East 7, Cache Valley Independent 4

East started the 2008-09 season off with a victory. Yay! Thanks to Alli, Mike and Trav for coming out to the game.

Here's a summary of the game. Written by Jack Brittain plus a few photos. Thanks for the photos Jack!

Cache Valley Wild versus East High Leopards
September 8, 2008

By JACK BRITTAIN

A hard hitting game against a Cache Valley team that came to play and stayed in the game until the very end. East jumped to an early 1-0 lead, but Cache Valley came back to tie the game in the first period. East answered immediately to go up 2-1. A very physical first period ended 2-1, and it remained 2-1 throughout most of the second period as the two defenses dominated (East only allowed 4 shots on goal in the second period). Cache Valley tied the score 2-2 with 1:49 left in the second period, but East scored off the faceoff to go ahead 3-2 and then scored again with 22 seconds left in the period to end the second period ahead 4-2. East went ahead 5-2 in the third period, but Cache Valley battled back with two scores within 30 seconds in the middle of the third period to make the score 5-4. The teams were in a defensive deadlock the remainder of the third period until East scored with 22 seconds left in the game and then again with 14 seconds left to make the final score 7-4.

Cache Valley is an independent team, which means they draw players from several different high schools (East is a school-affiliated team, which means all the players come from one high school). They are one of the better independent teams in the state, and the team is largely the same as the Cache Valley Wild travel team, which is a tournament team. East is a talented team as well with several travel and travel-caliber players and matched up well with the Wild. This was an excellent opening game that tested East's lines and gave everyone a chance to see how prepared East is for the regular season. The only negative in the game is Alex Brittain is out with a torn MCL, which is a knee injury. No surgery, but 6 weeks to heal and rehabilitate his knee.

http://home.business.utah.edu/mgtjwb/Pictures/hockey/East0809/080908CVI/index.html