On March 2, 2010 the Red Lake Boys & Girls Club Floor Hockey League held its playoff tournament and it came down to a 3-game playoff between the top 2 seeds in the league, the Rangers and the Wild. 

Game 1 started off slowly and the scoring didn’t start until the second half with two goals by the Wild’s DeAndre Oakgrove.  With a little over four minutes left, the Rangers’ Julius “Caesar” Maxwell started his team’s offense with two goals of his own about 30 seconds apart, tying the game up with over three minutes to go in the game.  With both teams looking at possible overtime late in the second half, the Wild’s Donovan “Sonic” Johnson scored the go-ahead goal with under a minute to go.  After a furious scramble by the Rangers in the closing seconds, the Wild were able to hold on for the 3-2 Game 1 victory.

The Game 2 offensive fireworks for the Rangers started early with Julius “Caesar” Maxwell once again starting the offense with two quick goals in the opening minutes of the first half followed by two goals by Alexis Desjarlait to give the Rangers a commanding 4-0 lead.  In the second half, the Rangers’ Tyler Brown and the Wild’s DeAndre Oakgrove traded goals giving the Rangers the 5-1 win to tie the series at one game apiece. 

Game 3 started off slowly with a couple of injuries to the Rangers, thus having Donovan “Sonic” Johnson be traded from the Wild during the championship game.  Rashaun Lawrence started off the scoring for the Wild in the opening minute and “Sonic” Johnson getting revenge on his former team a few seconds later, tying the game at 1-1.  The first half ended with “Caesar” Maxwell giving his team a 2-1 halftime lead and the momentum for the second half.  With great goaltending by both teams to start the second half by the Wild’s Aaron “Big Sweaty” English and the Rangers’ Jacy “Ice Water” May, the final minutes were reminiscent of Sunday’s USA vs. Canada Gold Medal Game at the Olympics.  A furious onslaught of shots slapped away by “Big Sweaty” English kept the Wild’s championship hopes alive in the closing minutes.  But the play of the game, maybe the series, came from Alex English, who while seeing the possible game-icing goal being sent by Tyler Brown, slid from what seemed like across the other side of the gym to smother Brown’s shot with his legs, keeping the game in range.  As the final seconds were ticking away, Alex English was able to sneak a shot by “Ice Water” May to send the Championship Game to overtime. 

A crowd started to gather in the arena for this intense game.  Many of the onlookers had to scramble to get out of the way if the puck came their way due the intensity of the players.  Maybe it was the excitement in the air, maybe it was free time (when everybody wants to be in the gym at the Club), but it seemed like everybody wanted to witness the effort the kids were putting in. Overtime started like a bad but entertaining Vin Diesel movie: fast and furious.  Both goalies withstood a barrage of shots making a double-overtime championship game seem like a possibility.  But 3:40 in to overtime, DeAndre Oakgrove was able to put the game away with a goal past the Rangers’ Jacy “Ice Water” May and give the Wild the first Red Lake Boys & Girls Club FHL Championship. 

DeAndre Oakgrove was named FHL MVP and also led all scorers with 32 goals on the season.  Aaron “Big Sweaty” English was named Top Goalie of the season by leading the FHL with 3 shutouts. 

There were four teams throughout the season with different players stepping in for absent players during some games, which altered the stats but not their passion for the game.  Our 18 game season began in October and ran into many different obstacles but we were able to keep the kids interested in the game of hockey.   

Congratulations to the champion Wild, MVP DeAndre Oakgrove, Top Goalie Aaron English and to all the boys and girls that participated in the FHL.  See you next season!

Jon Roberts

Mentor Specialist

Red Lake Boys & Girls Club/FHL Commissioner

218-679-2556

League Leaders

Name                                    Goals

Mike Roberts                         16

James Miller                            6

Goaltending Leaders - Shutouts

Name                               Shutouts

Chaise Nelson                        1