LCAHL Game 1

Drew and his Novi FireCats teammates took to the ice for their first game of the 2018 Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League playoffs, facing off against the Birmingham Rangers. Drew was really looking forward to this matchup, as he and one of the goalies for the Rangers spent several seasons together playing for the Lapeer Storm. Blake and Drew didn't get to see each other before the game began, but they made sure to catch up after the game.

On to the action on the ice, where the FireCats got off to a quick start. They scored on a shot just over four minutes in, and then worked hard to keep their lead. It took a while before they were able to score again, but they managed two goals within a minute, grabbing a 3-0 lead. The Rangers would pull their starting goalie at this point, turning to Blake to try and jumpstart them. Unfortunately for Blake, but thankfully for the FireCats and their parents, he would allow a goal himself before the period came to an end with the FireCats up by a score of 4-0.

The FireCats kept on the attack in the second, but Blake was up to the challenge. The lone goal of the period came off a FireCats stick with three and half minutes remaining. That gave Novi a 5-0 lead that they would carry into the final intermission.

It was Birmingham that got on the scoreboard first in the third, scoring a goal just 31 seconds in. The FireCats would respond, scoring their sixth goal of the game just over a minute later, restoring their five goal lead. That would be all of the scoring for the remainder of the game, as the defenses and goaltending took over for the rest of the game. Novi would win the game 6-1, and move them to 1-0 in the playoffs.

Let's go FireCats!

Novi FireCats LCAHL Playoff Game #1 - vs. Birmingham Rangers
	Drew in the middle of the Novi FireCats huddle around the goal before the start of the game.
	Drew stepping up to knock the puck away from a Rangers player.
	Drew pinching in to keep the puck in the zone.
	Drew patrolling the net front.
	Drew's former Lapeer Storm goalie didn't get the start tonight, but was called into action after the FireCats jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the first period.
	Drew keeping the net front clear.
	Drew skating through center ice.
	Drew winding up...
	...and taking aim at the puck...
	...and firing the shot on goal.
	"Outta my way!"
	Drew forcing the onrushing Rangers player out away from the net.
	Drew taking a pass...
	...and firing away...
	...and sending the puck towards the crease.
	The final score was a good one for the Novi FireCats, as they came away with a 6-1 victory in the opening game of the LCAHL playoffs.
	Drew congratulating his goalie on an excellent game between the pipes.
	Drew headed to the front of the line to give his former goalie a post-game fist bump...
	...and spend some time talking...
	...and reminiscing about old times...
	...before the two teams made their way through the handshake line.

Novi FireCats LCAHL Playoff Game #1 - vs. Birmingham Rangers

Drew in the middle of the Novi FireCats huddle around the goal before the start of the game.

Drew stepping up to knock the puck away from a Rangers player.

Drew pinching in to keep the puck in the zone.

Drew patrolling the net front.

Drew's former Lapeer Storm goalie didn't get the start tonight, but was called into action after the FireCats jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the first period.

Drew keeping the net front clear.

Drew skating through center ice.

Drew winding up...

...and taking aim at the puck...

...and firing the shot on goal.

"Outta my way!"

Drew forcing the onrushing Rangers player out away from the net.

Drew taking a pass...

...and firing away...

...and sending the puck towards the crease.

The final score was a good one for the Novi FireCats, as they came away with a 6-1 victory in the opening game of the LCAHL playoffs.

Drew congratulating his goalie on an excellent game between the pipes.

Drew headed to the front of the line to give his former goalie a post-game fist bump...

...and spend some time talking...

...and reminiscing about old times...

...before the two teams made their way through the handshake line.