Feb 10, 2020 | CherylAnn Golem | 562 views
Rebels Advance to the Next Round of OMHA Play
The Township of Chatsworth and District, Moggie Valley Timber Inc., Midget Rep Rebels once again battled the Shallow Lake Lakers. Going into game 5 of the 6 point series, Rebels had 5 points to the Lakers 3 which meant a tie or a win would allow the Rebels to advance while a loss would lead to game 6.
The game began with hard hitting, fast paced hockey.Rebels short shifts kept them flying and most of the play in the Lakers end. At the 10 minute mark, Lakers headed out on a potential breakaway but Rebel goalie Lawson Cumming made a spectacular poke check and diving save to shut down the Lakers.
Unfortunately, with just over 8 minutes left, the Rebels made several awful defensive plays which led to the Lakers drawing first blood and taking the lead 1 - 0. Cumming was called upon to make several additional first class saves throughout the remainder of the first and Rebels fired everything they could at the Lakers net but the period ended 1 - 0.
Period 2 started with more of the same until the first penalty of the game at 11:53 saw the Rebels score on the powerplay only 9 seconds in when Austin McComb fired one into the Lakers net to even the score at one. Rebels continued to keep the puck in the Lakers end of the ice more than half the time but once again a defensive melt down saw the Lakers capitalize and regain the lead. This led to an avalanche of penalties throughout the remainder of the game.
Just after the end of a Lakers penalty, a scrum near the top of the circle saw a weird slider steal towards the net and, slowly but surely, by the Shallow Lake goalie without his knowledge. Alex DeJong with the assist on the Jake Moran goal to retie the game at 2.
Penalties continued to accrue for both teams and scoring opportunities were stonewalled at both ends of the ice with neither goalie giving an inch. More of the same as the third period started - lots of penalties, lots of great saves and even more body contact - both teams doing everything they could to keep their OMHA dreams alive. Finally, at 9:29 of the third, defenseman Mitch Stevens blasted one from the point and Austin McComb redirected it on the doorstep for his second of the game. Rebels took the lead for the first time in the game 3 - 2.
As the clock ran down the physicality ramped up. Both teams pressed and the fans who weren't standing stayed on the edge of their seats as the outcome of the game and the series was far from certain. Finally, as the minutes ticked down, Lakers pulled their goalie and just as he stepped from the ice, in his own end, Calvin Stewart spun and flipped the puck down the ice. Though the Lakers gave chase, the puck made it to the net and crossed the goal line for the insurance goal. With only a minute left the control strained a little but the referees navigated through to the final buzzer and the Rebels took the game 4 - 2 and the series 7 points to 3.
Rebels now advance in OMHA play and face the Drayton Defenders Wednesday, February 12 @ 8:30 pm in Drayton in the next round of play.
Let's go Rebels!!!