The Cape Cod Bluefins lost a very tough Federal Hockey League game in overtime vs the Akwesasne Warriors. The Fins played with a short bench due some key injuries as well as a few suspensions but they grinded it out against a very skilled and very large Akwesasne team coming up just short 4-3.

PHOTO CREDIT - AkwesasneWarriors.com

Hyannis - December 10, 2011 - The Cape Cod Bluefins lost a very tough Federal Hockey League game in overtime vs the Akwesasne Warriors. The Fins played with a short bench due some key injuries as well as a few suspensions but they grinded it out against a very skilled and very large Akwesasne team coming up just short 4-3.

The first period had a ferocious pace as both goalies were tested early and often with the Bluefins carrying the play and pressuring the Akwesasne net. However both teams failed to light the lamp and only 2 penalties were called as both teams seemed to be frustrated by the opposing goalie.

The 2nd period began with a little more tempo and at the 20 second mark, former NHLer and the FHL leading scorer, Pierre Dagenais took a pass and fired a rising slap shot that beat Bluefins Goalie Wes Vesprini over his left shoulder and under the crossbar to make it 1-0 Akwesasne. However, 1:22 later Bluefins leading scorer, Garrett Peters made a fantastic individual move around a Warrior defensemen, fired a low shot that goalie, Adam Thompson stopped. But Peters followed up his own rebound and slid a nifty backhand past the outstretched net minder, tying the game at 1. Less than 2 minutes later Akwesasne forward Jeremy VanHoof scored on a rebound from a Sylvan Deschatelets shot to make is 2-1 Akwesasne. One minute later, Bluefins defenseman, Luke Frey took a nice feed at the point and ripped a low drive past Thompson to tie the game at 2. The two teams battled it out for the next 12 minutes with only 2 penalties called. But the game was up and down and very entertaining for the home crowd. It wasn't until the 15:25 mark that Kevin McCready put the Fins on top cashing in on a David Lun rebound after Lun made a great move to get off the shot. Peters also collected an assist on the goal. However, with just :23 left to play in the period, Ahmed Mouhfouz slid in a Dagenais rebound from an impossible angle to make it 3-3 after 2 periods.

The 3rd period ended with no scoring saw lots of action as both teams pressured the opposing goalies relentlessly. However, the referee called a very questionable late penalty which carried over into the overtime session. Having to play a 4 on 3 format proved fatal for the Fins as just 1 minute into the overtime Sylvan Deschatelets took a nice feed from VanHoof and buried it low and past the outstretched Vesprini. It was a very tough way to lose as the Bluefins clearly out played the Warriors.

The Bluefins next home game is on Wednesday December 14th at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center vs. The Danbury Whalers. As part of the ongoing Bluefins Youth Nights, all youth hockey players receive free admission. Join the Bluefins on Friday December 16th as the Bluefins host Army National Guard Night at the Youth Center when they take on the FHL Federal team.