Mar 11, 2024 | Scott Price | 1099 views
IceDogs Earn OMHA Berth in Big Win Over Drayton!
There are milestone moments in every hockey season...that game that means a little bit more. Maybe you are playing a big rival. Maybe the game is do or die. Sometimes it's both.
And it was both on this night.
On Sunday night in Chesley, the U15 AEMHA IceDogs had a chance to earn an OMHA Tournament berth, defeat a bitter rival in Drayton and a chance to keep their season alive.
With the room buzzing (it was the loudest "1-2-3 IceDogs I've ever heard), the IceDogs hit the ice and from the opening puck drop, they dictated the play. Several early chances went unrewarded and the Drayton netminder was sharp early on. The IceDogs never deviated from the gameplan and Porter B. would pot a much deserved goal, off a terrific feed from Jesse P behind the net. As the IceDogs continued to buzz, Ian M would draw a penalty after beating a Defender to the puck and the PP would go to work. It didn't take long and Jesse P, Brayden P and Ethan S. would go tic-tac-GOAL and it was 2-0 IceDogs at the first recess. A glovely save from Petyon L in the dying seconds did not go unnoticed by the coaching staff as a pivotal moment in that period.
The second period was a carbon copy of the first. Once again, the Drayton goalie was equal to the task as he robbed IceDog attackers or chances just went wide. He couldn't stop them all though and Alek F. would dance in off the blue line and snipe blocker side for a 3-0 lead. The IceDog attack was relentless and everyone (and I mean everyone) brought their A game. Out-working and out-checking the Defenders every shift was the message and the IceDogs were full-marks for it.
The third period has been a bit of an enigma for this team--sometimes it's their best, sometimes it's their worst but with lessons learned over the course of the season, the IceDogs went to work. Bending, but not breaking, the IceDogs started off with a penalty kill. It was Simon J. with "The Shift" as he outworked every Defender on the ice, killing precious time off the clock and making sure Drayton didn't get a sniff of the puck. Midway through the frame, Jesse P would collect the puck in the neutral zone and snake his way toward the Defender net, snapping a low hard one off the pipe and in for a commanding 4-0 lead. Drayton would sneak one in late but it was all IceDogs the rest of the way.
With the win, the IceDogs are off to the OMHA Provincial Tournament. They get to play Mount Forest for tops in WOAA. But maybe more importantly to this group--they get to keep playing. They love the game, they love to play together and it shows in that dressing room and tonight, it showed on the ice. Ethan, Jesse, Brayden, Carter G, Porter, Simon, Owen M, Ian, Jake, Owen W, Waylon, Karden, Alek, Aidan, and Peyton - a lot of hard work went into that win tonight -- you should be very proud -- I know I am.
But we aren't done yet!