Photo: Garrett James
Only a week had passed since the Colorado Mammoth put their 20-9 pounding on the Vancouver Stealth at the Pepsi Center. Last night the Stealth had not only the challenge of beating the Mammoth on their home floor, but to also put the embarrassing performance behind them, as well as end their 3 game skid. With Lewis Ratcliff seeing his second consecutive season with a healthy scratch one was left to wonder how the team would come out and play.
The Stealth silenced any questions or concerns on how things would go without Ratcliff early, as lefty Johnny Powless scored just :28 in to the game. Colorado would go on to show why they are the number one team in the West taking the first quarter with three goals by three different players, something Colorado does well. Spreading the ball around and scoring for the Mammoth were Sean Pollock, Joey Cupido, and Drew Westervelt, to give them the 3-1 lead at the end of 1.
The second quarter the Stealth seemed to settle into their roles and the chemistry started to show in all phases of the game. New comers Joel McCready and Tyler Hass would put the first to goals in the back of the net to tie the game at 3. Vancouver’s Justin Salt would have the next goal on a beautiful breakaway and assist from goalie Tyler Richards putting the Stealth up by one. The other Tyler, the big guy down low, Tyler Digby would tally the next one for the Stealth. Not to be outdone by his fellow righties all time franchise leading scorer Rhys Duch would get his first of the night, putting the Stealth up by three. Colorado would close the gap to one at the half with goals coming from both Jackson Decker and Drew Westervelt.
Powless would get the Stealth started again scoring the first goal of the second half. The Mammoth would answer right back less than a minute later with Jackson Decker’s second on the night. The new look and physical play coming off the left side for Vancouver scored the next two as Corey Small scored his first of the quarter followed by Johnny Powless and his hat trick on the evening. Rhys Duch would get his second on the night as the Stealth pressed down on the accelerator. Corey Small’s second of the quarter and another by Joel McCready would put the exclamation point on the their strongest performance since week 1. Bobby Snider would close out the quarter on an unassisted goal to end the quarter. Colorado trailed the Stealth 12-7 entering the final frame.
The fourth quarter would see plenty of scoring from both squads, with Colorado getting things going with Drew Westervelt’s hat trick and Eli McLaughlin getting his first. Cutting the Stealth lead to just 3, Johnny Powless and Brandon Clelland would put the Stealth back up by 5. Joey Cupido, Eli McLaughlin would answer right back getting their second goals on the night each. Adam Jones would also score for the Mammoth getting his first on the night, after a strong performance a week earlier cutting the lead to 2. Joel McCready’s goal at the 1:23 mark seemed to be the nail in the coffin as the Stealth led by 3, but Joey Cupido’s hat trick sparked some life back into Colorado, only to be stifled by Justin Salt to bring the game to the buzzer.
The Stealth (2-3) would go on to hand Mammoth (3-1) their first loss on the season, and one that came at the hands of a Western Division rival. Keys of the game for Vancouver were the rise of the left side with Johnny Powless, the addition of Corey Small, and the healthy scratch of Lewis Ratcliff. You can’t argue that Lewis contributes, but the chemistry the team showed on the left side, the ball movement, is something that has been lacking for quite some time. The return of Chris O’Dougherty proved to be a missing link for the Stealth as well. Tyler Richards stood on his head once again between the pipes, proving that when the defense plays physical out in front he can shine. Colorado spread the ball around well, not getting a couple of their star players Adam Jones and John Grant Jr. could have been the tipping point in Vancouver’s favor.
Both teams will be back in action in 2 weeks with the Colorado Mammoth taking on Edmonton in a back-to-back showdown on Friday the 13th at home then on the road Sunday the 15th in Edmonton. Vancouver will face off against Calgary on Saturday the 14th at home in what should be another thrilling West showdown. There will be no love on Valentines Day between these two teams.
