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Bears down Tigers 4-2 to take CIHL title

A Bears player focuses on the puck as the Bears and the Tigers face off in the final of the Chinese Taipei Ice Hockey League at the Taipei Arena yesterday. PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUN, TAIPEI TIMES

Cheered on by a crowd of 600 at the Taipei Arena, the Bears came back from two goals down to beat the Tigers 4-2 in the Chinese Taipei Ice Hockey League (CIHL) championship final last night.

The first period began frenetically, with the Bears controlling the faceoff and putting pressure on Tigers goalie John Osmar.

The opening minutes featured a crunching check by the Tigers' Steven Liou.

The Bears received their first penalty just 2:55 into the first period, resulting in a power play for the Tigers, who were able to capitalize at 3:38 into the first on a goal by Laughren Clayton.

Back at even strength after the goal, the Bears were undaunted after the goal and continued putting on the pressure with a breakaway by the Bears' David Campbell at 4:30.

The Bears were able to push the puck into the Tigers' zone even though they were short handed, but came away empty-handed after two great saves by Osmar.

The Tigers were able to turn things around quickly at 14:30 into the first period, however, as Kevin You took advantage of the power play to close fast on Schnitzer with a fast, juking drive that culminated in a pinpoint shot and another power-play Tigers goal.

You had another chance on a breakaway just two minutes later on a drive and shot that resulted in a circus save by Schnitzer.

Then, with the Bears on the power play with three minutes left in the first period, Osmar made another two saves, including one on a hard slapshot by the Bears' Justin Menzies. The Bears' first-period scoring futility continued at 18:35, when a hard shot by Greg Walsh rang off the crossbar behind Osmar. The first period ended with the Tigers leading by a surprising 2-0.

The second period began with the Bears pushing the pace, as Michael Thornburn drove in on Osmar, and then literally took out the goalie and the net.

After a penalty on the Tigers' Tommy Sullivan put the Bears on the power play, the Tigers were able to put a few hard shots on goal, but Schnitzer's strong play kept the Bears from falling further behind.

Back at full strength at 5:20 into the second period, the Bears resumed pushing the play into the Tigers' zone.

Their persistence finally paid off at 7:24 in the second when a shot by Greg Walsh got past Osmar to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Tigers.

The third period began with the Bears pressing the attack, generating a shot at 1:30. That persistence paid off at 5:30 into the final period when Michael Thornburn dumped the puck in past Osmar to level the score. Then, little more than a minute later, the Bears' offensive firepower made itself evident once again as David Campbell scored against the wilting Tigers' defense to make the score 3-2 in favor of the Bears.

A short scrum ensued at 7:11 in the third when yet another Bears push resulted in Osmar being bowled over. ?The Bears finally removed any doubt about the outcome of the game at 12 minutes into the period with a score by Justin Menzies.

The teams traded scoring opportunities as the period wound down, with both goalies coming up with sparkling saves.

The Tigers obtained a last-chance power-play opportunity, however, after being awarded a penalty with 1:30 remaining, but they were unable to score.
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