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The Ironmen hit the board just 21 seconds into the game on a Rick Makarowski goal.

Firefighters And Sunshine Burn Ironmen
June 7, 2003

WHISTLER, British Columbia (CP) -- Things started out very promising in this one. The Ironmen hit the board just 21 seconds into the game on a Rick Makarowski goal that was assisted by Jason Radford and Edward Kouwenhoven.

The Firefighters would drawn even four minutes later and take the lead two minutes after that. The first period ended with the Ironmen trailing the Firefighters 2-1.

The Ironmen seemed to have the momentum in the second period until another foolish too many men on the ice penalty. Both Norm Nikkel and Shane Jack jumped on the ice to replace Steve Meadows. Edward Kouwenhoven served the bench minor, but he didn't even have a chance to take a seat as the Firefighters scored just 7 seconds into their powerplay. That seemed to be the turning point in the game and things started to unravel for the metal men from there. Rob Nikkel brought the Ironmen back within one on a goal that was assisted by goaltender David Toyoda. However a minute later the Firefighters again responded and took a 4-2 lead into the final frame.

There is only one word that can capture the third period for the Ironmen 'UGLY'! The Whistler Firefighters attacked the Ironmen as if they were attacking a four-alarm fire. The Firefighters scored three unanswered goals before Evan Johnston scored in an attempt to slow the bleeding. Mark Steele and Rob Nikkel assisted Johnston's goal. The Whistler Firefighters were by no means gracious hosts racking up another three straight goals. The Ironmen did close the scoring when Shane Jack threw a floater by the Firefighters goalie with 58 seconds left in the game. Mark Steele and Rob Nikkel assisted Jack's goal.

There is no doubt that the Ironmen seemed to run out of gas in this one. However the third period slaughter can be partially attributed to the fact that goaltender David Toyoda could not see a many of the shots that beat him. Toyoda would never use that as an excuse but I bet that the sun blinded him on at least four of the six goals that were scored in the third period. The home team seemed to use this to their advantage often skating into and shooting from the area that was lit up by the sun. Just like last year the Ironmen were victimized in their final game of the tournament defending in the third period with the sun in their eyes. Meadow Park really needs to address this problem, as I am certain this does not only happen to the Ironmen Hockey Club.

GAME #3 FINAL SCORE - IRONMEN 4 vs. WHISTLER FIREFIGHTERS 10

RANDOM TOURNAMENT NOTES

David Toyoda did a great job of playing the puck throughout the tournament. Toyoda played the puck more in the three game tournament than he did all last season. Often he had little choice as none of his teammates were anywhere in sight.

Officiating was terrible for the majority of the tournament. I hope the team will remember that next season. Perhaps they'll come to realize that compared to what else is out there in terms of referees the 8-Rinks officiating doesn't seem so bad.

The Ironmen really missed the gritty play of defensemen Craig Ahlstrom. The team was also without Henry Fowlds on the back end. Being without two of the teams' regular defensemen for the tournament hurt the defense.

In games one and three the team failed to provide puck support for the puck carrier. There was also never enough Ironmen forwards back checking on a regular basis. The forwards also failed to tie up there checks on face offs. This led to many three on one chances for the opposition, even after the Ironmen center would win the face off.

The ice at Meadow Park was absolutely awful, not much that can be done about that when it is 35 degrees outside and there is a big glass window beside the ice surface.

 
Edward Kouwenhoven went straight to the net to bury the garbage.

Ironmen Show Their Metal And Rally To Beat Bombers
June 7, 2003

WHISTLER, British Columbia (CP) -- Jim Defer was inserted into the Ironmen line-up after missing game one and he would be needed in this one.

Ironmen defensemen Norm Nikkel faked out fellow defensemen Steve Meadows on a line change at the Ironmen bench with the game just 50 seconds old. That resulted in a too many men on the ice penalty in which the Bombers capitalized on with 20 seconds left on their powerplay.

The Ironmen looking much sharper in this one responded with five minutes left in the opening frame. Edward Kouwenhoven went straight to the net to bury the garbage after Jason Radford did some nice work along the boards before firing the puck towards the net for Kouwenhoven to send it past the Bombers netminder. Shane Jack got the second assist on the goal.

Then referee Simon Roussel (who no doubt has killed far too many brain cells at Buffalo Bills) informed Ironmen captain Brent Kelly that he and assistant captain Craig Granter were suspended from playing in this game due to the ten minute misconducts in game one. Kelly explained to Roussel that the team was not informed that there would be suspensions issued for such minor offences in a three game tournament. After adding a few other colourful phrases Kelly left the game and took Granter with him. Talk about the punishment not fitting the crime!

The Ironmen could have let this controversy get to them, but instead decided to buckle down and play some of their best hockey of the tournament. The Ironmen had excellent puck support in this contest and their passing was short, fast and precise. They looked nothing like the team that played in game one.

In the second period the Bombers pulled ahead scoring at 4:57 of the second period and would close out the period with the lead.

Ironmen speedster Jason Radford would pull the Ironmen even after being handed a gift by the Bomber's defender. Radford's tying goal would come just 57 seconds into the final frame. Centre Rob Nikkel would give the men of metal the lead less than a minute later with Mark Steele getting the only assist on the play. Jason Radford's second of the game would be the insurance marker. Radford jumped on a loose puck and undressed the Bombers goaltender with 3:45 remaining in the game.

The victory was the first one in five attempts for the Ironmen Hockey Club at the Whistler tournaments.

GAME #2 FINAL SCORE - IRONMEN 4 vs. TIKI BOB'S BOMBERS 2

 
The Ironmen kept the Wolves off the score sheet for a good portion of the second period thanks to some solid play from goaltender David Toyoda.

Rust and Refs Work Against Men Of Metal
June 6, 2003

WHISTLER, British Columbia (CP) -- The Ironmen opened the 2003 Whistler Summit Series against the Seattle Wolves. The Ironmen showed the rust of not playing in nearly eight weeks. They had absolutely no puck support in this game and there were often miles between the Ironmen puck carrier and his closest teammate.

Seattle opened the scoring just 2:37 into the opening frame and would add another one with 1:24 left on the clock. The Ironmen would close period one down 2-0.

The Ironmen kept the Wolves off the score sheet for a good portion of the second period thanks to some solid play from goaltender David Toyoda. Shane Jack pulled the Ironmen within one with 4:50 left in the second period. Jack threw a harmless shot at the Wolves net that barely made it across the line. Jason Radford and Steve Meadows assisted on the goal. Considering it was only the third shot the Ironmen got on goal in the game, they would have been wise to keep shooting on a very cold and shaky Seattle netminder.

Unfortunately for the Ironmen they failed to take this opportunity and were unable to generate any offence. A minute and 14 seconds later Seattle regained the two-goal lead. One minute and four seconds later the Wolves would break the backs of the Ironmen scoring their forth goal of the game.

The third period was very much the same as the first two periods, the Wolves scored goal number five with 7:06 on the clock. Twenty seconds later Ironmen captain Brent Kelly had seen enough. Kelly attempted to dispense a little justice and rally the troops with his club down 5-1. There was 6:46 remaining in the game when Kelly had all he could stomach of the showboating of Seattle forward Shawn Miller and promptly stapled him into the boards as he crossed the Ironmen blueline. Kelly knew without a doubt that he would be headed to the box for two minutes after that hit. However I don't think he or anyone else in the building would have guessed it would have cost him the balance of the contest, let alone the next one as well. Kelly was assessed a two minute roughing penalty and the ref threw in a ten-minute misconduct just for fun. This call was like sending someone to the electric chair for jaywalking.

Seattle threw a little more salt in the wound scoring their sixth and final goal with 1:24 left on the clock. The referees would not be done with the Ironmen captains' either on this night. Twenty-eight seconds later there was a skirmish that involved Ironmen player's Rick Makarowski, Edward Kouwenhoven and Craig Granter. It was then that the bumbling referees that seemed incapable of being able to tell the difference between the numbers 19 and 93 decided to give Makarowski's roughing penalty to Granter. The Wolves Jeremy Shanahan was assessed a slashing penalty on the play. Then a frustrated Granter proceeded to slam the penalty box gate in Dougie Gilmour fashion to display his anger about yet another blown call. The referee's then decided Granter's emotional outburst was worthy of the lethal injection and slapped Granter with a ten-minute misconduct.

The Ironmen failed to get any offense going and finished the game with less than 10 shots on goal. Seattle dominated the game with solid passing, strong fore-checking and everyone being committed to back checking and picking up a man. The remaining 56 seconds couldn't go by fast enough for the Ironmen, who if nothing else used this game to shake off eight weeks of rust.

The Ironmen received no official word from tournament organizers that Kelly or Granter would be suspended for Saturday's contest vs. Tiki Bob's Bombers. Considering Kelly and Granter's infractions were so minor in a three game tournament and the team was not informed otherwise, it was presumed that they would be permitted to play.

GAME #1 FINAL SCORE - IRONMEN 1 vs. SEATTLE WOLVES 6

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