Biscuits and Breezers

Game Request

   

       Welcome back to another blog of Biscuits and Breezers! I was recently approached by Helena Bighorn Cody Blom to put out a blog for the 2/2/13 game in Missoula! Tearing his PCL while playing at Lake Forest College in Illinois, Cody decided to come back to the Bighorns and rehab in Helena instead of sitting on the bench for most of the game. Well it's fantastic to have you back in Helena Cody and to see a familiar face from last season! Here is to you and your return! The Helena Bighorns gave a loss to the Maulers after three periods of brute force, many shots back and forth, and countless close encounters that could have led to massive fights. Newly added as well to Helena, Chris Andre, and Mauler Matt Chamberlain were both ejected from the game for going at it against each other. Chatting with goaltender Jett Salinas after the game, I could tell he was very pleased with the shut out. He said that he never thought he would get one in Missoula. It has been a goal for him since last season. I felt that a lot of players shone through in this game. Some from Missoula, some from Helena. The players I thought that stood out from Missoula were Viktor Steenson, Zach Paisley, Tyler Zandhusien, and Paige Maul. The Bighorns I thought stood out were the Henne brothers, Parker Olson, Jett Salinas, John Petersson, Christian Axelsson, and Cody Blom. One moment I thought was a highlighted moment was when Logan Henne got cross checked in the back, ended up on the ice, and his brother team captain Ben Henne came to defend him. That was absolutely priceless because it not only shows that they will stand up for each other, but the deeper emotions that come out during the play time. I felt that Viktor handled the puck very well and had some really good clappers that would have gone in if it wasn't for Salinas' pads, Paige had some great wristers and his passes were very good, Zach played very big and powerful which paid off majorly in the long run, and then Tyler had great communication and puck control with his team mates. The Henne brothers were great together offensively they helped push the puck down the ice and assisted others quite a bit, Parker was a great assister who had very soft hands, Jett of course was a brick wall, John and Christian, as always, provided the Swedish talent that every team needs. One on offense and another on defense. I think they actually have influenced the team as well as Viktor has because you can see on both teams flares of European techniques. Cody was on top of his game scoring two goals and adding an assist. Playing in college certainly has brought his level of playing up to higher standards. 

   Cody's first goal came on a power play 6:33 into the first to put the Bighorns up 2-0. A roughing penalty was given to Connor McNally which sent him in the sin bin. Parker assisted Cody. Blom's next goal was scored on a power play also with 6:48 left in the first. This brought the score up to 3-0. He was assisted by Brandon Rumble. Defenseman Christian Manning was sent to the penalty box as well which in turn gave Helena a power play. Kyle Baker scored one goal and Christian Axelsson scored two goals total. Jacob Wolter also tallied one assist. Cody Janzen took 39 shots total stopping 34. Jett saved 29 out of 29. The refs sure had their hands full with penalties. A major incident occurred 5:34 into the third. The total number of penalties for the game was 12 minors and 1 major for 39 minutes all in the penalty box. This exceeded their average 18 minutes. Missoula had 5 minors and 1 major for a total of 25 minutes in the box.

  A fight almost went down during the second period, late in the game. It could have been between Viktor Steenson and John Petersson. Now this would have been a great fight just for the fact that it would have been two Swedes on their journey in American hockey battling things out on Viktor's home ice. I talked a little bit with all three of them (Axelsson, Steenson, and Petersson) after the game and all of them said that it would have been a great fight that every one would have loved. Petersson and Viktor got very chippy and started to push and shove each other. If weren't for team mates and refs calming them down, they would have dropped the mitts right then and there and just had a ball with each other. I mean it could have been a huge fight. Viktor is a very strong forward who isn't afraid to shove some one around if he wants to. John is a big defenseman around the same height as Viktor and he can bang bodies like you wouldn't believe. I think that if this fight would have happened, it would have been a bench clearer just for the fact that both of these guys are key players on their teams and their boys would do anything to defend them. On the other hand you have Christian stuck right smack dab in the middle. Friends with Steenson and played with him in College Hockey Sweden and friends with Petersson and plays with him in Helena. Poor Christian is all I can say about that.

  Well that just about covers the whole game. As usual the crowd was wild and feisty. The players anxious, determined, and ready to crush bones. I could ramble on and on so I should probably stop here otherwise it would take you an hour to read this entire blog! Thanks for reading another blog of Biscuits and Breezers! Every episode will be filled with updated hockey news, player reviews, and so much more! Until next time remember, don't get your breezers in a bunch because hockey is always around the corner. Remember, it's always a great day to play hockey and it's a lifestyle not just a sport!