Reno Pond Hockey played Mid-Ice Crisis for the RIAL Winter 2022/23 D-League Playoff Championship. The game took place on Saturday, March, 11th, 2023 at 2:15PM as part of Championship Saturday. The game was at Reno Ice.
Reno Pond Hockey was coming off of a 8-3 victory over the Jurassic Pucks in the Semifinals. Reno Pond Hockey finished the regular season with a record of 9-1-0. Reno Pond Hockey had not lost a game yet in 2023. They were on a 10 game winning streak which is the longest winning streak in Reno Pond Hockey history. Reno pond Hockey had secured number one seed in the playoffs after winning the RIAL Winter 2022/23 D-League Regular season title. This was back-to-back D-League Championship appearances for Reno Pond Hockey.
Mid-Ice Crisis was coming off a 2-1 win over The Guardians in the Semifinals. They finished the regular season with a record of 6-3-1. They were the number three seed in the playoffs after coming in third in the standings.
Reno Pond Hockey’s all-time record against the Mid-Ice Crisis was 4-1-0 going into this game. The last game between Reno Pond Hockey and the Mid-Ice Crisis was on March, 1st, 2023. Reno Pond Hockey won that game 3-2 in a shootout. Reno Pond Hockey also eliminated Mid-Ice Crisis during the RIAL Summer 2022 D-League Playoffs during the semifinals.
Check out the game preview here.
Neither team scored in the first period. The game was tied at 0-0 after the first period. Reno Pond Hockey would break the stalemate on the powerplay with 11′ minutes to go in the second period. On the breakout, #28 (C) Zac Seidemann was coming down the wing. #23 Joshua Schaap was heading toward the net. Zac passed it to Joshua. Joshua was able to get through two defenders to get the puck and put it on net. The shot was initially saved. The goalie lost track of it and #25 Ethan Crisp was able to get the puck and put it into the net. Following the goal the Mid-Ice Crisis player who gave Reno Pond Hockey the powerplay was ejected from the game. In between periods #18 Sean Slamon left the game due to prior engagements. Reno Pond Hockey would have a 1-0 lead going into the third period.
Mid-Ice Crisis tied the game with 10′ minutes to go. Their player carried the puck into the offensive zone. He made a move to get around the defender. He then made a move on the goalie and scored. That goal tied the game at 1-1. With 7′ minutes to go Reno Pond Hockey would retake the lead. #72 Mitch Costa kept the puck in the offensive zone with a shot that went just wide of the net. #28 (C) Zac Seidemann would get the puck towards center. #25 Ethan Crisp would take a shot that would end up behind the net. Zac would get the puck again. Under pressure Zac was able to get the puck to Ethan from below the goal line. Ethan then tipped it home. That gave Reno Pond Hockey a 2-1 lead.
Less than a minute later Reno Pond Hockey added to their lead. #45 Brian Janas had control of the puck in the defensive zone. He passed the puck to #20 Garrett Deering in the neutral zone. Garrett received the puck past the center line. He went one on one with a defender. He chipped the puck over the defender to give himself a breakaway. On the breakaway, the goalie would drop down into the butterfly. Garrett went right over the goalies shoulder with his shot to score. That gave Reno Pond Hockey a 3-1 lead.
With 4′ minutes to go Reno Pond Hockey would score the game’s final goal. #72 Mitch Costa had control of the puck in the defensive zone. He passed it to #4 Matthew Stewart in the neutral zone. He would get the puck to #9 Tristan McKnight. Tristan took the puck into the offensive zone. He went around his defender. He put a move on the goalie and scored. This gave Reno Pond Hockey a 4-1 lead.
Reno Pond Hockey would take a penalty with 3 minutes to go. Mid-Ice Crisis would then pull their goalie on the powerplay. With 2′ minutes to go #25 Ethan Crisp would clear the puck from on the goal line. Mid-Ice Crisis would be called for too many men on the ice with just over a minute to go on the powerplay. A slow change would lead to them having seven players on the ice. During the 4 on 4, with only a minute and 30 seconds to go in the game, one of the Mid-Ice Crisis players would put #72 Mitch Costa into the boards from behind. This lead to a scrum and both players receiving matching penalties.
The game would end in a 4-1 Reno Pond Hockey Victory. Reno Pond Hockey became the RIAL Winter 2022/23 D-League Champions with this victory.
The game was really close. Neither team really had an advantage until halfway through the second period. A few of the Mid-Ice Crisis guys were getting upset. As the game went on it was getting more aggressive, especially at the end. Mid-Ice Crisis weren’t too happy with the result but both teams played hard and didn’t give up. Reno Pond Hockey did what they have done all season. They found a way to win. They didn’t give up. They kept the pressure on the opposing team and it payed off. What allowed Reno Pond Hockey to play so well in this game was #40 Justin Farmer in net, Reno Pond Hockey kept their feet moving, and they had net front presence. #23 Ethan Crisp also had an incredible game. He had two goals and cleared the puck off the goal line late in the game.
Reno Pond Hockey has now won its first RIAL Championship. This comes after back-to-back D-League Championship game appearances. This brings their all-time playoff record to 3-2-0 in three appearances. Their winning streak now continues to eleven games. This is the seventh game in a row where Reno Pond hockey has allowed three or fewer goals. It is the tenth overall game this season where they have allowed three or fewer goals. This was the fourth game overall this season where Reno Pond Hockey only allowed a single goal.
Reno Pond Hockey’s first goal was scored by #25 Ethan Crisp. It was assisted by #23 Joshua Schaap and #28 (C) Zac Seidemann. The second goal was scored by #25 Ethan Crisp. It was assisted by #28 (C) Zac Seidemann and #72 Mitch Costa. The third goal was scored by #20 Garrett Deering. It was assisted by #45 Brian Janas. The fourth goal was scored by #9 Tristan McKnight. It was assisted by #4 Matthew Stewart and #72 Mitch Costa.
had control of the puck in the defensive zone. He passed it to #4 Matthew Stewart in the neutral zone. He would get the puck to #9 Tristan McKnight.
Goals – #25 Ethan Crisp (2), #20 Garrett Deering, #9 Tristan McKnight
Assists – #23 Joshua Schaap, #28 (C) Zac Seidemann (2), #72 Mitch Costa (2), #45 Brian Janas, #4 Matthew Stewart
Stats were not published on the league website
Reno Pond Hockey is the Reno Ice Adult League Winter 2022/23 D-League Champions and Reno Ice Adult League Winter 2022/23 D-League Regular Season Champions.
The official Reno Pond Hockey Championship merchandise is available on the Zac Electrifly Shop.
To everyone in the Reno Pond Hockey family, thank you for making this our most incredible season yet. Our future is bright and we hope you join us for the ride next season.
Reno Pond Hockey vs Q & D Construction | RIAL
10:30pm
Location: Reno Ice
Mar.
22nd
Zac Electrifly 