Reno Pond Hockey played the Jurassic Pucks in their last game. It was game six of the RIAL D-League Winter 2022/23 season. The game took place on Wednesday, February, 1st, 2023 at 9:15PM. The game was at Reno Ice.
Reno Pond Hockey was coming off of a 7-5 win against the Grrrowlers. Reno Pond Hockey had a record of 4-1-0. Reno Pond Hockey did not lose a game in January. Reno Pond Hockey had not lost a game yet in 2023. They were also on a 4 game winning streak which is the longest winning streak in Reno Pond Hockey history. Reno pond Hockey was in 3rd place. The Jurassic Pucks were coming off a 3-4 loss to the Nevada Police Foundation. They were on a three game losing streak. They had a record of 1-3-1. They are the only team to beat Reno Pond Hockey this season. They were in 5th place. The all-time record between Reno Pond Hockey and the Jurassic Pucks was 0-1-0. The last game between Reno Pond Hockey and the Jurassic Pucks was on Wednesday, December, 14th, 2022. Reno Pond Hockey lost that game 1-3.
Check out the game preview here.
The Jurassic Pucks would score first. For the first seven or so minutes, Reno Pond Hockey was in control of the game. The Jurassic Pucks were struggling just to get the puck out of their defensive zone. Their goalie was the only one keeping them in the game. Eventually, on their first chance of the game, their puck carrier would crash the net and score. That was the only goal of the first period. The score was 0-1 with the Jurassic Pucks leading after the first period.
After a lot of chances, Reno Pond Hockey would tie the game. About halfway through the second period, #46 Brett Horachek would score. His shot was a rocket that found its way to the back of the net. His goal was assisted by #9 Tristan McKnight and #29 Erich Schulz. Brett’s goal was the only goal of the second period. The game was tied at 1-1 going into the third period.
30 seconds roughly into the third period #25 Ethan Crisp would score to give Reno Pond Hockey the lead. The Jurassic Pucks turned the puck over in their defensive zone. The turnover created a two-on-one. Ethan had a wide-open lane with only the goalie to beat so he took the shot and scored.
Two minutes later Reno Pond Hockey would add to their lead. #18 Sean Slamon took the puck down the wing in the offensive zone. He centered it to #12 Darrell Ward, who beat the goalie with his shot.
On pretty much the next play, #29 Erich Schulz kept the puck in at the blue line. He put it towards the net where #9 Tristan McKnight was there to receive the pass. Tristan made a move on the goalie and was able to score.
With about 10 minutes to go in the game Reno Pond Hockey scored their fifth goal of the game. #46 Brett Horachek would pass the puck up the boards from the defensive zone. #88 Jesse Viner got the puck and was able to get on a breakaway. He didn’t make a move on the goalie. He just shot the puck five-hole and it went in.
Reno Pond Hockey made it a five-goal lead almost two minutes later. Under pressure #72 Mitch Costa would clear the puck from the defensive zone. The puck would find #4 Matthew Stewart. He would get a breakaway. His shot would find the back of the net.
Reno Pond Hockey would score the games final goal with about 6 minutes left in the game. #25 Ethan Crisp would shoot the puck wide of the net. #28 (C) Zac Seidemann would get the puck at the side of the net. He would draw in three defenders. He passed the puck back to a wide-open Ethan. Ethan would shoot the puck. #96 Robbie Janas would tip the puck out of the air and into the net. The game would end in a 7-1 Reno Pond Hockey victory.
Reno Pond Hockey had a lot of offensive chances and a lot of offensive zone time. However, due to the Jurassic Pucks goaltending, it ended up being a close game for two periods. Again their goaltending gave them a chance. Where it fell apart for Jurassic Pucks was a lack of creating offense. They struggled to get the puck out of their own zone. In the offensive zone they struggled to even get shots. As the game went on it got worse and worse for them even with the 1-0 lead. Reno Pond Hockey found another gear to be able to beat the Jurassic Pucks goaltending and tie the game. A lot of effort went into tying the game. In the third period, the Jurassic Pucks fell apart and the flood gates opened. Reno Pond Hockey didn’t let up after tying the game. The kept that same extra effort to score six goals in the third period.
It was a huge team effort to accomplish this for Reno Pond Hockey. There were some big defensive plays. All three offensive lines scored. With this win Reno Pond Hockey now has a five game winning streak. This is the second game in a row where Reno Pond Hockey scored seven goals. That is a first for Reno Pond Hockey. This is the fourth game this season where Reno Pond Hockey has scored five or more goals.
Reno Pond Hockey’s first goal was scored by #46 Brett Horachek. It was assisted by #9 Tristan McKnight and #29 Erich Schulz. The second goal was scored by #25 Ethan Crisp. It was unassisted. The third goal was scored by #12 Darrell Ward. It was assisted by #18 Sean Slamon. The Fourth goal was scored by #9 Tristan McKnight. It was assisted by #29 Erich Schulz. The fifth goal was scored by #88 Jesse Viner. It was assisted by #46 Brett Horachek. The sixth goal was scored by #4 Matthew Stewart. It was assisted by #32 Mitch Costa. The seventh goal was scored by #96 Robbie Janas. It was assisted by #25 Ethan Crisp and #28 (C) Zac Seidemann.
Goals – #46 Brett Horachek, #25 Ethan Crisp, #12 Darrell Ward, #9 Tristan McKnight, #88 Jesse Viner, #4 Matthew Stewart, #96 Robbie Janas
Assists – #9 Tristan McKnight, #29 Erich Schulz (2), #18 Sean Slamon, #46 Brett Horachek, #32 Mitch Costa, #25 Ethan Crisp, #28 (C) Zac Seidemann
Stats were not published on the league website
Reno Pond Hockey is back in second place. They are one point (one shootout loss) from tying for first place. With a win this week Reno Pond Hockey will be in first place. The Guardians do not play again until their matchup with Reno Pond Hockey on February 13th. The outcome of that game is likely to determine the D-League regular season title winner.
Reno Pond Hockey is in a playoff spot. They only need one win in their remaining four games to secure their playoff spot. If the playoffs started today they would matchup with Mid-Ice Crisis in the Semifinals for the second season in a row. The other Semifinal game would be the Guardians and the Nevada Police Foundation. No D-League team has secured a playoff spot yet. The top three teams are one win away though. No D-League team has been eliminated from playoff contention yet. There is only one win separating the bottom three teams. The last playoff spot is up for grabs and could come down to the final games of the regular season.
Reno Pond Hockey at Grrrowlers | RIAL
10:15pm
Location: Reno Ice
Feb.
6th
Zac Electrifly 