(by team reporter Albert Ross)
The EJ’s Bantam Husky AEs took to the ice with
heightened anticipation on February 16 when they hosted the Merritton Bulldogs
for game 3 of their OMHA quarter-final play-down series. Their confidence was
not misplaced. The Dogs had decisively defeated their opponent the previous day
in St. Catherines, coming home with a 7 – 0 shutout win to take a commanding
4-point series lead.
The Huskies knew their opponent was desperate for a win that would extend the series but they were a bit unprepared for the level of play they brought that day. Even so, the hometown team drew first blood early when Sammy Miller puffed out the rigging on an unassisted effort. The visitors struck back when the Huskies took a boarding call and used their man advantage to even it up before the second period.
The Huskies struggled to find the net as the frame commenced and it wasn’t until the Bulldogs were levied a too-many-men penalty that they found their window of opportunity. Jackson Gerber succeeded on a drive getting help from Dale Jurica thus restoring the lead. More chances followed with Alex Kyle’s point shot coming close followed by another bullet from Nic Egli. The Bulldogs were not standing still and retaliated as the period bled away. Their drive to the net restored the deadlock proving that this was still a game up for grabs.
The break before the third frame was an opportunity for coach Jeff Gerber to restore order and purpose to the Husky rank and file. Judging from the results, the talk worked wonders. Net-minder Carter Schwartzentruber stopped two key Merritton chances before his team rallied and took the fight into the offensive zone. Tyson Wagler battled his way up ice with line mate Matt Sommerville in tow. The two together got the puck onto Jacob Ertel’s stick who then smashed it off the goalie pads. Ertel secured his own rebound and registered the tie-breaker in the process. The Bulldogs were desperate and kept Schwartzentruber busy as they forced the defensive zone. They pulled their goalie in a last ditch gambit but the Dogs held them off to take the 3 – 2 win. It was a much closer game than the Huskies predicted but the resulting series sweep means they will now face the Milton Winterhawks on February 21 for game one of the semi-final series. Good luck Huskies!