The third set of games in the Sport Corner Siam Hockey League (SHL) 2017-2018 season took place on Sunday November 19th. Both games were decided by one goal with the Sukhumvit Spitfires edging Expedia 4-3 in the first match, and AWARE holding on to defeat Hertz 3-2 in the evening’s second game.
There was a sub-plot in game one as Thai National team captain Tewin “Thor” Chartsuwan, subbing for Sukhumvit, was going up against Thai national team coach Juhani Ijas.
Jordan Ashton on a nice pass from Iljas staked Expedia to an early 1-0 lead, but with just over a minute left in the first period, Gary Cosby led a nice rush out of the Sukhumvit end, resulting in Ernesto Bauer setting up Sukhumvit captain Brad Wilson for Sukhumvit’s tying goal. A dangerous elbow by Pratch Siridhara to Adrian Meyers’ head gave Sukhumit a man advantage early in the second stanza. As Expedia was killing the penalty to Pratch, defenseman Remo Nyffenegger drew a delayed tripping call. Harrison Oztemel scored the first of two quick goals to negate Pratch’s penalty, then Remo went to the penalty box, and Harrison scored again, his fourth of the season, both assisted by Ernesto, who had three assists on the night.
Expedia fought back and late in the second period Mike Wilson scored with John Schachnovsky and sub Alex Dushin collecting assists on the tally. Then midway through the third the fleet Iljas scored to tie it up from one of his proteges on the Thai national team, Win Khuhakaew. But with less than two minutes to go, Thor dipped into his bag of magical tricks and scored the game-winning goal for Sukhumvit. Expedia pulled their goalie and rushed the Sukhumvit net, but the Spitfires prevailed to win their third straight game.
Sukhumvit goalie Pattarapol “Dream” Ungkulpattanasuk was again sensational in net stopping 23 shots and making many dramatic saves. His opposite tender Yves Gaboriault, also played well, turning back 19 shots minding the twines for Expedia.
Adrian Meyers was all over the ice for Sukhumvit making a number of dazzling end-to-end rushes, earning him the Rolling Stone Pizza player of the game. Meyers kickstarted Sukhumvit’s dramatic comeback over Hertz a few days earlier; he seems to have a power pack on his back that he ignites, sending him soaring thru the opposition’s zone.
Game two, saw Hertz jump out to a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by Bill Bredesen, his third of the season. AWARE’s Oliver Moyse jumped on an errant pass midway through a Hertz power play in the second period, cruised in alone on Hertz keeper Lance Parker, picked the corner and tied the game at one apiece. Early in the third, Devin Michael then put AWARE in front with assists going to Ryan Yaden and Phu Suwachirat. Hertz fought back to tie it with Mike Triacca scoring an unassisted goal. Then AWARE’s Yean Thanakroekkiat put his team in front to stay with an unassisted goal. The closing seconds were tense as Hertz buzzed all around AWARE keeper Gabor Toth, and twice had the chance to win it, but couldn’t lift the loose puck over Gabor’s outstretched pads.
AWARE was missing captain Patrik Lundback, plus speedster Corry Day, steady defenseman Christian Olofsson and slick playmaker Jouni Heinonen, while Hertz was missing captain Justin St Denis, stellar D-man Peter Borjesson, speedster Alasdair Fawcett and playmaker Kim Lidberg. With both teams missing four players they each grabbed a sub to avoid forfeiting with AWARE grabbing Thai national team member Arthit “Beer” Thamwongsin and Hertz snagging Stephen Sproule for the second time this year.
Three of Hertz’s players (Bredesen, Brandon Vick & Champ Supadilokluk) played for AWARE last year, so it must have been a tad strange for them. Ironically, the three players who took their spots on the AWARE roster (Oliver Moyse, Ryan Yaden and Darius Konotopetz) all played for OT Interdrug in the Bangkok Ice Hockey League (BIHL).
AWARE’s Gabor Toth won the Rolling Stone Pizza player of the game—eloquently telling everyone how well he played on Dom Dumais’ player-of-the-game video. Gabor stopped 24 shots, while Lance Parker made 20 saves during the game. As Hertz keeper Lance Parker pointed out, almost a year ago exactly Toth and Meyers also were players-of-the-game in their respective matches.
The season resumes Thursday November 23rd with the first-place Spitfires playing AWARE at 8:30pm while Hertz is looking for its first victory of the season against Expedia at 9:30pm. Admission is free and all games take place at the Rink, 7th floor, Central Grand Rama IX (Photography by Tadamasa Nagayma).
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