The Squirt BB team finished the regular season as the number three seed in the NorCal youth hockey division. They earned the right to battle it out between the San Jose Jr. Sharks BB1 team, BB2 team, and Santa Clara Blackhawks BB team this past weekend at Sharks Ice, San Jose.
Game 1
The first game of the weekend came against the San Jose Jr. Sharks BB2 team - a huge rivalry that had developed at the beginning of the season. The Bears were ready to jump on the board early, establishing good zone pressure and maintaining good presence in the offensive zone. Unfortunately, a bad bounce in the defensive zone allowed the Sharks to take the lead in the first period, 1-0. The Bears would have quite a few chances, including a power play, but could not muster up a tying goal before the end of the first. The second period would produce much of the same for the Bears, as they established zone presence and constant puck pressure. A mental lapse and bad timing contributed to a power play goal by the Sharks to put them up 2-0. The third period began with the Bears pouring on the offensive zone pressure and maintaining zone presence for the period. The Bears would get an offensive zone draw with less than two minutes to play. The coaches called their timeout and drew up a game plan to put the puck in the net off the draw. The entire arena was standing on their feet and gasping with every shot on net, but the roar when the goal came silenced the SJ crowd and bench. With nerves still high, Oakland would again, pull their goalie with less than a minute to play. Sensing a momentum swing, the Bears gave it everything they had until the final shot on net was blocked. No puck luck that afternoon, as they dropped the first game 2-1.
Game 2
The next game would feature a match-up of the two losing teams from the previous days. This game would feature another season long rivalry that would be enhanced by the pressure of elimination. Just like in Game 1, the Bears would establish good zone presence and attack the net with every opportunity they got. The Bears would finally breakthrough with seven minutes to go in the first period to put them up 1-0. In the second period, the Bears and Blackhawks traded shot, but the Bears were able to pot two goals quickly and efficiently, rolling into the third period with a 3-0 lead. The Bears entered the last stanza with a defensive mindset; they stifled the Blackhawks' offense and smothered their chances to break out of their own zone. The Bears would tally one more goal in the third to close out the game 4-0 and send the Blackhawks home, winless in the tournament.
Game 3
The third game of the weekend would be played later in the afternoon against the San Jose Jr. Sharks BB1 team. Both teams were playing for the chance to advance to the NorCal Finals and an invitation to the State Championship. The BB1 team would jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period, but with six seconds left on the clock and a face-off in offensive zone, the Bears team would send a message by pulling their goalie for the man advantage. Finding a sense of urgency, the Bears would win the draw and attempt a shot on net, before the BB1 team would find the loose puck and get it out as time expired. The Squirts would use those last few seconds in the first to elevate their game to the next level in the second period. The Bears would strike quickly in the second stanza to pull within a goal, but BB1 would strike back less than a minute later, re-establishing their two goal lead. These Bears would not go down easily, though, and would find the back of the net two more times before the end of the period, tying the game and making the third period a new game. The fight for the right to move on continued into the third; however, BB1 was able to put home a rebound to take the lead with ten minutes to play in the third. These Bears showed how much heart they had and continued to pour on the pressure with each ticking second. The BB1 goalie made some spectacular saves, while their defense were able to have some timely blocks. Unfortunately, the Bears would not be able to find that allusive tying goal and would drop the double-elimination game, 4-3.
The Squirt BB team fought until the end and never gave up, even when things looked bleak. The team came together and put everything they had on the ice to make it this far in the season, giving every team a run for their money. We're proud of these kids and hope they come back next season with the same heart, determination, and perseverance that they showed us this season!
As always, Go Bears!