The Owen Sound Garb and Gear Source for Sports Minor Peewee’s were back on the ice tonight at the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre where they hosted the Tri-County League leading Woolwich Wildcats on the back end of a home and home series. The Attack were looking forward to getting back on the ice quickly after Saturday’s debacle in Elmira, where the Wildcats easily pawed the Attack by a score of 7-2.
The home side came out from the opening puck drop a little apprehensive, trying not to make any errors. However, as is usually the case when playing careful, mistakes happen and Woolwich quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The Attack finally got going in the 2nd and started playing with some confidence and tenacity, resulting in 3 unanswered goals, two at the very end of the second, to take the lead with just under 10 to go in the game.
Gavin Downs, who had arguably his best game of the season, got things going with a strong fore-checking effort in the left corner, finding defenseman Zac Foster alone on the point who wristed one past Woolwich’s southpaw goaltender with 55.6 seconds in the 2nd. The Attack’s 2nd goal would also come in the last minute of the period and began with Sam Shakes winning the offensive zone faceoff to defenseman Reid Thomson, who found Shakes down low. Shakes’ wide-angled shot towards the net was redirected past the goalie by Travis Morrison, knotting the score at 2, with just 8.7 seconds remaining (Crosby influenced?).
The Attack 3rd goal resulted in some strong fore-checking in the corner as well. Mitch Kaufman went to where most skaters don’t like to go, “The Trenches”, and came up with it. He fed Kaleb Martin who tried the wraparound, but the Woolwich goalie made the initial save. Shakes was in the right spot to pounce on the rebound and bury it for the Attack’s first lead of the game with 9:58 to play. A defensive lapse and some good puck movement by the Wildcats allowed them to tie the game at 3 apiece, setting up for the thrilling finish with 7:02 left.
The Attack would not roll over and scored the go ahead goal with 4:08 to go in the game. Graham Gateman was the latest Attack player to apply the night’s trademarked fore-checking effort, finding Nick Mandeno in front of the net, who’s redirection just missed the right post. Shakes, again in the right spot at the right time, dug the puck from the side of the net on his backhand and tried to put it on his forehand. The puck came off his stick for a split second, and in the mad scramble in front, Shakes found the back of the net, restoring the Attack’s lead.
The Attack then went into full lead protection mode and applied a defensive 1-2-2 zone coverage to protect their late one goal lead. With pressure in the Attack’s defensive zone mounting, the Wildcat’s pulled their goalie for the extra skater. Jacob Condy was able to get his stick on the puck and clear it out without icing it where Martin pressured the defenseman and caused him to turn the puck over right on his stick in front of the wide open 4x6. He made sure he didn’t miss the insurance marker, causing a mini-eruption on the home side’s bench with just 9.9 seconds remaining.
A well-earned victory by the home side now has them sitting in 3rd place in the Tri-County league standings. Go Attack Go!
Written by George Condy