hands full, trying to get a win against an undefeated team who had already beaten the top seeded team
in the tournament.
KC came out swinging and jumped to an early 1-0 lead. Brown chipped a pass to himself off the boards
and around a defender, catching up to the puck just before the faceoff dot. With defensive pressure
closing in, he quickly centered it to Hargadine for a beautiful one-timer that beat the goalie on the left
side. The Tigers deficit didn’t last long though, as they tied it 1-1 on a backhand shot a few minutes
later. Both teams traded another goal, and the tight game was tied 2-2.
The Texas league features a physical style of play, and both teams were playing aggressive. However,
the Mavs got a little too aggressive, and ended up with two consecutive penalties, resulting in a 5-on-3
advantage for Texas, which they capitalized on shortly after... taking a 3-2 lead on a power play goal. But
the Mavs were still fighting. Just a few minutes later, Buscher broke through the traffic and scored a
breakaway goal to tie the game once again, 3-3, with just over two minutes remaining in the period. But
this heavyweight match was far from over. The last two minutes of the period featured another goal by
each team, and the Mavs headed to the 3rd period tied 4-4.
But just as KC had done so many times before, they used their 3rd period endurance to their advantage.
The Mavs took the lead for good with just over eight minutes remaining after a hard wrist shot from
Brown found the top left corner of the net. Wiesner added the sixth goal of the game for KC, after an
incredible effort to cut through three defenders on his way to the net, and the Mavs secured the 6-4
victory.
YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq3CZ7TQ3JQ
YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmujxP2srJ0 (final 8 minutes of the game)
Date: 2-20-2022
Game 4: Pool Play vs. Texas Jr. Brahmas (North Richland Hills, TX)
Result: KC Mavs 7
Texas Jr. Brahmas 1
Recap:
KC didn’t know it at the time, but this would end up being their final game of the season. A planned St.
Louis tournament schedule would eventually fall through, and because the Texas tournament only
featured one bracket play game for the top two teams, this final pool play game against the Jr Brahmas
would turn out to be the last of the Mavs 2021-20 22 incredible run.
KC opened the scoring approximately five minutes into the game, a blue line shot from Phillips following
a faceoff win by Brown. Buscher added another goal on power play a few minutes later, giving KC an
early 2-0 lead. The Jr. Brahmas notched their one and only goal of the game, a backhand shot in the
final minute of the 1 st period, and that’s as close as the game would ever be.
Hargadine stretched the lead to 3-1 after a rebound goal in the crease, which turned out to be the only
goal of the 2nd period. The 3rd period was played tight until the final eight minutes when KC opened the
flood gates, pouring in four more goals before the final buzzer.