(by team reporter Albert Ross)
The Canadian Legion Major Peewee A Huskies put it all on the line on January 31 as they hosted the Woolwich Wildcats for game 6 of their round robin play-down series. The visitors were desperate for a win that would force a 7th and deciding game while the Dogs wanted to end it and move on.
The
first frame was played cautiously as the combatants tested each other’s resolve
along the boards and in the corners. Neither goalie saw much action but it was
Woolwich that registered the first goal of the night on a puck that squeezed
between a goalie skate and the post. It was more hard slogging in the second
but the Dogs were starting to get their game on. Evan Denison planted a puck on
net followed by Josh Beach as the down-low work started to offer up chances.
Jackson Holmes was once again tested in net but he was too sharp for the
Wildcats and held them at bay for the remainder of the period. He made a huge save early in the third before
the Pack caught a break. With a Woolwich player in the box for boarding, the
Huskies forced the offensive zone. Wyatt Rempel won a battle along the boards
and fed Jackson Gerber who made no mistake on his upstairs shot from the slot.
The power-play point injected new life into the Huskies and more chances
followed. But Woolwich was not backing down and returned to the offensive
stance when the Pack found themselves going to the penalty-kill. Holmes was
severely tested but turned aside 4 back-to-back shots before his team
rebounded. That rebound came in the form of a breakout by Lucas Bast to Sam
Miller who raced up ice with Gerber in tow. His pass out front was good and
Gerber slammed home the tie-breaker. The remaining minutes were desperate for
the Wildcats as they pulled their goalie in a last ditch gambit but the Huskies
hung on to take the 2 – 1 win. Gerber secured the TLC Pet Food
player-of-the-game for his timely goal-scoring ability while the Huskies
conclude the play-down series and move on to face the Oakville Rangers for the
next round. Congratulations Huskies!