In a whirlwind finish to the regular season, the Moggie
Valley Timber Midget LL Rebels played a whopping four games in seven days, two
at home and two on the road in Lions Head and Hanover.
The first game was at home against Kincardine’s #1 team. As always, the Rebels came out strong in the first period, with Jay Rourke scoring one set up by defencemen Jack Scott and Johnathon Bumstead, and Gerett Cottrell netting the other assisted by Jake Hartman. Kincardine answered with two of their own, and the score was tied heading into the second. Back and forth play kept most of the second period scoreless, but Kincardine scored with just under four minutes left on the clock. Rebels’ captain, Matt Woodroffe was determined to prevent Kincardine from taking the lead, and with just six seconds before the buzzer, put home a pass from Jake Hartman to tie it up again. Sadly, three unanswered goals in the third cost the Rebels the game. Final score was 6-3 for Kincardine.
In the second game, also at home, this time against West Grey #2, the Rebels made it a game for the first five minutes, but three quick goals in the second half of the first put the Rebels in a hole that in the end they could not dig themselves out of. West Grey added four more in the second, and Mason Hanna took away the goose-egg by putting one in, assisted by linemate, Jay Rourke and assistant captain, Josh Fritz. The Rebels were able to staunch the flow of goals against for most of the third, keeping West Grey to just one more, but were unable to mount sufficient offence to close the gap. Final score: 8-1 for West Grey.
It would be great to report that things got better in the third game scorewise, but unfortunately the four beauties that the Rebels scored (Matt Woodroffe, unassisted; Mason Hanna from Connor Woodroffe and assistant captain, Brodey Barwick; Jay Rourke, unassisted; Matt Woodroffe from Mason Hanna and Brock McIntosh) were not enough to overcome the volley of pucks shot by Bruce Peninsula #1 that found the back of the Rebels’ net. Final score: 11-4 for the division leaders from Lions Head.
The season closer in Hanover saw the Rebels face a 17-man bench with just nine skaters. Down one defenceman and five forwards who were out of the lineup with various combinations of injury, illness, or exam preparation, the Rebels faced down their opponents with their legendary steely will, determined not to go down without a fight. Despite short shifts and tall intentions, the Rebels succumbed to the Hanover team, losing 9-1. One of the game’s highlights was a penalty shot awarded to captain, Matt Woodroffe. Although he did not get the penalty shot past the Hanover netminder, Matt did net the Rebels’ lone goal, assisted by Brock McIntosh, to finish out the Rebels’ regular season goals total.
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Gotta hand it to those boys. With just one win all season and a couple of heartbreaking close ones, the Rebels came to each and every contest with determination and drive; each player had to find it to give 110%, despite the outcomes of previous games.
You’ll never see it anywhere on the score sheet, because what those Rebels accomplished was the development of character – how to lose with dignity and then pick themselves up to give their perfect effort the next time, no matter what the outcome. Those lessons are priceless and will serve the Rebels well, not only if they continue on in the game they clearly love to play, but especially in their lives as young men out in the world.
We’re proud of you, Rebels!