The bulldogs headed off to the Columbus Day showcase with hopes of moving forward and improving their performance from the Kick Off showcase.
The road was not easy as the Bulldogs were scheduled to play the first place NJ Rockets, the first place Washington Nationals and the second place NY Bobcats.
Just like in the Kick Off Showcase the Bulldogs started out slowly with the always difficult NJ Rockets. The Rockets jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes. John Hyslip cut the lead in half at the 15 minute mark. A minute later the Rockets increased their lead back to three goals at the end of the 1st half. An early short-handed goal by the Rockets and the game was in hand. Trey Milstead scored later in the half on a pass from Seric Kapp but it was too little to late for this game. Although the score seems one sided the Bulldogs did carry the play and out shot the Rockets 34 – 20. Martin Ausserhofer had 32 saves for the Rockets.
Game two was against the highflying Washington Nationals, who were coming off a win the night before over the Cyclones. The bulldogs started this game very strong with Nick Barbera (1 goal – 4 assists) scoring on the power play from Trey Milstead at the 6 minute mark. The Bulldogs used 2 other power play goals to take a commanding 4-0 lead into the locket room at the half. Trey Milstead added a shorthanded goal half way through the second half to seal the outcome of the game, Ryan Smith added a late Power play goal to complete the scoring. Derek Kump had 24 saves for the shutout win, the first of his junior career.
The third game versus the rivals the New York Bobcats. This was a heavy weight bout, both teams having great scoring chances in a solid hard-hitting hockey game. The Bulldogs fell behind at the 7 minute mark of the first half and the half ended 1-0. Cody Gut tied the game on a power play goal at the 4 minute mark assisted by Nick Barbera. Then at the 7.5 minute mark Nick added his own power play goal to give the Bulldogs the lead. However the Bobcats were not done 3 minutes later they tied it back up. The Bulldogs dominated the next 15 minutes out shooting the Bobcats by a 2-1 ratio but Cameron Gibbar (30 saves) was able to hold the Bulldogs off the scoreboard with some unbelievable saves. So the teams headed off to overtime. The Bobcats wasted no time scoring at the 1:23 mark of the overtime. The goal was off a goalmouth scramble.
So the team improved as they took 3 points, which was better from the Kick off Showcase. The emergence of the 7 power play goals and 1 shorthanded goal, while surrender only 2 power play goals against, was a positive sign that the special teams are moving forward. The coming week will see the Bulldogs at home (Salem Icenter) on both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Laconia on Saturday and followed by the Cyclones on Sunday, will make for some exciting hockey this weekend.