Once again the Esprit de Corps Commandos went into battle for hockey supremacy against the General Officers and Flag Officers of DND (GOFOs) at the Bell Sensplex on 28th February, 2018, all in support of the Cadet Leagues of Canada. Both teams were fully manned and each team had cadets to fill out their rosters. On hand for the ceremonial part of the game start were the 872 Squadron (Kanata) cadets who supplied the music for the national anthem, cadets for the colour party, and Kanata MP Karen McCrimmon who handled the ceremonial puck drop to start the game.
The GOFOs, led by LGen Al Meinzinger, Commander of the RCAF, started out strong getting the first two goals at 11:13 and 3:56 in the first period but the score belayed how even the teams were and the Commandos, captained by newly retired RAdm Gilles Couturier, came back to get their first score at 2:04 ending the first 2-1 for the GOFOs. At 19:04 in the second period, the Commandos evened the game at 2-2 and the second period turned out to be evenly matched as both sides attacked back and forth without being able to score another goal. Mention should be made of cadet PO2 Connor Strampel who was between the pipes for the Commandos in the second period and stopped many shots from the frustrated GOFOs.
The third period was much the same as the second with both sides pressing hard and both goalies standing firm until the GOFOs went ahead with a goal at 14:58. It looked bad for the Commandos as they kept pressing without success, but at 2:46 in the third they evened the game and it looked like the game was going to end in a tie as time was running out. However, the Commandos were unrelenting and with just 42 seconds to go in the game, got their fourth goal to pull ahead. This forced the GOFOs to pull the goalie for the extra man and that was their undoing as with just 8.5 seconds remaining, the Commandos got an empty-netter to close the game, winning 5-3.
At the reception afterwards everyone enjoyed pizza and drinks while replaying the game. Most Valuable Player for the Commandos was cadet PO2 Connor Strampel and BGen Karla Harding took the honour for the GOFOs. In all $1650 was raised by the draw for the Cadet Leagues of Canada and their youth programs.
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