Recap
The defending Champion Sand Sharks opened up with a rematch of the finals vs the Aces. FIHL Official David Benmocha dropped the opening puck both in real time, and for the ceremonial drop. The FIHL appreciates all he has done to keep our games going and his efforts to create better officiating that focuses on the players! It took nearly the whole first period before the first goal of season two was scored and it belonged to JoJo Nemcova of the Aces as she tapped in a loose puck with assists from Jonathan DelaCruz and Zack Tate, all three are newcomers to the Aces and the FIHL! The goal came with six minutes left in the first and was followed just a minute later on a break away goal by Gus “The Bus” Komarek for a two nothing game. Gus also did his obligatory duty and made sure to have the first penalty of the season, as was right, since he led the league in penalties last season. It would be a Sand Shark penalty however in the final minute of the stanza that would lead to the first power play goal of the season with twenty two seconds left to play. Connor Hill would catch a Jo Jo feed and beat the Sharks tender with a nice wrister for the 3-0 end of first period lead. In the second period the Aces would add two more tallies. Zach Tate would score his first as an Ace with once again, JoJo Nemcova on the assist. Returning Finalist MVP Nate Salazar scored at the halfway point to the period to make it 5-0. It would stay that way until three minutes remained in regulation with Finn Smith spoiling the shut out bid of Phillip Tate. There has never been a shut out in FIHL History. Smith took a Gabe DelaRosa feed and after shaking off an attacker, wristed the puck past Sean Gaffney who was in the pipes for the Sharks. One minute and forty five seconds later, Javeer Doad made it 5-2 unassisted and that is how it would stay! Shots on goal for the Aces were forty eight while the Sand Sharks had thirty eight. Only three penalties were called per side on this one and only the Aces cashed in on one.