(by team reporter Albert Ross)
It was a real nail-biter when the Canadian Legion Major Peewee A Huskies played host to the Woolwich Wildcats on January 10 to open the OMHA post-season. Both teams hit the ice running and battled each other to a scoreless draw after one. The heat ratcheted up a notch in the second with Woolwich finding the net early to open the scoring.
The
Huskies rallied and came close a number of times on a power-play that saw the
Wildcat net-minder working furiously to stave off the attacks. Then it was the
visitors turning the tables as the Dogs went to the penalty-kill after a
boarding call. Again, the Wildcats found the net on a screened shot leaving the
Pack down by two. The celebration was short as the Huskies rebounded less than
30 seconds later. Josh Beach and Wyatt Rempel were working hard to get the puck
deep and found Jackson Gerber down low. Gerber walked it out and stuck it in
between the goalie and the post to get on the board. With new life injected,
the Pack tore into the offensive zone with Josh Blier, Sam Miller and Beach all
presenting threats. The back end was solidifying with Lucas Bast breaking up a
2 on 1 threat followed by a key glove-save by Jackson Holmes. The equalizer
came when Greg Yeoman won a battle and fed the puck to team mate Joel Domm
who’s pass out front rebounded off the goalie’s equipment to breach the goal
line. The sea-saw battles continued and would see the opposition pull in front
on a breakaway as the period bled away. The game tempo went into over-drive in
the third with the stepped-up physical play evident. Owen Ross was key in
breaking up Wildcat thrusts and Holmes was once again sharp as the Dogs fought
off a penalty, buying time for his team to rally. And rally they did! Beach and
Miller were winning the puck battles down low and Miller’s perfectly timed
cross-crease pass was pounded in by Gerber to once again tie the game. On a
roll, Jackson Normandeau and Tim Wenn both unloaded on the Wildcat goalie but
it would be Beach feeding Gerber who’s stuff-in secured a hat trick and put his
team in front. With less than a minute
of play left, it looked like the Huskies had it in the bag but Woolwich pulled
their goalie, won the face-off and drove the tying point home to force an
overtime period. It was all-out war with both sides coming close. Holmes was
outstanding and Bast nearly ended it when he zinged one off the post but
neither side could break the deadlock. Gerber collected the TLC Pet Food player-of-the-game
for his amazing scoring touch but the Huskies had to accept the 4 – 4 draw.
They look to improve their point total with a win in Georgetown on January 17.