(by team reporter Albert Ross)
The EJ’s Bantam Husky AEs returned victorious
from Chatham on January 31, concluding their OMHA series with the Kent Cobras.
With two wins in the bank, the Dogs were hungry for the finisher that would allow
them to advance to the next round.
That hunger was demonstrated in spades when they notched the first goal on the first shift with just 30 seconds elapsed. Danny O’Connell was the trigger-man with Sam Miller and Josh Potts collecting the assists on the hard drive to the opposing net. The Pack continued the assault and put the Cobras on their heels until they were forced to go on the defensive after incurring a minor for head-contact. The penalty-killers were on their game but the Cobras struck back when even-strength returned. A defensive zone turnover caught the Huskies by surprise and the first frame ended in a deadlock.
The tie-breaker came early in the second as the Huskies returned to the offensive. Mason Wagner dropped a pass back to Owen Ross who then hoisted the disk towards the net. Nic Egli deftly deflected it past the Cobra goalie to take his team into the lead. The Cobras tried to even the score when they went to the power-play but Zack Robinson was sharp with his blocker and denied the opportunity. The Huskies were unstoppable when the penalty killing was done. Miller was a tour-de-force down low and cycled the puck to Tyson Wagler who then drilled it off the pads of the Cobra net-minder. Jacob Ertel picked up the rebound and secured a two-goal lead in the process.
The Huskies were doing everything right and continued the onslaught into the third. Owning the offensive zone paid a fourth dividend on a Cobra turnover. O’Connell and Miller were again working well and together and collected the assists on Potts goal that left their opposition deflated. It wouldn’t get easier for them because Miller wasn’t taking his foot off the gas. Winning another puck battle on the boards, he found Potts behind the net who then swung out front and roofed it in on a backhand. The Huskies were too much for the Cobras and the final buzzer confirmed the 5 – 1 win and a 6-point series sweep. It was an impressive first round performance that the Huskies hope to repeat when they face their next opponent in the OMHA Quarter-Finals in early February.