High1 Wins Battle of the Bizarre

Sometimes a game comes along that is so bizarre, no matter what the result, fans are left more perplexed than angry or happy. Tonight's game between Anyang Halla and High1 had everything except a man on a grassy knoll.

After the previous night's close game, High1 was eager to prove themselves and play was immediately rough. An early hard check to Radunske had Jackman looking for revenge. The play grew in intensity and it was only 13 minutes into the game when Jin-hi Jeon was pounded into the boards. The play was called, and after some time the medical staff came onto the ice and took him off. He didn't return to the game. Sin-il Suh of High1 was given a 20 minute game misconduct and a five minute major. Almost immediately after taking the penalty Radunske made High1 pay with his first of the night, giving Halla a 2-0 lead. The Halla blue-liner stepped in and completely undressed several High1 players fired a shot off the back wall which bounced to Radunske who neatly picked the corner leaving the goalie stunned.

At 15:21 one of the linesmen was struck by a puck and then subsequent melee. As it was clear that he was injured, play was called and stopped for some time as he was checked by medical staff but continued to work the game. However, shortly after being struck he made a rather strange call against Halla. The Halla defenseman caught the puck at the blue line, dropped it to the ice, and used his stick to pass it further into the zone. The linesman, who was well behind the play, suddenly blew it down claiming it was a hand pass.

Just over 19 minutes into the period, another strange altercation occurred with a referee. High1's Ryuichi Kawai was battling with a Halla player in the corner. The puck squirted loose but into the skates of the nearby referee. Though the Halla player was well behind at this point, rather than dig the puck out of the referees skates, Kawai raised his stick in two hands and checked the referee full across his chest and into the boards. Neither the referee checked nor the other referee called a penalty or stopped the play. Kawai retained possession of the puck and moved it down the ice. With only 15 seconds left, former Halla Dong-hwan Song got High1 on the board. It's unclear how it started, but a prone High1 player and a standing Halla player began slashing furiously at each other with their sticks. Both sides converged and blows were exchanged. In the end, Park Tae-hwan received a five minute high-sticking penalty, and a 20 minute game misconduct. Swift received a 2 minute roughing, and Hyeok Kim received a 10 minute misconduct penalty. This arrangement left Halla a man down for 5 minutes. It is unclear why Hyeok received a 10 minute misconduct but no accompanying minor penalty. High1's coach did not seem happy with this result and became livid on the bench, screaming, yelling and High1 players slashed the boards, this was not the last time they would do so in the game without a call. Even after the final 15 seconds were counted off the clock, High1 entered further conference with the officials to such a length that the ice staff had to cancel the intermission's entertainment.

High1 gathered their strength during the intermission and with the long man-advantage they made Halla pay. they scored three quick goals which saw Halla call a time-out. The latter half of the second period was marked with several back and forth penalties. Halla had several good scoring attempts highlighted by a powerful slapshot by Jackman which rang off the bar 15 minutes into the period.

In the third, a High1 player came in to check Jackman along the boards and when Jackman twisted out of the way, the player slammed hard into the boards and glass. The player crumpled to the ice and play had to be called as he was helped off. The third had Halla retake the lead 5-4 on Radunske's third goal of the game. A short-handed 3 on 1 against High1. Caught flat-footed, High1 could only watch as Radunske was able to walk in and pick the corner. With only a few minutes to go High1 became desperate and with only 30 seconds left, and the Halla goalie looking off-kilter they managed to tie the game.

Overtime started 4 on 4 and only 26 seconds in Halla missed a golden opportunity. With the High1 goalie down and out from making a save, the Halla attacker missed the wide open net and put it into the goalies glove. 1 minute into the period Dong-hwan Song was struck and knocked to the ice, severely injured. No call was made and play continued as the hit was ruled legal. As Halla entered the zone 2 on 1 suddenly play was called down as Geun-ho Kim and Swift tussled and struck each other. Swift with his gloves clearly on the ice, but Geun-ho still wearing his. The medical staff had to enter the ice after some time and take Dong-hwan off, and after an excessively long time, Geun-ho received 3 penalties. 2 minutes for roughing, 5 minutes for kneeing and a game misconduct. Halla was outraged as no call had been indicated by either official over the hit on Dong-hwan. Swift received 2 minutes for roughing, no call for fighting, and no call for instigating. This left Halla down a man for 5 minutes with only 4 minutes remaining in overtime. It was inevitable that High1 would not let another opportunity slip by and after brief resistance they scored a minute later.
Both Swift and Dong-hwan Kim finished the game with four points. After two games though Radunske has set the pace for the points race this year with seven.

 

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