(by team reporter Albert Ross)
The EJ’s Bantam Husky AEs were looking for another
win on the road when they visited the Hespeler Shamrocks on November 17. They
took to the ice with confidence, having triumphed over the Halton Hills Thunder
in a physical 3- 1 contest two days previous but they knew this matchup would
be just as tough.
The Shamrocks were sporting two wins over the Huskies with this game constituting the third and final regular season game between the two clubs. The Dogs were determined to finish it on a high note but the Shamrocks had other ideas. The initial sparring in the neutral zone changed when the Pack suffered a minor for hooking and the Shamrocks went to the power-play. A breakdown in the defensive zone allowed the hosts to get on the scoreboard but the Dogs regrouped and began taking the fight into the Hespeler end. Some nice cycling plays by Josh Potts, Jacob Ertel and Tyson Wagler very nearly evened the match but that moment would have to wait until the second frame. Hespeler regrouped and sorely tested Zack Robinson in net who came up roses on 3 big saves before his team rejoined the fight. Alex Kyle broke the puck out to Nic Egli who shot it in deep at the Hespeler net. The Shamrock goalie misplayed it and the Huskies broke into celebration as the puck dribbled over the goal line to tie the game. The physical tempo ratcheted up a notch and soon both teams were sending players to the penalty box. The Huskies got the better of the deal on a mid-period power-play when Danny Farrish swatted in a pad rebound from Emmet Latyn. Matt Sommerville collected the second assist on the solid team play that continued to bedevil the hosts. The Huskies cycling plays were running the Shamrocks out of gas but their goalie was standing tall, keeping this a one-goal contest. The Huskies could smell blood and continued the relentless assault in the third. The Huskie defensemen, Owen Ross, Dale Jurica, Kyle and Latyn were giving no quarter to the Shamrocks and were instrumental in the breakouts that set the stage for the win. Getting the puck in deep, it was Potts’ turn to make things happen. He cycled the puck to Ertel who in turn passed it out to Wagler riding high in the slot. Wagler made no mistake and cemented the two-goal lead. And that’s the way it stayed in spite of a last ditch effort by the Shamrocks when they pulled their goalie in the final minute. It was a solid 3 – 1 win over a tough opponent and an inspiring demonstration of well executed team play that the Huskies will take with them through the rest of regular season play.