Knights Take Showcase Game 1

Knights (3) Snipers (1)

The Dallas Snipers and Phoenix Knights were the Western States Showcase first game Tuesday morning at City National Arena the practice facility for the Golden Knights. The Knights came out ready to play and the Snipers had no energy the first half of the game. The first goal came from the point as Kowalchuk shot got deflected off a player and into the back of the net passed Snipers goalie Evan Williams. Knights took a 1-0 lead less than 3 minutes into the game. 

While the Snipers were on the power play Alex Hladonik made a pass that deflected off the referee and turned into a 2-1 and Knights leading scorer Masanotti scores a shorthanded goal to give the Knights a 2-0 lead 11 minutes later. Knights outshot the Snipers 19 – 12 in the first half. Williams made 17 of 19 stops and made some spectacular saves to keep it a close game. The 2000 netminder from Dallas did a great job in his first WSHL showcase.

The Snipers came out with a spark to start 2nd half of the game. The energy was much different than the 1st half of the game. Early in the 2nd half of the game Snipers Defensemen Cole Madzey made a great stretch pass to Avraham who took a shot and Eric Eaton banged home the goal to make it a 2-1 game. Rafa Goncalvas started in net the 2nd half of the game and only gave up one goal on a breakaway after Matt Ray got walked by the benches by the Knights leading scorer Masanotti for his second goal of the game. The Knights would go on to win the game 3-1. Goncalvas stops 14 of 15 in the 2nd half.

The Snipers got great goaltending once again, but no offense to help push for a win. The Snipers top line of Hladonik, Vasicek, and Cooper were very quiet. The Snipers will look to regroup against the Bellingham Blazers tomorrow at 2:45PM at the Sobe Arena.