Some practice for me: Marlies v Crunch match report

Most of you will hopefully know that for a very long time now, I've had my heart set on becoming a sports journalist. So, as I'm now in the process of applying for Universities to attend this autumn for my Post Grad training course, I feel the need to pracitce some of my "journalistic writing skills". As always, any constructive comments about my writing would be very welcome, as I really want to improve and practice as much as possible. Either leave a comment here on the blog, or you can email me at: owaint@hotmail.com.

So to start off, we have a match report from the Toronto Marlies game tonight, against the Syracuse Crunch (don't laugh at the back there!.... yes it is their name!), the first game of seven in the second round of the AHL playoffs.


AHL Calder Cup playoffs
North Division Final: Game 1
Toronto Marlies 1 Syracuse Crunch 5

Netminder Karl Goehring backstopped the Syracuse Crunch with a 31 save performance and Defenceman Clay Wilson added a goal and two assists to a comfortable road win at Ricoh Coliseum over a distinctly below-par Toronto Marlies side. Syracuse scored three unanswered goals, including two in the opening 12 minutes, before the Marlies woke from their game one slumber.

Derek MacKenzie took Gilbert Brule's reverse, back-handed pass from the slot to put the puck past Scott Clemmensen close in with just 1.40 on the clock, and Wilson doubled the advantage, to add to his earlier helper, as he roofed a slapshot over Clemmensen from between the circles. On both occassions the Marlies had chances to clear the puck from their defensive zone, but poor defensive decisions and miscued passes turned possession back over to the Crunch, who made Toronto pay.

It was a pattern that was to repeat itself throughout the game, as too often Syracuse forwards were given time and space, and able to attack with odd-man rushes and lone breakaway chances on the Toronto goal. With David Ling in the penalty box serving a two minute minor for tripping, Nate DiCasmirro was given the freedom of the ice infront of Clemmensen's net as he tipped in MacKenzie's shot from the point 10.06 into the second period.

Mark Rycroft and Derek Brassard, completed the scoring in the third period, quickly ending any hopes of a comeback by the hometeam. The first of those from a two-on-one counter-attack as the Marlies pushed forward, while Brassard was on hand to tap-in after MacKenzie's high long-range shot was inadvertantly blocked into his path by Jaime Sifers. While Clemmensen was not directly at fault for any of the five goals conceded, he did appear to be shaky and fighting the puck at times, and it seems likely that the calls for Head Coach Greg Gilbert to start young goaltender Justin Pogge will now grow louder.

The Marlies forward line of Kris Newberry, flanked by Bates Battaglia and Ling were the most effective for the homeside, battling, creating chances and causing turnovers, and so it proved that the trio were all involved in the lone Toronto reply that finally brought the crowd of 2931 to life. This time it was the Marlies powerplay that finally took advantage, as Ling squeezed a shot from the boards past Goehring and into the far corner with Newberry and Battaglia providing the screen infront, pulling one back from the three-goal deficit.

The tough, physical tone for the series was set from the opening face-off, as it took just three second for Toronto's Colin Murphy and Syracuse's Zenon Konopka to drop the gloves, following a conference between the pair as the teams lined up. Konopka also scuffled with Marlies enforcer Phil Oreskovic late in the third period, while Kyle Rogers and Derek Dorsett had to be seperated by the linesmen after the former's big open-ice hit on Dorsett's Syracuse colleague, Duvie Westcott. Game two is back at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday at 4pm.


by Owain Thomas at Ricoh Coliseum


You can find some other reports and highlights of the game HERE.