IceDogs Rebound with Solid Team Effort!, News, U13 Rep, U13, 2021-2022 (Arran-Elderslie Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2021-2022 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Dec 30, 2021 | Scott Price | 233 views
IceDogs Rebound with Solid Team Effort!
The U13 Rep IceDogs hosted the South-Grey Spartans in what was supposed to be a match in the Silver Stick Tournament this week.  The 'Dogs had squeaked out a win a few weeks ago in a tournament over the Spartans and were keen on a re-match.

The IceDogs got a spirited speech from the Coaching staff before this one and if you were in that room and could see the look in the eyes of the 'Dogs, you knew the Spartans were in for a fight.

The IceDogs came out slowly (as per usual!) and Aiden S. had to be sharp in the early going.  But slowly and surely, the 'Dogs got it together and began their onslaught.  A quick whistle negated an early goal but the momentum was clearly swinging the IceDogs way and they were just missing on some opportunities.  Despite the edge in play, things remained knotted at zeros after 1.

Not much changed in the early going of the 2nd period and Porter B. would send some sweet sauce Carter M.'s way, sending Carter in all alone.  A quick little backhand deke and the IceDogs were up by one.  A great play at the blue line boards by Carter left Ethan to pounce on the puck and a half clap bullet found the twine for a 2-0 lead and the IceDogs were full marks for it.  

With all the momentum, the IceDogs continued to make all the simple little plays and defend extremely well.  As the hockey playbook says, when you defend well, there are turnovers and turnovers create scoring opportunities.  The IceDogs loaded up on the power play and one might have thought Team Canada was in the building the way the IceDogs moved the puck around.  It didn't lead to a goal but soon after another strong play by Carter on the half-wall led to his supporting centre Ethan collecting the puck and this time a wrister (another bullet) zipped over the Spartan 'tendy and the IceDogs had a 3-0 lead.  With time beginning to wind down, Jesse P. outhustled a Spartan to a loose puck and snapped a pass to Alek F. on the blue line.  Alek didn't get all of it but his shot was tipped by Brayden P. into the back of the net for a 4-0 lead late in the game.  The Spartans had no quit in them though and rallied behind their pulled goaltender for 3 quick (lucky??) ones to make the score close but the IceDogs skated away with an almost complete game effort by every single player.  

For those in attendance, it was a pretty great game to watch...great goaltending, nifty playmaking, smart defending and a little drama at the end to make it interesting (maybe a little too interesting.)  The IceDogs won't get to hang their hats on this one too long---the Kincardine Kinucks are coming to town, looking to avenge an early season IceDog win.  Puck drop is 7:00 in T-Town at the Cyclone Taylor Arena.