Ice Cats and Titans Battle Deep Into Overtime
By: Jason Turek
The Brookfield Journal
January 19, 2007
DANBURY, CT - Bethel/Brookfield was thoroughly outplayed by a faster and bigger squad in Sheehan but, thanks to goaltender Mike Sullinger, was on the verge of salvaging a tie.
Sullinger racked up an incredible 82 saves in the game but couldn't get one more as Sheehan's Vinny Nguyen took a shot past the goaltender with 1.4 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Titans a 2-1 win.
Bethel/Brookfield coach Rusty Granacker implemented a box-one defense against the Titans. He used it because he knew his team couldn't keep up against a team that defeated New Fairfield, a team the Ice Cats have lost to twice this season, by seven goals.
"We knew we couldn't skate with them, so we went to the box-one defense. We get more shots against us, but they have less quality," said the coach. "The problem is that we have trouble getting any kind of offense off of that type of defense."
Despite being outshot, the Ice Cats (2-8) took the early lead 7:24 into the first period when Mike Campbell shot the puck past J.J. Comeau on assists by Jeff Gabriel and Taylor Phillips.
Sheehan came back to tie the game four minutes later, a man down.
Mike Goodrich skated into the Bethel/Brookfield zone on the right hand side. He got past an Ice Cats defender and shot the puck over Sullinger's left shoulder for a short-handed goal.
The Titans (7-1-1) registered 28 unanswered shots on goal at one point of the game after Bethel/Brookfield's goal.
The Ice Cats were outshot 26-1 in the second period, with the lone shot coming off the stick of Jared Smenyak, who rushed into the Sheehan zone, but his shot was gloved by Comeau.
"The kids are inexperienced with the box-one defense because they're young and not quick enough to react to anticipation," said Granacker. "Hopefully, we can work on that defense so we can generate some offense from it."
Fortunately for Bethel/Brookfield, its three-year starting goaltender has a lot of experience under his belt. The defense kept the Titans from point-blank shots in the Ice Cats' zone and shooting from long range, something Granacker was willing to do with Sullinger in goal.
Sullinger kept the Titans off the board in the period and received some assistance with his team a man down. He stopped an initial shot in front of the goal, and the rebound came to Tyler Timek, who had an open net.
Bethel/Brookfield defenseman Brendan Allen stuck out his skate and was able to keep the puck out of the goal.
The Ice Cats registered six shots on goal in the third period, most of which came on two power play opportunities.
Sheehan got off 26 shots and appeared to have taken the lead 2:31 remaining in regulation but had the goal waved off because the puck was kicked into the back of the net. They had 70 after regulation but still had no answer for Sullinger.
In overtime, Sheehan got a power play with 1:07 left when Dan Conant was called for elbowing. The Titans, who had 13 shots in the extra session, kept the puck in the Bethel/Brookfield zone. Nguyen got a loose puck and put something extra on his shot and was able to rocket the puck past Sullinger just before time expired.
One thing not in Bethel/Brookfield's favor was that the team sustained injuries during the game. Smenyak, Taylor Phillips, and Dan Conant missed time on the ice while James Kiley missed most of the third period and overtime after receiving a game misconduct.
"We didn't have the personnel to stay with them," said Granacker. "We sustained injuries, and they are three lines deep. That's why they are one of the top teams in the state."