Post by Oxford United on Jun 3, 2024 8:39:48 GMT -7
Cremona 3 @ [4] Oxford : United Lead 1-0
The Oxford Junior B Ringette Rangers, owners of Oxford United HC, have been trying all manner of promotion to fill the seats at the CS Lewis Memorial Arena and Petting Zoo. Tonight was "buy two tickets and recieve a Quokka" night. Each Quokka came with enough eucalyptus for two days, a mini hockey stick that doubles as a toothpick, and a little t-shirt in United colours that reads "Fluff! Fur! Ferocious!".
The puck dropped and right away United took control of the game. Auston Matthews found himself distracted by a Quokka doing a pirouette on the blue line and Kyle Connor stripped him of the puck and broke in alone on Samsonov. 1-0 United.
Embarassed by how easy it was for a 12.5-million-dollar player to be distracted by a macropod, Matthews responded with a single-handed effort, stick handling through five Rangers before tripping on a Quokka and doing a perfect belly slide into the Oxford net. 1-1 Tie.
Late in the first, David Pastrnak was caught flat-footed while taking a selfie with a Quokka and Daniel Sprong burst past him and scored on a lazy tennis-style lob that scored because Samsonov that's why. 2-1 United.
The Quokkas hopped onto the Zamboni during the intermission. Now acting as a group, the Shakka of Quokkas used mini hockey sticks to plunder a popcorn vendor, then carried the visiting mayor of Cremona off into the underbelly of the stadium. The organisers of Quokka night - and all of the fans in attendance frankly - breathed a sigh of relief that the marsupial madness had ended.
The second period started well for Cremona. Alex Ovechkin fed Matthews a saucer pass for a one-timer that eluded Sam Meontembault. 2-2 Tie.
Shortly thereafter, Damon Severson hauled down Owen Tippett, and Mika Zibanejad tallied on the power-play. 3-2 United.
Less than a minute later, soon to be demoted Josh Anderson converted a Zibanejad feed into a clumsy backhander that skipped over Samsonov's pad because Samsonov, that's why. 4-2 United.
The third period was all Titans, and the ice was tilted badly toward the United goal. Half way through the period the lights suddenly dimmed and rainbow spotlights converged on Quokkarella, the legendary Quokka fairy. She sprinkled magic dust on the puck, turning it into a cupcake, and wristed a shot on the Titan net that scored because Samsonov, that's why. The referees ruled the goal off-side, and assessed Nino Niederreiter a double-minor for tossing glitter at Brady Tkachuk.
Police escorted Quokkarella out of the building, and Cremona focused on making up the two goal lead it had allowed Oxford to build. At 59:12 of the third, and with his goalie on the bench, Jack Eichel sped through centre ice creating a wake of multicolored glitter that hypnotized the United defense. He slapped the cupcake home to bring the Titans within one. 4-3 United.
Tense seconds played like minutes as the Titans swarmed United's end of the ice but Montembault held firm, and the game ended in Oxford's favor.
STATS
CREMONA 11 + 06 + 17 = 34 Shots, 11 Hard, 3 Goals
OXFORD 19 + 10 + 12 = 41 Shots, 09 Hard, 4 Goals (1 PP)
Update: Oxford United is sad to announce that next game's Wombat Night has been cancelled.
The Oxford Junior B Ringette Rangers, owners of Oxford United HC, have been trying all manner of promotion to fill the seats at the CS Lewis Memorial Arena and Petting Zoo. Tonight was "buy two tickets and recieve a Quokka" night. Each Quokka came with enough eucalyptus for two days, a mini hockey stick that doubles as a toothpick, and a little t-shirt in United colours that reads "Fluff! Fur! Ferocious!".
The puck dropped and right away United took control of the game. Auston Matthews found himself distracted by a Quokka doing a pirouette on the blue line and Kyle Connor stripped him of the puck and broke in alone on Samsonov. 1-0 United.
Embarassed by how easy it was for a 12.5-million-dollar player to be distracted by a macropod, Matthews responded with a single-handed effort, stick handling through five Rangers before tripping on a Quokka and doing a perfect belly slide into the Oxford net. 1-1 Tie.
Late in the first, David Pastrnak was caught flat-footed while taking a selfie with a Quokka and Daniel Sprong burst past him and scored on a lazy tennis-style lob that scored because Samsonov that's why. 2-1 United.
The Quokkas hopped onto the Zamboni during the intermission. Now acting as a group, the Shakka of Quokkas used mini hockey sticks to plunder a popcorn vendor, then carried the visiting mayor of Cremona off into the underbelly of the stadium. The organisers of Quokka night - and all of the fans in attendance frankly - breathed a sigh of relief that the marsupial madness had ended.
The second period started well for Cremona. Alex Ovechkin fed Matthews a saucer pass for a one-timer that eluded Sam Meontembault. 2-2 Tie.
Shortly thereafter, Damon Severson hauled down Owen Tippett, and Mika Zibanejad tallied on the power-play. 3-2 United.
Less than a minute later, soon to be demoted Josh Anderson converted a Zibanejad feed into a clumsy backhander that skipped over Samsonov's pad because Samsonov, that's why. 4-2 United.
The third period was all Titans, and the ice was tilted badly toward the United goal. Half way through the period the lights suddenly dimmed and rainbow spotlights converged on Quokkarella, the legendary Quokka fairy. She sprinkled magic dust on the puck, turning it into a cupcake, and wristed a shot on the Titan net that scored because Samsonov, that's why. The referees ruled the goal off-side, and assessed Nino Niederreiter a double-minor for tossing glitter at Brady Tkachuk.
Police escorted Quokkarella out of the building, and Cremona focused on making up the two goal lead it had allowed Oxford to build. At 59:12 of the third, and with his goalie on the bench, Jack Eichel sped through centre ice creating a wake of multicolored glitter that hypnotized the United defense. He slapped the cupcake home to bring the Titans within one. 4-3 United.
Tense seconds played like minutes as the Titans swarmed United's end of the ice but Montembault held firm, and the game ended in Oxford's favor.
STATS
CREMONA 11 + 06 + 17 = 34 Shots, 11 Hard, 3 Goals
OXFORD 19 + 10 + 12 = 41 Shots, 09 Hard, 4 Goals (1 PP)
- Both teams had 2 PP, and played 4v4 3 times.
- Nicolas Aube-Kubel steamrolled Miko Rantanen with 3 minutes remaining (-3 injury).
- "Tippett's Toupees Top Performer of the Game": Sam Montembault (11 hard, 3 goals).
Update: Oxford United is sad to announce that next game's Wombat Night has been cancelled.
