By Dean Geddes
I&M Staff Writer
It was gut check time for the Whalers club hockey team on Sunday. Trailing Cape Tech/Chatham 2-1 with forty seconds left in the game, and Nantucket’s goalie Ry Murphy skating off the ice in favor of an extra attacker.
As the final seconds of the game were ticking away Harry Robishaw fired a shot wide of the net. Bryce Eldridge fought for the puck behind the net and dug it out, centering to Ethan Bell in front of the net who fired a shot that found its way past CT/C’s goalie Dave Perkins with only one second left on the game clock.
“I thought it was over,” head coach Graeden Ambrose said. “When Ethan scored we immediately looked up at the scoreboard to make sure there was still time on the clock.”
The goal not only sent the game to a shoot-out, but also kept Bell’s streak of scoring in all five games this season intact.
The Whalers bench erupted in response to the last second goal as the game was headed to a shoot-out.
Robishaw was first to go and he roofed a shot over Perkins’ shoulder for a difficult goal. CT/C missed on their first attempt and the Whalers were ahead 1-0. Bell was stuffed on his attempt and CT/C converted on their second chance, tying it at 1-1. Both teams missed on their third opportunity.
Next James McIntosh found the back of the net to give the Whalers a 2-1 lead, but CT/C kept pace scoring as well. Both teams missed their final penalty shots and it went into a sudden death shoot-out.
The Whalers would again go first. This time Ambrose chose freshman Devon Kohler, who had yet to score a goal this season, although he plays a solid brand of hockey.
Kohler came down the ice, going to his backhand and firing the puck past Perkins. Kohler was the only Whaler who was bold enough to shoot backhanded, and it worked.
“Devon is always out there hustling his butt off. When you play like that it’s only a matter of time before good things will happen, and now they are starting to happen,” Ambrose said.
Ry Murphy shut down CT/C on their ensuing penalty shot to give the Whalers the win.
“Ry played the best I have ever seen him play,” Ambrose said.
Assistant coach Rand Smith agreed.
“Ry’s speed, and shot recognition have improved so much in the last week.”
Murphy made a momentum swinging save midway through the third period.
With the Whalers trailing 2-1, CT/C got a clean two-man breakaway, as Murphy followed the puck to his left, CT/C’s forward passed across the slot to his teammate who blasted a shot toward the net. Murphy slid to his left and made an outstanding glove save to keep his team within a goal.
“Everybody rallied around that save. If they had scored there, it really would have taken the wind out of our sails,” Ambrose said.
Nantucket is looking forward to their first meeting against hockey powerhouse Martha’s Vineyard at home tomorrow.
“This is the start of a rivalry that will go on for years,” Ambrose said. “It’s exciting to be a part of the first game ever between these two teams and to have it here is even better because the hometown crowd really pumps our team up.”
Nantucket took a 1-0 lead in the first period on Chris Ray’s goal, and McIntosh’s assist.
CT/C dominated the second period outshooting the Whalers 17-2 and scoring one to tie the game. CT/C scored again early in the period to make it a 2-1 game.
The Whalers won despite being outshot 44-29.
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