After a three weeks off, which was more time off than between the summer and winter season, the Screaming Squirrels played a game Thursday they would like to soon forget. They lost 8-6 to the Nordiques, despite battling back with four goals in the third period.
The first period started off poorly for the Squirrels as the Nordiques scored three times. Jon Magi, playing his first game since March after having surgery, had the lone goal in the period for the Squirrels.
The Nordiques and Squirrels traded goals in the second period. Rob Myers scored his first ice hockey goal – shorthanded – to cut the Nordiques’ lead to 4-2.
The third period saw a flurry of penalties as the Squirrels took six in that period alone. The Nordiques capitalized, getting three goals on the power play, and one other shorthanded. But the Squirrels kept fighting as Tony Richelson and Greg Wenograd both scored while killing penalties. Wenograd’s goal was with a two-man disadvantage and cut the lead to 7-6 with 1:40 remaining in the game. Ben Sumner also scored early in the period for the Squirrels, and Brian Jackson netted his first for the team on a power play.
No. 91 on the Nordiques scored four goals, several of them on breakaways.
The Squirrels had three full lines of offense and defense. Brian Rimm played in net for the Squirrels. Charles Wolstein and Drew Thiemann missed the game. Jared Genser played for the first time since May.
Although neither played, the two teams have family members on their rosters. Joseph Wu is a substitute for the Squirrels, and his sister, Yvonne Wu, is on the Nordiques.
The next game is Thursday, Oct. 13, at 10:30 p.m. against Syracuse in Resor.