Feb 16, 2024 | Scott Price | 571 views
It's Playoff Time in Arran-Elderslie!
They're baaaaaaaack! Your U15 Rep IceDogs kicked off their playoff schedule vs their neighbours to the East, TCDMHA Rebels in Chesley on Friday night.
While they may be good friends off the ice, make no mistake, this is a heated rivalry on the ice. Just two good teams going at it for the Love of the Game (see what I did there Johnny K ;-)
Typical for most playoff games, both teams started out feeling each other out and play was rather sloppy. Halfway through the period, the IceDogs started to tilt the ice and momentum was clearly in their favour. Stellar play by the Rebel netminder was the only reason this game was tied after one.
The newly anointed trio of Jesse-Owen M-Simon went to work early in the 2nd. With Owen M. and Simon doing the dirty work in the corner, it was Owen M. feeding Jesse P out front for a one timer beauty (that the Rebel tendy snagged but it was already behind the goal line). The IceDogs were rolling and another great shift by that threesome had Owen M. in his office behind the net, this time feeding Simon for a blast and it was 2-0 IceDogs. Don't ask this coach why but a 2-0 lead is the worst and the IceDogs just let off the throttle. A couple of penalties proved costly and the Rebels had things knotted up at the buzzer for the flood.
Good teams look adversity in the eye and don't blink. And your IceDogs were full marks for that on this night. After killing off a penalty, Carter G. avenged an injury to his linemate with a post and in beauty (off a lovely dish from Ethan S.). Alek F. scored a highlight reel beauty shortly after, walking off the blue line and going top shelf for a 4-2 lead. Then, Owen W., with buddy Brayden P (back on the ice after the injury) screening the tendy, let a howitzer go from the blue line that found the mark and the IceDogs were pulling away with a 5-2 lead. Jesse P would complete the scoring with a lovely tip off a low hard shot from Alek F. The IceDogs would win it 6-2.
It was a team win in every sense of the word. IceDog tendy Peyton L. wasn't busy but was sharp when he needed to be. Most importantly, every single IceDog in that room responded to adversity the right way and got the job done when the game was on the line.
Next up, the IceDogs head south to take on Central Perth in their first meeting of the season.