Feb 28, 2016 | Albert Ross | 740 views
Midget LL2s Clinch Berth In A-Pool Finals
The New Hamburg Huskies Midget LL2s have
clinched a berth in the A-pool finals! Having secured 8 points in the first 7
round robin games, they badly needed a win at home in their 8th and
final game against the Beverly Bandits LL1 on February 27. A win would confirm the advancement while a
tie or loss would leave their fate in doubt. It was with this knowledge that
the Dogs faced their guests, a team they had yet to beat this season.
As expected, it was a fast-paced contest from the first puck drop with both sides looking for advantage. The Huskies were hard on the fore check and chances followed with Connor Ross, Owen Ross and Mason Wagner all hurling pucks to the Bandit net. Beverly answered with their own chances and Colton Holba was forced to be sharp as the first frame ended. The Dogs dug in in the second and turned the tables. Josh Potts, working to break the puck out, slid it over to Connor Ross who bolted through the neutral zone in a headlong rush to the Bandit net and beat the goalie through the five-hole. With one in the bag, he almost doubled the total on his next shift putting a shot off the cross bar. The Bandits recovered and the Huskies found themselves on their heels. Holba made 4 saves in quick succession to keep his team in front before a pair of penalties established some 4 on 4 action as the second period ended. Stakes were high for both teams as play resumed in the third. The hard driving Huskies as exemplified by Danny O’Connell, gave no respite to the Bandits. The fore checking and back checking took their toll on the visitors and chances followed. Wagner put a bullet off the cross bar and Potts bounced one off the pads but finding the insurance marker proved elusive. Then it was Matt Sommerville working with O’Connell that nearly hit pay dirt but the Beverly net-minder foiled the attempt. With time slipping away, the Bandits pulled their goalie to get a man advantage. The Huskies were relentless and gave no quarter in their battles for the puck. Colin Shannon wrestled the puck loose deep in his own end and fired it the entire length to sink the empty-netter insurance marker with seconds remaining. It was a stunning 2 – 0 shutout win that will secure the top seed position for the Huskies as they move to the A-pool finals in the days to come. Who their opponent will be is dependent on the final round-robin game set to be wrapped up mid-week.