Bantam LL3 Down Titans in Back-To-Back Contests, News, Bantam LL3, U15, 2012-2013 (New Hamburg Hockey Association)

This Team is part of the 2012-2013 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Feb 24, 2013 | Albert Ross | 909 views
Bantam LL3 Down Titans in Back-To-Back Contests
The Delivery Guys Husky Bantam LL3 took on the Tavistock Titans in two back-to-back play-down games that tested the Dogs to the limit. February 16 saw the Huskies on the road for their second play-down match against an opponent that beat them in regular season. But the Pack was mentally prepared for this showdown. 

First blood came when Connor Ross rushed the forward zone early in the first frame, wiring one off the pads that Matt Elliot swatted in. The Titans were slow to recover under the constant Husky pressure as Jake Snider, Colton Hussey, Mike Thrush and Justin Arnott all kept the Titan net-minder busy. He’d crack early in the second when Cam Gingerich loosed the puck from the slot with Kolton Wagler picking up the rebound to double the Husky tally. The Titans recovered briefly, getting a breakaway chance that Husky goalie Liam Saunders expertly stoned. The physical aspect of the game increased with both sides incurring penalties. However, the Dogs came out on top when Gingerich forced a turnover, rushed in short-handed and beat the goalie on an upstairs play. The dump-and-chase game was working well for the Dogs as the Titans struggled to stem the attacks. Colin Shannon nearly added his own marker deep in the third before the Titans rallied and plugged in their lone goal on a screened effort. Their celebration was short as Elliot teed one up in the slot to advance the Husky total on an unassisted effort. It was a convincing 4 – 1 win that secured the player-of-the-game recognition for him and one the Dogs hoped to repeat when they hosted the Titans the following Saturday Feb 23. Coach Duane Gingerich kept the strategy of dump-and-chase simple, relying on speed to be the deciding factor. The Titans were determined to shut down the top Husky threats and play a disciplined game to counter their opponents. The Huskies were first on the score sheet with less than a minute gone as Trevor Brubacher and Kale Meyer won a puck battle in front with Wagler picking up the garbage in the crease. The Husky pressure continued when Gingerich fed the puck back to the point where Hussey loosed the artillery round. Brubacher deflected the shot leaving the Titan goalie no chance and doubled the Husky total. It wouldn’t get easier for the visitors in the second as the Huskies continued to assault the forward zone. Brubacher working hard down low, found Elliot open in front who made no mistake on the play. Things looked good for the Dogs but a tripping call against them was enough to turn things around. The Titans roared back on the power-play, plugging their first point, and continued the offensive as even strength returned. A determined rush also succeeded, drawing within one of the home team as the frame ended. Saunders was sorely tested in the third as the rejuvenated Titans took their game to a new level. Husky defenders, Tyler Szanto, Shannon, Hussey and Ross were pulling out the stops to stem the Titan tide. The Husky break came late in the frame when Ross found open ice and scored on a daring breakaway to secure the insurance marker. The Titans pulled their goalie in a last ditch gambit but the Husky defense held. Ross garnered the player-of-the-game for his timely goal while the team takes the 4 – 2 win, their third in play-down action. The Huskies hope to continue the success story on Sunday Feb 24 when they host the Paris LL1 Wolfpack.