..FROM THE DESK OF MIKE HAYAKAWA..
NOVEMBER 28, 2001
While a tie is better than a loss, the Markham Waxers felt their 3-3
decision against the host Vaughan Vipers in Monday¹s Provincial Junior A
Hockey League contest should have been filed under win column.
By their shot tally, the Waxers peppered Vipers goalkeeper Daniel Bellisimo
with 53 shots. Included in that total were 21 in the third period alone.
³We could have won the game,² said Waxers¹ head coach Russ Herrington. ³But
their goalie (Bellisimo) stood on his head. He was the difference. He played
a good game.²
The Waxers drew first blood in the contest on a goal by Michael Fish. But
the Vipers rallied for two unanswered goals before the period came to a
close to take a 2-1 lead.
Kevin Cribari scored the game¹s lone goal in the second period to enable the
Waxers to tie the score.
After the Vipers regained the lead in the third, the Waxers forced overtime
when pulling their goalie for an extra attacker, Jesse Boucher scored a goal
with just 33 seconds remaining in regulation time.
For the most part in the contest, Herrington felt his club did what they had
to do to win.
³We had the shots and good chances to score,² assessed Herrington. ³I
thought we moved the puck around nicely. We just didn¹t work hard without
it, especially in the second period. We got caught stick checking a lot.
³Even in the first two periods we held the play and outshot them, but we
gave them some quality chances.²
The tie ran the Waxers¹ road unbeaten streak to five games and improved its
third-place record to 14-12-2-1.
In explaining why his club has played better on the road recently than at
home, where they¹ve lost their last two games, Herrington attributed it to a
more concerted effort in their defensive responsibilities.
³Early in the year we were winless in our first five road games and we
weren¹t playing well. When you play defensively poor on the road it comnes
back to hurt you. In four of our last five road games we¹ve played fairly
well defensively. We¹ve been working harder and we feel better about
ourselves.
³It¹s unfortunate that we¹re 0-2 in our last two home games, but it just one
of those things that goes in cycles.²
The Waxers will take to the road again today when they play at Stouffville
against the Spirit starting at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Waxers will be in
Thornhill to face the Rattlers at 7:30 p.m..
.

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