32 Save Shutout Propels Manistique Hockey to 1-0 Victory Over Big Rapids
Manistique senior Alex Noble earns a save against Big Rapids on Jan. 6, 2024 at Little Bear West Arena in Manistique.
Outstanding Performance by Noble Secures Victory
MANISTIQUE — Alex Noble’s remarkable performance between the pipes resulted in a 1-0 triumph for Manistique hockey against Big Rapids on Saturday at Little Bear West Arena. Noble’s quick reflexes and 32 saves kept the Emeralds’ net impenetrable throughout the game.
Penalty Kill Units Shine for the Emeralds
Despite eight power-play opportunities, Big Rapids failed to find the back of the net against the resilient Manistique penalty kill units. Noble praised the exceptional efforts of his teammates, stating, “My guys on the penalty kill unit did awesome tonight. The game was called really tough. We had to just keep giving everything we had to get the win.”
Short-Handed Heroics Lead to Victory
The turning point in the game came during the first period when Dawson Bosanic was penalized for tripping, granting the Cardinals a power play opportunity. However, it only took 11 seconds for Carter Deatsman to capitalize on the situation, scoring an unassisted short-handed goal and giving the Emeralds a crucial advantage. Deatsman expressed his gratitude for Noble’s outstanding performance, emphasizing, “Alex was the guy for us tonight. His play in the goal was huge for us today.”
Resilience and Tough Situations
The Emeralds faced several challenging situations throughout the game, but their resilience and Noble’s outstanding saves ensured victory. Assistant coach Ben Rahilly commented, “Alex was our rock between the pipes tonight. He had huge saves in really tough situations.”
Missed Opportunities and Frustrations
In the second period, Austin Hinkson had a breakaway opportunity but was unable to find the back of the net. Frustrations grew as Carsyn Hinkson and Gavin Nutkins received a double penalty, resulting in the ejection of Emeralds’ coach John Nutkins. Despite these setbacks, the Emeralds managed to keep Big Rapids scoreless on their power play opportunities.
Next Game
The Emeralds will be back in action on Tuesday as they travel to Escanaba for a matchup scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.