Halifax Floor Hockey League
Chill forward Peter Rankin is one such player who until now has not received his due accolades. Rankin finished the 2001A Season with a modest 2 goals and 7 assists. While the Chedrawy's, the Murphy's and the Romaine's of the Chill were earning all the headlines for the Chill, players like Rankin were winning games in near obscurity.
It's a well kept secret that Rankin does indeed have the offensive skills of a John Price, but for the good of the team, Rankin agreed to play the role of a grinder this season, spending the better part of games in the defensive zone.
In this year's consolation game, Rankin had had enough. Rankin decided it was the right time to showcase his talents once the opening whistle blew. And sure enough, Rankin eschewed his defensive role and scored the opening goal of the game.
Well that didn't sit well with Chill captain, and master disciplinarian Mike Griffiths. Griffiths, upset that Rankin had not played the role he had assigned, gave Rankin an embarrassing tongue-lashing for all to see. Rankin reluctantly returned to playing his gritty style of defensive-minded hockey.
But the game was not going according to plan for the Chill. Their opponents, the ADC Lynx had opened a 3-goal second intermission lead. But the Chill were not finished yet.
Inspired by a tear-evoking 2nd intermission pep talk from Rankin, Trevor Murphy scored a flurry of 3rd period goals to tie the game with mere minutes to go.
3 minutes to go. 2 minutes to go. 1 minute to go.
Rankin knew it was now or never. Showing no fear for the possible suspension Griffiths would almost certainly dole out, Rankin switched into offensive mode. And how.
With time running out, Rankin turned a mediocre 3-way passing play involving Murphy and Jehad Chedrawy into a spectacular solo effort to beat Lynx goaltender Tony McCarthy to win the game with 8 seconds left.
It was pure redemption and a fairy-tale ending for Rankin, who had carried his team in anonymity throughout the season. "I knew I could do it, but I was just waiting for the right time to strike," declared Rankin. "My teammates didn't give me much to work with, but I managed to score in spite of their 'help'."
Until this game, Rankin's sniper-like abilities were rarely displayed. in one game, however, Rankin was upset at statistician David Watson for not awarding him an assist on a Chill goal. Moments later, from his own corner, Rankin let a laser beam go that hit Watson in the side of the head. Was it an accident? After seeing Rankin's pinpoint precision in the consolation game, surely the answer is 'no'.
