IceDogs Battle Back, News, Novice Rep, U9, 2017-2018 (Arran-Elderslie Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2017-2018 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Feb 18, 2018 | sbarber | 970 views
IceDogs Battle Back
The first round of the 2018 playoffs pitted the Novice Rep IceDogs versus the Crusaders of Blyth Brussels...

With the first round set, the IceDogs made the trek on Saturday down to Brussels for their opening match against the Crusaders.  With no real idea on what to expect the Novice Rep IceDogs were caught flatfooted for most of the game.  With and 8-0 loss, the game was a write-off.  Learn from it and move on quickly as game 2 was set for today in Tara.

Today's game had a bit of a different feel about it from the start...

The Rep IceDogs had 2 options on how to play today's game - turn tail and run or meet the challenge, dig deep and overcome.

As it turns out the boys chose the second option and from the drop of the puck they showed they were not going to back down and instead took the game to the Crusaders.

Halfway through the first Owen M. broke down the wing and fired a shot on the Crusaders netminder. With the rebound banged in by Karden C. the IceDogs got on the board first.  Under a minute to go the Crusaders found the back of the net to tie it at one and the game was on. 

In the second both teams showed they were not fond of each other with some hard checks and crashes ending up with a couple of matching roughing penalties for Gryphon B. and a Crusader.  Needless to say I don't think they will be exchanging Christmas cards this year...  The Crusaders ended up putting 2 in the IceDog net in the second.

With an 8-0 win and starting the third period up 3-1, the Crusaders thought this team was done and they were moving on.

Not so fast...

The IceDogs started to claw their way back into this game  early in the third.  A beauty solo effort by Carter G. and the Rep IceDogs were down by one.  Two minutes later the Dynamic dual of Owen M. and Karden C. team up again with Owen M. jamming one in.  And suddenly The game was tied...

The atmosphere in the Cyclone Taylor Arena was crazy!

Then with three minutes left in the game IceDog Rep bruising defenseman Braden N. blasts one from the point right through the Crusaders goalie and the boys went up by one.  

The Crusaders then pulled their goalie and the pressure was on.  With 5 seconds left the line of Ethan S., Ian M. and Anthony K. teamed up to put this one to bed with Ian M. finishing off a nifty little play around the Crusaders net.


The IceDogs showed their mettle by never getting down, never giving up and as the game went on, becoming more determined, more driven and showed more heart by giving their all.

The defense crew of Alek F., Braden N., Hudson J., Carter G., played great pushing the puck up to the forwards and catching the Crusader wingers as they tried to sneak past for breakaways.

This was a great team effort enjoy it now and then let's get ready to go to Blyth Saturday for the final game for this series.

Should be another dandy!