Whalers Beat Privateers 5-3

1/13/2012, after the announcement of the special signing of skateboard legend Mike Vallely to the Danbury Whalers, and although he played fewer than a full minute the Danbury Fans were not at all disappointed. Slightly delayed by bad weather in north New York State the game started just after 8 o’clock to a nearly full arena.

The 1^st period began with ferocious end to end action as the 1000 Islands Privateers came out strong pushing the issue trying to gain an early advantage. Because of the weather the Privateers had only travelled with 13 skaters, whereas the Whalers actually had 19 men on their bench, getting special permission from the league for the addition of Mike Vallely. The early pressure paid off for 1000 Islands as Paul Kelly scored a tip in goal from Justin Levac and Brad Smulders with 3:31 gone by in the 1^st. The goal came as a result from a defensive breakdown by Whalers recent acquisition Jason Mccrimmon, turning the puck over in the defensive zone. The privateers continued with their offensive pressure drawing a big double minor from Tony Pisano 6:16 in. Killing off the long 4 minute penalty gave the Whalers a surge of energy, and as the buzzer sounded to signal the end of the 1^st, the Whalers found themselves with the momentum back in their favor. 

The 2^nd period began very strangely as after the intermission the referees and the privateers were out on the ice, but the whalers were not. After a very heated argument between referee Eric Ernst and Coach Phil Espositio, the Walers were assessed a 2 minute delay of game bench minor, to be served by Corey Fulton. The strange start would be par for the course of the 2^nd period, as the play again moved back and forth, until at 6:10 Alec Kirschner, whose family was present for the game, scored a tying goal from Chris Seifert and Nick Deschenes. Not to be outdone, privateers Justin Levac scored a quick go-ahead goal at 9:22 from Paul Kelly and Brad Smulders, connecting for the 2^nd time this game. After 2 successive penalties by the privateers later in the period that could not be capitalised on, the whalers returned to the locker room with the game tied at 2.

The 3^rd period started with a frenzied pace as both teams looked to score early and dictate the pace of the rest of the game. Clearly affected by the lack of depth on their bench, the privateers played on their heels, giving up the lead to the strong whaler attack. 4:34 into the 3^rd period the millstone line produced again as Kelly Miller scored on a great lead pass from Matt Moffat, with Sean O’Malley getting the other assist. The controlled offense of the whalers continued to dominate, forcing the already tired privateers into 3 consecutive icing plays, keeping the top line on the ice for almost 3 minutes of solid action. By grinding down 1000 Islands, the whalers’ continuous pressure drew privateer’s’ Brian Marks into a hooking penalty, bringing out the whalers’ top powerplay line. Throughout the 3^rd period the whalers’ offense was marked by sharp and accurate passing, which allowed for Alec Kirschner to again burry a goal on the powerplay. He was again assisted by Nick Deschenes and Chris Seifert for his 2^nd of the game, giving the whalers a 3-2 lead. Soon after however, the momentum shifted as Kelly Miller was called for tripping at 12:52, allowing the privateers to tie the game with only 1 second left on their powerplay as Paul Kelly scored his 2^nd of the game from Jeff Winchester and Brad Smulders, again tying the game at 3. Responding quickly, the whalers 2^nd line of Kirschner, Seifert, and Deschenes again broke through the defense scoring the leading goal making the score 4-3 with 3:35 left in the contest.

Immediately after another strange thing occurred as before the ensuing faceoff, referee Eric Ernst ejected Kelly Miller from the game for a 10 minute official abuse penalty. The call was so strange because from our perspective Miller only said one thing to the referee before being kicked out, and it was said at such a volume that no one else on the ice heard what was exchanged. Undaunted the whalers kept the pressure on, and at 19:31 of the 3^rd period, Alec “King” Kirschner was sprung by his D-men Lynn Beedle and James “Brown” Sanford to score his 3^rd goal on the empty net. The cementing goal finally saw Mike Vallely getting ice time, even if it was for just about 30 seconds, fans were certainly not disappointed by the game.

Article By Alec Kessler