STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Heat hosted the Manitoba Moose over the weekend and earned two wins. Neither game was easy, as the first game ended in a shootout victory (2-1), and the second game ended in overtime (3-2).
The Friday night game was a goaltender duel, where Stockton’s Kevin Poulin earned the win with 30 saves in the 2-1 victory. Eric Comrie had 49 saves in the loss. Stockton’s Emile Poirier scored in the second period when he caught the puck in the neutral zone and raced to the net, beating Comrie top-shelf at the 8:52 mark. Freddie Hamilton and Brett Kulak were credited with the assists on the goal.
Derek Grant (27) scores the game winning shootout goal – Photo by Jack Lima
The Moose tied the game with less than five minutes remaining in the third period, when Brenden Kichton wristed the shot past Poirier. His goal was assisted by Julian Melchiori and Chase De Leo.
Neither team was able to solve the goalies in the net during the overtime period. Poulin stopped all three shooters in the shootout, while Derek Grant scored the ultimate game winner in the second round.
Emile Poirier (21) scores past Moose goalie Eric Comrie – Photo by Jack Lima
Saturday’s game was a bit more heated than the first. Both teams came out aggressive and gave the 7,883 fans in attendance at the Stockton Arena a great show. In addition, this night was the annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans remembered past games, during ECHL years, where the team failed to score a goal and had to hold onto their bears until the end of the game. It happened twice in ten years. They hoped for an early goal.
The Moose opened the scoring on a power play in the first period though. Scott Kosmachuk wristed the puck, high over Poulin for the goal at 13:55. The Moose led, despite Stockton outshooting them 18-9 in the period.
Heat goalie Kevin Poulin stops John Albert’s breakaway attempt – Photo by Jack Lima
The Heat came out strong and determined in the second and the fans were rewarded during a power play at 8:03 into the period. Kenny Agostino wristed a one-timer past Jussi Olkinuora in the Moose net. The fans tossed hundreds of stuffed animals onto the ice.
Agostino said, “It was a really cool experience for sure. It was a great win on the draw by [Derek Grant] and [Aaron Johnson] made a great pass right in my sweet-spot. I was able to get it on net and have it go through the five-hole. It was a really cool feeling to see all those teddy bears come down.”
Matt Fraser (25) clears a rebound that gets behind Jussi Olkinuora (31) – Photo by Jack Lima
When the game resumed, Garnet Hathaway caught a loose puck in the neutral zone and sped towards the net, beating Olkinuora glove side in a shorthanded goal.
Manitoba’s Matt Fraser caught a rebound with only a minute, 18 seconds remaining, forcing the overtime period. But the Heat managed to end the game, when their Captain, Aaron Johnson’s breakaway beat Olkinuora only 35 seconds into the period.
Garnet Hathaway scores past Jussi Olkinuora – Photo by Jack Lima
“It was a big save by [Kevin Poulin] on the other end and a nice play by [Derek] Grant to get the puck up to me on kind of a ‘touchdown’ pass. I was able to cradle and really just try to get it up on net,” said Aaron Johnson after the game.
Stockton led in shots on goal 47 – 26 in the 3-2 overtime win over the Moose. The Heat is now 7-2-1-0 in their last ten games, and is at .500 percent, tied with Condors and Rampage in the Pacific Division. The Heat’s Derek Grant is in a tie for third in the league with 17 goals.
Aaron Johnson (45) scores the game winning overtime goal – Photo by Jack Lima
Stockton’s Coach Ryan Huska remarked after the game.
“Goaltending on both sides was good again. Two nights in a row we gave up late goals, but we found a way in overtime to stick with it and get the win. That’s what was important for our group tonight – getting back to that .500 level and we’re playing better as a team.”
The Stockton Heat will get a final count on the Teddy Bears later in the week. Their previous high is 5,835 bears. The Bears will be donated to the United Way of San Joaquin County.
Tyler Wotherspoon helps gather stuffed animals – Photo by Jack Lima
Heat players assist with the cleanup – Photo by Jack Lima
Fans toss stuffed animals on the ice – Photo by Jack Lima
The Heat will return to host the Ontario Reign later during the week.
Huska said, “Our only focus now is Ontario. I think they’re a good team that we have a tough time against because they’re very structured and they play the game the right way. We have to be energized and be prepared to play in a tight game.”
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