Mite #2 falls in regular season opener

Originally posted  Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 5:18pm

Strong defense not enought to overcome slow start, Midwest Maniax

Hockey games are divided into three periods, but Saturday’s game for Jaguar Mite 2 was definitely a tale of two halves.
Despite once again closing strong, the Jaguars were unable to overcome a slow start, falling 3 -1 to the Midwest Maniax in their opening Northern Illinois Hockey League Silver B White regular season game.
For the third game in a row, the Jaguars found themselves trailing 1-0 before they even had a chance to get their skates under them. Ronnie Carraher scored for the Maniax off an assist from Joey Bruszer just 18 seconds into the game.
Bruszer and Carraher switched roles when the Maniax scored again with 2:07 remaining in the opening stanza, stretching the Jaguar deficit to two goals.
The margin became three when Jack Janik scored on a power play with 4:16 remaining in the second period. Richard Bozek and Quinn McCall were credited with the assists, on what would prove to be the Maniax’ final tally.
It was then that the game changed as the Jaguars kicked things up a notch not only on defense, which was strong throughout the game, but also at the offensive end of the ice.
The Jaguars, who were down one player due to illness, tallied their lone goal of the game with 10:06 to play in the third period, when Trevor Hudak converted a Ryan Louthan assist to cut the margin to 3-1.
Louthan nearly reduced the margin further a short time later when he got loose on a breakaway and put  a point-blank shot squarely on net, only to be denied by Maniax goaltender Augie Smith, who turned in five saves on the afternoon.
Jaguar goaltender Luke Brzezinski came up big all afternoon, boasting some spectacular saves among his 23 stoppers to help keep the Jaguars in the contest before being pulled in favor of an extra skater with 1:01 to play.
The Jaguars will attempt to avenge the early season loss on Saturday, Nov. 19, when they welcome the Maniax to Inwood Ice Area at 3:15 p.m. The Jaguars will also be in action at 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, when they go on the road to play the McFetridge Bulldogs.