Matt Foy Vs. HC Kometa Brno

What to do on a hot sunday afternoon in Berlin? Sure, lets got see a hockey game and cool off. Thats what a lot of people actually did as they came to see the Eisbären Berlin play their second game in the European Trophy against the Czech club HC Kometa Brno. After the first game against Plsen I had lowered my expectations for this game greatly. However, the first period was very crafty and quite entertaining. Brno showed off their defensive skills as they fought of a couple of well played chances by the Eisbären Berlin. Brno´s blue line was quite active as they tried to get Rob Zepp to miss on one of their sharp shots from outside. On the other end, thats what Berlin did as well. The Eisbären wingers often tried to shoot it from the outside instead of trying to get in front of the goal as they so often do. Screening the goalie and trying to land a quick shot in the net seemed to be the strategy to get their second win during the European Trophy. And who else but Matt Foy, made sure that a deserved penalty resulted in the 1:0 lead for the Eisbären, we´ll hear about Foy a little later. The second part of the first period reminded me greatly of the last game against Plsen. Who would have thought that a friendly could provoke such harsh penalties as the one against Boris Valabik who violently checked Dominik Bielke into the boards. As the rule permits because seemingly there was a little blot involved Valabik had to leave the game and left his team with a five minute major penalty to defend before the break. The second period began more fast pasted then the first one. Both teams, but especially the Eisbären Berlin realized that they had to put a little more pressure on the opponent to decide this game without any doubt. The Eisbären seemed to have used the break better as they game out firering in the form of Jimmy Sharrow who placed the puck right below Martin Falter who had no chance. From there on it was only the home teams turn to win out this game. T.J. Mullock not only assisted a goal in this game but also made one himself to put the Eisbären up by 2. Shortly after Marc Katic unleashed his newly signed hammer and blasted the puck past Falter. Brno at that point seemed completely out of place and a little bit unlucky as well. Matt Foy added two more goals, one at the end of the second and one more during the third period. The Eisbären power play simply looked marvelous. Every man advantage  they got was used to put Brno out of the equation completely. I personally really liked Barry Tallackson. He might have not scored himself but to me, he often times orchestrated powerplay attacks and blue line strikes like his second nature. I am hoping that he can carry some of the younger players, especially those from the U.S. and Canada, to perform as well as they did sunday, during the regular season. But lets talk about Matt Foy a little bit.

This newly signed Eisbär, is advancing fairly quickly to one of the most liked players on the ice. Before, during and after the game, I heard many fans complementing him and saying how well he fits in the Eisbären organization. He has already left his mark and an especially large one during the game against Brno 3, very well played goals helped to spark the Eisbären to their victory. Foy is a very offensive minded guy. Sure he is a right winger but he seems to be everywhere on the ice. I would trust him with the center position as well. A very balanced skater, Foy can compliment his fast past speed with a great eye for the net and impeccable stick handling. His vision against Brno was without a doubt perfect. A guy who was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in 2002, Foy seems like the guy who fell through the grid. He played college hockey with Merrimack college and advanced to the OHL. Dominating in the OHL he was called to play for the Wild´s NHL affiliate "The Aeros" during the 2006/07 season. He did NHL hockey during the Wild´s 2007/08 campaign but never settled down within the organization. He briefly played for the St. Louis Blues and their AHL farm team before signing with other small American organization. In July he then departed for Berlin and has proven once more that his talent is not one that has gotten lost along the way. Battling through injuries during the last here, the 2012 season can be a big one for Foy. With the offensive output we saw during the game against Brno, there is surely more to come, and especially more goals in the DEL. Welcome Matt.

All though it was hot inside, everybody seemed to have enjoyed this wonderful day of hockey at the O2 world. The fans are slowly warming up for the upcoming season and the title defense. The only that can not seem so happy is Sebastian Elwing. His Goalie mask is proudly showing of the "Dynamo" logo and other Berlin landmarks. Rob Zepp is the goalie for now, and he has been on point so far, but why not give Elwing the chance to play in games like the one against Brno or Plzen. Get him in there let´s see what he can do. May against the Freezers? The Zepp Dynasty seems to stand for now and who can go wrong with a goalie who has won four league championships right?