After suffering a 4 – 3 play-down loss in Paris
on February 12, the Midget Husky LL2s were looking for a home ice win on
February 14. The game was their second match in a 6-game round-robin series
that would decide which two teams would move to the finals. Their opponent was
their fraternity brothers, the Husky LL1s but friendship was not playing a part
in the action that night
Underscoring that was the 3 – 0 lead the LL2s established after the first frame on the strength of topnotch team play. Cam Gingerich buried a drop pass from Damian Naylor followed by an unassisted point rocket from Andrew Just. Rounding out the total was Eric Noseworthy getting help from Just. The LL1s regrouped in the second and neither side found advantage. Chris Thrush was minding net for the LL2s and denied the best that the opposition could muster. The third frame was all LL2s as they took the play to the offensive zone. Owen Houle blasted in a screened shot unassisted followed by Ross on a turnover. Mackenzie Ryckman added the 6th marker on a salvo from the point getting help from Pat Glofcheskie and Gingerich. The final point came from Noseworthy with Just and Tyler Griffith riding shotgun. It was a dominating 7 – 0 shutout win that the boys hoped to repeat in Plattsville on February 16. The hosting team finished in the top spot in regular season so the LL2s knew this contest would be tough. True to expectations, the Rage were first on the score sheet on a shorthanded effort late in the first period. The Dogs bounced back when the referee sent two Plattsville players to the box giving the visitors a 5 on 3 advantage. Houle played set-up man for Glofcheskie who airmailed the tying goal from the slot on the power-play. The second frame was a deadlocked contest that saw the physical aspect of the game ratchet up several notches as both teams struggled for the win. It was more fast and rough action in the third but the Huskies found the net first. Sean Boake, won a puck battle and fed it to Houle who in turn found Canden Addley as he blitzed the offensive zone. His race to the net and backhand deke advanced the Husky total but it was a short-lived celebration. A turnover on the next shift was all the Rage needed to restore the tie. The sea saw battles continued and the Rage nearly secured the win on a breakaway late in the frame. Jamie Rennick raced out of the net to poke-check forcing the Plattsville player to shoot off-balance and missing. It was the last gasp for both sides and the duel ended in a 2 – 2 tie. The Huskies hope to be successful at home on February 22 when they host the Paris Wolfpack for game 4 of the series. A win is essential for the Huskies to keep the A-pool Championship dreams alive.