Swarm Seal the Win against Halifax  12-11

On Friday, March 1st, the Swarm concluded their final regular season road trip with a victory in Halifax, prevailing 12-11. 

The Swarm showed a balanced performance, with Lyle Thompson, Brendan Bomberry, and Andrew Kew each contributing 6 points. Thompson led the scoring with 4 goals, followed by Kew with 2. On the defensive front, Jeff Henrick showcased his talent with a goal and 3 blocked shots, while Kason Tarbell and Adam Wiedemann collected 8 loose balls each. 

The game began with a stellar display from Brett Dobson, who made two crucial saves within 18 seconds, marking his 1,000th career save milestone. Despite Halifax’s attempts to retaliate, their first goal was overturned, granting Swarm an advantage. Seizing the opportunity during a power-play resulting from Halifax’s penalty, Shayne Jackson capitalized with a left-handed shot from the crease, giving Swarm a 1-0 lead. Strong defensive plays were evident throughout, with both teams showcasing adept shot blocking and ball recovery. 

The first quarter concluded with Jeff Hendrick’s goal, extending Swarm’s lead to 3-1. Lyle Thompson’s high shot further bolstered the score to 3-2. Halifax managed to narrow the gap, but Thompson’s two additional goals before halftime widened Swarm’s lead to 7-4. 

The third quarter went ahead relatively calmly, with Andrew Kew netting two power-play goals, solidifying Swarm’s lead at 9-6. Heading into the final quarter with a 9-6 advantage, Swarm kept control, passed from Lyle to Zach Miller, making it Lyle Thompson 700th career point. Brennan Bomber and Seth Oakes extending the lead to 12-6 with a shorthanded goal. 

Halifax mounted a late comeback, narrowing the gap to 12-11 in the closing moments of the fourth quarter. However, Swarm’s defense held firm, ensuring they retained their lead until the end, securing the victory with no further scoring after Seth Oakes’ shorthanded goal at the nine-minute mark of the fourth quarter.