Mar 12, 2016 | sleask | 1600 views
Atom Rep Ice Dogs Burn Down the Barn in Wingham
It was a gorgeous sunny day to make the drive to Wingham for an all or nothing grudge match between the Ice Dogs and the Ironmen.
It has been a whirlwind post season for the Atom Rep boys as they lost a best of 3 series to Bruce Peninsula in 3 games in the OMHA playdowns. They then moved on to the Neilson Division of the WOAA playoffs where they were matched up against Saugeen Shores, Howick and Wingham.
The Ice Dogs came out flying in game one against SSMHA coming away with a 4-3 win. Game 2 pitted our boys against Wingham for the first meeting of our two teams. After a back and forth game the teams were so well matched that even overtime could not settle the score, and both teams walked away after a 2-2 tie. Game #3 sent us to Howick. Again, the Ice Dogs were back to a winning track and came away with a 7-3 victory. Howick made the drive to AEMHA for the next game and again the boys came out on top with a 5-0 shutout win.
Our next outing was in Saugeen Shores where a tight game was played between the Atom boys and their counterparts from SSMHA. A lot of excitment later and AEMHA came away with a 3-1 victory. Our last round robin game saw Wingham make the trip to Paisley for yet another very close game. Back and forth the game went, yet ultimately the boys were unable to find the back of the Wingham net, and Wingham handed the boys a 1-0 loss. Their first loss of the round robin series.
And then we waited. with 4 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie, we were at the top of the pile, at least temporarily. We had to wait almost 2 weeks for Wingham, SSMHA, and Howick to finish their games. At the end of it all we ended up in a tie in points and win/loss records with Wingham. So, a tie breaker needed to be played, that game was today.
Worried that we might be short players, the coach called for all hands on deck, everyone who could make it was asked to come. Even a 'Ghost Ice Dog' managed to make it to the game. As predicted the game started out on a fast and furious pace. back and forth to both ends with both goalies making some great stops. Then, at 5:35 of the first period Wingham took a body contact penalty. Seeking to put an end to the scoreless stalemate the Ice Dogs hit the ice with determination. Then 45 seconds into the penalty Jake M found the back of the net with an assist going to our 'Ghost Ice Dog' #10. The rest of the first period would see more of the same back and forth fury, but the period ended with the Ice Dogs ahead by 1.
Period two saw both teams struggling to find any kind of purchase against the other but to no avail and period two also ended 1-0 Ice Dogs.
Period 3 was a coach's and parents worst nightmare as the teams continued to battle against one another, with many close calls at both ends. The ice Dog goalie Tyson L built a brick wall between the pipes and nothing would get past him today. The lone marker of the whole game was in period one, nothing else would get past the goalies in what was indeed a barn burner of a game.
The Atom Ice Dogs move on to the championship series against the Mitchell team who defeated Listowel in their tie breaker game this evening. Stay tuned to the website for game times for this series as it is sure to be a good one, and come on out to cheer the boys on!