Feb 04, 2023 | Scott Price | 295 views
Comeback Thriller to KickOff Playoffs!!
It was Game 1 of the U15 Playoffs and your U15 Rep IceDogs had to face a scrappy Rebel squad on Saturday afternoon in Markdale. It's never an easy game when you play the Rebels.
The IceDogs were full of you-know-what and vinegar to kickstart this one and came out with a solid few shifts. The Rebels rattled a couple of posts and the IceDogs couldn't beat the Rebel netminder in the early going. It was a bit of scrambly affair mid-period onward but the IceDogs had the better chances as the period came to a close. Despite a slight edge in play, the Rebels and IceDogs were knotted at zeros after one.
In the second, the IceDogs just let off the gas a bit. And the Rebels found their game. First, a won faceoff led to a screen shot from the point and it was 1-0 Rebels. The IceDogs kept coming and almost tied it up a few times but couldn't find the back of the net. A Rebel powerplay late in the frame was almost killed but IceDog killer Lennox K. found the back of the net and the Rebels had a 2-0 lead. The IceDogs had a late chance to get within one but still couldn't find the back of the net and were down 2 zip heading into the flood.
Despite the deficit, the Coaches weren't ready to peel the paint just yet. A positive pep talk and positive mindset was the message. There were a lot of serious faces in that dressing room but nobody was ready to quit. Despite the positive energy, it was the Rebels scoring early on a turnover (and another seeing-eye-shot) and it was a 3-0 lead. But Coach P. just wanted one goal--one goal to get the mojo going. And it came off a face-off win by Ethan S. and a quick shot (right Coach Josh?) by Owen M-10 and the IceDogs were on the board. A few shifts later, Brayden P. won a battle in front and got the puck to Riley J. for another quick shot and it was 3-2. You could almost feel the tide turning. Owen M-8 would strip a Rebel of the puck with 3 minutes left to go and snipe top cheddar and the IceDogs had completed the comeback and were tied at 3! With a couple minutes left to play, the IceDogs were forced to kill a penalty but did it in spades (Simon J. even rung the pipe on a shorthanded rush!) and we were off to Overtime.
A good start to OT lead to some IceDog chances. Simon, Chris and Owen M-8 would head over the boards and another Rebel turnover would send Chris in all alone for a backhand beauty and the IceDogs had iced the comeback with a 4-3 win.
They can play better...and they know it, but it was a pretty good team building win to kickstart the playoffs. Everyone contributed one way or another. There were blocked shots, taking hits to make plays, playing hurt, sitting when your linemate was hurt--all the little things that make a big difference.
But the IceDogs don't have a lot of time to savour this one--the Rebels are coming to T-Town on Monday night for a re-match....it should be a beauty.