After a little scouting report was given on the Moncton squad the Hurricanes players didn’t seem to quite get the message. However it was heard loud and clear and it only took two minutes to have it hit home as the Hurricanes dropped the first goal. Moncton now up by one still pressured and looked for more chances and the flat start of the Hurricanes required a little stiffer brush to get the rust off.

Although the Hurricane started to play better and were moving the puck up ice better, a penalty put them behind the eight ball. After defending the power play well, a shot from the point was either hit, tipped or simply found its way through enough legs to put Moncton up two.

Sometimes you hate to see the intermission break come because you’re firing on all cylinders and want to keep on rolling…this was not the case for the Hurricanes. As it turned out the end of the first would be the ice cleaning and a little housekeeping of our own was in store.

Down two after the first the Hurricanes came with an effort that bordered on great as they hemmed in, bottled up, battled hard and denied any opportunity from the Moncton squad. A little Moncton goalie with irritating white pads had the answer to everything the Hurricane could fire. He blocked shots, made good saves and yes was fortunate enough to have more than one shot hit him without realizing it was coming; there is definitley a horseshoe shortage somewhere. The end result …no goals. A half point was the best the Hurricane could muster despite a lopsided advantage in play.

The third was simply more of the same as the Hurricanes kept coming thinking the dam would soon burst and a flood of goals would come. There must have been a pack of beavers in those Moncton shirts as the boys would battle and keep the Hurricane at bay. Another half point and the game is over. Moncton 2 – Hurricane 0.

This was a new feeling and, you know, not one the Hurricane players enjoy. Some big strides will be needed to get back in this Esso Cup as points will be more crucial from here on out. Don’t worry though, if you listen very closely…..don’t move too much… you can hear the rumble… yep that’s it… you hear it too… there’s a Hurricane coming!!!