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Fighting chance

Jen Watkins, Of the Record staff

The Miners’ varsity hockey team knew it was going to be a rough game before it even started. Coach Bruce Foster was grateful, and a little surprised, that the game ended with no major injuries in a 4-4 tie with Mount Olympus Independent (MOI) on Nov. 4 at the Park City Ice Arena.

"That was an extremely physical game," Bruce Foster said. "Laura (Kubicki) took three really big hits."

The Miners were not only going up against a tough team, they were going up against Brandon Pike, an MOI player who leads the Southern Division in scoring.

"We knew he was the guy we had to target," Bruce Foster said. "They had some other good players on their team but he was by far a standout. He’s a talented hockey player."

The game plan was to shadow Pike and minimize the amount of damage could do. And that’s exactly what the Miners did. With Michael Foster and Tyler Kozole taking turns shadowing Pike, he only scored twice for MOI.

"This is a kid who had 24 goals in five or six games," Bruce Foster said. "So it was a success. Whenever he was on the ice, either Michael or Tyler would be on the ice."

With Anthony Carter still out with injuries, the Miners moved Kubicki to defense and brought up junior varsity players Mike Hubbard and Joe Kopcrack. Steven Cox was also unable to play due to minor injuries received in a car accident, and Bryant Lo Re was out sick. But despite the short-handed team, the Miners nearly pulled out a win.

The Miners were down 2-1 in the first period with Kyle Tilson, assisted by Grey Robbins, scoring for the Miners. But they gained a lead in the second period when Hubbard scored his first varsity goal, assisted by Michael Foster and Kubicki, and Robbins scored the Miners’ third goal, assisted by Michael Foster. The Miners ended the second period leading 3-2.

MOI tied the game halfway through the third period but the Miners answered with a goal by Michael Foster. Pike scored the final goal for MOI with just two minutes left in the game.

The Miners had 30 shots on goal, MOI had 31.

"We played hard and unfortunately they scored right at the end of the game," Bruce Foster said. "It was a good game. "I’m proud of them, I really am."

The Miners will travel to Vernal on Saturday, Nov. 14. Their next home game is Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 8:15 p.m. at the Park City Ice Arena.

MINERS SCORING SUMMARY

1st period

4:17 Kyle Tilson

Assist: Grey Robbins

2nd period

6:19 Mike Hubbard

Assist: Michael Foster, Laura Kubicki

:33 Grey Robbins

Assist: Michael Foster

3rd period

6:23 Michael Foster

Unassisted

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