Mar 12, 2012 | jgerber | 1229 views
Huskies Fall to Dragons
submitted by team reporter Albert Ross
The Re/Max Twin City Peewee AE Huskies were in Dorchester on March 6 for game 4 of their OMHA play-down series with the Dragons. The Dogs were looking for a win to gain the lead in this deadlocked series but as bad luck would have it, home ice was favouring Dorchester.
The Dragons notched a goal on their first shift on a turnover before things settled down. The hard slogging continued into the second frame where the Huskies finally answered. Alex Smirnow made good on a pad rebound from Jack Normandeau with Jackson Gerber also assisting. The Dragons fought back and peppered net-minder Jackson Holmes who repeatedly came up big for his team. They finally cracked his will at the half to re-establish the lead but the Huskies fought back early in the third. Dawson Hussey and Smirnow both came close on rushes but it would be Emmet Laytn’s tip-in from Bailey Zehr that hit pay dirt. Again the Dragons fought back and potted two unanswered goals to deliver a 4 – 2 loss to the visitors. The Huskies played well but with their backs to the wall they had to win at home on March 8.
The Dogs took to the ice with vigour in front of a house full of supporting fans. Goalie Tyler Kumpf was tested early but proved unbeatable. The gritty Huskies and explosive Dragons were tied after one but that would change in the second as the visitors went to the power-play. Down by one, the Huskies pushed back. Ethan Field was winning the battles along the boards, delivering some solid body checks as an example to his teammates. The physical play paid dividends as the Huskies regained the offensive zone and put the Dragons on their heels. It was Nathan Gerber’s shot on a feed from Normandeau that tied the match but it was Kumpf’s outstanding play in net that kept it that way. And so it would remain through the third as both teams garnered chances but neither could move the needle. Husky defensemen Owen Ross and Zehr were illustrating to their mates how to shut down Dragon forwards while Nathan Gerber and Normandeau showed what offensive spirit looked like. The tied total forced an overtime period in which the Huskies fought with dogged determination. Anything but a win meant elimination from OMHA, underscoring their desperate play. Coach Jeff Gerber loaded his starting line with Hussey, Nathan Gerber and Evan Denison to gain advantage. It almost paid off but the Dragon goalie denied them. The sea-saw battles continued and with time running out, the Dogs found themselves penalty killing. With less than a minute remaining, Kumpf was pulled and for a few brief moments, the 6 attackers looked like they would succeed. It was not to be and the 1 – 1 final meant the Huskies would concede the series to Dorchester in a 6 points to 4 decision.
It was a tremendous effort for the Huskies who played all season with grit and determination. Your Huskies for 2011-2012 are: Jackson Holmes, Tyler Kumpf, Dale Jurica, Evan Denison, Owen Ross, Alex Smirnow, Emmet Latyn, Dawson Hussey, Joel Domm, Ethan Field, Kolton Wagler, Jackson Gerber, Trent Smith, Jack Normandeau, Bailey Zehr, Nathan Gerber and Tim Geiger. Proudly coaching this team that went furthest in OMHA play-down action were: Jeff Gerber, Mark and Steve Domm, Dan Geiger and Brock Yantzi, along with team manager Al Denison. With an impressive resume of accomplishments: finalists in the Caledonia and Creemore tournaments, Regional Silver Stick Champions, quarter-finalists at International Silver Stick and now semi-finalists in OMHA, the Huskies would like to thank their sponsors, Re/Max Twin City, sponsors TLC PetFood, their fans and all those who supported them this year. Congratulations Huskies.