Mar 05, 2018 | sbarber | 741 views
Log Jam in the Second Round
After a decent performance last Thursday where the Novice Rep IceDogs ended up losing against the West Grey Warriors 4-3 in overtime, the boys were back at it yesterday facing the Mount Forest Rams in Paisley.
From the get go, you could see that this was an altogether different team than the last time they were on the ice. From the drop of the puck the boys were eager and ready to jump.
In the first period there was plenty of action in both ends. The Rams goalie must have gotten a good nights sleep and he was standing on his head (there were even some dives to jump on puck and take away open nets). This IceDogs played their normal game of rushing the puck up and keeping the play in the offensive end. Alek F. had a couple of exciting rushes up the ice (a couple may have made the coach's hair turn a little more grey than it already is!)
The second period is where the play turned interesting...
Big rangy defenseman Carter G. decided to be in every play when he steped on the ice. Along with his defense partner of Hudson J., they battled hard keeping the play in the offensive end, in the defensive end, they moved the puck up quickly to the forwards and took away any room in the neutral zone - not allowing the Rams to generate anything. On one shift Hudson J. had 5 blasts on the net! The Rams goalie had his number though. Sometimes when you are in the play so much you need to take some time by yourself and reflect on your play. While sitting in the penalty box for an interesting tripping penalty, the IceDogs bench felt Carter G. was lonely and decided to take a too many men penalty. With the Rep IceDogs down by 2 man, Ethan S., Alek F. and Braden N. along with Owen M. played outstanding in keeping the Rams at bay. It was only due to a deflection that the Rams got on board first. Then, while still down and trying to kill the second penalty, the penalty killing duo of Karden C. and Owen M. decided to take matters in their own hands and keep the play in the Ram end. Their efforts paid off with Karden C. finding the back of the net and the game was tied up heading into the third.
The line of Anthony K., Ethan S. and Ian M. decided they didn't want to be left off the score sheet. Two times Ethan S. grabbed the puck and drove wide by the defense and fed nifty passes out front to Ian M. only to get stopped. Anthony K. had a couple shots and almost buried his first of the year. He played tough in the corners and broke up play in his own end.
Halfway through the third period there was a goal mouth scramble which the puck ended up on Ethan S.'s stick and blasted it behind the Rams goalie.
It should be mentioned that center Gryphon B. was once again a fly in the ointment for the Rams as his persistant checking and overall play annoyed the Rams into taking a penalty in the second and as well gave his linemates room to make plays down low behind and around the net. Needless to say this is another team that he will not be on their Christmas card list...
With a couple minutes left the Rams pull their goalie to try and tie the game up. Instead of backing up, both lines and both sets of defense played smart and kept the Ram player away from goalie Peyton L. (who stopped 2 breakaways) and the game ended in a 2-1 win for the Rep IceDogs.
It was tight in the last couple minutes but was fun to watch.
Now with all three teams tied with one win and one loss a piece, next weekend will be pressure packed and great hockey will decide who moves on to the finals!
Great game fellas!