Indians drop four games at the Tier 1 Showcase

This weekend the Indians traveled to Detroit to complete against the best teams in the United States at the Tier 1 Showcase in Detroit.  Friday afternoon the Indians got off the bus to take on the Thunder AAA from Huntsville Alabama,  Early on the Thunder took a two goal lead for a 2-0 score at the end of the first period, in the second they add one more before Spencer Samppala scored on a rush assists going to Colton Hayes and Garth Wickham.  The Thunder came back to regain a 3 goal through two periods.  In the third the Thunder AAA added three more and the Indians could only manage to score two, first Branden Woodward scored from Steven Cope, then Hudson Troyer scored from Chase Tallaire and the game ended with Thunder AAA up on the Indians 7-3.  Alex Rairigh was in net for the Indians.

The second game of the day had the Indians facing the Chicago Fury, again the Indians found them selfs down by one and the end of the first period, however in the second they fought back applying pressure on the Fury netminder that made several outstanding saves to keep the puck out of their net and has luck would have it they managed to score twice before Steven Cope buried a shot from the top of the circle to get back with in two goals.  In the third the Fury added one more goal for a 4-1.  Dmitri Kochan was between the pipes for the Indians.

Saturday afternoons game pitted the Indians against the Milwaukee Admirals, finally the Indians were able get the all important first goal when Colton Hayes scored from Spencer Samppala to give the Indians the 1-0 all the way to the 12:33 mark of the third period when the Admirals tied the game.  From that point neither team could get the winner even after the 5 minute 4 on 4 overtime and the game was decided in a shoot-out.  In the Shoot-out the Admirals managed to get one by Dmitri Kochan and the Indians skaters didn’t convert on their chances giving them the 2-1 win.

Sunday mornings final game of the weekend saw the Indians face off against the St. Louis Blues AAA.  Early on the Indians couldn’t get their legs as they were killing penalties, until Warner Young came out of the box and picked up a loose puck at center ice for a break away and made no mistake putting it behind the Blues netminder.  The Blues added two more in the first for a 3-1 lead, in the second the Blues added three more before Chase Tallaire scored from Jason Kasper and Hudson Troyer.  The third period saw both teams traded two more goals, the Indians Garth Wickham scored from Steven Cope and Drayke Micolo, then Colton Hayes added another from Wickham and Justin Moyle, however it wasn’t enough and game ended 8-4 in favor of the Blues.  Overall unfortunately not the wins the team would of liked but great competition and explore for all of the players.

The Indians will now head to Lansing for next weekend to take on Miejer AAA in MAHA league games Saturday and Sunday at Suburban Ice Rink.