Feb 04, 2020 | Scott Price | 660 views
IceDogs Bow Out of OMHA (but Not Before Taking a Bite out of the Blizzard)
The OMHA series between Huron-Bruce Blizzard and your Atom Rep IceDogs might look a little lopsided with the Blizzard being up 2 games to none but the IceDogs were full marks in every game and were testing the metle of the #1 team in Southwestern Ontario.
This IceDog team has proven that when they give it all they got, they can play with the best of them. They might not be as big, or as skilled as the team at the other end but they had all the heart and hustle that a championship team needs. The game started with the IceDogs taking the play to the Blizzard but gave up the games first goal on a sloppy play inside their own zone. Still, the IceDogs remained undaunted and vowed to keep going.
Preaching a fun, fast, exciting style of play, Coach P. put out reinforcement Aden M. for a shift. Aden danced into the Blizzard zone, drawing the defenders to him and although he didn't get the best shot away, Ethan S. read the play and deposited a backhand into the net to get the 'Dogs on the board. The goal definitely gave the IceDogs a boost and they controlled the bulk of the play for the rest of the period.
The Blizzard are opportunistic at best and took advantage of another sloppy play to go up 2-1 early in the third period. The IceDogs kept it coming though and with the lines in the blender the IceDogs got a shift from Carter M, Ethan S. and Aden M. After some pressure from that line forced a face-off deep in Blizzard territory, Ethan won the draw back to Simon J. who put the puck on a tee for a Karden C. wrister to tie things up at 2. Brayden P. would have a drive of his own stopped and Jesse P. would rip a wrister from the slot that was barely stopped. Aden M. would clang the crossbar, Carter G. would just miss on a drive and it looked like we were heading to overtime. A bit of confusion inside the IceDog end led to a scramble in front of red-hot IceDog net minder Peyton L. and somehow the puck just barely crossed the line (with 26 seconds left) to give the Blizzard the late lead. As time ticked off the clock the IceDogs pressed but couldn't get the equalizer and succumbed 3-2 in a game they truly deserved to win.
The IceDogs vowed after the game not to let well played games but losses define their season. The OMHA dream might be over but the WOAA playoff is still very much alive and the IceDogs will have to play every shift of every game as tough as they can to bring AEMHA a title. If Monday was any indication, they can do it
Let's do this IceDogs!!