria,QC and closing against Rockford. Using the schedule as a crystal ball the Wolves are looking to the rest of the division to bloody themselves in a chicken fight over 2-4th . Meanwhile Milwaukee sits pretty and secure only to think about who they will meet in the first round. The Wolves meanwhile need to stick to the basics, stay out of the penalty box, 60 minutes of hockey, play hard or it will be tee times for Chicago on April 12th.

It's always a good time when the Bulldogs come to town. Several years ago their booster club followed the team on a weekend swing and a bus load of fans filled a section of the Allstate. Including several great road ambassadors like the "Cookie Lady" who baked hundreds of graham cracker dog biscuit cookies for the Chicago fans. I got to meet her in Chicago and in Hamilton of the Calder Cup Semi Finals two years ago. The Hamilton boosters are a great group of hockey first fans, they were missed last night and not just for the great cookies. Maybe next year when the economy is a bit better and we all are traveling more.

Hamilton drew first blood with a goal by Mike Glumac at 4:30 in the first. Chicago answered with a PP goal by Chad Denny at 18:25 a boomer that put the crowd on it's feet,he was assisted by Jamie Rivers and Spencer Machacek. Brett Skinner put Chicago ahead at 2:35 in the third, assists by Clay Wilson and Joe Motzko and at 3:44 Hamilton's Yannick Webber would tie the game and overtime became a reality. Hamilton's nettie Marc Denis did a great job between the pipes turning away 38 SOG. During the SO he did some amazing work, none more than his reading of Clay Wilson stopping that goal attempt cold. So many SO are simple skill competitions last night's was cut above thanks to Denis and Wilson they were both totally focused in that moment.

Here are some images of the game.





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