By: Brent Maranto

On Thursday afternoon the Valencia Flyers took off for a 17-hour bus voyage to Boise, Idaho to take on one of the toughest teams in the league, the Idaho Jr. Steelheads. The trip would take a toll on most anyone, but on a bus full of restless teenagers it felt like an eternity. The fear after such a long trip, is that the team may come out “flat” thanks in large part to the overnight journey. The only thing the Flyers had to fear on Friday night in Boise was the power play of the Idaho Jr. Steelheads, as the home team used two timely power play markers to outlast a comeback bid by the Flyers to hold on for a 3-2 victory.

The superbly coached Jr. Steelheads tallied a goal in each period and were able to hold off a late onslaught by the Flyers to open up the three game set on the winning end.

Flyers’ Coach Bill Muckalt cooked up a superb game plan to slow the speedy and skilled Jr. Steelheads’ attack, primarily by using the neutral zone trap. Early on, it paid dividends as Idaho was unable to muster much of an attack on Flyers’ net minder Steven Estep.

The second part of the game plan was to stay out of the penalty box, as Idaho possesses what many would consider the best power play unit in the league, led by forward Nate Stanley. This part ended up being the main difference in what seem to be two evenly matched teams.

With David Knowles off for slashing, the top unit of Idaho went to work with the man advantage with just a hair over seven minutes left in the opening period.

Swedish forward Viktor Karlsson fed defenseman Michael Washington up top, whose shot deflected before making it to Estep and was put home by the awaiting Stephen Rock. Rock’s 16th goal of the season came at 6:01 of the period and took the air out of how well the Flyers had suppressed the attack of Idaho up to that point.

Just over two minutes later however, the hottest Flyer as of late, Stephen Stoll would breathe life back into his squad with a big goal to knot the game up before the end of the period.

Rookie forward Zach Wallace, who tallied two assists in his first game as a Flyer just over a week ago, skated with the puck over the Idaho blue line. Just as he drew a Jr. Steelheads’ defenseman to him, the 16 year-old left a drop pass for Stoll who wasted no time in snapping a wrist-shot over Josh LaBarge to tie the game up at one. Stoll’s 12th goal of the season now gives him points in 12 of his last 13 games

After one period of play Coach Muckalt had to like what his team had done, as Idaho was beginning to become frustrated by the trap of the Flyers and failed to come up with an answer in the opening twenty. On the other end of the spectrum, the power play of Idaho clicked on its only opportunity and looked revved up and ready to go for more.

After one period of play Idaho led in shots 11-2, scoring chances 3-1 and even hits 26-23. The scoreboard however was the only thing that mattered, as both teams were knotted at one.

Things opened up in the second as the back end of Idaho began to carry the puck up the ice and get the puck deep into the Flyers zone at a higher frequency. Todd Graham and crew did a great job of laying the body, as Idaho would chip the puck in deep numerous times but did not want a whole lot to do with the size and power of the Valencia blue line.

With 3:04 left in the middle period, Stephen Rock would strike again on the power play for his second of the game and 17th of the season to once again give Idaho a one-goal lead. Rock again found a rebound and put it home, this time off assists from Gabe Gollette and David Fegler.

The shot gap became smaller in the second period, as Idaho still out-shot the Flyers 17-9 in the period. Scoring chances were once again in favor of Idaho, 6-2 this time. Hits were even at 12, but Idaho was now 2-3 with the man advantage, while the Flyers failed on their lone attempt.