It wasn’t a day to showcase the speed and puck movement that the fans of the Major Bantam league have come to enjoy. In fact, it was good day for motivating rink construction. Play was choppy, with pucks flicked by and into traffic; there just wasn’t any space for... well ... anybody.

Now there was no doubt the small Liverpool arena wouldn’t help the Hurricanes capitalize on their team speed and quickness. Couple that with a trapping Bay Gulls flooding the neutral zone with all five players and you can see this was going to be what is commonly referred to as a “mucker”. The wheels are spinning but you just aren’t going anywhere.

With no score through two periods there was no doubt two different conversations were taking place in the intermission. The Bubba Ray Gulls were in striking distance of an upset and working their system well to earn it. The Hurricanes coaching on the other hand were putting together a counter to get more play in the opposition end. Now it would come down to who executes better.

The defense of the Hurricane became more aggressive initiating the rush with good skating, pressuring the Gulls forwards but when they stuck to their plan ice opened up and the Hurricane were able to get pucks deep.

At the midpoint of the third, Alex Mann fired a shot in to release the forwards to track down the puck. Josh Shatford got there quickly and managed to create enough space for Bronsen to find the loose puck. Bronsen turned to find Morgan Messenger (Benight, Shatford) in the slot who fired top shelf to put the Hurricanes up one.

With the Gulls now forced to open up seeking the tie they found the same frustration in trying to move through the neutral zone and only managed a few minutes in the Hurricane end.

The Hurricane posted another zero and have been fortunate that when the offence isn’t there the defense and goaltending are. It really doesn’t matter how you win them; it’s more about finding a way to win them. The Hurricane are always looking.

Hurricanes 1 – Bay Gulls 0 … in a mucker, live in Liverpool.