One Dream Ends ... Another Begins
Game 5 of the OMHA Semi-Finals didn't quite go as planned, and that is where it would end for the 'Air-Tech Mechanical' BANTAM REP REBELS.
The team headed to Norwich in style on Saturday morning, had a good warm up and when the puck dropped at game time, they were focused and got off to a fantastic start.
Their passes were on point, they outshot the home team 15 - 4, and midway through the 1st period the REBELS were on the board.
Cory Rasmussen got the puck to
Mitch Faust and he shot a beauty high far side at 8:34. With a face-off in the offensive end a few minutes later,
Mitch Stevens kept it in at the line and fired to the corner.
Calvin Stewart got control and sent it out front where
Wyatt Golem was alone at the net for a one-timer at 5:26.
The 2nd period saw our boys in the penalty box a few too many times, and the Knighthawks used it to their advantage and tied it up 2 -2.
Unfortunately the only goal of the 3rd period came on a turnover in our end, and Norwich took the lead at 4:59. The boys battled right to the final buzzer, but just couldn't net that tying goal.
Norwich took the series with 7 points in 5 games, which is 2 more games than they had predicted ... and move on to meet Flesherton in the Final.
GO GOLDENHAWKS!!!
Our boys represented TCDMHA well and with class, making all their fans very proud!
* * * * * * * *
One Dream Ends ... Another Begins * * * * * * * *
The boys earned the title of WOAA Bantam 'DD' Champions by being the one team to move beyond the WOAA in OMHA Playoffs, and were presented with the trophy tonight.
After successfully finishing the WOAA Round-Robin Playoffs undefeated, the boys are facing the West Grey Warriors in the Final Series for 6 points, and GAME 1 was tonight in Chatsworth.
Both teams came out strong, putting pressure on both goal tenders right away.
Carson Torrie collected a pass from
Jake Moran, took the shot on net, and
Clay Kreuger knocked in the rebound at 7:57. The Warriors managed to tie it up when the puck flipped up from behind the net and landed between the crossbar and Lawson's back. Tough one to take, and the 1st period ended in a 1-1 tie.
Defenseman
Jack Kivell fed
Mitch Faust from the corner and he went coast to coast, shot from the bottom of the circle and
Torrie flew in and flicked the loose puck over the goalie at 12:35.
The Warriors scored on a power-play at 9:24, and jammed two more quick goals in at 8:40 and 7:55 with scrambles at our net.
The REBELS regrouped and
Austin McComb found
Wyatt Golem who drove down the left side cut into the net, wrapped around and Austin King picked up the rebound at 5:39.
The good guys tied it up while West Grey was trying to clear their zone. They fired the puck, but it was blocked by Moran. Torrie picked up the loose puck and found the back of the net with a hard, low shot to the corner at 3:56. The 2nd period ended 4 - 4.
McComb netted the go ahead goal, assisted by Kinger and Golem at 10:08, but seconds later we were headed to the box and the Warriors capitalized on it, scoring the tying goal at 9:18.
With a 4 on 4 a few minutes later, Calvin Stewart shot and the puck snuck in blocker side, to go ahead again at 4:58. The boys kept the pressure on and West Grey never had an opportunity to pull their goalie.
Lawson Cumming was kept very busy with HARD shots flying at him from all directions, and records the win.
Final Score: REBELS 6 - WARRIORS 5
The series unfolds like this ...
Game 2: Sunday March 12th at 5:45pm in Ayton
Game 3: Tuesday March 21st at 7:30pm in Durham
Game 4: Saturday March 25th at 4:00pm in Chatty
Game 5: Sunday March 26th at 5:30pm in Ayton
Game 6: Tuesday March 28th at 7:00pm in Chatty