Kardinge on the benches after a crazy catch-up race and 17th win in a row by ice hockey players GIJS Groningen. Now on to the playoffs

It is slowly becoming a memorable season for GIJS HEPRO Groningen. A season in which every home game is well worth it and the hall in Kardinge is therefore packed every time. A season in which just about anything could be possible.

Dordrecht needed a point for play-offs

The last game of the regular season – GIJS has long been placed for the play-offs – was one that could just break through the unique series of 16 wins in a row. GIJS was still fighting for the home advantage of second place, but Dordrecht had a somewhat heavier goal: the South Hollanders still had to qualify for the play-offs and needed a point for that, which they eventually also took from Groningen.

The result on the ice was that Dordrecht fought for what it was worth and that GIJS was surprised in the first period. The team from Dordrecht took the lead after thirty seconds via Valentijn Scheffe and GIJS did not answer that quick goal for a long time.

Young goalie has a great evening

The Groningen team pounded on Dordrecht’s goal throughout the first period, but this time it was defended by 19-year-old Bas van er Brugge, who had a top evening. The young goalie, who replaced first goalie Kevin Riedijk because he was about to become a father again, whipped one bet after another out of his goal. Zahir Hup, Vainius Jankauskas, Thomas Krukovski: they all saw their efforts stopped by Van der Brugge. It was driving me crazy.

GIJS finally came alongside in the second period. Nota bene Carsten Smit, who came over from Dordrecht Lions, scored the goal with a shot from a distance. When Tim Bartels had made it 2-1 moments later, it seemed to be a cat-in-the-bakkie for the team of coach Csaba Kersco, but that was not the case. Because shortly before the second break, Scheffe tapped out of nowhere and completely unexpectedly into the 2-2 under goalie Matyas Dana.

Unnecessary punishment almost kills GIJS

In that second break, singer Wilbert Pigmans, who saw a performance in Groningen canceled and therefore just put on Kardinge, got the full hall on the benches. GIJS got that after the break.

But first the GIJS players themselves often went to the bench, at least the penalty bench. Because no less than 5 largely unnecessary two-minute penalties eventually almost cost the Groningen team. Successively Joop Uchtman, Fenno Mulder, Zahir Hup, Ricards Ozolins and Mulder again had to leave for two minutes and from the power play situations Dordrecht scored three times: 2-4. ,,At one point we really got a penalty for everything”, complained top scorer Zahir Hup, who missed quite a few chances in the first periods, but eventually made use of a crucial penalty shot.

Foks equalized

So GIJS had to go in pursuit. The 3-4 came with five minutes to go. Jankauskas tapped in from about five meters. Then a bet by Guy Kunst was blocked, Tim Bartels shot against the post from the blue line and Hup also tapped wide from close range via the post. It didn’t seem to work this time, until the clock showed 59.22. With 38 seconds to go, Dylan Foks shot at, from a distance. The puck flew behind Van der Brugge and all of Kardinge exploded: 4-4.

No goals were scored in overtime, despite many chances for GIJS. The penalty shots brought the victory to GIJS via hits from Ozolins and Hup, who lashed out beautifully quickly and thus surprised Van der Brugge. ,,It had to come a long way”, laughed Hup in the festivities. “But it was also beautiful. Now continue like this in the playoffs. We really stand a chance in that. The top 5 can beat each other.”