BARRHEAD - If the Barrhead Bombers could have condensed Friday, Feb. 17's Canadian American Junior Hockey League game at the Agrena against the Calgary Amp Warriors to just the first and last five minutes of the game, they would have been in good shape.
Unfortunately, for the Bombers, the statisticians included the minutes between the opening and ending, and they went down to defeat 7-4 in front of one of the largest home crowds of the season thanks to the attendance of about 75 Barrhead FunTeam Hockey players, coaches and volunteers.
As previously suggested, the Bombers got off to a strong start scoring two goals in the first four minutes of the game, the first by Garrick Denchuk with assists to Justin Noskiye and Kowen Gullion.
Less than two minutes later, on the power play, Christopher Vinck, with assists to Gullion and Denchuck, put the Bombers ahead 2-0.
Then the wheels fell off the bus, and Calgary responded, scoring three unanswered goals, the first coming less than a minute after Barrhead's tally.
Barrhead ended the period trailing 3-2 and being outshot 18-11.
Calgary would add its lead early in the second period, scoring just 16 seconds into the frame. They would go on to score two more before the end of the period, going into the second intermission with a 6-2 lead.
Barrhead head coach Mario Haase, attempting to change the club's fortunes, made a goaltender switch, replacing starting netminder Gabriel Pereira with Jace Berreth.
Unhappily for the home team, Calgary scored their seventh goal about two and a half minutes into the period on longshot near the blue line that eluded the Barrhead netminder.
Things would stay status quo until just over halfway into the third period when Garrick Denchuk Bomber would cause a melee in front of the Calgary net by taking a shot at the Warriors' netminder after he had frozen the puck. When the dust settled, Calgary went on an uneventful powerplay.
The Warriors then got themselves into penalty trouble by taking four consecutive minor penalties, which allowed the Bombers to score two late goals, both by Cade Bohn. The first was a power play marker with just under two minutes remaining, assists going to Vinck and Noskiye, while the second was at even strength with 57 seconds left with Vinck and Keaton Cal awarded assists.
The next night the Bombers lost 15-3 on the road against the Hinton Timberwolves.
The Bombers' next home game is against the Vegreville Vipers on Feb. 24.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
