(by team reporter Albert Ross)
When does a tie feel like a win? The Canadian Legion Major Peewee A Huskies can answer that question because that’s what it felt like on January 3 when they hosted the Oakville Rangers and battled the number one team to a draw. This was the final regular season game for the Dogs, and in spite of the fact that they were missing two players, they were eager to make a statement against the visitors that had bested them twice before.
It
was clear from the first puck drop that the Rangers were determined to make it
a 3-sweep and put the Pack on their heels in their own end. Net minder Jackson Holmes
was outstanding and frustrated the opposition throughout the period allowing
his team to mount an attack that nearly paid off. Josh Blier and Wyatt Rempel
put the Rangers on notice that the Huskies were in it to win. Sam Miller did
likewise on a rush moments later but neither side had moved the needle after
one. More furious Ranger attacks ensued in the second with Tim Gieger
brilliantly handling a dangerous 2 on 1 challenge. New life came to the Huskies
when Jackson Normandeau sprinted thru traffic, rounded the net and punched it
into the top corner to open the scoring. The visitors responded with a
blitzkrieg that kept Holmes very busy for the rest of the frame but allowed
nothing to cross the goal line. It looked like the Dogs would pull ahead on an
early third frame assault by Blier but the Oakville goalie was equally sharp. It
would be the Rangers that would score next on their own dash but their
celebration was short. Thirty seconds later, Josh Beach, working hard in front
of the Oakville net, popped one up that Jackson Gerber swatted in to regain the
lead. The Ranger attacks continued however, and they secured the equalizer on
another skate to the net before the Husky defense solidified. The fast and
physical play continued with both sides taking hits. Moments after Miller was
sidelined on a non-call, Lucas Bast demonstrated a perfect hip check that a
certain Ranger forward will not soon forget. Holmes was busy right until the
buzzer but he allowed his team to secure a 2 – 2 tie, their best showing
against this formidable opponent to date. For that, he gets the TLC Pet Food
Husky of the Game award and the Huskies close out the regular season solidly in
fourth place with a 18-7-3 league record, and a 28-15-6 record overall this
season. The team is looking forward to game #50 and the start of OMHA play-down
action due to get underway in the coming days.