Dec 09, 2012 | jgerber | 287 views
Huskies Exit Early in Silver Stick Action
(by team reporter Albert Ross)
The Canadian Legion Major Peewee A Huskies were in Midland on Dec 7 in search of the big prize at the Regional Silver Stick tournament. The boys were competing with 11 other teams in some of the fiercest action seen yet. The Huskies drew the Erie North Shore Storm as their first opponent in their pool and they proved to be one tough customer. The first frame was a sparring match as both teams sought advantage but neither could move the needle.
That changed in the second with the Huskies coming close on a play by Josh Beach and Sam Miller, but it was the Storm that drew first blood in a scrum. They doubled the total minutes later on a drive but the Huskies fought back. Jackson Normandeau came close on a breakaway but the Storm net-minder was denying the Dogs best efforts. It was more fast and furious action in the third with the Storm keeping goalie Jackson Holmes busy. Miller and Beach were again threatening but it would be the Storm coming up big in another melee that sank the Huskies hopes in the dying minutes. It was a tough 3 – 0 loss against a very well coached and disciplined team with the understanding that it would not be easier on Saturday morning. The Huskies faced off against the Lindsay Muskies in a contest they knew they had to win if they wanted a shot at securing a wild-card berth in the semi-finals. It was a wide-open and fast first frame with the Huskies dominating the forward zone. Tim Wenn and Evan Denison nearly opened the scoring while Wyatt Rempel was showing the proper method of delivering hip checks to prospective attackers. The second frame saw the Dogs incur a couple of penalties that were initially fought off in textbook fashion. As bad luck would have it, the opposition plugged one through the 5-hole on a power play that the Dogs failed to answer when they went over to the power play minutes later. It got worse for the Pack when they suffered a second goal early in the third during some 4 on 4 action. The parade to the penalty box for both sides continued in the third but the Dogs came out the worse for wear when Lindsay potted their third point on another power play. Life returned to the pack when Josh Blier’s feed to Jackson Normandeau was in turn delivered to the back of the net. Coach Gerber pulled his goalie as the Dogs put it into high gear but the clock ran out leaving the Huskies with a disappointing 3 – 1 loss. Mathematically eliminated from the semi-final round, the Huskies could still be the spoiler for the Milton WinterHawks in the last round-robin game Saturday night. But before that the team enjoyed a quality team potluck and scavenger hunt on the lovely Carriage Hill Resort grounds, thanks to Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Bast. In this effort everyone ate well and Team Yellow emerged victorious! The Dogs have some history with the ‘Hawks, having bested them twice in regular season play, but a third time is a charmer as the saying goes. The Pack hit the ice running, putting the opposition on their heels as they forced the opposing net. Normandeau won a battle down low and securing the puck, fed Greg Yeoman who made no mistake. Up by one, the Dogs were relentless, playing a puck possession game that paid off a second time. Evan Bender delivered a shot along the deck from the point that the screened goalie had no chance on. And so it continued into the second frame as a frustrated Hawks team began taking penalties. Strong forward play by Geiger, Rempel, O’Connell and Gerber and strong blueline play from Domm, Blier, Normandeau, Ross and Bender kept Milton at bay. The rough play continued in the third but the Husky defense gave no quarter. Lucas Bast was setting the example on how to get the job done while Holmes ended the Hawks dreams with the 2 – 0 shut out final. While the Huskies tournament ended with the buzzer, the boys recovered quickly enough to get in some quality indoor/outdoor pool time. The competition and experience will prove invaluable as regular season winds down and play-offs loom.