Junior Varsity hockey vs. Connecticut GC Bantams.

On Saturday, the JV hockey team traveled to Simsbury Connecticut for a rematch with the Connecticut GC Bantams. A week earlier the two teams had an outstanding match, where the Eagles ended up on the losing end in a 2-3 game. The game had an ominous start with a dump-in from half-ice somehow finding its way into the back of the Eaglebrook net. Fortunately, the team was not phased and they were able to rebound and bury a rebound late in the 1st period to tie it up. The second period was full of back-and-forth, high-paced play with both teams getting scoring chances, but only Eaglebrook was able to crack their opponent's net with an upper corner snipe to go ahead by a goal. The third period started with a lull in energy by the Eagles, leading to multiple scoring chances by the GC squad and they were finally able to capitalize by putting a loose puck past the EBS goalie. This was a wake-up call for Eaglebrook and there was an instant shift in energy which led to the prettiest goal of the game, where the 3 EBS forwards cycled the puck low in the offensive zone and eventually found the open player in the slot, who rang the shot of the post and in. The home team responded well to the change in momentum and fought hard to tie up the game, but the Eagles stood strong until 1:30 left in the game when GC pulled their goalie and was able to capitalize on a wild scramble in front of the Eaglebrook goal. It was disappointing, but fitting that these two evenly matched teams went to a 5-minute sudden-death overtime. Once again the pace of play was furious, but both goalies stood tall and the overtime ended without a goal. Up next was a best-of-five shootout in front of a rink that seemed to fill with spectators as the game progressed. Eaglebrook broke through first in the shootout with a beautiful 5 hole goal, but the next two goals were scored by the opponent. It all came down to a final shot for one of Eaglebrook's youngest players and he calmly skated into the zone and faked backhand and shot forehand to the upper right corner, hitting off the goalkeeper's shoulder and landing on the top of the net. This was an epic end to an epic game that despite the loss will live in our memories for a long time.