Bottle flipping. The Internet phenomenon where you pit angular momentum against centripetal force to make a half-filled water bottle stand up after hurling it into the air. This art has temporarily consumed our YouTube obsessed youth and in some ways was the perfect metaphor for last weekend’s tilt against the Edson Mighty Macs, which beat the PeeWee Bears 8-5 two weekends ago.
One key to a successful flip is to get the right bottle. It needs a stable base so when it lands, momentum doesn’t tip it over. The stable base of the Bears’ team is their defense. Led by second year players Jacob Bartziokas and Owen Kearnan, their ranks are filled out by talented first year PeeWees Ty Crozier, Dexter Fawcett, Michael Hayashi and Jacob Bouchard. In the first period, against a very offensive Edson team, the defense held their own, keeping their big shooters to the outside and limiting Edson to just one goal in five attempts. Apollo Hardman equalized for the Bears on a breakaway, and with Donovan Fawcett killing it between the pipes for Jasper, the first period ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
A second key to flipping the bottle is to get the amount of liquid right. Too much and not enough angular momentum is created to turn the bottle over, and too little and there is insufficient downward force to stick the landing. Getting the mix of forwards right is the same and with a big squad with a range of experience, this is particularly tricky. Coach Eric Bouchard nailed it putting young Dylan Skinner on a line with veterans Sebastian Golla and Baden Koss. Skinner is an exceptionally hard worker and keen to learn the game, so putting him out there with playmaker Golla and power forward Koss was dope. Down by a goal after Edson scored on the rush half-way through the period, Skinner buried a pass from Golla and Koss to draw the Bears equal. With two minutes to play in the frame and a Bear in the box, Edson regained their one goal lead that would carry them into the second intermission. It was 3-2 Edson after two.
The third key to a successful bottle flip is the wrist action. Two much and the bottle over-rotates and lands on its side. Too little and not enough angular momentum is created to turn the bottle over. Down a goal going into the third, the Bears needed to simply focus on their delivery to land this game that was well within reach. But sometimes overthinking it can be disastrous. Three quick goals by the Mighty Macs off the stick of their dominant first line centre put Jasper on its heels. Tanner Carlton buried Jasper’s third goal to draw the Bears back within three, and then had a goal called back a shift later that would have Jasper within easy striking distance. But instead, the Mighty Macs scored on a short-handed breakaway to extend their lead to four. Skinner scored again with four minutes to play, again on a great effort in the blue paint, but it would be too little too late for the Bears. The game would end Edson eight and Jasper four following another goal by Edson’s leading scorer.
The next time you see a half filled plastic bottle sitting on a high ledge, upright and out of reach, think about what it took to get it there. A base, the right water level and wrist action. The PeeWee Bears didn’t “land it” on Sunday against Edson. Their bottle lays there on its sides, water sloshing back and forth. The key for the players and the coaching staff is to look at this attempt and adjust for the next time. The physics is the same in each game, but by tweaking a few things this team is determined to land on their feet.
Next weekend the PeeWee Bears host Onoway, a town of about 1,000 keen hockey fans in Lac Ste. Anne County. It should be a thriller. Game time is 1:45 p.m. on Dec. 3. I hope to see you, and your half-filled water bottles, in the stands.
John Wilmshurst Special to the Fitzhugh
