Trevor Milner opened the scoring for the Hounds barely two minutes in after a bit of a puckhandling gaffe by Sean Cahill. Dommett tied it at 11:45 on the power play when he slipped a rebound past the right pad of Russell Abbott.
About three minutes later, with the Klippers playing keepaway on a delayed Hounds penalty, Calkins banged in a rebound in the crease to put his team ahead 2-1. But Notre Dame tied it with just 8.5 seconds left when James Howden's PP point shot was tipped by Todd Christian.
I felt the Klippers were lucky to get out of the first period tied. Their forecheck was virtually non-existent, they failed to get pucks in deep and had some turnovers. Cahill made some good saves in the first.
The second period? Four shots each. Nothing to report from that 20-minute snoozer.
Hoffman put the Klips ahead 3-2 at 2:17 of the third. He forced Abbott to make a big save on a 1-on-1 and the rebound skittered into the right corner. Hoffman got to it and fired from a really bad angle, but he was quick enough that the puck went in before Abbott had gotten up.
With about six minutes left, the Klippers were handed almost a full-length 5-on-3 and they took advantage quickly. Calkins, stationed at the right half-boards, took a pass from the point and one-timed it low short side to give his team some insurance. Then, with three minutes left, Jesse Mysiorek tapped in a loose puck sitting in the slot on a scramble in front.
The Klippers had two PP goals tonight and another one that was scored on a lengthy delayed penalty. That's good news for a team whose power play has not been setting the world on fire.
Taylor Duzan left the game after the first period. He took a hit late and was sent to the penalty box later on the same shift. He did not return after that. He hurt his ankle, but it doesn't sound serious.
Ryan Benn sat out tonight because he was feeling sick. It was good to see Tanner Kissick get in tonight. He had some dangerous chances.
Back to Russell Abbott for a sec. He was clearly frustrated with his team (maybe himself, but he made some phenomenal saves, especially in the third). After the Klippers' fifth goal, he smashed his stick over the net. At the end of the game, he threw each piece of his gear at the bench, one by one, as he skated off. He was livid. And as I mentioned on twitter, I can't blame him. He made some beautiful stops, especially with the glove, only to have his team get nothing done at the other end, and leave him hanging in their own end.
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Early returns suggest the Klippers along with their jersey sponsors raised about $7,500 for the Canadian Cancer Society tonight. I don't know whose jersey brought in the most in the silent auction, but I know Dommett and Duzan's jerseys were very high toward the end. It's great to see the Klippers and the local community able to contribute to such a worthy cause as breast cancer research.
And I must say, the pink jerseys looked very, very good this year. Last year's sweaters were kind of dull with a plain, black Klippers logo. These ones were snazzy.
Interviews
Johnny Calkins had a four-point night a day before his 20th birthday. After being named first star he got to open some birthday gifts with his family in the lobby.
Andrew Dommett chipped in two points tonight, including the Klippers' first goal. It was his first goal at the West Central Events Centre since the fire on January 8, as hard as that is to believe.
This interview was going just fine until it was sabotaged by a certain dad who will go unnamed... but it was Ken Calkins.
Larry Wintoneak discusses the lulls early in the game and increased tempo in the third, Sean Cahill's WCEC debut, the departure of Tanner Exner and Pink Jersey Night.
