Leuven U23 started 2012 in much the same vein that they ended 2011, with an excellent vctory on the road. Our previous game at Deurne started badly and was over in the first 10 minutes. This time we ran the game against physical opponents and played will good skill and discipline. The game started in an even fashion with no great drama's and it was good to pass the first 5 minutes and get settled in. Coach Geert had 11 players, so 2 lines with a pair of wingers alternating on the second line. We took the lead when MIchael van Egdom make a break out during a period of 4 on 4 with 2 players in the box. His pace was a constant threat to the home defence and it proved the case again just before the interval. Pushing the puck past the last defenceman, MIchael absolutely skinned him, round the keeper and slotted home for a superb goal.
The second period was a much more event affair. Tom Prodi in goal had a good game ane seemed well in control. Our lead was extended to three when Yoren de Smed showed blistering pace to round the defence in what looked like a copy cat of our second goal. However; this time the keeper got a pad to it and MIchael was on hand to collect his hatrick by slotting home the rebound. Any notions of a runaway victory were disabused when Deurne got two goals back. It didn"t reflect a shift in the balance of play as we were comfortably holding out own. The first goal game with a neat deflection of a long shot and which Tom appeared to have covered. The second home goal was through being first to the rebound from the keeper. However, we continued to play the game calmly and were rewarded when Michael laid on a goal for Mickey Evers. The satisfaction of a good job was dimished when we realised that Yoren had picked up a shoulder injury and missed the third period.
We were anticipating a long a physical final period, but the guys played really well keeping the puck in the Deurne zone and restricting them to long range efforts which Tom was able to handle with relative ease. WIth 4 minutes left Duerne pulled the keeper and 3 attempts at empty net goals resulted in consecutive icings and kept the group of players on the ice for a long time. Finally Tom was able to cover up and we could make the change. The threat from the home team ebbed away as the guys played out the final period. Kari Gudlasson stayed on the bench for much of the last 10 minutes and might have cracked a rib. We were indebted to a great team performance and a good game to watch. Roll HYC next sunday.
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