Jan 26, 2018 | CherylAnn Golem | 436 views
Rebel Pride
The Township of Chatsworth and District "Moggie Valley Timber Inc." may have run out of steam as they attempted to come back from a 2 game deficit in their best of 5 OMHA series against the Drayton Defenders, but they never gave up.
After coming back to tie the series at 2 all, the final game of the series was in Drayton. There were a lot of Rebel fans in the stands as the teams took to the ice for the final match up --winner moves on to the next round of OMHA and loser is eliminated for the season.
The teams appeared evenly matched but Drayton was extra hungry after the 4 - 0 drubbing they endured at Rebel hands last time and drew first blood when they scored at 11:44 of the first.
Rebels worked hard to tie the game and at 11:28 of the 2nd, Rebel Brandon Stewart found the mesh behind the Drayton goalie. The tie was short lived as the Defenders retook the lead 2 seconds later.
The Rebels kept pushing and eventually, around the midpoint of the second, Austin McComb found the top corner through the screen in front - with assists to Tyler Calhoun and Trenton Chegahno.
Unfortunately, penalties plagued the Rebels for much of the rest of the game.
Drayton scored a powerplay goal to end the period leading 3 - 2.
The Defenders struck again less than 30 seconds into the 3rd as they scored powerplay goal number 2.
Rebels kept fighting. They rang the post and threw everything they had at the Defenders but they just couldn't find the back of the net.
In the final moments, tempers ran high but the Rebels didn't give in to the frustration with the calls made or not made or with their own inability to score. Despite the adrenaline and frustration and disappointment, when the final buzzer sounded to declare the game and the series over, the Rebels didn't just skate off as instructed by the referees. They shook the hand of each of their opponents, congratulated them and wished them well on their quest to become champions. It was a demonstration of sportsmanship and pride that made the fans and parents proud to be Rebels.
These Rebels are finished with OMHA for this season, but WOAA playoffs will begin sometime after exams so stay tuned. Good luck to everyone who is writing exams this week and next.
To all Rebels and Rebel fans, I hope you take a play from this Midget teams play book and whether you win or lose, you play your best, you play as a team, you never give up and you conduct yourself with pride and integrity.
Thanks boys, you did a great job... so far... stay tuned.