DRAGONS BRING SOME HEAT TO THE M56 CUP

It’s been a while since the Dragons and the Wild have clashed. Two and a half years in fact, as the Dragons last home game before the COVID-19 Pandemic shut down first hockey, then the rink, then the country was a thrilling 3-2 win over the Wild, with Captain James Parsons scoring all three goals against longtime local rivals. 

This game was no different, as the teams picked up where they left off in March 2020 for 60 minutes of hard hits, highlight goals (ten of them!) and even a fight between current Wild Matthew Barlow and former Wild MJ Clancy. 

Despite the Aspray Chester Deeside Dragons missing their import, Petr Valusiak, they were fired up and ready to take on the Wild, storming out to a 2-0 lead in the first minute and four seconds, scoring on their first two shots of the game with goals from Ross Kennedy as he continues his strong start to the season, and Alex Parry, long time Dragon making his season debut, but the Wild fought back, scoring two power play goals in the next two minutes of play to even the game, before adding two more to take a commanding 4-2 lead into the second period. The Dragons attempted to score a buzzer beater to make it 4-3, but it was waved off by the officials. 

After that though, the Dragons settled into their game. A much calmer second period led to goals from Marc Lovell and Matt Wainwright, and they managed to stay out of the penalty box after taking three minor penalties in the first. Goaltender Phil Pearson in particular shone in this period, making fourteen of fourteen saves after allowing four goals on 22 shots in the first period. He would continue an MVP level performance in the third, stopping all 16 shots for a total of 48 saves on 52 shots. 

The Dragons went to work in the third period, as Jared Dickinson scored the go-ahead goal on a beautifully placed shot from the high slot, and Wainwright would add a second goal to make it 6-4 (both goals assisted by Andy McKinney, who really made his presence known in this game), and despite a late push on the power play from the Wild, your Aspray Chester Deeside Dragons held on for the win! 

Next up for the Dragons is their toughest test of the young season, a long away trip to Whitley Bay to take on a very good Warriors team. 

MVP: Matt Wainwright (2G)

Scoring: Kennedy (Clancy, Parry), Parry (Clancy), Lovell (unassisted), Wainwright (Parsons, Richardson), Dickinson (McKinney), Wainwright (McKinney)

Next Up for the Dragons
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