Feb 12, 2019 | Scott Price | 735 views
IceDogs Fall to West-Grey
It was the calm before the storm on a Monday night in Pixley, Ontario, Canada. The AEMHA Atom Rep IceDogs had put up a tremendous effort on Sunday but ultimately fell to the Warriors. This would be the 3rd and final meeting and the IceDogs were looking to match Sunday's effort.
The IceDogs were a confident group heading into the opening minute of play and did a great job hemming the Warriors in their own zone early on. However, as so often has been the case the last month, a late shift breakdown and a bad bounce led to a West-Grey goal and the IceDogs were trailing early. The Warriors would get another goal on a wicked backhand and take a 2-0 lead into the 1st intermission.
The IceDogs were a 1/2 second behind in the late stages of the 1st period and vowed to be better in the 2nd. And, for the most part, they were. A tremendous back check by Ethan S. led to a turnover and he would make a great outlet pass to Brayden P. Brayden would gain the zone and work the puck deep where Ethan would gather the puck. A quick pass out front to Brayden and he would "Gallagher" the Warriors with a greasy one to get the 'Dogs on the board. The IceDogs were starting to gather momentum but the Warriors have a knack for stealing it away and would collect a couple of late period goals to take a 5-1 lead at the 2nd break.
Coach Chad urged his squad to win the 3rd period and play with the effort and speed they did on Sunday. For vast stretches of the 3rd, the 'Dogs were the better team and forced West-Grey into turnovers and icings. Landon B. would collect the puck in his own zone and weave his way through all 5 West-Grey players (I think he deked out the zamboni driver too!) and rip one top bunk to get the IceDogs a goal closer. Despite doing a lot of things right again in this one, the IceDogs would succumb to the Warriors 6-2.
It wasn't as good as Sunday's effort but the IceDogs continue to not get rewarded for solid play. If we learned anything, it is that the game is 35 minutes long and you can't take a shift off in the playoffs or you get scored on. We will look to take this mentality into the remaining 3 games vs our arch-rival of Shallow Lake.